Question for speed limit supporters

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Dave R

Why do you care how fast someone is going when they are 150 feet or more away from any other people or shore? I'm just curious.

If "other people" includes sailboats, you may already know that sailing can involve some unpredictable—yet major—"moves". If you're going somewhere speedily, and distracted—say—by your GPS, you risk collision.

Even if you don't collide, you've made no friends should a law against excessive speed—on protected inland waters—become prominent.

Collision damage is magnified with speed: it's Physics—and that's a law!

[NHBUOY]

"...sailing can involve some unpredictable-yet major-"moves". If you're going somewhere speedily, and distracted-say-" by a quick & hurried tack with the boom flying..."...you risk collision."..."...you've made no friends here."......there...now I can agree with you......btw...who's the moron using signal mirror/devices on the Lake for something "other" than an emergency..?...anyone we know.?.....

[BroadHopper]

I remember a decade or so ago, a local woman was killed in a sailboat accident. The sailor is one of Winnfabs sponsor. Sailing can be just as dangerous as power boating.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I remember a decade or so ago, a local woman was killed in a sailboat accident. The sailor is one of Winnfabs sponsor. Sailing can be just as dangerous as power boating.

...and...

Originally Posted by Dave R

You can't have a collision with 150' separation. It's (really basic) physics.

Without coming within 150' of it and without touching it with your powerboat's wake—you can overturn a sailboat.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

...and...

Without coming within 150' of it and without touching it with your powerboat's wake—you can overturn a sailboat.

That is true, but read his post again. He was talking about a collision, not an overturned sailboat.
Context my friend, it's all about context.

[fatlazyless]

From my lookout spot, close to Buoy 3, it always seemed like the performance boaters were also pretty much the all-weather, hard core boaters who like to spend a lot of time on the water and were almost always out there. Trying to figure if it's been the weather, the price of gas, or the speed limit is very open to conjecture, but so far this season, the lake seems to be more empty of boaters and more quiet than in prior seasons. Just my two cents?

[BroadHopper]

I was out 'broadhopping' Father's Day. Hardly a boat in sight in the white caps. No SL supporters to bother me, cut me off etc. Got to love a lake without boneheads!

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

If "other people" includes sailboats, you may already know that sailing can involve some unpredictable—yet major—"moves". If you're going somewhere speedily, and distracted—say—by your GPS, you risk collision.

Even if you don't collide, you've made no friends should a law against excessive speed—on protected inland waters—become prominent.

Collision damage is magnified with speed: it's Physics—and that's a law!

You can't have a collision with 150' separation. It's (really basic) physics.

[Joe Kerr]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

If "other people" includes sailboats, you may already know that sailing can involve some unpredictable—yet major—"moves". If you're going somewhere speedily, and distracted—say—by your GPS, you risk collision.

One of the Benefits of speed limits is the need to check your speed often. Most built in boat speedometers are not highly accurate and depending on the water waves and current they do not show actual land speed. They just show an approximate speed at which the water passes the hull of the boat.

A GPS is the best way to keep tabs on your real speed. With speed limits it makes nothing but good sense to routinely take your eyes off of the water and focus on the small MPH numbers on your GPS to make sure you are not breaking the law. This is particularly important at night to keep kayaks, canoes, swimmers and campers safe from speeders.

Of course it takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust from scanning the water to focusing on the little speed limit numbers on your GPS and then for your eyes to readjust to view the lake but it must be worth it to keep everyone safe. And don't forget that some people need to change glasses from distance to reading glasses to clearly see those speed limit numbers on the GPS. And in daylight those polarized sun glass lenses make it harder to see LCD displays. All these distractions re-enforcing the need for speed limits.

I remember someone saying that good vision is not one of the requirements for a safe boater education certificate. Even more reason to have restricted speeds to help compensate for poor vision and distractions to check your speed on those handheld GPS units.

Reading over my post before I press SUBMIT is making me confused. Whatever, as long as people feel safe because of the speed limit laws..... Right?

[Commodore]

Originally Posted by Joe Kerr

A GPS is the best way to keep tabs on your real speed. With speed limits it makes nothing but good sense to routinely take your eyes off of the water and focus on the small MPH numbers on your GPS to make sure you are not breaking the law. This is particularly important at night to keep kayaks, canoes, swimmers and campers safe from speeders.
All these distractions re-enforcing the need for speed limits.

I remember someone saying that good vision is not one of the requirements for a safe boater education certificate. Even more reason to have restricted speeds to help compensate for poor vision and distractions to check your speed on those handheld GPS units.
.... Right?

Hahahaha. That's funny

Checking your speed on the GPS means taking your eyes off the water. Distraction in the name of safety. Got to watch those speed numbers. It's enough to make Speed Limit supporters sleep more soundly and securely.
It should make families, campers and the 190 camp directors feel better about those midnight swims and canoe expeditions