Lake Daytime Speed Limit

[sunset on the dock]

By Kevin Landrigan, New Hampshire Union Leader

Mar 1, 2022 Updated 57 min ago

A House panel voted by a 5-1 margin to recommend killing legislation that would eliminate the daytime, 45 mph speed limit on Lake Winnipesaukee.

CONCORD — A move to get rid of the daytime speed limit on New Hampshire’s biggest lake failed a House committee test Tuesday, after citizens flooded legislators with hundreds of emails in opposition.

Many owners and sellers of large recreational boats favor dumping the 13-year-old limit of 45 mph on Lake Winnipesaukee that kicks in a half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

The nighttime speed limit on the lake is 30 mph.

Rep. Aidan Ankarberg, R-Rochester, said 600 people signed up remotely in support of the bill, with 200 opposed.

Five House Republicans from five of the state’s 10 counties agreed to sponsor the measure (HB 1424).

The chairman of the House Transportation Committee and the House deputy speaker didn’t want to kill it.

But state Rep. Dennis Thompson, R-Stewartstown, said more than 800 emails he received against the bill convinced him to drop his support as a co-sponsor.

Thompson joined the 15-3 majority on the House Transportation Committee who voted to recommend the full House kill the bill later this spring.

“Early on I thought it wasn’t a bad idea,” Thompson said.

The Winnipesaukee Sailing Association started one petition in favor of the speed limit, which had more than 300 supporters.

“The typical family motorboat can’t go 45 mph anyway. This bill is aimed primarily at huge, high-speed ‘muscle boats’ that can go 80 mph and plenty more,” the petition said. “Fortunately, the existing law has kept a lot of those monsters off the lake.”

Marine patrol had no position

Rep. Ted Gorski, R-Bedford, said he was certain many boaters could stay safe without a speed limit, but he worried about those who weren’t careful.

“I appreciate the responsible boat owners who might be able to navigate this,” Gorski said. “What I am more concerned about are the irresponsible boat owners.”

The state Division of Marine Patrol that polices traffic on the state’s lakes and ponds took no position on the bill.

Rep. Michael Bordes, R-Laconia, prime author of the measure, said he was open to compromise.

Supporters convinced him to extend the bill beyond his original idea, to only eliminate the speed limit on “The Broads,” the island-free, very wide expanse north of Governor’s Island in the center of the lake, where owners of large boats often go to travel at maximum speeds.

Bordes also said he could live with leaving the speed limit in place on the weekends, when boat traffic is most congested.

But Rep. Karel Crawford, R-Center Harbor, said she can’t support any change.

“It’s a safety issue as far as I am concerned. I felt like eliminating the speed limit in Lake Winnipesaukee, whether it is in The Broads or not, would be a hazard to our citizens using the lake,” Crawford said.

Committee Chairman Tom Walsh, R-Hooksett, said he’s been safely boating on the lake for decades and thinks changing the speed limit would not make it less safe.

“You can go slower if it’s busy,” Walsh said. “If we have an issue with unqualified boaters, maybe we should be looking at that.”

Most of the state’s largest lakes have no speed limits, though 40 mph is the fastest a boater can go during the day on Spofford Lake near the Vermont border and Squam Lake, the bucolic waterway that was the location for the Academy Award-winning film, “On Golden Pond.”

A number of much smaller ponds and rivers have even lower posted limits.

Former Gov. John Lynch signed a 2010 law that made the Lake Winnipesaukee speed limits permanent.

The Legislature in 2009 set speed limits for two years to test the idea, but a year later lawmakers acted to enshrine them

[fatlazyless]

On a rainy and foggy Tuesday early morning, June 17, 2008 at about 2-am, a 37' Formula with three women onboard struck a rocky ledge on the shoreline of Diamond Island resulting in one death.

After the Friday, July 4, 2008 Independence Day holiday weekend, like on July 7 or 8 or 9 or so, Gov John Lynch signed the initial Lake Winnipesaukee 45-day/30-night speed limit into law. If I remember correct, it was in effect for one year and then got extended, or something.

[tis]

It seems to me, as it seemed to me last time that it's the legislators that don't live around the like that don't want to change it. Why should they care? I didn't see an official count so maybe I am wrong.

Also the Diamond Island crash involved alcohol as do most of these serious crashes.

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by tis

It seems to me, as it seemed to me last time that it's the legislators that don't live around the like that don't want to change it. Why should they care? I didn't see an official count so maybe I am wrong.

Also the Diamond Island crash involved alcohol as do most of these serious crashes.

Actually in 2011 greater than 80% of reps from towns bordering the lake voted in favor of the speed limit. And Karel Crawford is from Moultonboro

And as far as alcohol is concerned one's chances of avoiding a near miss from an impaired driver going 45 MPH are a lot better than if they are going 70 MPH.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

Actually in 2011 greater than 80% of reps from towns bordering the lake voted in favor of the speed limit. And Karel Crawford is from Moultonboro

And as far as alcohol is concerned one's chances of avoiding a near miss from an impaired driver going 45 MPH are a lot better than if they are going 70 MPH.

The issue at hand is day time speed limits. This incident referred to above happened at night where the limit wouldn’t change.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[tis]

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

Actually in 2011 greater than 80% of reps from towns bordering the lake voted in favor of the speed limit. And Karel Crawford is from Moultonboro

And as far as alcohol is concerned one's chances of avoiding a near miss from an impaired driver going 45 MPH are a lot better than if they are going 70 MPH.

Interesting. Would you have a list?

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by tis

Interesting. Would you have a list?

You can go to the archived list at the NH House of Representatives and go back to 2011.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by tis

Interesting. Would you have a list?

Roll call votes in the House are available on line as a link from the bill's docket.

[tis]

Originally Posted by Descant

Roll call votes in the House are available on line as a link from the bill's docket.

I thought maybe he had found it already so had the list.

[John Mercier]

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...sors=&lsr=2782

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by John Mercier

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...sors=&lsr=2782

I think you want the 2011 vote.

[John Mercier]

The 2011 vote was opposition to increasing Lake Winnipesaukee daytime speed limit to 55.

It was voted down... and this would be the House Roll Call.

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/bill...nsors=&lsr=623

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

On a rainy and foggy Tuesday early morning, June 17, 2008 at about 2-am, a 32' Fountain with three women onboard struck a rocky ledge on the shoreline of Diamond Island resulting in one death.

After the Friday, July 4, 2008 Independence Day holiday weekend, like on July 7 or 8 or 9 or so, Gov John Lynch signed the initial Lake Winnipesaukee 45-day/30-night speed limit into law. If I remember correct, it was in effect for one year and then got extended, or something.

It was a 37' Formula sport cruiser, not a 32' Fountain.

If you are trying to tie the speed limit to this accident, I would focus more on the alcohol, weather conditions and failure to maintain a proper lookout.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by codeman671

It was a 37' Formula sport cruiser, not a 32' Fountain.

If you are trying to tie the speed limit to this accident, I would focus more on the alcohol, weather conditions and failure to maintain a proper lookout.

As I recall, wasn't the driver also the president of SBONH, Safe Boaters of New Hampshire which opposed a Lake Winnipesaukee speed limit. .... ..... and it got mega-tons and tons of attention in the NH media and NH news.

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

As I recall, wasn't the driver also the president of SBONH, Safe Boaters of New Hampshire which opposed a Lake Winnipesaukee speed limit. .... ..... and it got mega-tons and tons of attention in the NH media and NH news.

Its my understanding she was something like that, maybe VP of SBONH or something, and it came across that Lynch passed the bill kind of out of spite in a lot of peoples minds. This accident didn't break any of the laws that passed right after.
MP didn't want to bill at the time because it was still being studied, and because of the weather that year there was only a few days they were actually able to use the radar guns up to that point of time.
Its a shame. Loved watching and listening to the "monster muscle" boats (as someone stated, not my words) run up and down the broads.

[John Mercier]

The Governor only gets to sign, let become law without their signature, or veto bill.

Lynch saw a 268 to 79 vote. Smart governors tread lightly when you see that kind of ratio.

Afterward when they tried to raise the speed limit... the vote was still 276 to 75... so the House conviction to the speed limit had gotten stronger.

If my dates are correct, that was the legislative term with the Republican super-majority.

[sunset on the dock]

Yes, having a Winni speed limit was popular then as it is now. If you listened to the testimony in Concord in February, 6 marinas on the lake have come out as being against HB 1424 and one marina owner even showed up to testify in person against the bill. Now Lake Winnipesaukee Association, NH Lakes Association and Lakes Region Conservation Trust have joined in opposition. Fast forward to last Tuesday and no surprise a bipartisan rejection, 15:3, to kill the bill.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

As I recall, wasn't the driver also the president of SBONH, Safe Boaters of New Hampshire which opposed a Lake Winnipesaukee speed limit. .... ..... and it got mega-tons and tons of attention in the NH media and NH news.

In 2010 it was Scott Verdonck (OCDACTIVE here on the forum). Not sure about previous to that. I think SBONH is no longer.

[fatlazyless]

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 was about two years prior to 2010 with regard to who was president of the Safe Boaters of New Hampshire on that infamous, rainy, foggy night of the Diamond Island crash.

Similarly, the NH Marine Trades Assoc. has a website or an organization(?) to promote wake boarding with a You Tube, "Wake Responsibility Wave Study" .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daa0...ature=youtu.be .... Sep 1, 2020 ....2:09 at their website or organization(?) that is named www.boatingnh.com

...... A-mazingly ..... this video link actually works ..... 3-cheers! .....

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 was about two years prior to 2010 with regard to who was president of the Safe Boaters of New Hampshire on that infamous, rainy, foggy night of the Diamond Island crash.

Similarly, the NH Marine Trades Assoc. has a website or an organization(?) to promote wake boarding with a You Tube, "Wake Responsibility Wave Study" .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daa0...ature=youtu.be .... Sep 1, 2020 ....2:09 at their website or organization(?) that is named www.boatingnh.com

...... A-mazingly ..... this video link actually works ..... 3-cheers! .....

There where two entities which fought against the speed limit...

Safe Boaters of New Hampshire (SBONH), who's preseident fought for the speed limit but was not the person involved in the Diamond Island Crash, and was on this forum as OCDActive..... SBONH tried to hold on, but lack of involvement from members caused it to die out.

Now the person who crashed into Diamond Island... was part of and I believe president of NH Recreational Boaters Association (NHRBA), which also died, because of the incident on Diamond island as well as loss of interest after the speed limit was enacted....

[znh]

All of this just seems kind of silly and a huge waste of money and resources...of which how much is taxpayer money?

If I watch 100 boats cross the Broads on a Saturday afternoon, maybe 10% of them could even break the 45 MPH speed limit if they tried, in flat water, by themselves on their boat.

I have also seen most of the boats that can easily do 45+ go that fast and without any issues or real safety concerns. I was told by a Marine Patrol officer that they issue less then 10 speeding tickets a year on Winni.

So what is really the issue here? It's not income from the state writing speeding tickets, it's not really an issue of need as most boats can't and wouldn't go much faster. Just seems like a lot of time and energy and resources wasted for a such a non-issue. Just keep it as it is and move on...

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by znh

I have also seen most of the boats that can easily do 45+ go that fast and without any issues or real safety concerns. I was told by a Marine Patrol officer that they issue less then 10 speeding tickets a year on Winni.

So what is really the issue here?

I suspect no speeding tickets have been issued on my residential street for the entire year. And I suspect no tickets have been issued regarding dogs pooping in the park down the street. That does not mean that we should make these activities legal.

[Woodsy]

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

I suspect no speeding tickets have been issued on my residential street for the entire year. And I suspect no tickets have been issued regarding dogs pooping in the park down the street. That does not mean that we should make these activities legal.

That is a false equivalency.... Rules/Laws on the road have nothing to do with rules on the water. The reasons for both are vastly different.

The DAYTIME speed limit on the lake has had ZERO effect on lake safety. There were no high speed (>45MPH) accidents before the speed limit... there have been no high speed (>45MPH) accidents since the passage of the speed limit. During the day a boaters visibility is measured in miles, not yards or feet.

Almost every accident on this lake has occurred at NIGHT and involved alcohol. There have been other mitigating factors as well, reduced visibility, operator error, etc etc.

The speed limit is a feel good law that luckily is rarely enforced. I would prefer the MP deal with the boneheads who do not know the ROW rules and the NWZ rules. Usually the 150' rule doesn't get me riled unless they are danger close (<40')

Woodsy

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

That is a false equivalency.... Rules/Laws on the road have nothing to do with rules on the water. The reasons for both are vastly different.

The DAYTIME speed limit on the lake has had ZERO effect on lake safety. There were no high speed (>45MPH) accidents before the speed limit... there have been no high speed (>45MPH) accidents since the passage of the speed limit. During the day a boaters visibility is measured in miles, not yards or feet.

Almost every accident on this lake has occurred at NIGHT and involved alcohol. There have been other mitigating factors as well, reduced visibility, operator error, etc etc.

The speed limit is a feel good law that luckily is rarely enforced. I would prefer the MP deal with the boneheads who do not know the ROW rules and the NWZ rules. Usually the 150' rule doesn't get me riled unless they are danger close (<40')

Woodsy

Well your take on this seems to be somewhat at odds with the 83% of the Transportation Committee who voted to kill the bill this week, bipartisan no less. And the 80% of reps who supported the SL 11 years ago. And the greater than 80% of reps from towns bordering the lake that supported the SL 11 years ago.

[Woodsy]

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

Well your take on this seems to be somewhat at odds with the 83% of the Transportation Committee who voted to kill the bill this week, bipartisan no less. And the 80% of reps who supported the SL 11 years ago. And the greater than 80% of reps from towns bordering the lake that supported the SL 11 years ago.

Sunset...

It's safe to say that most of the transportation committee has nothing to do with representing Lake Winnipesaukee. Only 2 lakes region towns are represented, but and only 1 representative ron the committee is from a town bordering the lake.

Nor does it change any of the facts I posted above.... ZERO accidents at a speed >45MPH.

Personally I don't really care or worry about speed when I am on the water. Its a rare day when I cruise faster than 45MPH, even though my boat is capable of 1.5X that speed.

Woodsy

[sunset on the dock]

Sorry Woodsy...Karel Crawford is from Moultonboro and voted to kill the bill. Not that that matters...people from all parts of the state boat on Winnipesaukee and like you have their own opinions. And as said, 11 years ago greater than 80% of reps from towns bordering the lake supported the speed limit.

And I was pleased to learn that the Lake Winnipesaukee Association and Lakes Region Conservation Trust have formally opposed the bill. And the NH Lakes Association. And the Lake Winni Sailing Assoc. And the NH Lakes Advisory Board. And 6 Winni marinas, one of whose owners spoke at the Trans. Comm. hearing. Check out the testimony, it's quite easy, all videotaped and available online. It is quite compelling.

[DEJ]

Woodsy wrote: Nor does it change any of the facts I posted above.... ZERO accidents at a speed >45MPH.

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by DEJ

Woodsy wrote: Nor does it change any of the facts I posted above.... ZERO accidents at a speed >45MPH.

Zero? Really? You need to get your facts straight. Wonder how that swimmer did?


State of New Hampshire
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety
Division of State Police
James H. Hayes Safety Building, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305

Colonel Nathan A. Noyes
Director



February 3, 2022


The following accidents have been identified as being related to speeds potentially in excess of limits set by RSA 270-D:2 X:

2013
July 7th 5:00 pm Operator of PWC (Personal Watercraft) fell into handle bars 45 mph
July 20th 8:00am Operator struck underwater object and boat sunk 45 mph

2015
August 23rd 8:17am Powerboat struck swimmer 65+mph

2018
September 2nd 2:56pm PWC fall over board 50 mph


Sincerely,

Timothy C. Dunleavy
Marine Patrol Captain

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by DEJ

Woodsy wrote: Nor does it change any of the facts I posted above.... ZERO accidents at a speed >45MPH.

Zero? Really? You need to get your facts straight. Wonder how that swimmer did?


State of New Hampshire
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety
Division of State Police
James H. Hayes Safety Building, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305

Colonel Nathan A. Noyes
Director



February 3, 2022


The following accidents have been identified as being related to speeds potentially in excess of limits set by RSA 270-D:2 X:

2013
July 7th 5:00 pm Operator of PWC (Personal Watercraft) fell into handle bars 45 mph
July 20th 8:00am Operator struck underwater object and boat sunk 45 mph

2015
August 23rd 8:17am Powerboat struck swimmer 65+mph

2018
September 2nd 2:56pm PWC fall over board 50 mph


Sincerely,

Timothy C. Dunleavy
Marine Patrol Captain

May not be zero, but 3 incidents in 7 seasons and extremely minimal for the amount of boats on the lake.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[chachee52]

Originally Posted by joey2665

May not be zero, but 3 incidents in 7 seasons and extremely minimal for the amount of boats on the lake.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

I only saw 2 that fell into the "against that rules".

Thank you Woodsy for saying what you have been saying. At the time of the original bill, I know MP stated less than 1% of all boating accidents in NH had anything to do with speed.
And falling off a jet ski is just stupidity and bad driving most of the time. Yes, randomly a rouge wave, but most of the time the accidents I hear from jetskis are they jumped the wave and hit their head or another boat.

[sunset on the dock]

Originally Posted by joey2665

May not be zero, but 3 incidents in 7 seasons and extremely minimal for the amount of boats on the lake.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Again, as alluded to previously, just because there were no accidents on my street in the last 7 years does not mean I will advocate to have no speed limits on my street.

[lakewinnie]

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

Zero? Really? You need to get your facts straight. Wonder how that swimmer did?


State of New Hampshire
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY
Robert L. Quinn, Commissioner of Safety
Division of State Police
James H. Hayes Safety Building, 33 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03305

Colonel Nathan A. Noyes
Director



February 3, 2022


The following accidents have been identified as being related to speeds potentially in excess of limits set by RSA 270-D:2 X:

2013
July 7th 5:00 pm Operator of PWC (Personal Watercraft) fell into handle bars 45 mph
July 20th 8:00am Operator struck underwater object and boat sunk 45 mph

2015
August 23rd 8:17am Powerboat struck swimmer 65+mph

2018
September 2nd 2:56pm PWC fall over board 50 mph


Sincerely,

Timothy C. Dunleavy
Marine Patrol Captain

"related to speeds potentially in excess of limits..."

I would need to know more about these three accidents to conclude that they were due to boats going over 45 mph day/30 mph night. Are these basically all of the fatal accidents where the boat/PWC was going over the speed limit? If so, thus the qualifier "potentially".

Everyone here knows that a boat going slower than the speed limit can kill a swimmer.

I don't find these statistics compelling one way of the other, without knowing more about these accidents.

[Woodsy]

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

Sorry Woodsy...Karel Crawford is from Moultonboro and voted to kill the bill. Not that that matters...people from all parts of the state boat on Winnipesaukee and like you have their own opinions. And as said, 11 years ago greater than 80% of reps from towns bordering the lake supported the speed limit.

And I was pleased to learn that the Lake Winnipesaukee Association and Lakes Region Conservation Trust have formally opposed the bill. And the NH Lakes Association. And the Lake Winni Sailing Assoc. And the NH Lakes Advisory Board. And 6 Winni marinas, one of whose owners spoke at the Trans. Comm. hearing. Check out the testimony, it's quite easy, all videotaped and available online. It is quite compelling.

I edited my post accordingly... thanks for pointing that out.

Like I said above I personally don't worry too much about the speed limit.

Speed limits on the roadways don't stop people from buying sports cars like a Porsche or a Corvette and driving them faster than allowed. I don't think a speed limit on the lake stops people from buying fast boats and driving them faster than allowed either.

Now if the economy tanks or hi-test gas gets ridiculous... then you might see the folks with those boats slow down a little.

Woodsy

[fatlazyless]

"The speed limit is a feel good law that luckily is rarely enforced." ... Woodsy[/QUOTE]

Hey Woodsy, you used to have a Donzi ...... do you still have it and use it?

Was it a Donzi Sweet-16 or a Donzi much larger and what's it got for an engine?

[Woodsy]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

"The speed limit is a feel good law that luckily is rarely enforced."

Hey Woodsy, you used to have a Donzi ...... do you still have it and use it?

Was it a Donzi Sweet-16 or a Donzi much larger and what's it got for an engine?

Why does that matter? I make no secret of who I am or what boat(s) I possess.

Woodsy

[Boatbottom952]

Originally Posted by Woodsy

That is a false equivalency.... Rules/Laws on the road have nothing to do with rules on the water. The reasons for both are vastly different.

The DAYTIME speed limit on the lake has had ZERO effect on lake safety. There were no high speed (>45MPH) accidents before the speed limit... there have been no high speed (>45MPH) accidents since the passage of the speed limit. During the day a boaters visibility is measured in miles, not yards or feet.

Almost every accident on this lake has occurred at NIGHT and involved alcohol. There have been other mitigating factors as well, reduced visibility, operator error, etc etc.

The speed limit is a feel good law that luckily is rarely enforced. I would prefer the MP deal with the boneheads who do not know the ROW rules and the NWZ rules. Usually the 150' rule doesn't get me riled unless they are danger close (<40')

Woodsy

Not sure people will understand you Woodsy, Way Way to much Common Sense in that statement. IQ does not equal Common sense. Money doesn't equal Common Sense. It's either YOU have it or you Don't.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by sunset on the dock

I suspect no speeding tickets have been issued on my residential street for the entire year. And I suspect no tickets have been issued regarding dogs pooping in the park down the street. That does not mean that we should make these activities legal.

Who do you post as usually?

[Boatbottom952]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

Who do you post as usually?

Remember " Rusty "

[webmaster]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

As I recall, wasn't the driver also the president of SBONH, Safe Boaters of New Hampshire which opposed a Lake Winnipesaukee speed limit. .... ..... and it got mega-tons and tons of attention in the NH media and NH news.

She was the President of the NH Recreational Boaters Association (NHRBA).

[phoenix]

Glad it was defeated but like the moultonboro rec center it keeps coming back

[swnoel]

How many boaters on the lake have actually been affected by this law? My guess is not many can or want to travel over 45MPH. My boat will do 40+/- mph at WOT and is a a very unpleasant ride. Course bass boats and cigarette style hull boats are designed for those high speed rides, but I'd guess they can't be very pleasurable either.

[TiltonBB]

There are a lot of boats on Winnipesaukee, and most jet skis, that will exceed the 45 MPH speed limit.

I don't think the speed limit is enforced much, if at all. It would come in to play in the reconstruction of serious accident. In many boats the engine computer leaves a trail so after an accident the engine RPM at the time of the accident could be used with reasonable accuracy to determine the boat speed.

I regularly see boats and jet skis exceeding the speed limit, without incident. The law was, and remains, a feel good law.

[fatlazyless]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

There are a lot of boats on Winnipesaukee, and most jet skis, that will exceed the 45 MPH speed limit.

I regularly see boats and jet skis exceeding the speed limit, without incident. The law was, and remains, a feel good law.

For kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, the speed limit definitely makes the paddler FEEL GOOD!

For something like $300-400 at Wally World you can take yourself way out there on the big lake with a kayak/sup paddle, pfd & whistle and be good to hit the wide open water spaces out there.

Kayaks and sups tend to be somewhat invisible to motor boats and will show up way out beyond the spar markers in the motorboat channels so the speed limit makes the lake a safer place to go paddle the Lake Winnipesaukee big waters.

Motorboats certainly seem to have a lot of needs ..... a motorboat need registration, NH boater certificate, gasoline, insurance, and rocky water at least 5' deep while a kayak/sup only needs a paddle and .... a BIG SMILE!

[swnoel]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

There are a lot of boats on Winnipesaukee, and most jet skis, that will exceed the 45 MPH speed limit.

I don't think the speed limit is enforced much, if at all. It would come in to play in the reconstruction of serious accident. In many boats the engine computer leaves a trail so after an accident the engine RPM at the time of the accident could be used with reasonable accuracy to determine the boat speed.

I regularly see boats and jet skis exceeding the speed limit, without incident. The law was, and remains, a feel good law.

How do you know how fast they're actually going?

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by swnoel

How do you know how fast they're actually going?

I am a trained observer. I also have a radar gun. I didn't state that I knew how fast they were going, only that they had exceeded the 45 MPH limit.

I have a pontoon boat and a V hull boat, both of which have GPS speedometers (and both capable of speeds in excess of 45 MPH).

I have been out in my boats, of course only doing 45, and been passed by boats going faster.

Any questions?

[Boatbottom952]

Originally Posted by swnoel

How many boaters on the lake have actually been affected by this law? My guess is not many can or want to travel over 45MPH. My boat will do 40+/- mph at WOT and is a a very unpleasant ride. Course bass boats and cigarette style hull boats are designed for those high speed rides, but I'd guess they can't be very pleasurable either.

In the morning, when it's just a small chop or Flat smooth, 73 mph is quite awesome. The only thing you need to avoid is salmon guys. Flip the coin/ after 11am, No way to go that fast in a bass boat. Sometimes you hit so hard your butt cheeks are coming out your ears and your spine is 1 inch shorter.