speed limits on the Lake

Descant · 11-28-2021, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

Rep. Bordes, originally from NY, states in the LDS article that there are no speed limits in NY waters. What?! As one example Lake George has a 45/25 MPH speed limit and a safe passage law. Rep. Bordes might be either poorly prepared/informed or he is being deceitful.

Reps (and Senators) can get such info researched by Legislative Services. New reps are less likely to do this in advance, but after they have filed their request for a bill to be drafted. The bill filing period is very short, so a lot gets done later in the process. New reps are also less likely to go to the relevant committee chair to find out what has passed or failed over the years. I don't know anything about Rep. Bordes, just what I've learned about the process.

For me, NH stands alone on many issues. Doesn't matter what they do in the nanny states like NY.

If Lake George is wholly contained within a National Park (is it?), then the speed limit there may not be a NY law and Rep. Bordes could be technically correct.

sunset on the dock · 11-28-2021, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Reps (and Senators) can get such info researched by Legislative Services. New reps are less likely to do this in advance, but after they have filed their request for a bill to be drafted. The bill filing period is very short, so a lot gets done later in the process. New reps are also less likely to go to the relevant committee chair to find out what has passed or failed over the years. I don't know anything about Rep. Bordes, just what I've learned about the process.

For me, NH stands alone on many issues. Doesn't matter what they do in the nanny states like NY.

If Lake George is wholly contained within a National Park (is it?), then the speed limit there may not be a NY law and Rep. Bordes could be technically correct.

Many NY Lakes have a speed limit including some Finger Lakes. Maybe I'm wrong but I cannot find that Lake George is in a national park.

TheTimeTraveler · 11-28-2021, 03:07 PM

I believe it is best to leave the speed limit in place. Why? Noise pollution.

Those high powered speeding boats literally destroy the peace and tranquility that most of us currently enjoy without them.

There also other issues such as safety and excess (and wasted) fuel consumption.

TiltonBB · 11-28-2021, 04:40 PM

Speed has never been a safety problem on the lake. Most jet skis, and many power boats on the lake today, can and do regularly exceed the speed limit without incident.

It was a "feel good" law to begin with to pacify a certain crowd. The major accidents that have occurred on the lake in the past 25 to 30 years had nothing to do with speed. When those accidents occurred, the operators were within the current speed limits, even though the speed laws were not yet in place.

Even the go fast boats with the loud exhaust pass through an area, leaving a minimal wake, and are gone in a matter of minutes. And, the state has requirements to limit the maximum decibel output of a boat. I know people who had to remove their boat from the lake years ago because they were unable to muffle the exhaust sufficiently.

Noise and wakes from the wake board boats are a much bigger problem. The shoreline and dock damage are an issue but the loud stereos, designed, not for the occupants of the boat, but to blast music across the water, are a much more disruptive nuisance. And that is a problem when they set up in one area, blast music (sometimes complete with F Bombs) and seem oblivious to the sound travelling for miles. In one wake boarding excursion they can easily disrupt the peace of the occupants of 50 to 100 homes.

In my opinion that is a much greater problem than speed ever was or will be.

tis · 11-28-2021, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Speed has never been a safety problem on the lake. Most jet skis, and many power boats on the lake today, can and do regularly exceed the speed limit without incident.

It was a "feel good" law to begin with to pacify a certain crowd. The major accidents that have occurred on the lake in the past 25 to 30 years had nothing to do with speed. When those accidents occurred, the operators were within the current speed limits, even though the speed laws were not yet in place.

Even the go fast boats with the loud exhaust pass through an area, leaving a minimal wake, and are gone in a matter of minutes. And, the state has requirements to limit the maximum decibel output of a boat. I know people who had to remove their boat from the lake years ago because they were unable to muffle the exhaust sufficiently.

Noise and wakes from the wake board boats are a much bigger problem. The shoreline and dock damage are an issue but the loud stereos, designed, not for the occupants of the boat, but to blast music across the water, are a much more disruptive nuisance. And that is a problem when they set up in one area, blast music (sometimes complete with F Bombs) and seem oblivious to the sound travelling for miles. In one wake boarding excursion they can easily disrupt the peace of the occupants of 50 to 100 homes.

I my opinion that is a much greater problem than speed ever was or will be.

I totally agree with you.

Descant · 11-28-2021, 10:33 PM

Actually, the speed limit issue is posting a number of the same issues that were posted before when it first came up a decade ago. The Big Big Big benefit is it brings the Forum back to lake and lakes region and gives us something instead of Covid issues to talk about. I try not to read anybody's Covid posts but sometimes they creep into "new posts".

lakewinnie · 11-28-2021, 11:02 PM

I have said this before. In 30 years of boating on the lake, I have never been put in danger by boats going >45 mph. In the last 10 years, I have gotten bow-swamped, shaken and stirred a number of times by wakes from wakeboard boats.

And if I had to take one over the other, I would rather hear loud engine noise than loud rap music.

FlyingScot · 11-29-2021, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Speed has never been a safety problem on the lake. Most jet skis, and many power boats on the lake today, can and do regularly exceed the speed limit without incident.

It was a "feel good" law to begin with to pacify a certain crowd. The major accidents that have occurred on the lake in the past 25 to 30 years had nothing to do with speed. When those accidents occurred, the operators were within the current speed limits, even though the speed laws were not yet in place.

Even the go fast boats with the loud exhaust pass through an area, leaving a minimal wake, and are gone in a matter of minutes. And, the state has requirements to limit the maximum decibel output of a boat. I know people who had to remove their boat from the lake years ago because they were unable to muffle the exhaust sufficiently.

Noise and wakes from the wake board boats are a much bigger problem. The shoreline and dock damage are an issue but the loud stereos, designed, not for the occupants of the boat, but to blast music across the water, are a much more disruptive nuisance. And that is a problem when they set up in one area, blast music (sometimes complete with F Bombs) and seem oblivious to the sound travelling for miles. In one wake boarding excursion they can easily disrupt the peace of the occupants of 50 to 100 homes.

In my opinion that is a much greater problem than speed ever was or will be.

Agreed. But this is not an either/or question. We should keep the speed limit, for all the reasons mentioned by others...and rein in the wake boards

BroadHopper · 11-29-2021, 08:17 AM

Instead of reinventing the wheel like most legislative bodies tend to do and avoid history, why not adopt the tried and true rule #6?

I actually feel safer on the intercoastal and where coastal jurisdiction. You don't need speed limits, no-wake, and tons of other laws that are at times difficult to enforce, and I have seen them not able to stand up in courts.

Talk to any LEO, Rule #6 will be easier to enforce and maintain.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text...o%20account%3A

Dick · 02-23-2022, 09:44 PM

Did you know that almost identical wording of USCG rule 6 is in our NH statutes: RSA 270-D:2,X(a)

BroadHopper · 02-24-2022, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dick

Did you know that almost identical wording of USCG rule 6 is in our NH statutes: RSA 270-D:2,X(a)

And they are still trying to reinvent the wheel. Jeez!

MalibuResponse · 02-24-2022, 10:22 AM

I fully support removing the speed limit that is in place on the lake on the broads. The lake is to be enjoyed by all, even the folks that would like to go a bit faster than others. Just imagine how you would all feel if the state decided to regulate your kayaks and SUP's? If that were the case I would recomend that any floating vessel is subject to paying the NH registration fees and also that canoes/kayaks/SUP's are not to be further than 250' from shore. Ready, Go!

11-28-2021, 04:40 PM	#4
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,026 Thanks: 706 Thanked 2,208 Times in 940 Posts	Speed has never been a safety problem on the lake. Most jet skis, and many power boats on the lake today, can and do regularly exceed the speed limit without incident. It was a "feel good" law to begin with to pacify a certain crowd. The major accidents that have occurred on the lake in the past 25 to 30 years had nothing to do with speed. When those accidents occurred, the operators were within the current speed limits, even though the speed laws were not yet in place. Even the go fast boats with the loud exhaust pass through an area, leaving a minimal wake, and are gone in a matter of minutes. And, the state has requirements to limit the maximum decibel output of a boat. I know people who had to remove their boat from the lake years ago because they were unable to muffle the exhaust sufficiently. Noise and wakes from the wake board boats are a much bigger problem. The shoreline and dock damage are an issue but the loud stereos, designed, not for the occupants of the boat, but to blast music across the water, are a much more disruptive nuisance. And that is a problem when they set up in one area, blast music (sometimes complete with F Bombs) and seem oblivious to the sound travelling for miles. In one wake boarding excursion they can easily disrupt the peace of the occupants of 50 to 100 homes. In my opinion that is a much greater problem than speed ever was or will be. Last edited by TiltonBB; 11-28-2021 at 07:15 PM.

11-28-2021, 11:02 PM	#7
lakewinnie Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Moultonborough and CT Posts: 73 Thanks: 36 Thanked 59 Times in 24 Posts	Speed versus wakes I have said this before. In 30 years of boating on the lake, I have never been put in danger by boats going >45 mph. In the last 10 years, I have gotten bow-swamped, shaken and stirred a number of times by wakes from wakeboard boats. And if I had to take one over the other, I would rather hear loud engine noise than loud rap music.

11-29-2021, 08:17 AM	#9
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,591 Thanks: 3,232 Thanked 1,107 Times in 797 Posts	USCG Rule #6 Instead of reinventing the wheel like most legislative bodies tend to do and avoid history, why not adopt the tried and true rule #6? I actually feel safer on the intercoastal and where coastal jurisdiction. You don't need speed limits, no-wake, and tons of other laws that are at times difficult to enforce, and I have seen them not able to stand up in courts. Talk to any LEO, Rule #6 will be easier to enforce and maintain. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text...o%20account%3A __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

02-23-2022, 09:44 PM	#10
Dick Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Cute village in New Hampshire Posts: 36 Thanks: 1 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Did you know that almost identical wording of USCG rule 6 is in our NH statutes: RSA 270-D:2,X(a) __________________ We can achieve only that which we "see" in our vision, believe is possible, and expect to manifest.

11-28-2021, 03:07 PM	#3
TheTimeTraveler Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 899 Thanks: 284 Thanked 291 Times in 181 Posts	I believe it is best to leave the speed limit in place. Why? Noise pollution. Those high powered speeding boats literally destroy the peace and tranquility that most of us currently enjoy without them. There also other issues such as safety and excess (and wasted) fuel consumption.

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11-28-2021, 10:33 PM	#6
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,413 Thanks: 1,365 Thanked 1,636 Times in 1,068 Posts	Speed vs ??? Actually, the speed limit issue is posting a number of the same issues that were posted before when it first came up a decade ago. The Big Big Big benefit is it brings the Forum back to lake and lakes region and gives us something instead of Covid issues to talk about. I try not to read anybody's Covid posts but sometimes they creep into "new posts".

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02-24-2022, 10:22 AM	#12
MalibuResponse Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 16 Thanks: 4 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	I fully support removing the speed limit that is in place on the lake on the broads. The lake is to be enjoyed by all, even the folks that would like to go a bit faster than others. Just imagine how you would all feel if the state decided to regulate your kayaks and SUP's? If that were the case I would recomend that any floating vessel is subject to paying the NH registration fees and also that canoes/kayaks/SUP's are not to be further than 250' from shore. Ready, Go!