HB847 Passed the Senate

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Evenstar

And I need to repeat my question, because my last reply on this never made it past the moderator: “Why are you using 50 mph, when boats on winni travel much faster than that?” Even the MP speed study recorded boats traveling faster than 50 mph.

I used 50 as a speed that is above the 2009 speed limit. I used 40 as a speed that is below the 2009 speed limit.
To utilize real life examples, I'll use 62MPH which was the maximum speed recorded on (only) 3 separate boats in the speed survey.

At 62 MPH the powered vessel collides w your kayak in 1.64 seconds.
At 40 MPH the powered vessel collides w your kayak in 2.55 seconds.

Originally Posted by Evenstar

And, even the difference between 40 mph and 50 mph is nearly a second –

Actually, it's nearly 1/2 second.
The difference between 62mph and 40mph is nearly 1 second.
IMHO I'm not sure 1/2 second or even 1 second is enough time to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid a 16 foot kayak while travelling faster than one's 'ability to see'.
You have no idea what that operator's intentions were when you were swamped on Squam. Please stop trying to convince me otherwise.

Originally Posted by Evenstar

And I have been out in my kayak the past two weekends (not on winni) and didn’t have any close calls with a single powerboats. But that doesn't prove anything and it doesn’t mean that I won’t have any close calls this summer, nor does your observation prove that there won’t be close calls on winni between kayakers and high-speed powerboats.

My observations had more to do with the fact that I could spot small vessels nearly 1 mile away. So even at 'unlimited speeds' it is not one's ability to spot smaller vessels, it's not speed, it's either ignorance of the rules or alcohol, which make up 'nearly' 100% of the causes of accidents on lakes in NH.

[2Blackdogs]

Evenstar,

Are you aware that the Speed Limit forum would be silent without your defense of sea kayaks?

The issue isn't sea kayaks. You could give it a rest.

[fatlazyless]

There's probably plenty people who choose to read this forum without making any comments. Knowing that making a pro-speed limit comment will be micro-anaylzed, dissected, inspected, wrung-out, and rebutted with the usual high speed rap of spin-spin-spin, many have other things to do. Then again, some just like to argue endessly.

Question of the day: What's the latest on HB 847 as it oh so very slowly seems to be travelling at a snail's pace from the May 15 NH Senate vote of 14-10 to the Governor's desk.

Apparently, while the Governor has five business days to act on a bill once it reaches his desk, there is no time limit assigned to HB 847, as it now awaits its next do or die step in the legislative process.

So, what's happen'n Captain....whut's up w/ HB 847? Behind closed doors at NH's executive office, is the pressure being turned up on this political hot potato?

Like, what do we have to do to make HB 847 just go away?