GL-Thought you’d heard it all?

Oh yeah, forgot to mention from my previous post on page one. I got a warning from a WI DNR warden for doing a barefoot flying dock start from a pier. The only thing that prevented him from giving me a $150 ticket was that it was a new law that was enacted that stated no wake speeds within 100' of any dock. Virtually eliminates all barefoot flyers. No thanks. I don't need f****d up laws like that.

This is exactly one of the reasons I wanted out of WI. The DNR has some real assinine laws that pertain to a lot of different recreational vehicles including boats, ATV's and snowmobiles. I got a $125 ticket from a DNR warden for not having an observer while skiing. Now keep in mind, this was in Oct. on a river on a Thursday afternoon. It's not like there was shore-to-shore boat traffic involved in the middle of the summer. The only other people we saw all afternoon were duck hunters (who didn't have PFD's)!!!! I also snowmobiled for years in WI until a guy I was riding with got a ticket for excessive noise from his exhausts. Then you add into the mix the numerous lake association a**holes that add additional no wake, noise and skiing restrictions onto their personal (as they see it anyway) playground. I had enough. Don't have any of those issues here. Loud and proud. Sunrise to sunset. No observers needed. Year round. No storage. No winterizing. No speed limits. No skiing restrictions. No LOA rules. Lifes a Beach!!!!

62 wood wrote: Today its one decible, tomorrow its two.... pretty soon before you know it , it'll be two and a half, or maybe even three.

Yea, then the next thing you know we will all be forced into Bayliners--they're quiet.

I just emailed a close friend who is the president of the Glacier Lakes ACBS chaper in Wisconsin and also on the board of the ACBS. I do know the noise issue came up several years ago with the ACBS nation wide. I'll see what Wil has to say and post it.

Thanks , Thats exactly what I was thinking.

p/allen wrote: quote In general, do not modify your factory exhaust if the result makes it louder! Basicaly the Wisconsin DNR is clarifying there statement. Either that or they are contradicting themselves . I would say that in a court that this statement would win it for any classic boats . BKH , You got any input on this subject or statement? I think the only one that would have a problem would be Trbenj.

Pat, I assume you're asking from the perspective of my former career as an attorney.

It's difficult to say how this would play out in a court. If I were the owner of a classic boat, I'd certainly make the argument you've set forth.

I doubt that the language quoted above is part of the legislation. Rather it's probably part of some well intentioned advisory guide from the DNR.

As a matter of practicality, the outcome in court will probably depend upon the judge you draw (not much different than when you appear in traffic court). These matters are reviewed in the lowest level courts. At least in CA this violation would be considered an infraction and thus it is likely one could not be represented by a lawyer unless the matter was taken up on appeal. Little of the decision is documented in these lower courts, and there is little precedent. Most people wouldn't spend the money to take this up on appeal.

I did do a little research today, and it looks to me like many of the states that have adopted noise ordinances have specific exceptions for classic boats. The question is what is a classic? One state (I can't remember which) excluded boats made prior to 1961.

Ultimately, it's probably best to work with a boating group, or a local group around the lake, with a collective interest to fight the legislation and/or fight how the law is interpreted. However, in the recent past, even this has not been effective. The offshore power boat association spent a lot of money trying to fight the noise ordinances at Lake Havasu. Ultimately they were unsuccessful and now must have mufflers on these powerful boats if they wish to use them at Havasu.

BKH

Well....guess I am leaving the '80 home next year.

john

Pat,
That was right from the DNR site.....

DNR Site...

   87 dbs registered on Reids boat... a WHOPPING 1db over!!! Geeeeeee... Would be interested to see what the % margine of error that $2000 meter has?

Steve ,
Was this in what you looked up ? Or did you add it in ?

quote
In general, do not modify your factory exhaust if the result makes it louder!

Do you think this boat would excede the db's?

    They pull the same CRAP on us when we sled there also. Now we use their nice roads as we pull our snowmobiles THRU their state on our way to the U.P. of Michigan...
The Wi DNR site only states that a boat cannot exceed 86dbs. No reference as to who or how the test is conducted.Heres what I copied and pasted of their site...........

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

An effective muffling system is required for the exhaust of each internal combustion engine and the use of cut-outs is prohibited. Any boat operated on the waters of Wisconsin must be muffled to effectively reduce noise. Specifically, it is illegal to operate a boat that exceeds a noise level of 86 dB (decibels).

In general, do not modify your factory exhaust if the result makes it louder!

Loud boat noise not only bothers other operators and users of the waterways, it can also disrupt peace ashore because of sound's ability to travel great distances over water. Excessive noise can also prevent a boat operator from hearing other boats' sound signals and warnings and can prevent you from hearing approaching law or rescue personnel.



........ I hope Bill can help... I'm sure he's on our side.....

HEY PETE, I know there are a LOT of WI registered boats that belong to the ACBS...What do they say?

Reid, I'm going up north to put the boats to bed for the winter tomorrow. I will check it out but have a felling it is Barney Fife who is creating the problems at GL. The law, I'm sure is aimed at the straight pipe jets and the megaphoned hydros. It's one of those things that's up to the discretion of the enforcement officer to push it or not. It will be interesting what Bill at Bayview comes back with.

Trying to find a good mix of some really loud wicked marine Exhaust sound for my Ipod to blast out the tower speakers (perhaps Tim could do a recording for me), initially I wanted it to compete with the great sound the old boats have however now I am thinking about how much I could f**k with Sheriff Buford T Justice with this!! What a crock!!

"Nobody, and I mean NOBODY makes Sheriff Buford T. Justice look like a possum's pecker"

Looks like the law is pretty tight, but not very smart, same level 86db is quoted at three different test conditions, although a 2 db deduction is to be made depending on what condition is used. Still a fairly new law and therfore no exceptions yet. 86db is generally a level used in a 50ft pass by test a dock test would add about 2 db to your level. I can't pass a 90db 50ft pass by test in my Mustang (NY law but I have never seen it enforced), depending on whats being tested here at the time I can probably borrow a sound meter for the next reunion, might be another leg of the bragging rights competition.

    Not only was the guy a fife for suggesting that you use a silent choice system on an inboard but also suggesting its use at all since it too is illegal in WI unless it can be shown that the boat cannot be operated in an illegal manner in either mode of operation. I am pretty sure they should have deducted 2 db from the test at the dock since they were not at 50 feet but I haven't read the others SAE standards referenced lately just the J34a that they use here in NY.