Is the lake any Safer then it was 10 years ago

[Webbsatwinni]

http://www.wmur.com/news/moultonboro...aukee/34870070

I wonder if the fishing boat had loud exhaust, would the swimmer would have known sooner that they were coming? I couldn't resist.

Should we ban fishing?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by 8gv

Is it better?

I can't say.

Do the rules help?

Every person who follows the rules helps a little.

No society has everyone following all the rules all the time.

When enforcement is lacking, do people "get away" with what they can?

Originally Posted by Webbsatwinni

http://www.wmur.com/news/moultonboro...aukee/34870070

I wonder if the fishing boat had loud exhaust, would the swimmer would have known sooner that they were coming? I couldn't resist.

Should we ban fishing?

When you're swimming, you can hear even distant powerboats and, as they get closer, their oncoming approach becomes plainly obvious. ➵ But it's not the swimmer's responsibility to "Keep a Proper Watch".

(Nor, in this case, the kayaker's).

As for keeping a proper watch, I've found that at top speed—even in a sailboat—you've got your hands full just "staying on the edge". In an ocean-racer—especially one that's chine-walking—your peripheral vision diminishes to a dot dead-ahead.

Fishing boats, those once described here as "sparkly-boats", are no different, except for their top end and that the operator (and his vision) gets beat up when encountering wakes.

In the end, the clear trend to stable and versatile pontoon boats may make all the difference.

[noreast]

sometimes personal responsibility out ways legal responsibility. I'd rather live than be right. I still have no idea what happened here so I wont comment. Do You?

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by ApS

As for keeping a proper watch, I've found that at top speed—even in a sailboat—you've got your hands full just "staying on the edge". In an ocean-racer—especially one that's chine-walking—your peripheral vision diminishes to a dot dead-ahead.

Sorry ApS but I can't resist you have left the door wide open here, and I will walk through.....

From the sounds of this paragraph, and what it implies, I think we should be ending sailing regatta's on the lake, and also require that sail boats no long "stay on edge" when recreational sailing. If it take full mental capacity to operate a sail boat at top speed, leaving very little capacity to keep a proper lookout... then sailing at top speed should not be allowed if the lake is to remain safe.....

Also, how fast have you ever been on a boat... I have never had an issue with my peripheral version diminishing in a boat or in a car, and have operated boats to the 70-80 Mph range and cars in excess of 100mph. If anything a I am more alert and aware of what is going on around me at high speed....

Don't provide false information that isn't based in fact... While speed can cause tunnel vision there are usually other factors.... If a boat at greater the 45mph cause tunnel visions then why do we allow highway speeds of 65 and 70 MPH....

[Happy Gourmand]

"Also, how fast have you ever been on a boat... I have never had an issue with my peripheral version diminishing in a boat or in a car, and have operated boats to the 70-80 Mph range and cars in excess of 100mph. If anything a I am more alert and aware of what is going on around me at high speed...."


I think 60 MPH on a boat is more than a little different that 60 MPH in a car.

[Woodsy]

Gourmand...

You are right..... at 60 MPH in a boat the distance you can see is measured in miles... not feet!


Woodsy

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Happy Gourmand

"Also, how fast have you ever been on a boat... I have never had an issue with my peripheral version diminishing in a boat or in a car, and have operated boats to the 70-80 Mph range and cars in excess of 100mph. If anything a I am more alert and aware of what is going on around me at high speed...."


I think 60 MPH on a boat is more than a little different that 60 MPH in a car.

I will not disagree, in the boat the wind is in my face, and I don't have other vehicles within feet of me... In the boat, my vision is not encumbered by structural members reduce vision and create blind spots. So yes they are different...

I am way more relaxed on the water at 50-60 MPH then I am in the car with traffic immediately around me at the same speed...

With that said... speed at that rate, by itself doesn't cause tunnel vision... otherwise cars and motorcycles wouldn't be allowed to go that fast....

[fatlazyless]

The lake probably used to be safer starting back about three summers ago, in 2013, when the number of MP patrol boats out on the Winnipesaukee water was reduced from maybe 6-7, down to 2-3 boats for the entire lake at any one time. The budget was cut to save money, and the MP was shifted within the Dept of Safety from a separate Marine Patrol to a Div of NH State Police, or something like that .... during the two year conservative Republican majority under the leadership of Speaker of the House, Bill O'Brien.

Probably, the biggest safety problem is drinking and driving a boat ....... boating and drinking is almost a natural go-together and always has been and always will be ..... so's driving impaired can be trouble at any speed but probably is more of a problem at faster speeds.....and with fewer patrols boats out patrolling....it can be a problem........glug.....glug......glug......bottom 's up.....and three sheets to the wind......time to put the pedal to the metal......and make some waves......adios amigo! .......and don't forget.....NH does not have an 'open container' law for boaters..... as it does for cars.

[SIKSUKR]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

...and don't forget.....NH does not have an 'open container' law for boaters..... as it does for cars.

So what.It has the same "operating under the influence" law which is what counts.

[fatlazyless]

So's......paddling around a kayak at the Meredith town docks area ......and wearing a brite yellow hardhat with two cup holders screwed to the hardhat with two 18-oz open cans of beer on the hardhat....is alrighty dighty ...... is this legal?

Talking about beer just got me a-thinking .......best beer buy in the area.......Heath's in Center Harbor has 18oz single cold cans of Beck's Sapphire 6%-alc ...... in the black can...... a highest quality-lowest price type-of-a-beer......for just one dollar ..... try it and you will like it! ..... a great beer at at great price .... .....made by Anheuser Busch ....way-to-go Mr. Heath! The Irving's Beer Kave in Holderness used to sell the same exact Beck's Sapphire for 2.29 each........ like glug-glug-glug on a hot and humid 90-degree day in September .... hurray for global warming ... and cold beer!

[Happy Gourmand]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

So's......paddling around a kayak at the Meredith town docks area ......and wearing a brite yellow hardhat with two cup holders screwed to the hardhat with two 18-oz open cans of beer on the hardhat....is alrighty dighty ...... is this legal?

Talking about beer just got me a-thinking .......best beer buy in the area.......Heath's in Center Harbor has 18oz single cold cans of Beck's Sapphire 6%-alc ...... in the black can...... a highest quality-lowest price type-of-a-beer......for just one dollar ..... try it and you will like it! ..... a great beer at at great price .... .....made by Anheuser Busch ....way-to-go Mr. Heath! The Irving's Beer Kave in Holderness used to sell the same exact Beck's Sapphire for 2.29 each........ like glug-glug-glug on a hot and humid 90-degree day in September .... hurray for global warming ... and cold beer!

I thought you were a PBR sort of guy.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Happy Gourmand

I think 60 MPH on a boat is more than a little different that 60 MPH in a car.

Although the lake can take on the appearance of an Interstate, I find the comparisons unworthy of being "the science" some would exploit. On the highway, most of us are focused on the car directly ahead.

With excellent peripheral vision, it would be difficult to hit an animal on the road, yet it happens in the US at an estimated million times a day. Besides a bird, my only victim was a rabbit who hopped to the double-yellow, then committed suicide-by-hop.

I travel Interstate I-77 where a 20' Baja Outlaw landed on two southbound cars! (Southbound site pictured below). While the car drivers could "see for miles", the boat (coming from his peripheral vision) surprised them.

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

From the sounds of this paragraph, and what it implies, I think we should be ending sailing regattas on the lake, and also require that sail boats no long "stay on edge" when recreational sailing. If it take full mental capacity to operate a sail boat at top speed, leaving very little capacity to keep a proper lookout... then sailing at top speed should not be allowed if the lake is to remain safe.....

The captain of L'Hydroptère saw 61-MPH before a capsize ended his run, but even L'Hydroptère would have the privileged-boat status over every Winnipesaukee speedboat. The wind is the primary reason, as a slight change of wind affects a sailing craft, as L'Hydroptère was to find out.

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

I have never had an issue with my peripheral version diminishing in a boat or in a car, and have operated boats to the 70-80 Mph range and cars in excess of 100mph. If anything a I am more alert and aware of what is going on around me at high speed.

Yes, of course you are—we are all "above average".



One can expect a loss of peripheral vision with age.

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

I will not disagree, in the boat the wind is in my face, and I don't have other vehicles within feet of me... In the boat, my vision is not encumbered by structural members reduce vision and create blind spots. So yes they are different... I am way more relaxed on the water at 50-60 MPH then I am in the car with traffic immediately around me at the same speed...With that said... speed at that rate, by itself doesn't cause tunnel vision... otherwise cars and motorcycles wouldn't be allowed to go that fast....

When speeding your car into the sun, how do you wear your baseball cap?



I have been 130-MPH on closed automobile racetracks, and instruct my students to "check your mirrors" because they are too focused on the next turn. (This from the passenger seat). "Tunnel Vision" is more common than you think.

In a boat, I was once becalmed between two Florida thunderstorms before the wind picked up. The following ride probably exceeded 40-MPH, which is rocketing, for an 18-foot (by 10') catamaran. The rudders couldn't turn the boat when it needed turning and eventually was stopped by contacting a large patch of cattails, where, underneath, I waited out the storm. Last winter, the buyer of that catamaran was cautioned.

My own car is capable of 149-MPH or more, but never saw a reason to reach those speeds on a public highway, nor could do so due to race tracks' many turns—even Road Atlanta's speedy downhill turn 11.

I once took a rented Porsche on the Autobahn to 130-MPH as well. There, you must see a mile ahead! A smooth ride at that speed, my passenger-wifey finally asked, "How fast are we going?" Oh yes, I was a passenger in a 1984 Porsche Turbo (a loaner to me), and hit 155 on a Kansas Interstate.

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Don't provide false information that isn't based in fact... While speed can cause tunnel vision there are usually other factors.... If a boat at greater the 45mph cause tunnel visions then why do we allow highway speeds of 65 and 70 MPH....

Because disc brakes changed the highway dynamic?

Originally Posted by Woodsy

Gourmand... You are right..... at 60 MPH in a boat the distance you can see is measured in miles... not feet!
Woodsy

The critical distance to kayaks, inflatables, SUPs, sculls, canoes and swimmers is measured in feet. One scofflaw in particular regularly enters Winter Harbor's protected waters while accelerating!

It only takes one headline to change our view of ten years of relative safety.

[Skip]

Just a note of constructive criticism ApS, but if you would take the time to post photos or quote actual incidents that have occurred on the Lake, you would (in my humble opinion) add much more credibility to your argument. Quite frankly, a little careful research should provide you with ample examples, and it appears you definitely have the time and ability to dig a little deeper in your research in a better effort to keep it focused on local incidents.

[Hezman]

......last Saturday. I've been boating on this lake for twenty-five years and, like lots of you, have seen many irresponsible and careless moves. I generally boat on weekends and have been fortunate to avoid any close calls.

Last Saturday 's weather was awesome with low winds and fairly light boat traffic......what a day for a ride! With three others on board my boat, we were heading E/SE through the North side of The Witches. I'm always extra cautious to make sure I stay to the right and in between the pins. I had just about cleared the pins and had stood up as a boat was approaching on my port side. Suddenly, I sensed motion and noise as a (roughly) 40 foot grey Formula (PC or SS) blew past me on my port side. This boat passed within ~50 feet and made me feel like I was standing still (I was doing high twenties).

Undoubtedly, this was the scariest experience I have had in twenty-five years on this lake and my 31 foot Formula offered little feeling of comfort and safety. I can't imagine the fear that would have been created for a family in a small runabout! In the hope that the two young gents on this boat might read these posts, wake up guys. Twin big blocks powering a 15,000+ pound craft can do lots of damage.

This is not a rant, but a reminder that experienced operators have to be on guard at all times. I may have been thinking that the post-Labor Day season is a bit more relaxed on the lake, but this was sure a wake-up call.