should we also get rid of all speed limits on roads. it seems that some limit is logical . Maybe the debate should be about the number not whether we should have any rules

ITD

Your missing the point. A speed limit is not what the majority want. What they want is those "big, loud, gas guzzling, mine is bigger than yours" boats off of the lake. A speed limit is what they will use as the way to do it. Nobody is going to spend a small fortune to keep a muscle boat on a lake with a 45 mph limit.

And after the speed limit passes they will want a horse power limit, or some other method, to get the cabin cruisers off the lake.

If you really think it can't happen read the list of NH lakes with speed and or horsepower limits. It's about 1 in 3.

There is no poll/data ITD
 

that supports this. Unfortunately we go through this every year. This will never pass and those who want it know it. It is simple feel good legislation wishfull thinking.

As I said earlier I thought the mandatory boater education was supposed to help this situation. Was that just another feel good bill that was passed???

All we want is courtesy
 

I think the only thing that most people can agree on is that we want courtesy. The best way to get that, is to give it. A 20' runabout going 30 mph past someone in a canoe fishing on a quiet morning, even at 150', is going to be more annoying than a cigarette boat going 70 mph across the broads with no one else in site. Regardless of the boat type: jetski, cruiser, kayak, runabout, or "offshore", each can be driven in a way to not bother others, or with total disregard for anyone and everyone. After about 5 posts, these threads get pretty damned repetative, with not much new information added. A little courtesy goes a long way. Climbing off my soapbox now...

With all the discussion pro and con here is my 2 cents.

A speed limit may have some and I say some merit but is it the only answer?

With the various threads on "Go Fast", Off Shore, Ocean Boats, Large Cruisers etc have we forgotten that the PWC can achieve speeds in excess of 60 MPH? So it is not the size or HP of the boat that can get up an go like H--- across any body of water.

My current boat cannot make it to 45MPH. When I bought a previous new boat back in 93 I declined the larger engine because I "gave up drag racing". But that was a personal choice. Don't get me wrong I like speed but there is a time and place for it. That is what NASCAR provides for car enthusiasts at NHIS and other smaller tracks around New England. Is the lake an open race track? Some believe that is the case so we are seeing a way to control it being put forth in the NH Legislature.

I am not convinced that a speed limit is the right answer but it may be the only choice unless someone can come up with a better one.

The whole situation on Winni and much smaller lakes is the same.
It is just proportional as it relates to the size of the lake not the individual boats. I want everyone to enjoy the lakes in our wonderful state and we have to do it safely and fairly.

I feel that rude and dangerous operation is the real root of the problem but how do we get that resolved? Do we put 10 MP's to every 100 boats on our waters? That is ludicris of course.

I do not have a definitive answer but we all should look at the whole picture on both sides of the issue and addresses the real problem as seen by a majority of us. Let the legislators know your feelings. If you cannot got to the hearing send a letter. It is your right to express your opinion.

Sorry I did 25 cents worth not 2.

Take The Speed Limit Poll!
 

Please see the following email sent to the legislation's author Represtative James Pilliod MD from Belmont, with carbon copies to the other legislators representing Alton. I also forwarded this to Representative Currier, vice-chairman of the committee conducting the hearing urging that the legislation not be passed.

I hope others will take the time to contact the committee if they can not attend the hearing, and also contact the legislators from your area.

Dear Representative Pilliod:

As an avid boater and full time resident of the Lakes Region (Alton Bay), I feel compelled to write to you as the bill's sponsor, with carbon copies to the other Representatives and the Senator for my town.

There is no question that Lake Winnipesaukee can get crowded in the summertime. There is also no question that there are some boaters who will drive their boats too fast for conditions.

My concern is that you are proposing legislation establishing a speed limit that will be next to impossible to enforce. In the vehicular world, we have radar equipped police cars with officers trained in the use of the radar equipment. We also have unmarked police cars that can blend into the flow of traffic and "clock" a speeding automobile.

My boat on its best day is capable of reaching near the forty mile per hour speed mark. I normally cruise somewhere between twenty-five and thirty miles per hour. What I do not find is that I am constantly being "blown out of the water" by boats operating at a high rate of speed. What I do find is other boats that do not adhere to established regulations, most notably the "150 foot" rule.

A new regulation is not what is needed on Lake Winnipesaukee, especially one that is virtually unenforceable. What is needed is more education and more enforcement of existing regulations.

What I find very disappointing is that you are not sponsoring any companion legislation that would allow the Department of Safety's Marine Patrol additional funds for the purchase of radar guns (several hundred dollars each, I'm sure), additional funds for the training of Marine Patrol officers in the use of the radar guns, and additional funds for additional personnel to enforce this legislation.

New Hampshire's money can be better spent by increasing boater education and the ability for the Marine Patrol to better enforce the regulations that are already on the books.

In a nutshell: EDUCATE, not regulate.

Representative Pilliod, I urge you to withdraw your legislation.

To Representatives Boyce, Allen, Clark, Millham, Thomas, and Whalley: I urge you to vote "No" if this bill makes it out of committee and onto the floor.

To Senator Boyce: I urge you to contact Representative Pilliod, asking him to withdraw the legislation and to contact the other Representatives from Alton to vote "No" if this bill makes it to the floor.

To all addresses, I thank you for your time and your consideration.


Signed electronically


David M. Cumming

Thanks to Island Girl for the good links to the NH Legislative sites. Just Sold, looks like we are on about the same page here regarding contacting your legislators. If we just sit hear on the forum and gripe, those making the decisions will not know our opinion. Pro or con, contact them before the hearing!!!!!!

speed
 

Did you ever see a 35ft. cruiser going 20mph -30mph the wake is hugh. The faster the boat the smaller the wake,just a thought. Signs helping people remember, THINK SAFTY and BE COURTEOUS at gas docks and boat ramps as a reminder, that we all want to enjoy the lake.

A 35ft. cruiser will not go 20-30MPH on this lake for long before its owner will trailer it over to Sebago. Once the people over at Sebago get fed up with them like we have, these boats will be forced out to the ocean where they belong. That's the whole idea. People like you and me (assuming you can't afford one of these monsters either) will be able to take our families out on the lake again.

I heard on the news that there is so much interest that they are splitting up the hearing into two separate sessions. Those who are in favor of the bill and a speed limit should show at the above time. Those that are against should show up at 2PM.

upthesaukee is right
 

The answer to these issues is better education and enforcement. Interesting comments from the director of marine patrol in an interview with NHPR this past spring. http://nhpr.org/view_content/6630/

Let's focus on the behavior that causes the problems
 

I've been boating on the lake for 10 years now. I've seen people do all sorts of stupid boating behavior, mostly involving excess speeds closer than 150 ft. I'm sure others on this forum have longer boating experience on the lake than I, but not once have I had a problem because someone was going faster than 45 mph. I have seen others going fast but usually at a significant distance. My boat (22 ft) tops out at about 55. I will occassionally push it to the limit when I am a good distance from any obstacles. It's fun. After a couple of minutes I cut back to a more sedate crusing speed.
As others have pointed out, it's the reckless behavior, not the speed. I will conceed that the combination of bad behavior and speed can make a bad situation worse. However, a high speed pass through the broads early in the day is not inherently dangerous to anyone. I would bet that going out in a canoe or rowboat without a life jacket has caused more fatalities without any other boat even being involved. Can we figure out some type of legislation to prevent that stupid behavior? (Off topic - and snowmobilers that don't know the lake going out drunk late at night and drowning?)
Almost every time I can think of someone doing something dangerous on the lake I was aware that they were probably breaking an already existing law. Why don't we focus on education and enforcement of existing laws before we decide we have to regulate the fun out of everyone's lives.

What does a SL accomplish ?
 

Read the title of this post and think. A SL accomplishes no more that it can enforce, perhaps a SL of 45 mph. For some this is a potential means to an end, and I just wish they would be more forthcoming and admit it. For others they believe (I think mistakenly) it'll have some effect on safety. Let me address this for a moment ...

Certainly excess speed (?? hmmm excess ??) can produce tragic results, sometimes involving the innocent users of the lake. Othertimes it may just be annoying. I ask,what is what is excessive speed* ... can it be defined be a single number ? In our automotive life we see many SL's, those appropriate for the town and those appropriate (? well let's not argue this for a moment ?) for our interstates. So is the lake a town road or a highway ? Is a 45 mph limit appropriate for this town/highway ? I believe the lake is neither town nor interstate, at times it's more of the former (in areas and at times) and at the same time more of the latter (in other areas). A one-fix-fits-all solution is just wrong IMHO, unless you agree that restriction for all must serve the most restrictive case (so much for liberty). I there any data that supports that a SL, realistically enforced, would have any real effect on the lake ? I believe (you can disagree, hopefully a rational discussion may ensue) that people who operate a boat w/o due regard to other's won't be much changed by a SL, same as SL's haven't changed the speed on our highways. I believe that more enforcement, at those places and times where speed is an issue, would have a much more benefittial effect than would any SL. Let me be more upfront. Congestion is the real problem, speed where there is "high" congestion is the real issue. The effect of a MP boat in those high traffic areas is not to be underestimated. Is a rule change really required ? What would it (purportedly) solve ? Would "we" be better server by an MP boat (not that I care much for this solution) at the congestion points ? Would a lake-wide SL really do any better or could "we" come up with a more rational concept ??

Moreover I really think it's time to think about how "we" approach such things. It seems that "we" are tending towards a "Gov't restricts this bad thing" w/o thinking whether such approaches are the best to affect a change or whether a rule change will really change anything. I dunno, perhaps it's the late hour, but I'm getting dismayed at our collective ability to solve problems (what is our problem in this case ?) w/o invoking the far reaching and non-descrimanting powers of gov't.

*Excessive speed - so is 55 mph excessive on the highway ? 65 mph ?? OR is the problem the one of letting pretty much any idiot behind the wheel ??? Should we all drive slow so the morons amongst us be safe at any speed ??? Are they really safe at 55 ??? Are "we" given that "they" are on the road ????? What is the real problem anyway ??????

Relevance of speed and accidents
 

Someone please show me statisticaly that speed is the culprit for any detrimental effects on the lake ..YOU CANT
There are more adverse effects from boats leaving large wakes or uneducated boaters ..
Where did the 45 number come from a hat ? 45 is maximum wake speed for a lot of boats
25 at night leaves the bow of most boats high in the air impairing visibility.
This is not well thought out at all.

Night time SL
 

Sorry FLL, I took this post as one to debate the nightime vs daytime aspects of a SL. Answering your question above I believe the MP estimated the speed of the Baja at about 27 MPH, not really a different velocity than the proposed 25 mph. The problem was not one of, hmmm, speed but rather that of (IMHO) observability, in this case (IMHO) limited by the driver's state (IMHO, have I protected Don enough here) not speed. SLs won't protect us from bad helmsman not matter what people say.

This said, the discussion of night time vs day time SLs are 2 different issues and should be approached as such. As for a 25 mph night limit ... Please make your case. I'm not against SLs as a rule, but there must be good reasoning & evidence for them .............

A few replies from Reps
 

I have already heard from two representatives to whom I sent my email this morning. Both of them agree that while there is certainly cause for concern about boating conditions on Winnipesaukee, establishing a speed limit is not currently the best solution, nor is it an enforceable solution.

I am impressed that two of the nine legislators to whom I sent the email have already responded in less than twelve hours, and on a weekend.

Please utilize the links that Island Girl has provided to find out who you can contact (either pro or con) and why you feel this way. (You're right Mee-n-Mac, we need to act responsibly, educate thoroughly, and stop regulating for lack of any other kind of effort to solve a problem.).

05-0103

03/01

HOUSE BILL 162

AN ACT establishing boating speed limits for Lake Winnipesaukee.

SPONSORS: Rep. Pilliod, Belk 5

COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development


This bill establishes boating speed limits for Lake Winnipesaukee.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

• • • • • • 05-0103

03/01




AN ACT establishing boating speed limits for Lake Winnipesaukee.


1 New Section; Restrictions on Boating; Lake Winnipesaukee. Amend RSA 270 by inserting after section 130 the following new section:

270:131 Lake Winnipesaukee. No person shall use or operate any powerboat, motorboat, or boat equipped with any type of power motor at a rate of speed exceeding 45 miles per hour during daylight hours and 25 miles per hour during night hours on the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. As used in this section, “daylight hours” means the hours between 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset and “night hours” means the hours 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2006.

Ya Ya ...Old News....And that was a terrible thing!...There have been many accidents on the lake... Sail boats turn over, Bass boats taking a big wave and sinking, go fast boats hooking and sinking, jet skis colliding ,people diving in and hitting there head ect... and many collisions due to many factors ..Most all of these were not caused by speed alone.. Its operator error!! and the MPs are out there to enforce the law and watch for safety issues ...putting a 45 mph speed limit or any speed limit will not fix 98% of the causes of most accidents. If we need to make areas of the lake slower post no wake zones in those areas...
My .02
Bob
(LIVE FREE OR DIE!)

Here is how the bill started
 

Regardless of your position on this, I too urge all of you to write your reps and senator. The ones I've written to have been very responsive, and echo the sentiments that upthesaukee received.

Even if you aren't a "resident", I think they would welcome your opinion.

By the way, here's a link to boating accident statistics (USCG)

USCG 2003 statistics show that the top three causes of boating accidents were operator inattention, careless / reckless operation and operator inexperience. These causes equaled over 43% of all reported accidents. Only 10% or so were caused by excessive speed (which could be 15mph depending on the circumstances). Of the total number of fatalities, 82% were not wearing life jackets. Alcohol was involved in 31% of all boating fatalities. Based on the statistics, it seems that there are other areas of significance to focus on.

What about a license?
 

Since many accidents were caused by operator inattention, carelessness or inexperience, how do people feel about an operator's license (not a certificate) in which an individual would need to pass a basic boating operation test as well the current written test? I'm not necessarily advocating this, just curious. I know I would feel more confident behind the wheel if I took a few lessons.

Rose

I don't think that speed limits and or driving license would be needed.
Most people I know, that operate boats on the lakes, already have a drivers license. However, we all know how some handle themselves on the roads.
Education and Experiance is needed! We all need to have a different attitude tords operating on the lakes. Slow down in tight situations, and be alert, and curtious to the other guy near you. Safety for yourself and the loved ones and passengers you have on board.
God knows we have enough regulations on the books today, we need no more.
A safe cruise, is a good cruise. All's well, that ends well!

CEP

Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics
 

Paugus Bay Resident posted a great link to statistical data on accidents. Although I personally feel that you can’t address a speed limit until “on the books” laws are better enforced, the statistic that you can’t ignore (and in my opinion is the most important) is the following:

Of the fatalities in 2003, when the status of “Boat Operator Instruction” was known, 77% of the fatalities were because the parties involved had “None”.

Hipocrit
 

The fellow who owns the boat yard that wants this bill is also touting that his boat yard is some enviromental yard stick ..Just the opposite his boat yard is a DUMP with leaking engine blocks , a barrel where they burn trash is going 24/7.There are people living in trailers on the property..
I live just up the shore from this eyesore and there is a constant slick of oil floating buy ..
Yet he claims hes leading the charge for eviro sensitive boat yards :rolleye2: :rolleye2:
His yard is also a sailboat mecca on the lake and for some reason the sailboaters cant get along with the powerboaters..When in fact I feel the sailboaters can be a great hazard .. When they are leaving the channel from this boat yard they must stick to the wrong side of the channel due to shallow water , sometimes not giving way ..People unfamiliar with this routine are often confused and or forced out of the channel to make way for the big sailboats that are half out of control from there lack of power to size..
Fast power boats create no hazard whatsoever for sailboats ..Its just that they dont feel you are as eviromentaly concious as them and you should mend your ways .Or they feel annoyed that you have driven by them on their tranquil journey around golden pond :rolleye2: . This is , "as it turns out" is what the true motive of the person pushing for this bill ..
Take a ride by this boat yard and see for yourself ..

I have a small (26ft.), single engine express cruiser that will not (quite) reach the proposed 45 MPH speed limit, so I personally have no axe to grind in this matter.

However, with that said and for technical reasons, I do not believe that enforcement of the 45 MPH speed limit is as easy as some of you seeem to think because:

:eek: Fiberglass boats make poor radar targets at best; fiberglass does not reflect radar signals very well. This is why companies make and sell radar reflecters for ocean-going boats that are likely to need to operate in heavy fog!

:( So far as I'm aware, hand-held radar guns are intended to compare the speed of an on-coming target to a stationary position (the parked cruiser). I strongly suspect that the readings would be heavily effected by the relative speeds and courses of the MP boat and whatever they were targeting. Getting accurate readings would seem to require a much more sophisticated and expensive technology! (Perhaps Skip could weigh in on this?)

:rolleye1: Unless we all start carrying some sort of transponder, the MP boat would need to be close enough to the offending boat to either read the bow numbers or chase it down.

Safe operating speed is determined by circumstances; absolute speed has nothing to do with it! There are plenty of situations in which my 43 MPH top end would constitute reckless operation. And, if an MP officer observes a boat being operated in an unsafe manner, he already has the legal basis to ticket the operator; no further laws are needed!

What's really needed on the lake are more common sense and courtesy, which are difficult to legislate. IMHO, this speed limit is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to drive performance boats off the lake!

Silver Duck

Statistics? Rowboats, canoes, kayaks, sailboats...are the victims!
 

Look at Washington state statistics. They have an equal number of registered hunters and boaters. There, hunting is safer than boating! http://www.tdn.com/articles/2005/01/...day/news02.txt1) Director Barrett is already quoted as saying the MPs can't enforce the proposed law -- see b8caster's http://nhpr.org/view_content/6630/

2) NH laws expect voluntary compliance -- and largely gets it.

3) Director Barrett does not address a VASCAR approach.
So how is this a big deal? :confused:

How many small boaters -- the victims in most instances -- are NOT exempt from Boat Operator Instruction?

I'd fully expect the majority of fatalities to have had "None".

No Enforcement Required
 

This law does not require ANY enforcement!

When owners of boats that can go 90mph are looking for a lake to visit or dock their boat at they will NOT choose a lake with a 45mph speed limit. So no new fast boats will come to lake winni.

Some die hard owners of fast boats on the lake may stay. But year by year there will be fewer and fewer fast boats on the lake. All this without the Marine Patrol writing even one ticket.

There will be people that go 50 or 60 on the lake and get away with it. Just like people go 75 or 85 on RT93 and usually get away with it. But nobody goes 130 on RT 93 and nobody will be going 90 on the lake anymore.

If you read the article about the people that came up with this legislation you will find that they are already talking about horse power limits.

Per Islander's post, I guess the real purpose of this speed limit is no longer thinly veiled, but out in the open!

Some things to consider
 

If as Islander states, that gradually boaters will gravitate away from the lake due to speed limits or other restrictions, it makes sense that the lake will become less attractive to people with the means to purchase and operate high performance and or luxury boats. What economic impact will that have on the lakes region businesses?(marinas,construction companies boatyards,etc).What impact could it have on the values of properties surrounding the lake. I doubt that people will choose to change the way they enjoy their free time on the water. They may decide to change where they live and or play. Seems to me that the ability to operate these types of boats on the lake is what draws a major amount of the big money to the lakes region. I dont own or operate a large pleasure boat but I dont underestimate how much money people that do must pump into the local economy. Just some things to think about.

Call your legislator
 

Many of your legislators have their Concord emails listed, not their home emails. If you really want to send a message, I suggest you call them at
home. Most reps don't mind and are happy to get input from voters. Many live
off the lake and value your thoughts. I would never rely on email to send a message.
Call them at home!

b8tcaster

Actually I think you are 180 degrees off on your theory. The big boats are probably 2% of the boats on the lake. The loss of their income will be negligible. And many many people will find the lake a more attractive place WITHOUT performance boats. I will!

Anyway property values on the lake are out of site, a few loud boats leaving the community is not going to change that.

And think about this, 35% of the people answering the poll want a speed limit. And this is a BOATING FORUM. I'm sure a speed limit poll on the Three Mile Island Forum would be 99% for a speed limit.

Islander,

How do you propose people with performance boats deal with the decreased value of boats they purchased prior to a speed limit law? What about marinas with new (and used) inventory that is no longer marketable on the lake? The economic implications are no quite so simplistic.

Also, you mentioned "the big boats are probably 2%", don't know if that's true, but not only big boats are effected. There are plenty of boats in the 21 - 25 foot range that are capable of speeds in the high 60s and 70s. A 24-foot HTM cat with reasonable HP will do 80+. A 20-foot Baja Outlaw with a 7.3L will run in the 60s. An Donzi Sweet 16 will be up there too. Jees, 10 years ago, I had an 18 foot Stingray bowrider that would run in the high 50s.

And least we forget our jet skiing brethren.

Size, al least in this case ;) , is irrelevant.

Islander needs to rethink, me thinks...
 

View Poll Results:
How do you feel about a speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee?

I strongly feel the state should implement a 45 mph speed limit! (14) 28.57%

I think a speed limit on certain parts of the lake might be appropriate, perhaps higher than 45mph. (3) 6.12%

I don’t care either way. (1) 2.04%

I don’t think we need a speed limit. (8) 16.33%

I am strongly opposed to any speed limit on the lake! (23) 46.94%


Not impressed with your interpretation of the poll.

17 were for some kind of a speed limit and 31 were against some kind of a speed limit.

"Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts", as Joe Friday would say. :D

If the law passes performance boat will not loose any value. But they will have to sell them somewhere else, the market on the lake will be poor.

The boats you talk about are not the norm. Bowriders in the 150 to 250 HP is the norm. Only a small percentage of boats on the lake will do over 60.

There must be over a thousand boats on the islands, but very very few performance boats. They are not the best thing to use when you need to run out for a quart of milk.

28.57% + 6.12% is 35%. These people voted for at least some kind of speed limit.

Less than 50% are "strongly opposed". And again this is from people in a BOATING FORUM!!!

Acres, if you can't see how boater education (like driver education for cars and rider education for motorcycles/snowmobiles) plays a significant role in preventing, reducing or avoiding situations where fatalities or injuries could occur (like safe operation and speeding which, in case you haven't noticed, happens to be the subject of this thread), it probably wouldn't make much sense to try to explain it.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

How could a speed limit on the lake change the value of a high performance boat? Put it on a trailer and sell it on Cape Cod, Long Island, Miami, Key West ect. OK you will be out the transportation charges.

With all due respect I think you are completely wrong with your "majority rules" issue. Certainly in some aspects, as elections, that is what the outcome shall be based on, however, our society is also based on personal freedoms. Our country was based, and fought for, in the belief of personal freedoms. We have a Bill of Rights that is about freedom.

I do not particularly care for sailboats, but I will certainly defend someone's right to own and enjoy it. Where do I have the right to say that someone else may not enjoy their passion, just because I enjoy something different? I don't, and neither do you.

Someone can be just as irresponsible in a canoe, as one of those "ceegar" boats. This entire issue of the lake is an issue of responsibility and accountability for one's own actions irregardless of what type of boat they may choose to enjoy.

If someone goes by you in one of those boats that you obviously detest so much, how long do you really hear it, thirty seconds, maybe a minute, then it's gone. The problem, Bear Lover, is that your own distaste for this particular type of boat has brought you to the point of believing in the concept of "if I don't like it, you can't do it". That is wrong. And it would be just as wrong if the person operating that big loud boat wanted to ban you from the lake. Life is about compromise. And compromise is the only concept that will keep this speed issue from becoming very ugly. We don't need speed limits, what we need is for people to be courteous and respectful of each other, and recognize that everyone has the same right to enjoy the lake in the manner that they may choose, not a choice forced upon them by others. The next time you want to talk about banning a certain type of boat, think of how you would feel if someone wanted to ban you, just because they did not like the vessel that you chose to own and enjoy.

Of all the different groups of boaters, in my neck of the woods, it is the "Offshore" crowd that is without question the most courteous on the water. Our local law enforcement will attest to that.

The "Offshore" community has raised millions and millions of dollars for charities via sanctioned races and Poker Runs, and Fun Runs. They are "good people". Someday you might consider stepping down from your soapbox and actually try to get to know some, or better yet, take a ride in one of those boats. I have not yet met anyone who has not enjoyed it.

Remember, do unto others.......FormulaOutlaw

Think about this: 70% of the people don't want a speed limit.

I must have missed something in "Life 101". Since when is a "thrill" a bad thing? If you have reached a point in your life that either nothing thrills you, or you have no interest in thrill, I feel very sorry for you. Thrill is a good thing, whether it is boating, or going to a good movie.

It's all about the fun of something. Slower does not automatically equate to safer. I'd trust a sober experienced Captain running 100 mph with a vessel that is capable of safely doing that speed, before I'd trust a drunk running 25 mph in an eighteen foot bowrider.

It's all about responsibility and accountability for one's actions. It's just that simple. Nothing more.