The 150' rule..is it just me?

HomeWood · 05-24-2012, 05:54 PM

I find myself to be somewhat over cautious with the 150' rule. If I get within about 3 ski rope lengths, I throttle down. Usually not to a no wake speed, but at least a very noticable reduction in speed (coming off plane completely). I rarely see anybody return the favor, if you will. Our place is in Moultonborough neck and our boat rides are usually between Long island and Greens basin. There are several spots where you have to get within 150' and even on a somewhat busy day, it seems I am constantly needing to come off the throttle because of the 150' rule. I feel I'm getting in the way of everybody else. I watch the boats go by while sitting on the porch or beach and rarely do the boats pass each other under 20 or 30 mph.

Am I the one who isn't getting it or is it the other captains?

BroadHopper · 05-24-2012, 06:20 PM

Not just the Green's Basin to Moultonboro Neck narrow but the last bouy going into Alton Bay, between Treasure and Pig Island etc. Not just the big lake, I see this on other lakes as well as Merrimac River and Great Bay. I am confuse why the marine patrol does not enforce passage yet they are strict when it comes to passing within 150' of a marine patrol boat!

tis · 05-24-2012, 06:40 PM

I agree. I hate when someone comes flying by and you break your plane to slow down but they keep going even though they were the ones that came too close to you!!!! (Long sentence

)

Belmont Resident · 05-24-2012, 08:26 PM

The 150 foot rule is the most violated rule all over the lake.
The next thing is standing down to the vessel that has the right of way. It almost never happens.
The funny thing is that 90% of the issues brought up during the speed limit debate were 150’ rule violations and had nothing to do with speed.
Nothing has changed on the lake other then the economy has driven boats off the lake which has been misinterpreted as the lakes gotten safer.
When the lake returns to the crowds of 7-10 years ago you will once again here the call for law changes.

COWISLANDDONZI · 05-24-2012, 09:43 PM

Common sense prevails……..

Stand-on vessel: The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. If you must take action, do not turn toward the give-way vessel or cross in front of it.

**If you approach a vessel that has less maneuverability than your vessel, the other vessel will usually be the stand-on vessel…***

AGREEE****4/14/10-posted on Winni Forum by Dave R: I know I don't mind passing closer than 150 feet in tight quarters like deep into Moultonborough Bay. It's pretty clear the boaters coming the other way don't mind either as neither of us drops off plane while keeping to the far right... It's the blatent infractions of a couple of boat lengths or less when I'm at headway speed or less, or complete disregard for give-way or stand-on rules that I find worrisome.

Stay your course n drive your boat…have a great weekend!

Lakegeezer · 05-25-2012, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COWISLANDDONZI

Common sense prevails……..
AGREEE****4/14/10-posted on Winni Forum by Dave R: I know I don't mind passing closer than 150 feet in tight quarters like deep into Moultonborough Bay. It's pretty clear the boaters coming the other way don't mind either as neither of us drops off plane while keeping to the far right... It's the blatent infractions of a couple of boat lengths or less when I'm at headway speed or less, or complete disregard for give-way or stand-on rules that I find worrisome.

Stay your course n drive your boat…have a great weekend!

This is wise advice. There are spots where it is a bit tight. In light traffic, if both pilots move to gain separation and maintain speed, its obvious that both accept bending the rules a bit. Obviously, boat size and type have to be taken into consideration. No harm, no foul.

The 150 rule is a bit of an anachronism, from a bygone era when boats were free to maintain safe passage at any speed. However, it makes the lake a more courteous place and is a good guideline.

Jonas Pilot · 05-25-2012, 07:16 AM

What's your comfort zone as far as intruding on another boater's space? Personally I see no reason why I can't keep 300 or more feet away from most traffic most of the time.

ishoot308 · 05-25-2012, 09:37 AM

Even the Marine Patrol violates the 150' rule. Seen it happen many times especially in the Moultonborough area. Lets be honest here...Sometimes the 150' rule can be a bit ridiculous.

Dan

codeman671 · 05-25-2012, 09:50 AM

I plan on violating the 150' rule this weekend. I plan on never being further than 150' from my grill and my drink.

In most other places, the 150' rule is unheard of. Personally I like it and obey it.

jrc · 05-25-2012, 09:58 AM

Sometimes you have to break the rule. Say I just came out of the Weirs channel and behind me is a boat 20' away. We are both heading on the same course at the same no wake speed, I can never speed up. There will never be 150' between us.

But if we start bending the rule in high speed crossing, passing or overtaking, we really start gutting the rule's real purpose. I remember people would always go through the graveyard on full plane even when another boat was coming. It doesn't look wide enough but people would always do it.

I don't go up there that often, do they go through on plane? How wide is it, how wide is wide enough?

Seaplane Pilot · 05-25-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Even the Marine Patrol violates the 150' rule. Seen it happen many times especially in the Moultonborough area. Lets be honest here...Sometimes the 150' rule can be a bit ridiculous.

Dan

As can other rules/laws.

SAB1 · 05-25-2012, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

Sometimes you have to break the rule. Say I just came out of the Weirs channel and behind me is a boat 20' away. We are both heading on the same course at the same no wake speed, I can never speed up. There will never be 150' between us.

Not so, just change course temporarily.

I think the big problem with the 150ft rule is Marine patrol just doesn't have enough resources to enforce it. I see them nab plenty of people for it but there are just so many violations and they are so thin. Sometimes I think it is almost a little much the 150ft rule but I do my best to observe it. The guys that really piss me off are the guys that fly be at 50ft while I am trolling in the broads. They got the whole broads area to deal with and they got get within 50 feet of a guy fishing. That makes no sense.

gtagrip · 05-25-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Lets be honest here...Sometimes the 150' rule can be a bit ridiculous.

Dan

I'll X2 on that one!

SIKSUKR · 05-25-2012, 11:50 AM

jrc hits the nail on the head. There are times when 150 ft needs to be ignored. Leaving the long line of boats coming out of the channel is one of them. There is nothing wrong with with throttling up with another boat on your butt to create the proper spacing. The Marine Patrol spends a lot of time right there monitoring boat traffic and I have never seen them chase anybody down for this practice.

HomeWood · 05-28-2012, 11:45 AM

Thanks for the replies. Sometimes I feel like that person in the left lane barely doing the speed limit. I guess I'll relax a bit.

05-24-2012, 05:54 PM	#1
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	The 150' rule..is it just me? I find myself to be somewhat over cautious with the 150' rule. If I get within about 3 ski rope lengths, I throttle down. Usually not to a no wake speed, but at least a very noticable reduction in speed (coming off plane completely). I rarely see anybody return the favor, if you will. Our place is in Moultonborough neck and our boat rides are usually between Long island and Greens basin. There are several spots where you have to get within 150' and even on a somewhat busy day, it seems I am constantly needing to come off the throttle because of the 150' rule. I feel I'm getting in the way of everybody else. I watch the boats go by while sitting on the porch or beach and rarely do the boats pass each other under 20 or 30 mph. Am I the one who isn't getting it or is it the other captains?

05-24-2012, 06:20 PM	#2
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,615 Thanks: 3,245 Thanked 1,115 Times in 801 Posts	I see it all the time Not just the Green's Basin to Moultonboro Neck narrow but the last bouy going into Alton Bay, between Treasure and Pig Island etc. Not just the big lake, I see this on other lakes as well as Merrimac River and Great Bay. I am confuse why the marine patrol does not enforce passage yet they are strict when it comes to passing within 150' of a marine patrol boat! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day. Last edited by BroadHopper; 05-25-2012 at 07:01 AM.

05-24-2012, 08:26 PM	#4
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	150' rule The 150 foot rule is the most violated rule all over the lake. The next thing is standing down to the vessel that has the right of way. It almost never happens. The funny thing is that 90% of the issues brought up during the speed limit debate were 150’ rule violations and had nothing to do with speed. Nothing has changed on the lake other then the economy has driven boats off the lake which has been misinterpreted as the lakes gotten safer. When the lake returns to the crowds of 7-10 years ago you will once again here the call for law changes. __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

05-25-2012, 11:50 AM	#14
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	jrc hits the nail on the head. There are times when 150 ft needs to be ignored. Leaving the long line of boats coming out of the channel is one of them. There is nothing wrong with with throttling up with another boat on your butt to create the proper spacing. The Marine Patrol spends a lot of time right there monitoring boat traffic and I have never seen them chase anybody down for this practice. __________________ SIKSUKR

05-24-2012, 06:40 PM	#3
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,841 Thanks: 764 Thanked 1,474 Times in 1,029 Posts	I agree. I hate when someone comes flying by and you break your plane to slow down but they keep going even though they were the ones that came too close to you!!!! (Long sentence )

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Belmont Resident For This Useful Post:
BroadHopper (05-25-2012), Resident 2B (05-24-2012), WakeboardMom (05-25-2012)

05-24-2012, 09:43 PM	#5
COWISLANDDONZI Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 18 Thanks: 11 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Common sense prevails…….. Stand-on vessel: The vessel that must maintain its course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way vessel is not taking appropriate action. If you must take action, do not turn toward the give-way vessel or cross in front of it. If you approach a vessel that has less maneuverability than your vessel, the other vessel will usually be the stand-on vessel…* AGREEE****4/14/10-posted on Winni Forum by Dave R: I know I don't mind passing closer than 150 feet in tight quarters like deep into Moultonborough Bay. It's pretty clear the boaters coming the other way don't mind either as neither of us drops off plane while keeping to the far right... It's the blatent infractions of a couple of boat lengths or less when I'm at headway speed or less, or complete disregard for give-way or stand-on rules that I find worrisome. Stay your course n drive your boat…have a great weekend!

The Following User Says Thank You to COWISLANDDONZI For This Useful Post:
HomeWood (05-24-2012)

05-25-2012, 07:16 AM	#7
Jonas Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wolfeboro, New Hampshire is my home, 24-7-365 Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,047 Thanked 336 Times in 189 Posts	What's your comfort zone as far as intruding on another boater's space? Personally I see no reason why I can't keep 300 or more feet away from most traffic most of the time.

05-25-2012, 09:37 AM	#8
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,373 Thanks: 2,423 Thanked 5,352 Times in 2,096 Posts	Even the Marine Patrol violates the 150' rule. Seen it happen many times especially in the Moultonborough area. Lets be honest here...Sometimes the 150' rule can be a bit ridiculous. Dan

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
gtagrip (05-25-2012)

05-25-2012, 09:50 AM	#9
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,552 Thanks: 222 Thanked 837 Times in 505 Posts	I plan on violating the 150' rule this weekend. I plan on never being further than 150' from my grill and my drink. In most other places, the 150' rule is unheard of. Personally I like it and obey it.

05-25-2012, 09:58 AM	#10
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Sometimes you have to break the rule. Say I just came out of the Weirs channel and behind me is a boat 20' away. We are both heading on the same course at the same no wake speed, I can never speed up. There will never be 150' between us. But if we start bending the rule in high speed crossing, passing or overtaking, we really start gutting the rule's real purpose. I remember people would always go through the graveyard on full plane even when another boat was coming. It doesn't look wide enough but people would always do it. I don't go up there that often, do they go through on plane? How wide is it, how wide is wide enough?

The Following User Says Thank You to gtagrip For This Useful Post:
Belmont Resident (05-29-2012)

05-28-2012, 11:45 AM	#15
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 611 Thanks: 126 Thanked 137 Times in 75 Posts	Thanks for the replies. Sometimes I feel like that person in the left lane barely doing the speed limit. I guess I'll relax a bit.