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yaker · 04-29-2005, 09:37 AM

Speed is thrilling – especially on water where there is great flexibility of movement – and in one's own flashy, high-powered showpiece. It's no wonder that boat owners twist their thinking and abandon objectivity to justify their indulgence in fast boats on small lakes like Winnipesaukee. The rationalizations have become familiar:
There are not enough deaths yet to restrict speed. I've earned the right to go over 145. If some people are scared, they should mount a yellow flag. Why shouldn't slow boats be the ones to be restricted? People's opinions don't matter – just the facts, even though there are no records kept. If boats aren't allowed to speed, the whole lakes region economy will collapse. There's no real justification for speed limits – just some elitists don't like us.
Woody (4-26-05) has the real answer to the power-vs.-paddle dispute; we need full-time MP staffing. JeffK has the reason: "There are examples of reckless boating all over the lake." And speeding is only one of many boating problems.
Speed limits won't stop all speeders anymore than they do on our highways, but at least they set a reasonable guideline. If the State ever takes responsibility for enforcing safe boating practices, speed limits will be a useful tool. Maybe limits will even help some high-speed addicts to realize, as stated by Great Idea, that "Go fast boats on Winni are ridiculous."

04-29-2005, 09:37 AM	#65
yaker Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Reconciling the Power vs. Paddle dispute Speed is thrilling – especially on water where there is great flexibility of movement – and in one's own flashy, high-powered showpiece. It's no wonder that boat owners twist their thinking and abandon objectivity to justify their indulgence in fast boats on small lakes like Winnipesaukee. The rationalizations have become familiar: There are not enough deaths yet to restrict speed. I've earned the right to go over 145. If some people are scared, they should mount a yellow flag. Why shouldn't slow boats be the ones to be restricted? People's opinions don't matter – just the facts, even though there are no records kept. If boats aren't allowed to speed, the whole lakes region economy will collapse. There's no real justification for speed limits – just some elitists don't like us. Woody (4-26-05) has the real answer to the power-vs.-paddle dispute; we need full-time MP staffing. JeffK has the reason: "There are examples of reckless boating all over the lake." And speeding is only one of many boating problems. Speed limits won't stop all speeders anymore than they do on our highways, but at least they set a reasonable guideline. If the State ever takes responsibility for enforcing safe boating practices, speed limits will be a useful tool. Maybe limits will even help some high-speed addicts to realize, as stated by Great Idea, that "Go fast boats on Winni are ridiculous." Last edited by yaker; 04-29-2005 at 09:42 AM.