Quote:
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Originally Posted by Silver Duck
"I'm curious how effective the forum folks think that this training requirement has been so far!...the percentage of operators who ignore the 150 ft. safe passage rule has actually increased in the last season or two..."
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This year, you advised the forum that you had joined the
boaters who cruise at 1200-1500 RPMs. One notices more violations of personal space at those speeds, with a dose of
Wikipedia's "availability heuristic". (Your choice of speed will affect what you see).
While I
basically agree that infractions are on the increase, the number of Winnipesaukee boaters is declining as well—perhaps due to the combined nuisances of licensing, oversized wakes, other perceived boating hazards, and gas prices.
Here are examples of what I saw this year:
1) I have the misfortune of having a hotel-style McMansion being built nearby (the one with the new, paired 60-foot docks next to their new 50-foot dock).
Boaters stopped to gawk at 75-feet from our shoreline—then continued their shoreline drive by accelerating to twice headway speed and continuing at the same 75-foot distance! 
2) I also had the misfortune to be sailing near a shore where a ski boat made an exaggerated wake for the towing of his "wakesurfer".
After his fourth circumnavigation of my boat in just five minutes, I had to signal my displeasure; fortunately, one of the six on board saw the signal mirror and the boat went elsewhere. (But I did have to signal him. 
)
3) Off my shore, an unmarked NHMP PWC stopped a lone driver who was towing seven (7) tubers. 
The MP stayed only seconds—never asked for certification—and zoomed off.
I'm afraid that until...
1) The test becomes enough of a challenge (flunk a few),
2) The test becomes serious
nationally (and the fee increased markedly),
3) Enforcement gets serious (and increases penalties),
...that the lack of empathy for fellow boaters will continue—despite the best efforts to legislate common sense.
Oh yes...Too many boaters are unfamiliar with
New Hampshire-only rules. Visitors need to pick up one of NHRBA's free cushions ("a throwable device") with our unique NH rules printed on it.
