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Originally Posted by Acres per Second
Maybe you're owed an apology then.
Your Sarasota Bay -- and the Gulf of Mexico adjacent -- are ocean waters consistent with offshore boating locations that GFBLs were designed for.
However, I noted at GFBLs première website, "OSO", that "FormulaOutlaw" is trying to increase speed limits close to shore -- threatening the endangered manatee.
How is this a responsible action by "a very responsible group" -- and what is "the real story" -- as you say?
Manatees are protected:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...p/t-70241.html |
Acres: I have never advocated increasing any speed limits "next to shore" We virtually have none. In the Thread you referenced above, after a tragic accident in Tampa Bay killing a local well known restaurant owner, there was the typical "kneejerk" reaction by some callling for speed limits on Tampa Bay. 80% of people polled by the local newspaper agreed that speed limits we not necessary. I am in complete amazement how you consistently twist facts, a post, a Thread, anything and everything, around to somehow advance your own agenda. There is absolutely no way anyone could have read that Thread and make the claim that I was calling to increase speed limits near shore. It's simply not there. What I was claiming, that in my opinon, those proposed speed limits were not necessary, something that over 80% if the people that responded to the St. Pete Times poll agreed with. That accident was just that, a tragic accident caused by a rogue wave that the driver did not see.
The Manatee: one of my favorite subjects. For the real "story" on the state of the Manatee, rather than take my account, I suggest you go to the website of the Citizens for Florida's Waterways which is:
www.cffw.org
There you will learn "fact from fiction" concerning the Manatee.
However there are two FACTS you should take into strong consideration:
1) The Manatee, despite severe objections by the Save the Manatee Club, is in the process of being "downgraded" from the "endangered species" list. This is coming from the Federal Government.
2) Over the course of the last twelve years, boating registrations and boat useage has absolutely SKYROCKETED in Florida, YET AT THE EXACT SAME TIME, the Manatee population, by ALL accounts, has increased a minimum of over 300%. Stop and think about that for a second. We have to be doing something right down here in order for that fact to have taken place. That is the one question the Save the Manatee Club has NEVER answered, how to explain that.
Scientists are now telling us that they believe the Manatee reacts to a "high pitched" propellor whine as "danger" and the "low pitch whine" of a boat idling, may actually confuse them. As more research is being done on the Manatee, more and more sentiments seem to be going against what the Save the Manatee Club preaches.
Lastly, having boated on "Lake Winnie", there is nothing there that would convince me that "Lake Winnie" cannot handle the GFBL boats. ALL boats need to be operated in a safe responsible manner, whether power, sail, or paddle.