Too quiet? Too loud?

[KonaChick]

Thanks for clearing that up and your honesty, it's appreciated. BTW i am NOT a member of WinnFab..so my opinion on noise from GFBL boats at 2 a.m. is just that...mine. Once again thanks for you reply.

[Kona Bay Girl]

Phew, it's been a while since I've posted here.

The truth of the matter is that while a quiet lake at 2 in the morning would be a fabulous thing, it can't be controlled. I'm guessing, Acres Per Second, this was only a one-time incident, otherwise it would have caused a commotion a while back. To have one incident out of the whole summer is a decent feat.

Lake Winnipesauke is not owned by anyone, and therefore is considered many things- a relaxing dip, a playground, a scenic dawn and sunset, and a wild ride for some boaters. Interests will conflict, and heated debates will occur. However, there is no right answer.

For example, I don't think people in New York are complaining about waking up at the crack of dawn because of the preparation of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. They all suck it up for one day a year, then go back to sleeping in late.

HOWEVER, if there was a parade every day, I could see where the conflict starts. To wake up every day with a giant Snoopy waving at you is quite a setback. However, the streets of New York City aren't owned or claimed to be owned by anybody, and there's not much anyone can do.

If noise is a recurring theme on the lake, (which honestly, it varies from year to year) then perhaps a hearty message at the launch ramp is all it takes to put things in perspective. "Town Officials of Meredith (Alton, etc.) Appreciate Your Courteosy and Respect for Lake Winnipesaukee and Its Residents" might be all it takes. It could be an effective start; a reminder for those who forget behind the throttle, and a pseudo Alma-Mater for permanent or temporary Residents.

Both sides of this debate are solid, with no pros outweighing each other. So instead of debating what "would" be nice or what's "right," both sides should discuss a fair solution that would allow boaters to play hard during the day, and residents to sleep well during the night.


I'm back up this weekend for the last hurrah before the "season" ends.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Kona Bay Girl

Phew, it's been a while since I've posted here.

The truth of the matter is that while a quiet lake at 2 in the morning would be a fabulous thing, it can't be controlled. I'm guessing, Acres Per Second, this was only a one-time incident, otherwise it would have caused a commotion a while back. To have one incident out of the whole summer is a decent feat.

Lake Winnipesauke is not owned by anyone, and therefore is considered many things- a relaxing dip, a playground, a scenic dawn and sunset, and a wild ride for some boaters. Interests will conflict, and heated debates will occur. However, there is no right answer.

For example, I don't think people in New York are complaining about waking up at the crack of dawn because of the preparation of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. They all suck it up for one day a year, then go back to sleeping in late.

HOWEVER, if there was a parade every day, I could see where the conflict starts. To wake up every day with a giant Snoopy waving at you is quite a setback. However, the streets of New York City aren't owned or claimed to be owned by anybody, and there's not much anyone can do.

If noise is a recurring theme on the lake, (which honestly, it varies from year to year) then perhaps a hearty message at the launch ramp is all it takes to put things in perspective. "Town Officials of Meredith (Alton, etc.) Appreciate Your Courteosy and Respect for Lake Winnipesaukee and Its Residents" might be all it takes. It could be an effective start; a reminder for those who forget behind the throttle, and a pseudo Alma-Mater for permanent or temporary Residents.

Both sides of this debate are solid, with no pros outweighing each other. So instead of debating what "would" be nice or what's "right," both sides should discuss a fair solution that would allow boaters to play hard during the day, and residents to sleep well during the night.


I'm back up this weekend for the last hurrah before the "season" ends.

The RIGHT answer:

Loud boats are illegal, Thanksgiving day parades usually are not.
Loud boats are illegal, squawking birds are not (for guy who complained about birds waking him up.)
People doing illegal things should not be cut any slack......

[Woodsy]

Originally Posted by ITD

The RIGHT answer:

Loud boats are illegal, Thanksgiving day parades usually are not.
Loud boats are illegal, squawking birds are not (for guy who complained about birds waking him up.)
People doing illegal things should not be cut any slack......

ITD...

How do you know for a fact that the boat(s) in question are illegal? That is the crux of the problem, because the answer is... you don't know. You just assume they are illegal because you can hear them.

It is EXTREMELY difficult to prosecute a noise violation...

I have a real problem with your statement that "People doing illegal things should not be cut any slack". The world isn't perfect, prosecuting every little infraction would be a monumental waste of time and resources. A little more tolerance and perhaps education would be a better answer than tying up our emergency responders for relatively trivial infractions.

Woodsy

[rickstr66]

Just because you can hear a boat at 2 am doesnt mean its illegal. Just because you can hear a boat at 2 am doesn't mean its a "go fast" boat. It could be argued that a small skiff with an older outboard on it going by someones property would cause a longer disturbance of the silence then a faster boat which comes and goes in a minute or two.
Having said that. What would you have someone do that's going home either late night or early morning on the lake? They have to use their engine to get them there.
To the person who wanted to compare a parade in NY to the Lake. I feel thats a poor comparison. Compare apples to apples. A 1 day parade or event is no way similar to something that goes on everyday. Better examples have been brought up..... living adjacent to a railroad or to a highway where there pretty much is a constant or at least predictable flow of traffic and noise. It can be argued that if you live on a lake on any given night a boat may go by your property and it may disturb your sleep for a moment. You need to take that into account before decideing to move to lakefront property and not complain about it after the fact.

[ITD]

When I'm at the gas dock and the boat next to me starts and my ears start ringing, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. If I'm following a loud boat in the Weirs channel that's giving me a headache and it suddenly becomes quiet when the MP comes the other way, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. When I hear a boat at my house when its still miles away, I'm pretty sure its illegal.


Don't try to muddy the water by saying boats at the legal limit are loud, I'm talking ( as I'm sure most others are) about boats that are obnoxiously loud, ie no or very little sound suppression.

I'm also sure (my opinon here) that if these boats were silenced we wouldn't be debating a speed limit on this lake. (Because no one would notice the fast boats or care).

The Marine Patrol seems to be pretty rigorous at trying to get these boats and force them to be legal and I give them kudos. If the dingalings driving these boats would smarten up many of the speeding complaints would disappear.

Again, my humble opinion.

[KonaChick]

Yes ITD those are exactly the ones I'm speaking of..the one the guy in the next cove over has and when he starts it up the dishes in my china cabinet rattle. I agree MP is doing the best job they can in getting these boats to comply. I've stated in a previous thread that I know personally of two boats that the MP nailed and they were not allowd back on the lack until they were in complience.

[Woodsy]

ITD and KonaChick...

If you can get those guy bow numbers and turn them in to the MP... Let the MP see if they are legal or not. You will be doing all of us a favor.

Woodsy

[Lakewinniboater]

Originally Posted by ITD

When I'm at the gas dock and the boat next to me starts and my ears start ringing, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. If I'm following a loud boat in the Weirs channel that's giving me a headache and it suddenly becomes quiet when the MP comes the other way, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. When I hear a boat at my house when its still miles away, I'm pretty sure its illegal.


Don't try to muddy the water by saying boats at the legal limit are loud, I'm talking ( as I'm sure most others are) about boats that are obnoxiously loud, ie no or very little sound suppression.

I'm also sure (my opinon here) that if these boats were silenced we wouldn't be debating a speed limit on this lake. (Because no one would notice the fast boats or care).

The Marine Patrol seems to be pretty rigorous at trying to get these boats and force them to be legal and I give them kudos. If the dingalings driving these boats would smarten up many of the speeding complaints would disappear.

Again, my humble opinion.

Again...... Let me start by stating.... I do not like the loud boats either. However, I have made it clear my opinions of freedoms and tolerances and not controlling others.

However, this is where I am sure to get the crowd wanting to lynch me at dawn.

I am glad to see someone FINALLY admit why this speed debate has risen. We all knew it was to get the GF boats to go away and knew speed wasn't the issue. We also were pretty sure that it was discriminatory.

LIKE I SAID... remember, I don't own a go fast boat and can't do over 45mph and isn't loud. However, I felt that this whole issue was inflamatory and un-necessary of our Politicians time. I ASSUMED it was a result of the Sound Ordinance not working well enough and that it was just another attempt for quiet and silence. (which Winni has never been..... but many lakes like Squam or Merry Meeting ARE!)

I am glad to see that after many girations that it is out in the open.

So.... go ahead and fire away.... I have my bullet proof vest on! KIDDING!!!!

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Lakewinniboater

I am glad to see someone FINALLY admit why this speed debate has risen. We all knew it was to get the GF boats to go away and knew speed wasn't the issue. We also were pretty sure that it was discriminatory.

I've maintained this all along, in the appropriate threads, the speed limit people are upset about large wakes, loud noise, then speed, no secret here.

I know this is a busy lake, I barely notice "normal" boat noise, even on a busy Saturday. Part of the reason I picked this lake instead of Squam was I liked what it had to offer as far as places to go and so on. I knew it would not be as quiet as Squam or Winnisquam, although it is pretty close during the week in the summer. On the other hand, excessive noise isn't part of the deal (per the law) and should be eliminated.

The boats I fear are pontoon boats with 60+ yo drivers, I've had more close calls with them (while fishing out of my rowboat or sailing) . The GF boats always give a wide berth.

I have no problem with muffled GF boats, the unmuffled ones should go to the ocean at least 10 miles from shore and make all the noise they want there, let the whales deal with it.