Minimum Planing Speed

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by Dave R

My boat will safely and easily plane at 23 MPH or so. I like to cruise at 28 at night though, it's on plane at that speed with the tabs up and gets best fuel mileage. I think the speed limit at night is a good idea, but perhaps it should be 30 or 35 MPH.

I have friends in law enforcement... They have said that speed limits are set usually lower because people will normally exceed the limit. Hence why most traffic is moving at 70 - 75 mph rather then the set 65.

So the 25 may just be this same attempt to keep people below 35 which I all think we can agree that unless you are somewhat reckless, going over 35 at night is usually NOT advisable. Given in certain conditions is it safe. That is still debatable but hey thats what this forums are for.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by OCDACTIVE

I have friends in law enforcement... They have said that speed limits are set usually lower because people will normally exceed the limit. Hence why most traffic is moving at 70 - 75 mph rather then the set 65.

So the 25 may just be this same attempt to keep people below 35 which I all think we can agree that unless you are somewhat reckless, going over 35 at night is usually NOT advisable. Given in certain conditions is it safe. That is still debatable but hey thats what this forums are for.

I agree that a 25/45 limit is in reality a 30/50 limit or maybe higher. For an auto limit of 45 most drivers travel at least 50 with no hassle from the law. After all a speeding ticket for going say 48 in a 45 zone may have a hard time holding up in court whether the supposed infection was on land or water.

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I agree that a 25/45 limit is in reality a 30/50 limit or maybe higher. For an auto limit of 45 most drivers travel at least 50 with no hassle from the law. After all a speeding ticket for going say 48 in a 45 zone may have a hard time holding up in court whether the supposed infection was on land or water.

I'd like to think so but I recall a story or two on here from people who were not exceeding the limit, according to them, and were puled over. I just feel like it is way way more difficult on water to judge and estimate speed. I know they are supposed to use radar but can they pull someone over for an estimation of speed?

[OCDACTIVE]

Originally Posted by hazelnut

I'd like to think so but I recall a story or two on here from people who were not exceeding the limit, according to them, and were puled over. I just feel like it is way way more difficult on water to judge and estimate speed. I know they are supposed to use radar but can they pull someone over for an estimation of speed?

I read the same story and my estimation there was more to the story... It absolutely is more difficult to judge speed via water because there is no frame of reference in many cases. Not only that but it can be difficult for the driver considering some boats do not have or are require to have spedometers

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by OCDACTIVE

I read the same story and my estimation there was more to the story... It absolutely is more difficult to judge speed via water because there is no frame of reference in many cases. Not only that but it can be difficult for the driver considering some boats do not have or are require to have spedometers

And please let me add that on most boats I have owned, my speedometers were lucky to work half of the time and rarely accurately.

With my 2 current rigs, the CSS-23 speedo works about 2/3 of the time before something blocks the pitot. On my CVX-20 I'm lucky if it works 1/3 of the time,,,

And even when they do work, I have not found them to be very accurate when checked against my handheld GPS.

So are we now responsible to add GPS to all our boats???

And then whats more important, watching the speedo/GPS or the water ahead (and to the sides, and behind, and the instruments, and map and compass, and kids on board, etc)

When you think about it, it sure makes a lot of sense to have to worry about a particular speed limit with everything else we have to do to operate a boat safely and navigate to our destination, especially at night,,, NOT!!!

I'm liking this less and less,,,

I'm one who drives VERY slow at night, always have, but there is a bottom reasonable speed any particular boat will run and not curl a 3 foot wake nor tear your arm off from the torque steer (outboard with big 3 blade prop) and I don’t determine that speed by watching the speedo, it just a throttle setting where everything hits a sweet spot, and its different for EVERY boat I have ever driven!

So in my mind you cannot effectively set a single speed limit for night operation that will fit the majority of boats unless its really high, 35+ MPH or it’s a no wake speed.

I just don’t see this working out effectively, boats just aren’t cars and lower limit speed limits are really tough to set that will work for everyone.

[BroadHopper]

Obvously don't want to comment on the wrongdoing of two Winnfabs proposers. So it must be allright by him for proposers to break the law and not the opposers.

[VitaBene]

ElC, If you have truly received threatening PMs I hope you forward them to Don for action. There is no call for that.

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Obvously don't want to comment on the wrongdoing of two Winnfabs proposers. So it must be allright by him for proposers to break the law and not the opposers.

Huh????????????

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by OCDACTIVE

I have friends in law enforcement... They have said that speed limits are set usually lower because people will normally exceed the limit. Hence why most traffic is moving at 70 - 75 mph rather then the set 65.

So the 25 may just be this same attempt to keep people below 35

As one who routinely rides a sport bike without getting stopped by law enforcement, on desolate back roads, I figured as much.

[VtSteve]

Originally Posted by OCDACTIVE

I have friends in law enforcement... They have said that speed limits are set usually lower because people will normally exceed the limit. Hence why most traffic is moving at 70 - 75 mph rather then the set 65.

So the 25 may just be this same attempt to keep people below 35 which I all think we can agree that unless you are somewhat reckless, going over 35 at night is usually NOT advisable. Given in certain conditions is it safe. That is still debatable but hey thats what this forums are for.

It used to be, that speed limits in localities were set to the 90% level of most drivers speeds. In other words, if the vast majority of people were going 50, the speed limit was set there. Some towns, besieged by calls from chronic complainers, would place signs that listed the limit at 40 mph. Many times, if you looked up the Legal speed limit, it was still 50. Case closed.

Basically, we have several 40 mph complainers on board here.