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03-22-2007, 12:28 PM | #1 |
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State to Test Boat Speed Limits
Hi All,
This just in from WMUR today! CONCORD, N.H. -- Proposed statewide boat speed limits appear to be sidetracked for this year, but two popular sections of Lake Winnipesaukee probably will get temporary limits this summer. Those limits -- in waters around Bear and Rattlesnake islands -- are expected to be 45 mph during the day and 25 mph at night. The House Transportation Committee cleared the way for the pilot program Tuesday by deciding to hold onto a bill to impose speed limits on lakes around the state. Legislators and Safety Department officials said Wednesday that the move opened the door for the test program. "That's the indication we need from the Legislature that we have the green light to put on the pilot program," said Earl Sweeney, assistant safety commissioner. He said the experiment would let officials test radar on the water, see how expensive it would be to enforce speed limits and see how district courts would handle boating speeding tickets. At the end of the season, the department would tell legislators how the experiment worked out. Winnipesaukee is the state's largest lake, and the areas around Bear and Rattlesnake islands are two of its most popular areas. Supporters of speed limits said a relatively small number of extremely fast boats is spoiling the lake for other users. Rep. James Pilliod, sponsor of the statewide speed limit bill, decried the proposal to sidetrack it for more study and called the pilot program a joke. Calling for more study is an old legislative trick for killing bills, he said, and, in this case, represents "a careful design, right from the first, of the sellers of large boats." The House could ignore the recommendation for more study and pass the bill, said Pilliod, R-Belmont. Last year, a similar bill Pilliod sponsored passed the House but failed in the Senate. Angry speed-limit supporters petitioned for a hearing, which produced impassioned arguments on both sides last September. Sweeney said waters around the two islands are good places to test speed limits because reasonable boaters "wouldn't think of going that fast in those areas." Courts would determine fines for violators. |
03-22-2007, 12:45 PM | #2 | |
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And to blame the sellers of large boats for orchestrating the study? I thought he disliked fast boats. Now he has a problem with large boats too? I know they can make big wakes, but The Mount, The Doris E and The Sophie C (probably the largest vessels on the lake, though there may be a Carver that's bigger than the two mailboats) are part of what gives the lake character, I'd hate to see them banned from the lake, due to their size, by the likes of Mr. Pilliod. |
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03-22-2007, 01:35 PM | #3 | |
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03-22-2007, 01:59 PM | #4 |
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How will boaters know where the speed limits zones are?Will there be markers/bouys with speed limit signs on them like the no-wake zones?
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03-22-2007, 04:27 PM | #5 | |
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The test zones
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I'm not sure exactly what the area btw Rattlesnake and ??? is. Is it between R.I. and Sleepers I. or btw R. I. and the mainland, thus including all of Sleepers & Treasure ? Again I don't see "fast" as being inherently unsafe there, though, given you can go the alternate route (the Broads side of R.I.) I don't see it as a big deal in and of itself. Lastly I do get a chuckle out of the statements made by various proponents in the articles Skip posted in the other thread. Doesn't Pilliod own a twin engine cruiser ? Must be a small one.
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Mee'n'Mac "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by simple stupidity or ignorance. The latter are a lot more common than the former." - RAH |
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03-22-2007, 04:32 PM | #6 | |
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Study ... analysis ... phooey
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Mee'n'Mac "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by simple stupidity or ignorance. The latter are a lot more common than the former." - RAH |
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03-22-2007, 05:10 PM | #7 | |
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Limits Should be 45.6 and 24.6 MPH
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The "NH Boating Accident Report - 2006" logged one crash listed as 36.6-MPH. How was that number arrived at?
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Is it "Common Sense" isn't. |
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03-23-2007, 09:04 AM | #8 | |
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I think the "Rattlesnake" area is really between Sleepers and the shoreline. That's a pretty busy area and there's boatloads of swimmers (literally ), WAM traffic and about 500 feet of navigable "channel" due to spars and the shape of the island and mainland. If that's not where they plan to have a speed limit, well I agree with you, it makes no sense. |
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03-23-2007, 12:53 PM | #9 |
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SIKSUKR,
That was my questions also how do we know? |
03-23-2007, 07:40 PM | #10 |
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I volunteer!
Hey Marine Patrol, let me be your sign-guy over at buoy 3. For $1.25/hour, I will be happy to paddle my kayak back and forth from the Fl 3 buoy to Penney Island, maybe 100 yards(?), and hold up a 45mph/25mph sign to approaching boats. After dark, watch for me in the kayak with the kerosene hurricane lantern.
What to use for a sign? How about the big lid fom a 30 gal trash can and some white paint. It has a handle, and can be purchased from you-know where, and makes a good target, too.........yikes! Last edited by fatlazyless; 03-23-2007 at 08:20 PM. |
03-23-2007, 08:07 PM | #11 | |
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Hey, I got to thinking about this ...
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Sign and waterproof paint = $1.97 @ Walmart Nylon line with lead weights = $8.99 @ same FLL in kayak being towed behind scofflaw cruiser by above line = priceless !
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Mee'n'Mac "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by simple stupidity or ignorance. The latter are a lot more common than the former." - RAH |
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03-23-2007, 09:47 PM | #12 | |
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More on Zones
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03-24-2007, 11:04 AM | #13 |
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Alton Bay speed limit?
Having watched many a close call on weekends from the beach at Sandy Point, I would think that a 45 mph limit from Echo Point south to the NWZ would be a good test area. The channel past Sandy Point is like a mixing bowl on weekends. Add in the swim line at Sandy Point and you really narrow down that channel near FL23 during the prime boating season.
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03-24-2007, 11:43 AM | #14 |
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We all know why Bear island was chosen
Lets be realistic, these 2 are not the busiest of places. However they may show a good average density on the weekends. Why even have speed zones , just make them no wake zones and everyone will already know the rules. |
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