speedometer vs. GPS

[Capt. Quint]

Originally Posted by chipj29

Please explain how someone on a boat is supposed to know exactly how fast they are traveling if their boat does not have a speedometer? There is no law that requires a boat be equipped with a speedometer. That would be my challenge to a judge if I were to get a ticket.

I am not being ignorant of the law, as I am perfectly aware that there is a speed limit. Without a speedometer, I might be ignorant of my exact speed however.

Yeah, I suggest you don't try tellin that to the judge. My pickup doesn't have a speedo or doors for that matter. I got a speedin ticket that night when that college boy Hooper just kinda rolled out'a the truck on the salt pond road, and it didn't do no good when I told judgy I couldn't tell how fast I was going cause I aint got no speedo. No, give up on that excuse mister.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by Capt. Quint

Yeah, I suggest you don't try tellin that to the judge. My pickup doesn't have a speedo or doors for that matter. I got a speedin ticket that night when that college boy Hooper just kinda rolled out'a the truck on the salt pond road, and it didn't do no good when I told judgy I couldn't tell how fast I was going cause I aint got no speedo. No, give up on that excuse mister.

Absolutely would bring it up to a judge. It is a lot easier to gauge ones speed in a vehicle on a road than in a boat. For one, in a car you can compare your speed to other vehicles. You can judge your speed based on time/distance to fixed objects. In a boat, there are way to many variables to even think about guessing speed.

Are speedometers required equipment in cars?

[Happy Gourmand]

Seems like if you don't have a clue how fast you are going....maybe you shouldn't be behind the helm.
If you want to captain a vessel, you should be ready to accept responsibility for all aspects of the operation of said vessel. Short of that, keep your boat tied up to the dock. That will help make the lake safer for the rest of us.

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Gourmand

Seems like if you don't have a clue how fast you are going....maybe you shouldn't be behind the helm.
If you want to captain a vessel, you should be ready to accept responsibility for all aspects of the operation of said vessel. Short of that, keep your boat tied up to the dock. That will help make the lake safer for the rest of us.

I have been driving boats my entire life. If you don't have a speedo it is difficult to know exactly what your speed is. If you know your boat you know that based on the RPM level where around your speed is but no one knows exactly without a speedo gps or otherwise.

As an example going at cruising speed on a flat windless day at 3000 rpms feels slow (in my boat at least)

You change that into a strong head wind with 2 - 3 foot chop it feels like warp speed. It is all relative. However, you may actually be going slower.

As long as you are traveling at a safe and prudent speed for the conditions the # is arbitrary.

[Skip]

Of course if enough folks complain that is is wrong to have a speed limit but not require speedometers on boats, some intrepid legislator will listen and file legislation to require speed measurement devices on boats travelling on waters with limits.

And then some of those same folks will complain about "nanny state" and "ridiculous legislation".

And this, my friends, is a perfect example of how we get all these rules and regulations that we are all (most of us anyway, myself included) so fond of complaining about!

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by Skip

Of course if enough folks complain that is is wrong to have a speed limit but not require speedometers on boats, some intrepid legislator will listen and file legislation to require speed measurement devices on boats travelling on waters with limits.

And then some of those same folks will complain about "nanny state" and "ridiculous legislation".

And this, my friends, is a perfect example of how we get all these rules and regulations that we are all (most of us anyway, myself included) so fond of complaining about!

agreed Skip... However that would be extremely tough to regulate considering boats may not or may not have been manufactored with them. The logistics would be crazy.

[Capt. Quint]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Gourmand

Seems like if you don't have a clue how fast you are going....maybe you shouldn't be behind the helm.
If you want to captain a vessel, you should be ready to accept responsibility for all aspects of the operation of said vessel. Short of that, keep your boat tied up to the dock. That will help make the lake safer for the rest of us.

Aye, Not like going down the pond chasin' bluegills and tommycods...we're talkin' 'bout up around 40 knots or so- or maybe 22 in the wee hours. You certainly know if you're approachin' the max legal speed- 'specially if there's a small 3-4 foot chop on the lake. If you have the urge to go max legal speed and not a prudent one- then get yerself a good working speedo or one o' them new GPS things. Any keep yer eyes open an' not on tha' damn electronics stuff!

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by chipj29

Absolutely would bring it up to a judge. It is a lot easier to gauge ones speed in a vehicle on a road than in a boat. For one, in a car you can compare your speed to other vehicles. You can judge your speed based on time/distance to fixed objects. In a boat, there are way to many variables to even think about guessing speed.

Are speedometers required equipment in cars?

Yes speedos are required equipment on cars. One of the times this topic came up I even listed the Fed regulation to that effect. There's also an accuracy requirement, I think it was +/- 2%. In any case you might plead to the judge "I didn't think I was going that fast" and if you were only 5-10 mph over, he might believe you. On the other hand if you doing 80+ mph in a decked out 300K$ gofast with twin supercharged engines ... my guess is he's not going to buy the story.