[DBreskin]

Several members have posted for or against obeying the 150 ft rule. Some of those who don't think it's necessary argue that closer is OK as long as their boat is under control. I'd like to raise another perspective I haven't seen mentioned yet.

One of the reasons rules work is because people know and agree what the rules are. If there is a "150 ft" rule or a "come to a full stop at a stop sign" rule, when I see another operator in a situation where one of those rules applies I can expect to know how the other operator will behave.

At a four-way stop intersection, if a car arrives from another direction before me I will stop and let it go through the intersection before me. If I arrive first, I expect later arrivals to let me pass first.

If I see another boat on the water, I expect it will allow me 150 ft safe distance. If it comes closer than 150 ft at greater than headway speed, I assume the operator doesn't know the rules or doesn't care to follow them; in either case I am concerned for my safety. If they know the 150 ft rule and ignore it, who know what other rule they may also ignore?

As you may have guessed by now, I believe in following the 150 ft rule. I am also an out-of-state boater but come to NH 2 weeks a year.