HB137 Wakeboat Regulation

[The Real BigGuy]

Well written! I know changes have been made in how wakesurfing boats are built & powered but I still get a chill up my spine when I see people surfing so close to the boat, and in my mind, the prop.


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[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

Well written! I know changes have been made in how wakesurfing boats are built & powered but I still get a chill up my spine when I see people surfing so close to the boat, and in my mind, the prop.


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These are almost always inboard setups, there is no outdrive. Coming in contact with the prop would almost take highly intentional action. Not saying it is impossible, but even a clueless operator backing down to try and pick up someone in the water has a low probability of causing any harm.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

These are almost always inboard setups, there is no outdrive. Coming in contact with the prop would almost take highly intentional action. Not saying it is impossible, but even a clueless operator backing down to try and pick up someone in the water has a low probability of causing any harm.

You would basically have to try to swim under a moving wakeboard boat to catch a moving prop. They are quite safe, unlike a stern drive or outboard.

[TiltonBB]

The committee seems heavily weighted towards people who have a vested financial interested in promoting the sport.

I didn't see anyone on the list from the "Peace and Quiet Association"

Hmmmmm..............

[tis]

I totally agree. Use them from your house in a straight line to somewhere. Don't go round and round a smaller area. The waves are unbelievable. So is some of the music. A distance from the shore would help but the problem is nobody will pay any attention to it.

[iw8surf]

Originally Posted by tis

I totally agree. Use them from your house in a straight line to somewhere. Don't go round and round a smaller area. The waves are unbelievable. So is some of the music. A distance from the shore would help but the problem is nobody will pay any attention to it.

This has already been figured out scientifically. NH isn't the first state to go down this road. Stay minimum 250 feet from shore, keep the music at a respectable level, go in straight lines and don't power turn. It really isn't that difficult at all. Going straight the waves die down over distance and arnt a problem, do circles and the waves converge together and cause issues. Not to mention going straights just better for your "wave".

Power turning should be an unwritten rule for everyone, surfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, barefoot etc. There is zero reason to power turn to pick someone up except in case of emergency.

[tis]

Originally Posted by iw8surf

This has already been figured out scientifically. NH isn't the first state to go down this road. Stay minimum 250 feet from shore, keep the music at a respectable level, go in straight lines and don't power turn. It really isn't that difficult at all. Going straight the waves die down over distance and arnt a problem, do circles and the waves converge together and cause issues. Not to mention going straights just better for your "wave".

Power turning should be an unwritten rule for everyone, surfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, barefoot etc. There is zero reason to power turn to pick someone up except in case of emergency.

Totally agree, except, remember people don't know what a wake is and that 150 feet from anything you don't make a wake.

[AttentiontoDetail]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

The committee seems heavily weighted towards people who have a vested financial interested in promoting the sport.

I didn't see anyone on the list from the "Peace and Quiet Association"

Hmmmmm..............

6 of 15 people is heavily weighted? I see at least a more balanced representation than the bill was originally written (zero from wake community), due to lobbying efforts.

[Descant]

Whatever your thoughts, telling us on the Forum won't get anything on the record. Cut and paste your comments and mail to the Reps/Senator on the commission. Their emails are on www.NH.gov.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by AttentiontoDetail

6 of 15 people is heavily weighted? I see at least a more balanced representation than the bill was originally written (zero from wake community), due to lobbying efforts.

4 of the 15 are government employees doing their job. That leaves 6 of 11. Furthermore, most of those 6 don't just like wake boards, they actually make money off of wake board sales. So yes, I'd say 6 reps for the tiny wake board industry is too many for many of us to view the composition as fair

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by AttentiontoDetail

6 of 15 people is heavily weighted? I see at least a more balanced representation than the bill was originally written (zero from wake community), due to lobbying efforts.

Well, to put it another way: You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that because of their financial interest a good portion of those on the committee already know how they will vote and which way they will try to steer the discussion.

Can you look at any of those names and tell me any that are predetermined to vote against wake boats?

Yes, I would say the committee is weighted towards promoting wake boats.

[fatlazyless]

Established in about 1970, the NH boat dealer businesses have had the NH Marine Trades Assoc., with a mailing address in Laconia, as their go-to political action committee that funnels a lot of political donations to many different state senators-24 and state representatives-400.

Political donations send a lot stronger message than constituent email correspondence. As that old saying goes ...... money definitely talks! ..... and yadda yadda .... walks!

[tis]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Well, to put it another way: You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that because of their financial interest a good portion of those on the committee already know how they will vote and which way they will try to steer the discussion.

Can you look at any of those names and tell me any that are predetermined to vote against wake boats?

Yes, I would say the committee is weighted towards promoting wake boats.

But they don't want to ban them do they? I don't think that should happen but I do think they should be regulated. Every time I say something like that I hate it because I hate regulations. If people were just considerate and used their heads we wouldn't needs all the rules and regulations and laws we have today. But unfortunately------