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Old 08-08-2005, 08:25 PM   #31
Woodsy
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I interpreted BroadHoppers post a little differently.

Basically, since the settlement of Lake Winnipesaukee, it has been a working mans noisy lake. Lake Winnipesaukee has never been "peaceful" or "tranquil" with the exception being the north side of the lake. So yes, if you want peaceful or tranquil, you need to be on the north side of Lake Winni, as the south side has always been "noisy".

In days past there was the clunk and rattle of the steam locomotives coming and going at all hours, spewing massive quantities of steam and soot from all the coal being burned. The grand old steamships of yore had the same issues, lots of noise & soot. If people are twisted over a lone boat in the broads at 2am, I would imagine they would have hated the steam locomotive era...

Then came the golden age of boats, lots of beautiful wooden boats with more HP than some of todays boats, no mufflers and and some seriously loud exhaust. I am sure people didn't like them either...

The next evolution of boats was the outboards.... remember the early 70's on the lake? These are my first memories of being here, the smell of two stroke oil and the blue haze just above the water from all the exhaust is a still a vivid memory. I am sure people complained back then of a noisy outboard revving high, screaming across the lake at 2:00am as well. But progress marches on...

Then came the late 70's and early 80's when Miami Vice was the theme... Lots of really loud boats running dry exhaust with no mufflers at all... Less two stroke haze, but lots more noise.... probably the noisiest time on the lake! Dry exhaust at 2:00 am would sound like a top fuel dragster.... YIKES!

In the late 80's boats finally started to quiet down some. Dry exhaust was all but illegal due to sound legislation, and boats were getting alot quieter and reliable.

Today most boats are pretty quiet, and thats a good thing. The downside is that because the majority are quiet, the few loud ones really stand out like a sore thumb, even if they are in compliance with the current noise statutes.

The thing people seem to be missing these days is courtesy. There is no way to legislate that.

Woodsy
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