Stopped by the Marine Patrol - Advice Needed

[brk-lnt]

The 150' rule is really one of the dumbest regulations on the lake. It's an unnecessary limitation that is poorly understood/estimated, and randomly enforced. It primarily serves to get a small number of people wound up and stressed out.

[GusMan]

I completely disagree that the 150 rule is dumb or unnecessary. Just seeing how often it's ignored tells me many boaters lack the common sense to pay attention and navigate safely.

If it's misunderstood, it's because boaters just don't care and are just thinking about themselves (what a surprise these days).

I was taught (and I used this guide to teach my children)... if you can clearly decipher another boat's bow numbers... you are within 150 feet. Visually challenged people excepted!

Unfortunately *every* law is under enforced due to lack of personnel.

[rick35]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

The 150' rule is really one of the dumbest regulations on the lake. It's an unnecessary limitation that is poorly understood/estimated, and randomly enforced. It primarily serves to get a small number of people wound up and stressed out.

I was both "wound up and stressed" two days ago when a boat passed me from behind at a high rate of speed about 50 feet away. There was plenty of room to pass farther away and it was very unsettling to suddenly have another boat in my space. So not dumb but hard to enforce.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by rick35

I was both "wound up and stressed" two days ago when a boat passed me from behind at a high rate of speed about 50 feet away. There was plenty of room to pass farther away and it was very unsettling to suddenly have another boat in my space. So not dumb but hard to enforce.

Be glad you are on a New Hampshire lake.

During the winter while we are boating in Florida when travelling at 25 MPH or so we routinely get overtaken by other boats that pass 20 to 30 feet away. It has taken some getting used to because it happens every time we go out.

It is just the way it is. I am surprised that there are not more boating accidents.

[rick35]

I've often thought of that. A few weeks back we were heading out to the isles of shoals on the cruise boat and boats were passing close together on the river. I had thought it would be fun to boat there but after seeing that I changed my mind.

[TomC]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Be glad you are on a New Hampshire lake.

During the winter while we are boating in Florida when travelling at 25 MPH or so we routinely get overtaken by other boats that pass 20 to 30 feet away. It has taken some getting used to because it happens every time we go out.

It is just the way it is. I am surprised that there are not more boating accidents.

I boat in the ICW in Southwest Florida... I agree completely. Having been trained in/used to the 150' rule on Winni, its very disconcerting to have another boat 25 ft off (either) side blowing by at full speed...

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Be glad you are on a New Hampshire lake.

During the winter while we are boating in Florida when travelling at 25 MPH or so we routinely get overtaken by other boats that pass 20 to 30 feet away. It has taken some getting used to because it happens every time we go out.

It is just the way it is. I am surprised that there are not more boating accidents.

Watch Boats Vs Haulover on Youtube and you will see plenty of accidents in FL of people blasting around withing feet of each other and hitting other boats.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

The 150' rule is really one of the dumbest regulations on the lake. It's an unnecessary limitation that is poorly understood/estimated, and randomly enforced. It primarily serves to get a small number of people wound up and stressed out.

Back in the Mesozoic Era--before tubing skiers were in ascendancy and well aware of the danger when two skiers passed in opposite directions. With each at the end of a 75-foot tether, a "meet-up" at 150-feet would occur at double the skiers' speeds.

We skiers had no gripe with the 150-foot rule.

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

Be glad you are on a New Hampshire lake. During the winter while we are boating in Florida when travelling at 25 MPH or so we routinely get overtaken by other boats that pass 20 to 30 feet away. It has taken some getting used to because it happens every time we go out. It is just the way it is. I am surprised that there are not more boating accidents.

Florida leads the nation in boating accidents and fatalities.

1) A boater (not personally known to me) living near me in the Florida Keys trailered his speedboat to a canal near my Sebring lake property. With his girlfriend watching, he crashed his boat and drowned.

2) To set a speed record, Craig Arfones, from out-of-state traveled to Lake Jackson (Sebring, again).

So, with a large (3212 acres) quiet lake and his parents watching, he crashed his boat and drowned.

See where I'm going?

3) A half-hour north of Sebring, two professional baseball players ran their bass boat under a dock, which beheaded both of them. (and were pronounced dead at the scene).

These occurred on Florida inland lakes: Ocean crashes are much worse!

PWCs lead the way, with paddle boards catching up. The common denominator being drowning.

I was surprised to see Florida's northern St. Johns County in the lead, but when you factor in Florida's richest County with the wealthiest Counties listed (SE and SW) as the most dangerous for boaters, it sorta adds up!

https://news.wgcu.org/top-story/2024...tate?_amp=true

[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by ApS

Back in the Mesozoic Era--before tubing skiers were in ascendancy and well aware of the danger when two skiers passed in opposite directions. With each at the end of a 75-foot tether, a "meet-up" at 150-feet would occur at double the skiers' speeds.

We skiers had no gripe with the 150-foot rule.



Florida leads the nation in boating accidents and fatalities.

1) A boater (not personally known to me) living near me in the Florida Keys trailered his speedboat to a canal near my Sebring lake property. With his girlfriend watching, he crashed his boat and drowned.


2) To set a speed record, Craig Arfones, from out-of-state traveled to Lake Jackson (Sebring, again).

So, with a large (3212 acres) quiet lake and his parents watching, he crashed his boat and drowned.

See where I'm going?

3) A half-hour north of Sebring, two professional baseball players ran their bass boat under a dock, which beheaded both of them. (and were pronounced dead at the scene).

These occurred on Florida inland lakes: Ocean crashes are much worse!

PWCs lead the way, with paddle boards catching up. The common denominator being drowning.

I was surprised to see Florida's northern St. Johns County in the lead, but when you factor in Florida's richest County with the wealthiest Counties listed (SE and SW) as the most dangerous for boaters, it sorta adds up!

https://news.wgcu.org/top-story/2024...tate?_amp=true

Wish they had the 150’ rule in Fla.Locals that are fishing seem to have distain for us snowbirds.Several times we have been just slow cruising the shore and been passed within 20’or 30’ at high speed by the good ol’ boys out fishing and knocking down a few.

[rick35]

At some point you might make the decision that boating isn't for me and find some other activity.

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by rick35

At some point you might make the decision that boating isn't for me and find some other activity.

It's this kind of disdain for the happiness of others that makes the whole thing less pleasant for all, regardless of the specific rules

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by FlyingScot

It's this kind of disdain for the happiness of others that makes the whole thing less pleasant for all, regardless of the specific rules

Right?!
That attitude can be applied to so many activities...

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

[rick35]

I didn't expect this kind of feedback. And where did you get disdain for the happiness of others? I'll rephrase the intention of my post. If everyday boating is like a trip to the Weirs on a busy Saturday with all that chaos I might decide it doesn't make me happy and decide boating isn't for me. What's that got to do with your or anybody else's happiness?

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by rick35

I didn't expect this kind of feedback. And where did you get disdain for the happiness of others? I'll rephrase the intention of my post. If everyday boating is like a trip to the Weirs on a busy Saturday with all that chaos I might decide it doesn't make me happy and decide boating isn't for me. What's that got to do with your or anybody else's happiness?

I took it as being dismissive of the previous poster's disappointment with his boating experience. Essentially, you telling him/her to "get out, if you don't like it."

Thanks for clarifying.

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[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

The 150' rule is really one of the dumbest regulations on the lake. It's an unnecessary limitation that is poorly understood/estimated, and randomly enforced. It primarily serves to get a small number of people wound up and stressed out.

As a sailor, I really appreciate the 150' rule. The stress comes not from the rule, but from the impact of a guy giving me a big wake from only 50' away