[Woodsy]

Fat Jack,

I have never called you or anyone else on this board a liar! I am not going to get into a p*ssing contest with anyone as to what their beliefs are. I respect everyones opinion, and quite frankly devote alot of time defending and explaining an opposing opinion regardless of how unpopular it is. However, I do think the motives of some of those posters I mentioned is very clear. They don't like performance boats or thier owners. Plain and simple.

Rep. Jim Pilliod the sponsor of HB-162 has stated "It has nothing to do with death rate, or anything else, the numbers of arrests for speed and all the rest of it. It has to with a lack of courtesy on the part of the, I’ll call them ocean going vessels, like your own, the Donzi’s and the rest of them." He doesn't know what boat I own or how big it is, other than its manufactured by Donzi as I told him in the e-mail I sent him. I think Rep. Pilliods intent is VERY CLEAR... he doesn't like hi-performance boats and wants them off Lake Winnipesaukee.

In order for speed be a "Safety Issue", as the Winnfabs claim it is, one would need statistics and facts to bolster that claim. You would have accident reports and statistics showing an increase in boating accidents, especially those relating to excessive speed. The problem is, there aren't any statistics or facts that bolster your claim. In fact there were less accidents on Lake Winnipesaukee last year than in the year prior. I ask again, if you have those facts or statistics, please post them.

. This whole mess has been simmering for some time, but it came to a head with the Hartman/Littlefield accident. Its kind of like blaming the car instead of the driver or perhaps the gun and not the guy who pulled the trigger. Perhaps the anger towards Littlefields and the Hi-Performance boating community regarding the Hartman accident should be better directed? It wasn't any other boater who served alcohol to Danny Littlefield that night. It was none other than the flag bearer of the Pro HB-162 community Rusty Mclear & Alex Ray's Common Man Restaurant chain. Maybe you should question them as to what thier alcohol policy is? Danny Littlefield was obviously overserved. I am sure that will come out in civil lawsuit of some sort.

One ardent HB-162 supporter, routinely posts pix and approximately 1/2 the story. He tends to leave out other contributing factors to the accident such as alcohol consumption. Kind of reminds of the guy at the Moultonborough Hearing who told the story of the guy in the hi-performance boat who was going so fast he ran into an island. After telling the whole story, the the board asked one simple question... was alcohol involved. Sheepishly the guy answered yes. He obviously omitted that little fact from his story.

To quote yet another ardent HB-162 supporter "There is definitely a prejudices involved. I am prejudiced against boats that are to big, to fast, and to noisy for a crowded lake. But mostly I dislike the "get out of my way" attitude that can be displayed by any boater but is a serious problem when he is operating a GFBL."

Boats have accidents. So does every other machine ever operated by a human being. If your going to use accidents, post the whole story, not just the muckraking tidbits.

We have speed limits on our roads, because they have been statistically proven to reduce accidents and fatalities. The speed limit posted is directly related to the line of sight distance a driver can see. I don't have an issue with that as most roads, especially here in New England have a very narrow line of sight measured usually 1/4 mile or less. Interstate Highways are obviously different. Visibility on the Lake Winnipesaukee is 360 degrees, measured in MILES! There are very few places on the lake where one has any sort of restricted visibilty (weather not withstanding).

We in NH have speed limits on our snowmobile trails because they have been statistically proven to reduce accidents. I suppose going down a trail on a 500lb snowmobile with lots of immovable objects (trees) less than 6' away at speeds greater than 45 could be considered hazardous. I have gone off the trail at speeds less than 45 and I can tell you its not fun. We do not have a snowmobile speed limit on our lakes however, because there is not any data to support one. (I think there are two lakes in the state with a speed limit, one in Concord, & one in Pittsburgh)

We in NH do not have a helmet law for motorcyclists, even though it has been statistically proven to reduce motorcycle fatalities.

We in NH do not have a seatbelt law for automobiles, even though they have been proven to reduce injuries and fatalities in automobile accidents.

Jan, I applaud that you were able to have the speed limit on your street lowered. Considering cars and children its not a bad thing, and it probably inconveinces a few people, and only for the short period of time they may be on that particular stretch of road. There are facts and statistics to bolster your speed limit reduction. I am sure the number of children in the neighborhood was also a contributing factor. HB-162 however, does not inconvience a few people traveling down a side road. It affects EVERYONE who boats in NH, regardless of where or how they boat.

In fact I am not opposed to limiting my personal freedom when it is deemed necessary by facts & statistics. I have a serious problem with a limitation on my freedom when there are no tangible facts or statistics.

I ask again... post some facts & statistics!

Woodsy