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Bizer · 03-14-2006, 01:50 PM

Earlier in this thread, there was talk about GPS and a magnetic compass. No one pointed out that each device measures a different thing. A compass tells you which way your boat is pointed. A GPS tells you your direction of motion. To take an extreme example: If your boat is pointing toward the North Star, you compass will say you are pointed (approximately) north. If you’re in reverse and going backwards, your GPS will tell you that you are heading south. A GPS has no idea which way you are pointed, it only knows its position.

One question that I have concerns NO-WAKE areas. In general, all boats must slow to NO-WAKE speed (under six MPH) when within 150 feet of shore, another boat, swimmers, etc. Which of the following (if any) are authorized exceptions to the NO-WAKE rule on Winnipesaukee?
· (A) It’s 5:57 pm and you’re in a rush to get to Meredith Center for your 6 pm dinner reservations so you zip through the NO-WAKE zone so you’re not late.
· (B) Your daughter is unconscious and you zip through the NO-WAKE zone in Meredith Center to get medical attention.
· (C) Another boat is illegally fishing in the channel between Governors Island and Eagle Island and you want to get around them quickly.
· (D) You’re in the Graveyard Channel which is about one half mile long and another boat is approaching you at high speed. Neither boat can leave the channel for fear of hitting rocks. Each boat may continue “on plane” while passing as long as each keeps to the right.
· (E) You’re in the Graveyard Channel and you catch up to a boat which is chugging along at 5 MPH. It’s OK to pass him as he will take another 8 minutes to clear the channel.
· (F) Your wife wants to water ski, but she can only start while sitting on your dock. Your rope is the standard 75 feet, but there’s no way she can ski at 6 MPH until you get beyond 150 feet. It’s OK to go faster than 6 MPH within 150 feet of shore as long as you head away from the shore and that there are no other boats within 150 feet.
· (G) You’re traveling from Wolfeboro to Meredith across The Broads at 31 MPH. You overtake another boat going in the same direction at 29 MPH. It’s OK to pass near them because the difference in your speeds is only 2 MPH.

03-14-2006, 01:50 PM	#11
Bizer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 336 Thanks: 0 Thanked 243 Times in 82 Posts	GPS, Compass and NO-WAKE Earlier in this thread, there was talk about GPS and a magnetic compass. No one pointed out that each device measures a different thing. A compass tells you which way your boat is pointed. A GPS tells you your direction of motion. To take an extreme example: If your boat is pointing toward the North Star, you compass will say you are pointed (approximately) north. If you’re in reverse and going backwards, your GPS will tell you that you are heading south. A GPS has no idea which way you are pointed, it only knows its position. One question that I have concerns NO-WAKE areas. In general, all boats must slow to NO-WAKE speed (under six MPH) when within 150 feet of shore, another boat, swimmers, etc. Which of the following (if any) are authorized exceptions to the NO-WAKE rule on Winnipesaukee? · (A) It’s 5:57 pm and you’re in a rush to get to Meredith Center for your 6 pm dinner reservations so you zip through the NO-WAKE zone so you’re not late. · (B) Your daughter is unconscious and you zip through the NO-WAKE zone in Meredith Center to get medical attention. · (C) Another boat is illegally fishing in the channel between Governors Island and Eagle Island and you want to get around them quickly. · (D) You’re in the Graveyard Channel which is about one half mile long and another boat is approaching you at high speed. Neither boat can leave the channel for fear of hitting rocks. Each boat may continue “on plane” while passing as long as each keeps to the right. · (E) You’re in the Graveyard Channel and you catch up to a boat which is chugging along at 5 MPH. It’s OK to pass him as he will take another 8 minutes to clear the channel. · (F) Your wife wants to water ski, but she can only start while sitting on your dock. Your rope is the standard 75 feet, but there’s no way she can ski at 6 MPH until you get beyond 150 feet. It’s OK to go faster than 6 MPH within 150 feet of shore as long as you head away from the shore and that there are no other boats within 150 feet. · (G) You’re traveling from Wolfeboro to Meredith across The Broads at 31 MPH. You overtake another boat going in the same direction at 29 MPH. It’s OK to pass near them because the difference in your speeds is only 2 MPH.