Lake Daytime Speed Limit

[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.