[PROPELLER]

I viewed the site & restauranteer is correct, I did not see any names either. However, from what richstr66 posted earlier we know Frank M is somehow associated with that group. Frank M is Frank M on this forum ****. He spearheaded the effort to designate Black Cove a NRZ last fall & there is a thread covering that issue.

There is no doubt in my mind that there are several people who use Winni & I believe many may be property owners, who wish to eliminate any activity on the lake they do not like or agree with. There is a certain arrogance among people who support various restrictions on the lake that they know best & how dare any of us who do not agree question them. I have witnessed the arrogance first hand. And they justify their position by saying they are doing it in the name of safety, the environment, the Loons etc. When in fact, I believe(just my opinion)they are doing it just because they do not like it & in their OPINION its not right.

Who are these people to say its not right to raft, to operate a GFB at speeds they deem excessive, to operate a cruiser they deem too big, to set horsepower limits they deem excessive. Rafting, speed limits, horsepower limits etc are all separate threads on this forum but I beleive they all have one thing in common, the individuals who are behind the support of these restrictions. The speed limit & no rafting bills are just the start, next will be horsepower limits & beyond that who knows.

I also agree with the sentiments stated earlier that some users of the lake may have a perception that is not true or unfounded. I use the lake every weekend from ice out to mid October & I do not see many of the things that supporters of these restrictions claim exist. I am sure that most if not all of the complaints have occurred at one time or other but not to the extent & frequency that they claim. Many of the complaints(I believe) are exaggerated.

I have not witnessed rafters littering, playing loud music, blocking passage to ones property, anchoring too close to ones property & partying in general making a nuisance of themselves. I have not witnessed GFB'S going too fast in a certain situation or area, creating an unsafe or dangerous situation for other boaters. I have not witnessed large cruisers creating a dangerous situation for smaller boaters with their wake, creating too big a wake too close to shore so as to perpetuate erosion. One thing I have witnessed with disturbing frequency is violation of the 150' rule & 90% of the time or more it is committed by someone in a small or smaller boat, bowrider, with family on the boat & they will even smile & wave to you as if they have no clue what they are doing & I believe they do not have any clue about boating safety or regulations.

Now I know this was longwinded & maybe I am on a soapbox but I felt it had to be said. Frank M & his organization WinnFABS is correct about one thing, we should all e-mail, write, call etc our legislators, the Governor etc to let them know our position & I and many of my boating friends have been doing that & will continue too as long as there are people who wish to restrict activity on Winni. I think the supporters of these restrictions will be surprised to see that there are just as many if not more Winni users & boaters who are not in support of these restrictions.