Conference wahoo::fishing

    MassMaster here....
    
    Sully, did he mention any bodies of water that may already be under
    a town odrinance to have this happen?
    
    
    
    

    There is a group in New Hampshire that has started soliciting for
    signers to a petition that would impose a 45 MPH day and 25 MPH night
    speed limit on NH lakes.  I have not yet seen the petition so I dont
    know if its all lakes or certain ones.
    
                                                 Tom

    I'm confused you state that speed limit restrictions is fine but not
    horsepower!!  Whats the difference??  I personaly don't see anything
    wrong with trying to keep boats with very large engines off of some
    bodies of water.
    
    					Bart Lasky

RE: Note 1250.3  

>> I personaly don't see anything wrong with trying to keep boats 
>> with very large engines off of some bodies of water.
    

A reasonable speed limit on smaller lakes is fine.  But this group 
is overstepping their bounds just a bit.  They're gathering signatures
for a 40mph speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee.  My 88hp cuddy cabin
will hit 42 mph on a good day.  That's too fast for Lake Winnie? B.S.!

Rick

    >>I'm confused you state that speed limit restrictions is fine but not
    >>horsepower!!  Whats the difference??  I personaly don't see anything
    
    Just because a boat has 150HP doesn't mean it has to go 65mph all the
    time.  The idea is have boats obey the speed limit.
    
    Having HP restrictions is like saying your car has a 150HP and can go 
    100MPH so therefore you cannot take it on this road because the speed 
    limit is 45mph.
    
    donmac
    

    I've seen the petition to limit the speed on Winni. You can thank
    all the irresponsible power boaters for the signatures. I have to
    say, though, I've had less trouble with the wakes from the gigantic
    thunderboats than from those lumbering, floating liquor lounges
    they call yachts.

    I've seen a few screaming bass boats, but they're usually just on 
    their way to or from a fishing spot. Most of the time they're in
    "fishing mode".
    
    I'm not fully convinced that a speed limit is the best way to curb
    irresponsible power boating, but some sort of curb needs to be
    considered.
    
    Ed
    

    
     Look!!
    
     This is the FISHING NOTES FILE. We FISH. Alot of us also happen to have
    boats with power over 100hp to FISH with. DON'T even think of supporting
    a measure to cut horsepower!! The second they drop horsepower your 
    fellow noter here will be shuned from yet another place to fish.
     I agree there are lakes that need regulation. Lake Cotituate is a fine
    example of lake management. On the weekends the North lake is no-wake
    the middle lake has a 22mph limit and the SOuth has a 42mph (pulling a 
    water skier). I don't have a problem with the speed limits!! But, if a
    bunch of jerks get together and say 100hp MAX on the lake, that will 
    eliminate me from boating there.
    
     "BASSMASTER" 

    Hay I have a 150 and I will admit that sometimes I will use it all
    :^)  but most of the time I am just moving along at 30-40 mph.
    So just becasue I have a 150 yoou tell me I can't fish a lake. 
    Thats not right.
    
    I got the 150 when mass was already talking speed limit.  The reason
    was what will a 150 look like in 10 years if it is going 40mph about
    3/4 throttle, compaired to a 90 or 100 going full throttle to go
    40 mhp? the 150 is like having an overdrive on a car.
    
    Bassin' Bob
    

    I agree, hp limits are dumb, for no other reason than that small
    boats with big motors are faster than big boats with big motors,
    so if there is a 50hp limit, then the whole place will be terrorized
    by small, fast boats. Area speed limits and no wake areas, *enforced*
    make much more sense...
    
    Ed
    

    
    
    
     RE;.4 LAKE WINNI CANT HANDLE 42MPH BS!
    
        This deal with the speed limit doesnt mean the lake cannot handle
    42mph its for the safety of other boater be it pleasure,fisherman.
      I fish Winni alot almost every weekend and I have had idiots go
    flying by us within the state distance requirements doing better
    than 40mph my opinion is on Winni there is no need to be going over
    40 MPH.
        My reasons; smaller wakes for the smaller boats.
                  ; smaller wakes wont erode the lake edge away.
    
       The only real gripe I have is marine safety should be more visible
    on  the lake the cracked down a little this year but not enough.
    
    
                                  JUST MY OPINION. 
    
                                              LEE

Establishing a speed limit or even going to the extremes of limiting 
horsepower is simply a waste of time if the law enforement agencies don't 
spend the time on the lakes to enforce these rules! 

On the other hand, if they did spend the time enforcing our current 
regulations, specifically, no-wake zones and the minimum distance rule, I'm 
sure that those people looking to establish speed and/or horsepower limits 
would have very little to gripe about.  It's the idiots that barrel-ass 
through no-wake zones, run flat-out near docks and shore or drive recklessly 
that cause some people to think speed limits would cure the problem.  Wrong!
These new rules become just another set of regulations to break by the same 
jerks and law enforecement agencies have enough trouble enforcing the ones 
we have.

Forget imposing new regulations.  Enforce the ones we have!  

-HSJ- 

Sounds like the jet ski issue that so many of us were complaining about.
I am not opposed to speed limits, but am opposed to HP limits (like
don mac's car analogy).  I think the HP limits come from the fact that not
every boat as a speedometer, although most of the ones with big HP do (should).

Tim

    ONE OTHER THOUGHT WOULD BE TO LIMIT H.P. per LB. OF BOAT.
    
    That was just a quick thought.        
    
    If I was the one who had the last say in enforcement, I'd put
    the enforcers on a commission basis with the power to accept
    the fine with a reciept right then and there, OR, impound
    the craft with a 72 hour limit to get it back.
    
    AM I A NASTY (censored), OR WHAT??    
    

    Put the enforcers on a commission basis? Might give some of them 
    the wrong kind of motivation.
    
    Also, as far as HP limitations, I think that hp per foot would be
    easier to enforce than hp per lb of boat.
    
    Ed
    

    Just one more thought on the whole situation. As Mr. Sullivan said
    Don't even think about supporting something that limits Horsepower.
    Horsepower isn't the problem,abuse of common sense is. Don Mac hit the
    nail right on the head,you can buy any car you want with whatever
    horsepower rating you desire,but you should obey the speed limit.
    Bassin Bob also makes a good point that using a bigger engine at half
    of it's potential will last longer and be a better investment that a
    smaller engine running at 3/4 to Max throttle all the time.
    	Somebody else said limit horsepower to weight. That's really done 
    already and a maximum horsepower rating is stamped on each boat.
    Another good point is a smaller boat will still fly with a small to
    medium size engine. An example of this is Jet Skis and the single
    seater speed boats you see every now and then. My point is no matter
    what you do you'll never get away from the problems everyone has
    mentioned.
    	It's not the size of the Motor or the boat that's the culprit it's
    the lack of common sense and responsibility. Speed being used
    excessively is also a big issue. But I've been buzzed by Jet skis,Big
    boats,small boats,ect,ect. The issue is enforcing smart boating
    practices overall. The problem as I see it is anybody can go out and
    buy what ever size boat and motor they want,put it in the water and go
    like Hell,without any prior training,testing,certification,ect,ect.
    	Even the issue of speed limits on waters is debateable. My 400 lb
    aluminum bass boat will plane off at a much lower speed then your
    Rangers will. Who am I to say well my boat is fine and safer, goes at a
    lower speed so there's no need to have big Rangers with big Engines out
    on the waters. I wish I could afford one now and someday I will
    hopefully have one (No Bob I don't want to buy Wayne's boat). 
    	My point is we need to find away to instill smart boating practices
    all around and away to enforce. Horsepower restictions to me aren't the
    answer and would never get my vote. Restrictions and new Laws would
    just be another loop hole folks would find away around and we'd be back
    to the same basic problems. Stupid Irresponsible Boaters. 
    

    After reading all the replys I've had a change of heart, you guys are
    right.  The answer is to enforce the current laws not create new ones!!
    
    					Bart Lasky

    Yo Sully,
    
    	Some of what you started this note about some time ago, has come
    true, from what I hear.  At our 1st tourny this last weekend,our club
    V.P. said that Barton's Cove and all of the CT. River in Mass now has
    a maximum speed of only 30 mph.  I'm not sure what it was before this. 
    I'd be willing to bet in the next couple of years that QUINSIG will be
    next. 
    
    						Gary

    
    30 is OK-- That river get's kind of tight is some areas (barton's cove
    side). I'll still do 45-50 , with the radar dector on!! Yes the radar
    detector will soon be mounted on the dash!!
    
     - " Bassmaster"

    << -1 Quinsig will be next!
    
    Quinsig has a seep limit of 40mph and 20 after sunset.
    
    Mass state law is 45mph on all inland water ways unless posted lower.
    
    Bassin Bob