Quote:
Originally Posted by JayDV
It sounds like most of us are in agreement about a few basic things:
1) Many people in today's society display and/or practice a lack of respect for others, their rights, properties or rules and laws.
2) Some of those people share boating priveleges with people that go above and beyond safe boating practices and cause some of them to be afraid.
3) There are several documented instances where poor boating skills or flagrant disrespect of the laws caused serious property and bodily damage or worse, loss of life.
4) Many of the existing rules/laws are difficult to enforce due to manpower, cost, weather conditions or boating traffic.
5) If enforcement officers were visible, then boaters would more than likely obey the boating rules/laws as written in the boating handbook.
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Jay...
I totally agree with your first statement. There does seem to be a lack of respect for the some of the rules, however it is from a very small percentage of boaters. Capt. Bonehead comes in all forms and makes up a very small percentage of the boaters that frequent Lake Winnipesaukee. These Boneheads drive all different kinds of boats... canoes, kayaks, rental boats, bass boats, family runabouts, hi-performance boats etc.
Bear Islander's argument is that if you make the lake unattractive to hi-performance boats by enacting speed limit then you will severely curtail Capt. Bonehead. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hi-Perfromance boats make up a very small percentage of the boats on Lake Winnipesaukee. Probably less than 5%. In one post Bear Islander actually reasoned that 10 150HP boats were better for the lake than one 1500HP boat. Kind of a very funny logic path coming from someone who stated on a number of occasions that he thinks the lake is overcrowded already. Most people who would purchase a 150HP boat are probably inexperienced entry level boaters who are more apt to commit mistakes and act like Boneheads... not because its intentional but because they just don't have the experieince to know any better. The guy who purchased the 1500HP boat more than likely has stepped up from a series of slower, smaller boats. Very few people have the means to just go out and plunk down $500K+ for one of those boats... and if you have the $$$ but your inexperienced? Good Luck trying to get a loan or insurance!
If the existing laws do little to deter Capt Bonehead because they aren't enforced enough due to manpower/resources, then how will an additonal law change things if the resources/manpower/$$$ aren't there? HB-847 does nothing to solve the problem of Capt. Bonehead. Boater Education combined with a greater MP presence is the key. A greater NHMP presence pretty much solves most issues especially in the busiest areas of the lake. The problem with that is cost... and of course NOBODY wants to foot the bill!
This is the first year that EVERYONE on driving a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee will be REQUIRED to have a Safe Boater Certificate. It will be interesting to see how the season goes.
Woodsy