I knew Ben Franklin, and liberty is liberty! You are correct, when they start to take one "minor" freedom away it leads to more.
I also have taken and passed the US Coast Guard Aux boating course, in fact I even joined them so that I could get further training from the Coast Guard itself.
Sum-r-breeze you are correct in what you say. It is not the boat that you operate, but it the operator of the boat that is the problem.
I only say that my boat can't do 45 because it can't!
I have been on boats owned by friends that have done 50 or 60 plus on the lake but only when we were in complete control of the boat and the situation. That can't be said of everyone.
Someone suggested waiting until the new mandatory boat certificate/license law took complete effect before taking action, I agree with that as well.
As an anecdote to prove what you said about small boats crossing from port. The first day I had my first boat on Winni I was crossing the broads and two boats came from my port across my bow within 50 feet, both giving me the finger and swearing because I held my course. My elderly parents were impressed by their courtesy!
In another adventure I was at the helm of a large cabin cruiser coming out of Meredith Bay at night at headway speed (slower than 6mph) and was nearly rammed by a go fast boat cutting across my port bow at a high rate of speed.
In both cases it had nothing to do with the vessels, but everything to do with the fools at the helm!
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