[Evenstar]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

Your safety doesn't increase or decrease with HB-162, because the problem isn't speed, but congestion. But you wouldn't know that, because you haven't paddled the Broads. The fact remains that NOBODY on Lake Winnipesaukee or elsewhere in NH has been run over by a boat that was exceeding the 45MPH daylight limit proposed by HB-162... NOBODY!

How can you make such a statement when boat speeds are rarely given in USCG accident reports? How can you be so sure that hi speed wasn’t a factor in a collision? There have been boating fatalities in NH, which were the result of boat collisions, and I believe that excessive speed was a factor in some of these. Prove me wrong.

Faster speeds ALWAYS increases the chance of an accident happening.
If a lake is congested - higher speeds makes it more dangerous.
If a person is drinking – higher speeds makes it more dangerous.
If a person is not watching where they are going, higher speeds makes it more dangerous.
If a person breaks the 150 foot rule, higher speeds makes it more dangerous.
If a person has difficultly seeing another vessel, higher speeds makes it more dangerous.

Actually you have a very narrow view. You have very little experience paddling on Lake Winnipesaukee, but somehow you seem to know whats best for everyone? Perhaps you know what you want and what is best for you? If Lake Winnipesaukee were as dangerous as you & some of the other WinnFabs claim, we would have some sort of statistics to back it up.

Woodsy – I’m very tired of your personal attacks on my paddling abilities, and on my experience in your vain attempt to discredit my posts. I’ll put my abilities in a kayak against you or anyone else on this forum any time – but be prepared to be humiliated. How many miles did you paddle last year? I paddled nearly 300 miles on NH waters in 2005, and over 100 miles in 2004. 95% of my kayaking has been on NH's large lakes, and I’ve been out in all types of conditions.

You keep ignoring the fact that HB 162 would affect all NH lakes – do you actually think that Winni is the only lake in NH where powerboats go faster than 45 mph?

You cannot use the number of registered boats in statistics, because the registration requirements vary greatly between states. As I’ve posted many times the main reason that there haven’t been more fatalities on Winni is that relatively few paddlers venture out on the main lake – for fear of being run over. Winni does not have a good reputation among paddlers. This is not just my view – this is the view of all the NH paddlers that I know.

Just because you think there is something wrong when a recreational activity favors mechanical engines over human power, doesn't mean everybody else does. With that one blanket statement one could infer that you would be happier with a Lake Winnipesaukee with no power boats on it all.

No – that’s not what “favors” means. In this case I’m referring to “unfair partiality - favoritism.” To allow some boats to go as fast as they want, while completely disregarding the effect that action has on other boaters is favoritism.