Final Statements

[Rattlesnake Guy]

Winnipesaukee comprises 34% of the total lake area of New Hampshire lakes that are 250 acres or more. A total of 89 lakes. Some are quiet and peaceful. Some are too small for power boats. Many are developed. Most are great for Kayaking. Most are great for swimming. Most are great for all sorts of family fun.

Only one is great for going fast when conditions permit if that is what you wish to do.

Winni used to be big enough for all to share and enjoy together. I hope the day when one minority group is not excluded because of another minority groups preference is a distant memory.

Lets share.

[VitaBene]

Like many have said, thank you Don for your patience.

For this post I am setting aside the debate about the need for a speed limit. Enhanced enforcement of existing laws vs speed limits has been debated ad nauseum and became counter-productive.

Despite what some people on this forum surmise, I believe most SL opponents don't really oppose speed limits, myself especially included. My opposition has been to this type of arbitrary SL, one that does not take into account your location on the lake. It is like setting a single roadway limit to 55- 55 on 93, 55 on Main Street.

Let's determine realistic limits. Our home base on the lake is the States Landing area (almost Lee's Mill). 45 daytime is too fast from Lee's Mills until you get out into Moultonborough Bay. 35 would make more sense, where 65 would make more sense in the broads.

I think we all have to realize there is a time and place for all of the activities on the lake. Fast boating does not belong in all areas on the lake- it is unsafe during the busy summer months. Fast boating does belong in some. Likewise, canoeing in the broads isn't safe either (even without a single boat on it- most breezy days).

Speed limits are not a panacea, they may become another tool in the MP's tool box. Our regulations really need to come from within:

Don't boat fast where it is unsafe to do so.
Don't run straight pipes.
Don't swim or canoe in the broads
Don't ride around with your stereo booming
Don't run your big cruiser at max wake speed
Enjoy and share the lake while using common sense, realizing it is a busy place and not everyone shares your interests and passions.

Stay safe out there.

[Bear Islander]

Speed Limits are here to stay.

They are the first in a series of measures to limit the cowboy atmosphere that has become to prevalent on the lake.

[jrc]

I feel better this time not wasting as much of my time. It was fruitless trying to convince people of things they just don't want to believe. The only real poll is the ballot box.

[Yosemite Sam]

Prior to May, 2008 Gov. Lynch was unsure as to whether he would sign a bill to limit the speed on Lake Winnipesaukee.

May 15, 2008
The Senate passed trial speed limits Thursday for the state's biggest lake in a 14-10 vote.

June 15, 2008
Erica Blizzard and two friends, Stephanie Beaudoin and Nicole Shinopules, were reported to be heading to a home on Sleeper’s Island when it struck Diamond Island at about 2:30 AM.

On June 25, 2008
Gov. John Lynch said today he will sign a bill that sets up speed limits for two years on Lake Winnipesaukee, beginning next year.
He stated “The lake is a place where everybody who uses the lake should be able to enjoy it. I think speed is an issue on the lake and I think going forward with a pilot program makes sense,”.

[tis]

I heard the lake called a cowboy lake 25 years ago when there were no GF boats!

The speed limit law is a feel good law, nothing more. Most lawmakers who enacted it probably never use the lake.

Alcohol not speed is the cause of the serious accidents. There is a law against drunk boating. It hasn't stopped these accidents.

There is already a decibel law to take care of the noise. It has nothing to do with speed. A boat can be legal and still fast.

We already have a reasonable and prudent law. If enforced, that is all that is necessary to control speed.
Frequent abuse of the 150' law is far more dangerous than fast boats.

As someone else said, we should ALL be able to use the lake. It does seem some would love to have nothing but kayaks and canoes on the lake. I don't hear the GF boat lovers saying they think kayaks and canoes should be banned, I don't know why the kayakers feel the GF boats should be banned. No boat type should be restricted on the lake.

Our state is the "Live Free or Die" state, why are we so quick to give away all our freedoms?

[pm203]

Passing any law without scientific data to support it should be a crime in itself. I don't know if the house and senate were duped, or just plain incompetent. Passing laws should be taken very seriously and based on fact not fiction. I can only hope that the house and senate look at the facts and the people behind this bogus law and see that they were duped and sold a bunch of lies.The governor knew it and told the senate to squash it. He certainly didn't want it on his desk. Unfortunetley, this did not happen. Hopefully, both the house and senate can come out of the ether and do what is right for N.H and its citizens.

[overlook]

I hop our legislators realize that most of the experienced boaters are not in favor of this law, polls by citizens that know very little about safe boating should have little weight when considering their impact. I question in the way this law was processed, I was there every meeting, and there was no statistics that supported an additional law for this speed limit when existing speed laws were working.
The one thing I have noticed is that one can park there boat at public docks in the evening without any congestion. I would think that the businesses are suffering from the lack of traffic. All boats over 5000lbs will have a considerable wake and could cause harm at 25mph. Now if I want to cross the lake, I will do so before I return after dark, other wise now I have to idle all the way. So now I miss going out to dinner by boat.
MP need support to work efficiently, not a law that makes a few boaters FEEL safer. Regulation should be fair to all users, and not segregate another.
Safe boating to all...............

[Resident 2B]

The fact that the current speed limit law is the first in a series of laws, not aimed at safety, but instead at the exclusion of certain types of boats from the lake is the reason I am totally opposed to the extension of the speed limit law.

Boating safety should be the only focus of the legislature. The current speed limit law was not designed to improve safety. It was designed to knock certain boats off the biggest lake in NH. To me, this is all about an improper and un-American restriction of personal freedom, the right to safely operate a certain type of boat in NH.

This is also the first in a series of laws the supporters of Winnfabs have planned, as evidenced in the referenced post above. The first in a series of proposed laws that are targeted in restricting the rights of several types of boats Winnfabs does not like. I realize that a few Winnfabs members own waterfront properties on Winnipesaukee, but they do not own the whole lake.

To me, a Vietnam veteran who owns lake front property on Lake Winnespaukee, this is a clear attack on the rights of American citizens ability to use a resource that should be open to all citizens. This is an attack on the personal freedoms of Americans who happen to own a particular type of boat, and they, the Speed Limit supporters, freely admit it!!!

The USCG has rules that address safe boating. NH should adopt these rules and stop what might go down in history as the modern day version of the Salem Witch Trials. The 150 foot rule in place, the education program in place and the existing USCG rules are all focused on boating safety. Hopefully the NH law makers will see this and do the correct thing in the interest of freedom.

For the record, I do not own and have never been in a GFBL boat, so I am not directly impacted. As an American, I believe the current Speed Limit law is being there for all the wrong reasons.

R2B

[NoRegrets]

I would like to send a Great Big Thanks to all for sharing the forum threads on speed limits (until it got out of hand with the goading). There were many thoughtful and well written positions on all points of view. For those that thought it was too vicious - view the thread like being at a hockey game or a good car race. A few fights or accidents but in the end all have the lake as a common bond and the willingness to put the pen aside.

Thank you all for the hours of entertainment and thanks to Don for that!

It is distressing the politicians responsible for making the laws do not share the same passion that draws us to boating. The people that wish to reverse time to go back to a simpler life only cause pain because it is not possible! The streets, cities, suburbs, and nature are more crowded with 300 plus million and a growing population. One group can and should not be allowed to create a sanctuary for exclusive solitude of a public asset nor should the bully be able to “scare and intimidate” the average person away for their desired use. Common sense needs to play as others have pointed out in regards to location and size of watercraft used.

A few years ago when I was lurking and not contributing to the forum I did get concerned that my cruiser was looked upon as an enemy of the lake but now through forum participation I am confident that my rights to a share are as important as anyone’s. I am deeply grateful for the many of you that I have thanked through the thread over this past year. Keep up the good fight and I hope to meet many of you! Our boat is named “NoRegrets” so do introduce yourself to us. We will be taking our last cruise this coming weekend.

Happy Holidays to all.

[ishoot308]

In my opinion there should have been a compromise before it got this far.

I was never for a speed limit but I did understand the concerns of the few waterfront land owners and boaters who had issues with a very small group of irresponsible boaters. Yes, it is and always will be the few that ruin it for the many.

Is there a reason to go 60 mph in Alton Bay, Wolfeboro Bay, Winter harbor, Meredith Bay, etc, etc...The answer in my opinion is no and I am certain that most responsible boat owners on this forum and in general do not do this. But the fact remains that the few that do have ruined it for all.

I feel the only hope that we the S.L. opponents have is to come up with a compromise where the open water broads have no speed limit and other areas such as bays and coves are addressed accordingly with a speed limit that Marine Patrol can enforce.

In the end, we all need to be more responsible in our actions on the lake, not just in regards to the speed limit, but in a way we can secure a happy and safe environment for everyone to enjoy the states greatest recreational resource. That should be the main goal of both opponents and proponents. This can be done, but it will take compromise.

Just my opinion;

Dan

[classic22]

It has been interesting, reading alot of these posts on the speed limit topic...I believe there is a minority in this state, or should I say this lake, that are posing as the majority, that previously rammed home this law...in full disclosure, I am a lakefront property owner, owner of a go fast boat, a not so fast boat, and a slow boat, as well as 2 kayaks, a sail boat, jet skis etc...you get the point....I am fortunate to enjoy the lake in many different types of crafts....With that said, I am very much againt the speed limit law.

Random thoughts regarding this issue:
1. It is not needed, nor has it been proven that we need it...it is feel good legislation for a problem that does not exist,no debate is needed, no compromise is required.
2. I see a lot of analogies referencing speed limits on roads or high ways. These analogies have no bearing on speed on water. Roads are designed for travel at certain speeds, density also plays a part. This is not relavant to a speed limit on water.
3. We currently have laws that address any issue that has been debated here, why create another one that inhibits my right to operate my boat at a speed I feel is safe, and safe for fellow boaters around me.
4. I hear the arbitrary comments that 45 is fast enough, or its really really fast....dont tell me whats fast in my boat, as you have no idea...it may seem really really fast in a small boat that is/was not designed to go fast, but if your piloting a boat that is designed to go fast, there is little danger to anyone, if..again you obey other laws already on the books.
5. Its a travesty, that our largest, most open lake has a speed limit, while all other lakes in the state have no speed limits. This just does not seem right. Let this law( If legislators are reading) sunset as the law was intended and was written.

over and out.

[Cal]

Get over it. It's not 1955. Times change, people change. Maybe 45's not too fast but maybe you're just too old.
This speed limit is just one more strangle hold the government is putting on us. We are already like puppies on leashes to be drug around, jerked and kicked by the government as they see fit and there's less and less that we can do about it.
Don't believe me...fine! You'll wake up some day after another law effects you directly. Remember my words!

Thanks Don