Md DNR Noise Regs Update

[Dan Johnson]

The following is the latest update for Maryland DNR noise regulations on the upper Chesapeake Bay:

This is from the latest Chesapeake Bay magazine:

Maryland boaters, are you concerned that your boat is louder than the legal limit? If you boat on the Bohemia, Elk or Northeast river or their tributaries, or on the Maryland section of the C&D Canal, you should be aware that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has updated its noise regulations for these areas in particular because their high banks tend to magnify sounds. These areas also account for more than 50 percent of noise complaints in the state.

So what's new? For engines manufactured before 1993, the level may not exceed 90 decibels; for engines manufactured after 1993, the level can't exceed 88 decibels. Boats made after 1989 must have a continuous muffler and not use bypasses that reduce the effectiveness of the muffler. The Natural Resources Police are offering free, no-penalty sound tests. For a schedule, see “dnr.state.md.us/boating”.


July 2012

Now, if we could only get the DNR to actually enforce these regs...

 

[KD3PC]

Dan

As a boater, just how, and why would you want to "enforce" these regs....

are you sure your boat would pass, they seem rather arbitrary....a lot of sailboats will push 70-75db in the cockpit...and just who and how and with what meter is DNR going to read?

what is it they are trying to accomplish and at what cost to the state and to the boater...

I think the states have screwed over boating way too much as it is...and for those of us in VA where MD "owns" the water right up to the tide line....I, for one, don't want any more rules than what we already have. MD continues to open cans of worms, second only to CA...and for what purpose....a new fee perhaps??

 

[Rick486]

Too much government, waaayyyy too many rules.

 

[kloudie1]

Trying to quiet the wanna-be racers who are running two or three big V-8 engines through open, above-water exhaust headers .. painfully loud .. Too much govmint would not be a problem if these jerks would exercise restraint around populated places.. These are the jackasses that bring on silly rules..
Once a year, we have some open ocean racing competition on the lake.. I think it is a treat to hear the big engines wailing over the water.. but I would not want to hear that every day or even every weekend.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Enforcement is the problem ... noise ordinances are routinely ignored. It's been explained to me that basically, it's cops who run these boats, or big contributors to cops. There is no chance for any or them to be ticketed. The technique for measuring the noise is also in question, or rather, it has been modified to make it more difficult to enforce. The noise level on LH is insane for long periods on almost any weekend, and even on some week nights. What's really annoying is that the noise level is just as loud when they are going only 30 MPH. I'd rather they did 90 to the other end of the lake so that I don't have to wait forever for them to disappear around the bend.

There are a some pigs on the lake that can't even go 40 and they are so heavy they make a monster wake as their decibel rattles your brain for wayyyy too long before they finally disappear (just to be replaced with another pig coming from the other direction). The pigs that can't leave us alone fast enough are the worst in my mind. I don't really mind the guys that are doing 90 .... at least they disappear faster and their wakes are usually smaller.

I'm all for regulation and enforcement in this regard.

 

[kenn]

Non-government solution: mask, fins, snorkel... a moonless night...a small manual drill...

 

[Ken Cross]

Usually environmental noise measurements are specific in the manner of testing.
It's usually measured from a specific distance away and noise inside the cockpit doesn't contribute much. I suspect most stock motors likely to be used on a sailboat will be well under the limit. If you really want to know you can always buy a sound level meter.

The aviation world has faced noise regulations for decades.
Ken

 

[catsailor]

It may also help many commenter to know that many "poker runs" start in this area, and 50-100 un-muffeled boats can be very loud.

I really don't think we're going the see the DNR looking at crab boats, sailboats, and even express cruisers and run-abouts. The "loud" boats generally stand out very clearly. Additionally, they often run at dusk, as the water is flat, it's the party hour, and coincidentally, that is when the noise is noticed.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Anyone find this ironic? A post about noise ordinances on a sailing board!

Kind of like an ejector seat for a helicopter, a solar powered flashlight, or a pedal powered wheel chair?

 

[FourPoints]

a solar powered flashlight

LL bean sells a really nice solar powered led flashlight, FYI...

 

[Gail R]

I'd be curious about whether Maryland has similar limitations on motorcycles? Here in Maine, it's common for bikers to alter their exhaust systems to make the bike louder. It's supposed to be illegal but every time there's enforcement the bikers threaten to take their dollars elsewhere and the cops back off.

 

[Witzend]

I have been living on the Elk for 42 years now, and I can tell you the problem is getting way out of hand. This past weekend they all came out of the canal, must have been 25-30 of them racing down the river endangering anyone who might be on the water with the ridicules speeds and well the noise was so loud my ears are still ringing.
What I want to know is...On I95, a public highway, it is illegal to run funny cars, so why on a public waterway it is just fine to run funny boats. These types of craft should not be allowed to be licensed to run on a public water way period!!!!!

 

[brazenarticle]

Days after Hurricane Irene (September 2011) the top of the Chesapeake was awash in debris and covered by fog heavy enough to delay our sailing departure from North East MD by hours. When we did leave in patch of sunlight we were surprised by a low flying helicopter swarm (just above the clouds). Next - a madhouse rush of extremely loud extremely fast race boats plowing through the fog, apparently (from the deep vee dent in the green can off red point) running point to point via GPS.
Someone found that green nun waypoint real good.
Driving 70 mph on the highway to get to a loud fast boat to go 40 mph on the water is just stupid. Better if they just stayed on the road and went away. Far away. IMHO.
Guess their right to fast and loud is greater than my right to slow and quiet.

 

[RichH]

I have been living on the Elk for 42 years now, and I can tell you the problem is getting way out of hand. This past weekend they all came out of the canal, must have been 25-30 of them racing down the river endangering anyone who might be on the water with the ridicules speeds and well the noise was so loud my ears are still ringing.
What I want to know is...On I95, a public highway, it is illegal to run funny cars, so why on a public waterway it is just fine to run funny boats. These types of craft should not be allowed to be licensed to run on a public water way period!!!!!

Witz & Brazen -
The problem is getting waaaay out of hand ... on Sat. evenings it seems the 25-30 power crazed Luigi Testoseroni's run flat out on the weekly 'poker run' all the way from the C&D to Bal'mr. They run the Aberdeen Side to Pooles Island ... and the combined noise is as loud as hell at 3-4 miles away on the eastern shore.

This happened before in the mid 90s .... until one went through the side of a sailboat, and killed a woman.
If this was a sanctioned event such as "Thunder on the Bay" (now relocated to the Chester River instead of running / closing the whole damn bay) there'd be Notices to Mariners, CG Aux. patrols, Closed course, ...... and fees. Since this is now an apparently regularly occurring "poker run" it would fall under the CG rules for 'regattas' and should be 'overseen' by the already in force rules and regs. ... and the 'glacier speed' MD-DNR doesnt even have to get involved.

The real 'stopper' will be an upper bay totally filled with crab pot floats (as happened in the mid to late 90s) ... and I tell you that there are zillions of small crabs in the mid bay swimming north toward you. I havent seen as many 'little swimmers' coming north in nearly 20 years. If the adrenalin soaked "poker runs" decimate the watermen's crab trap floats, DNR wont have a chance with a puny 'noise meter' ... . ;-)

 

[Ross]

I refer to them as McHale's Navy! If they rile the watermen they won't keep their boats healthy for long. Wire rope on the crab pots will work very well.

 

[sailormanbigd]

we have dem race boats down here too but, the really loud ones are the airboats. I was fishing one night on the weekend and around 2200 they fired up and took off into the night. There was around 10 of them leaving the Cottee river for the gulf. The big race boats are'nt as many since gas prices are up!!!

 

[Maine Sail]

How about a generator ordinance....

 

[Gunni]

Those upperbay motorhead wannabees are all noise. The king of Chesapeake Bay fast is southern Ann Arundel's Richard Chaney (Rebel Racing) and his 200 mph Turbine Marine Inc. toys. His current boat burned up last August, but ol' Richard will surely rise again! You have been warned.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Here's a sampling of one the boats Sue is up in arms against! (not the woody)

http://www.woodyboater.com/classic-boat-art/the-official-woody-boater-last-gasp-boat-ride-at-105-mph

 

[Dan Johnson]

Rich H and Witzend have clearly indicated why this regulation is needed. For those of you who haven't been out sailing when one of these swarms decends upon you, you should experience it first before railing about "govmint excess".

At 60 to 80 MPH there is no room for error and avoidance. It can be terrifying to see these boats emerge from the wake spray of others, aimed right at you, only to pass by less than a dozen feet to either side.

The North East River is only about a mile wide before it hits the Susquehanna flats, with housing on both shores. We regularly have kids in Sunfish, kayakers, and small day sailors out on light wind days. If it weren't for two dealers of these "go-fast" boats here, we would probably have a no-wake zone on the whole river.

Years ago I raced sports cars. We didn't take them out on the public highway and drive as fast as we could with open exhaust and no regard for others. A tragedy is waiting to happen.