Quote:
Originally Posted by Woodsy
Personally.... I think No Wake is crap! Mostly because everybody thinks its a different speed based on their boat. Some boats can creep along at 1 -2 MPH while others need 4-6 MPH. There is a BIG difference between No Wake speed as defined in the RSA's and DEAD SLOW as some people are want to do!
For my 26 Donzi single, without having to shift into neutral constantly, 4-5 MPH is a good NWZ speed. My 22 Classic Blackhawk NWZ speed (motor at idle) was 6-7 MPH.
I personally think the NWZ should be changed to 5-MPH. 95% of the boats can very easily maintain steerage, the MP can easily enforce it, keeps the boat traffic moving on busy weekends and keeps erosion too a minimum.
You could even mount one of those solar powered radar units on the bridge over the channel to keep everyone in check...
Woodsy
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I agree with Woodsy. Here's what the law says. Headway speed is clearly defined, so there should be no ambiguity with the MP. In fact, I think this language can be interpreted in such a way that if the slowest speed your boat can go is 7mph, then that is legal. "Headway speed" is the defining language, then "No Wake" is tied to headway speed.
270-D:1 Definitions. – In this chapter:
I. "Boat'' means every description of watercraft other than seaplanes, capable of being used or used as a means of transportation on the water and which is primarily used for noncommercial purposes, or leased, rented, loaned or chartered to another for such use.
II. "Commercial vessel'' means any vessel carrying passengers for hire as a common carrier of passengers or property.
III. "Commissioner'' means the commissioner of the department of safety.
IV. "Director'' means the director of the division of state police, department of safety.
V. "Division'' means the division of state police, department of safety.
VI. "Headway speed'' means 6 miles per hour or the slowest speed that a boat can be operated and maintain steerage way.
VI-a. "Inflatable tube'' means an inflatable device manufactured and designed for the specific purpose of towing persons behind a motorboat. Such device shall be manufactured with a point of attachment for a tow line in addition to any safety handles, ropes, or lines, for each person being towed.
VII. "Motorboat'' means any vessel being propelled by machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion.
VIII. "No wake area'' means an area where a boat is to be operated only at headway speed.
IX. "PFD'' means a personal flotation device of a type approved by the United States Coast Guard.
X. "Person'' means person as defined in RSA 21:9.
XI. "Vessel'' means any type of watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, except a seaplane.
XII. "Wake'' means any disturbance created on the surface of the water as a result of combined vessel motion and hull displacement.
XIII. "Water skiing'' means a person being towed behind a moving motorboat on skis or on aquatic equipment designed for towing an aquaplane or any other device, including bare feet of a person, but excluding a person being towed on an inflatable tube or in another boat or motorboat.
Source. 1990, 171:1. 1995, 273:2, eff. July 1, 1995. 2011, 224:268, eff. July 1, 2011. 2012, 168:2, 3, eff. June 7, 2012.