unmuffled muscle boats

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Jun 7, 2004
350
Oday 28 East Tawas
I read with interest that there are areas in the country (perhaps in my state, Michigan) where go-faster power boats with the open exhausts are prohibited. I boat in the Caseville Michigan area and when these knot heads start their boats at the launch ramp; it rattles teeth and nerves to the limit. That same decible level is illegal in a neighborhood of houses yet the roar of these maniacs is continued to be tolerated. It's true that some of the boats have the "silent choice" option on their exhaust system and some use it while in port. My hat is off to those considerate few who wait till they're off shore to blast away, but too many of their brothers spoil an otherwise quiet day at the slip. How does one go about getting ordinances enacted to control this noise. Are they local only? Are they state level? Shhhhhhh! Fair winds Mates, Mike S/B Pitterpat, Lake Huron
 
Jan 2, 2005
779
Hunter 35.5 Legend Lake Travis-Austin,TX
Austin,TX

Lake Travis in Austin passed a noise ordinance, but it typically is only enforced on peak days/weekends. I think in those areas with ordinances, the so called "silent choice" option should be disabled, sort of like the overboard discharge of waste in a no discharge zone. Nothing ruins a peaceful afternoon on the water like just one of those guys tearing around the lake where they can be heard for miles and miles. Loud boats suck!
 
Dec 2, 1997
9,011
- - LIttle Rock
Getting anti-noise ordances passed is one thing..

Enforcing 'em is another. There aren't enough law enforcement people on the water to catch even half of the unsafe (and while noise IS annoying, it's not unsafe operation) boaters, much less chase down loud muscle boats they prob'ly can't catch anyway.
 
N

Nice N Easy

Loud Boats

Lots of them on Lake Ponchatrain, and while I do like the sound of pure horsepower from time to time, these things do get loud, and irritating. But I would rather see more enforcement on dangerous, as opposed to anoying.
 
T

Terry

Loud Boats

Sadly your not alone here. Check your local sheriff dept. if they know of a noise level limit on boats. We have a limit here, but until just recently the sheriff dept. didn't have the equiptment to test levels. Sail On... Terry
 
Jul 17, 2005
586
Hunter 37.5 Bainbridge Island - West of Seattle
Same goes for PWCs

Here in Washington state, there is a island up north that has a law against PWCs. I can't remember which island though, but it is in the San Juan islands. I was way up north a few years ago. Up in Desolation Sound in Canada. We were in a nice, quite, and peaceful anchorage. Then 2 kids in 2 PWCs came zooming around, then they went out into the main part of the bay, just buzzing back'n forth. Their parents were just around the bend in the next anchorage, in a big and noise power boat, drinking up a storm. What a waste of a nice anchorage. Deep down inside, I was hoping the PWCs would run into a deadhead and wreck both machines, but the kids wouldn't get hurt. Oh well, to each their own. But sure wish they wouldn't invade our quite space though.
 
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Hey JC!

I just remembered the time that I circumnavigated Bainbridge Island in 40 minutes in my ski boat. That works out to sixty+MPH. I am so lucky to be alive after the years of play in that thing. It was an LT1 400hp 350 Corvette engine, hooked to a Casal V-drive in a 16 foot hull. None of that sissy jet-drive stuff for this hot rodder! And the exhaust? Headman Hedders over the top of the transom, unmuffled of course. At night they glowed red. Built the whole thing myself. You couldn't buy stuff like that.(1972) Too dangerous and illegal. A friend then turned me on to sailing and I sold it. Maybe that's the solution.
 
A

Andy

How about a noise tax Peggy!

First, I must admit that I was actually a passenger on a power boat Saturday. Sorry I said all those horrible things about the stinkpots. The do have their place (I guess). But does a 120 decibel offshore racer really have a place on Lake Travis etc. Maybe boats should be taxed on noiselevel? Seems the muscle boats really like to be noticed so let them pay at the pump AND at the tax office, etc etc.
 

OldCat

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Jul 26, 2005
728
Catalina , Nacra 5.8, Laser, Hobie Hawk Wonmop, CO
Unmuffled is Illegal Here

In Colorado – but not enforced. So too, a 40 mph speed limit – ignored as well. The noise is really annoying to the rest of us on the lake – I wish the State Police would do their job. Mike: Our boating noise law is a State law. You should look into that and see if a law requiring mufflers or underwater exhaust is already on the books. Otherwise you would need to start canvassing your state legislature and Governor. Or, work with local gov on a local ordinance.
 
Jul 17, 2005
586
Hunter 37.5 Bainbridge Island - West of Seattle
Hey Fred:

When I was growing up in Eugene Oregon, my folks had a cabin at Odell Lake. We would go up during every summer vacation and water ski behind our ChristCraft cabin cruiser, day and night, even while snowing during one 4th of July. The boat threw up a nice big wake for jumping. We had 2 naighbors, each with their beautiful 50's vintage wooden ChristCraft, with 427 Corvette engines. Very noisy and very fast. We looked forward to their monthly race along the length of the lake. Those were the fun days. Eventually I got away from power boats and into sailing, and have been ever since. Now I have been thinking. When I get old and crochity(sp?) Will I want to go back to a power boat? Something like a tug that will putt...putt... along at 6-7 knots? They don't go much faster, but they sure have a lot more room, and we can get into the cabin standing straight up. It just might be better for my backs and bones. Think....think....Gads, god forbid, what a thought. Has anyone really thought about that? What will we sailors do when we get old? I mean really old, and we still want to be around boats. Sail or power? Maybe I will start another post on this.
 
Dec 2, 1997
9,011
- - LIttle Rock
I'll forgive you, Andy...

I AM a stinkpotter. Love to sail, but except for a 10' Cape Dory, have only owned powerboats all my life. And we do indeed have a place. :) In fact, the sailors at my YC liked my generator, heat/ac and all the other comforts of home that I became the only stinkpotter in the club's history to be chairman of the race committee...I not only spent more time sitting on an anchor as RC boat than anything else, I took some courses in race management and managed several major regattas. So not only do some of us have a place...but we even have socially redeeming qualities too! :)
 
S

Steve W (NY)

Same with Motorcycles

I have nothing against powerboats, as long as they give me room, but loud things are annoying. As my wife always says, men try to compensate for small tackle with loudness. Not exactly her words, but close. The motorcycle industry faces a huge problem with banning of motorcylcles in lots of places. I think the Jet Ski industry was facing the same thing, and the industry made them quiet....same with snowmobiles. But you are always gonna have that half bald, necklass wearing, tattoo laden, wife beater T-shirt wearing jerk tearing up the place with open exhausts......I take my kids deep into the Adirondacks canoe camping just so I can show them what nature sounds like...... I too always hope to hear a large mechanical catastrophie whenever I hear a straight pie Harley, or a unmuffled boat. Bunch of inconsiderate jerks. Take Care Steve
 
F

Ferd

payback

Next time, get their registration number. Contact the state agency that handles such matters, like Dept of Game and Fish or somesuch, and tell them you are interested in buying the boat with that number and would like to get in touch with the owner. Often they will communicate the address info. Then pay some of the locals to park outside his house in the wee hours and play some rap CDs super loud.
 
Jun 28, 2005
101
Northern Northern 25 On the Hard, Bradford Ontario
Motorcycles?

Ummm, tell you what bub, ban cell phones in cars, people applying makeup drinking coffee and otherwise not paying attenetion when driving their cages (cars, bikers term. Oh ya I'm a biker too), and I will gladly put my muffled pipes back on my bike. Loud pipes save lives, that is a statement that has saved me a few times. And what are you saying with this statement: "...mechanical catastrophie whenever I hear a straight pi(p)e Harley" what are you trying to say there?
 
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Loud Harley's???

Back in the '70s and '80s we in law enforcement used to write tickets for no mufflers! Those 'dirt bags', well show them! Now it's the sound of Americana. Love that rumble. No body gets a ticket these days. Now my wife wants to take lessons and buy one. (Harley) I gave up my MC license years ago. Lucky to be alive. (just like the ski-boat) Now I take notes of women killed on Harley's. That's to change her mind. Three this month, just in the Puget Sound area. Two of them in public service like her. One of them a cop. It's time to put my foot down. :(
 
W

Warren M.

Noise...

I recently set out for sail on the Bay here. I very sleek cigarette type boat zipped by me in the channel and, as soon as he cleared the markers, put pedal to the metal and took off at a million or so knots. And a million decibels. I could hear that boat long after I could no longer see it. I recall taking a Boat/US Course some tima ago that indicated there are laws governing the decibel levels permitted by boats, but have no idea how they would be enforced. I hope someone is listening....
 

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
Maryland limits boat noise levels to 90db

Maryland is quite specific about noise abatement concerning boats. Boats may not emit noise greater than 90 decibels (using standardized tests). For info go to www.maryland.gov, go to the DER website, and click/download the boating regulations --- sound limits are on page 39 of the regs.
 
Jun 7, 2004
350
Oday 28 East Tawas
stirrin' thigs up

I guess I stirred things up with my post. However I'd like to set some things straight. first I don't intend for this to be a power boat vs. sail boat thing. It's a matter of courtesy and consideration for everyone to respect the peace of others while on the water. Whether it's loud engines or a blasting stereo system it's an intrusion, noise wise, into the space of others. The notion that anyone wishes harm to others because their boat or Harley is loud is abhorrent to me. I, personally would never hope for physical damage to anyone because they have a loud exhaust or sound system. Peggy: You are correct when you say that it is a priority for law enforcement folks to apply safety laws first and foremost and they are spread thin now. It is probably impractical to expect the cops to go after the loud boats but if a few were made an example of and the word got out then perhaps it might give others pause before they rocked the docks with loud systems. Thanks to all for your opinions. Mike
 
S

Steve W

Nobody gets hurt of course

I don't wish anyone to be hurt, but a rod going through the cranckcase is a nice noise I enjoy almost as much as the ensuing silence. If you really think Loud pipes save lives, you ought to get some better riding instructions. Why has the AMA (American Motorcycle Association) adopted the slogan "Loud Pipes Risk Rights". When my whisper quiet bike gets banned from entering a State Park, a Marina, or a neigborhood (all have happenned to me), I only have you to thank. Take Care Steve
 
Mar 1, 2005
220
Hunter 34 North East, MD
Poker Runs

Rich, let me know if you are aware of anyone effectively quieting these go-fasts down in your area. We have one up here in North East that claims he can go 130, and we've seen and heard him trying. The worst is when one of the "Poker Runs" is held--then we have a whole mess of 'em. Haven't seen hide nor hair of DNR except for the 4th of July fireworks night. Will be at WCM this weekend-stop by for a cold one. Intrepid '83 H34 #113
 
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