’79 Nautique Horsepower

Somethng seems very unamerican about this. Don't let them look under the hood. You can quote me on the following in regards to your horsepower output: "somewhere around 100, give or take a little".

I guess they would be happier if the skier was being pulled by a Jon boat with a 35HP Evinrude.

Arn't people something?

Just tell them you are trolling for sharks, just like they did in the movie Jaws II

Katie, You're only screwed if you sit back and let them do this to you. This happened to me 20 years ago. They put a picture of my boat on the front page of the newspaper stating that "someone is going to get killed". It was a photo of use barefooting of the boom and to someoen who doesn't know skiing it probably looks like an accident waiting to happen.

If you're on a private lake you probably have an association, get all the lakes skiers together and show up at a meeting and be prepared to show them that the hp rating of the boat is not the problem. On our lake we had some yahoos show up every weekend with 250hp outboards that we're doing 70 mph across a relatively small pond. Of course we we're the scapegoats because our boat was louder than everything else on the lake and with our skiing we drew a lot of attention.

We invited the city council to join us for an early morning ski and demonstrated how we used the boom as a learning tool so we could AVOID injury. We showed them some barefooting and built a pyramid and ran through the course. They needed to see that the hp of our boat was not the problem it was the speed and as you know flat out you can bairly get 45 mph out of these things. The real safety problem was the high Hp outboards.

Suprisingly they listened and we ended up with a 40MPH speed limit which we were ok with and they also banned Personnal watercraft which was fine by us. It really ticked off the fisherman because those were the guys running 50+ mph accross our ski paths just to cause trouble.

You might try contacting associations like AWSA, they may have crossed this problem before and could offer some assistance. You better make sure all the skiers on your lake are on their best behavior too because if you give them any ammo they'll use it against you. You can not lose this fight because I have seen lakes lose their skiing but I have never seen one get it back.

Good luck to you

81 and Gottaski are right. Get the focus on speed, not HP. Those 200HP outboards can run over 70 mph. My 310 HP inboard won't top 46. BKH

Hp on a 351 is uaually about 240...

If your trying to "say" it's lower....yours looks like a 302 to me!!! Most could not tell the diff! Then you could go as low as 200-210hp range.Don't you really have a 302??? Some SN's were powered with a 302 and unless someone measures ...who would tell you different!

Great suggestions thank you.

It really does have a Ford 351... but I see where you're going, Stang. Thanks for the idea!

Alan- here's the crazy part- there is a barfoot nautique on the lake too! I know his boat is MUCH more powerful. I think we really ruffled the fishing feathers when we were skiing when it was still cool outside. We abide by all of the rules in place by the association, with the one time exception of skiing over the hours by 3 minutes. All of our equipment is approved and we always have a spotter. I guess because we do follow the rules, that's why they're attacking the horsepower of the boat. The person who owns the barfoot takes kids from the lake out and teaches them how to ski twice a season. Maybe that's what I need to do to get them off my back... teach their kids and grand kids how to ski.

Geish! I hope when I'm that age I find better things to do with my free time!

The loud exhaust on inboards make them sound very powerful and fast regardless of the HP. I'm sure if you owned a quiet I/O, the fishermen wouldn't complain as much. Maybe they're not catching any fish and they're blaming you.

Regardless, boating and skiing is your sport and fishing is theirs. What's the difference? I've run into this issue before, but I respectfully keep my distance and I'll always wave hello to them. Always party poopers out there. I wish you the best and don't back down.

PS: Dyno? That's the craziest request I've ever heard. That's IDIOT talk. I would go about your business and have a great time.

Ken

I'd toss them a 6 pack if it would help!

My grandmother has a house/camp up there, when she bought it the rules weren't so crazy.

I spoke to some "boat people" today that said there was no way the engine was putting out over 185hp. Anyone agree, or disagree? I don't really want to lie to these people. I'm going to try the rational approach first... then use the advice of getting a real estate atty.

If it was me I would be asking for the rules or by-laws of the association, find out who the officers our and discuss it with them and see what rules you are breaking? and who is complaining and exactly what the complaint is. I would also look into weather or not they are up to date on their association dues and if the association is properly incorperated and operating legally. If the association is illegal or disolved, then they can go fly a kite. I would also look into if the whole lake is in the association. The lake I used to live on we had an association that was only for our side of the street/channel and limited on what they could inforced. If the association was establised before your your home was built and it is in another sub-division they maynot have authority to restrict your boat. I would also contact the DNR for your state, if it has a public launch or the launch is at a marina then it may not be as private as you think and the DNR would control what type and power rating limits for boat to operate on the lake.

    Drop a line out of the 79 for a bit, then go skiing....
All the info suggested sounds good... ITS CALLED "PLAY THE GAME"

                                    Jeff...

Nothing against most fishermen...(in fact I like fishing)...BUT,I could argue many issues to advocate banning those guys from all lakes!
How about...picking up you empty worm containers...and those balls of line left around to tangle on my prop or around the neck of some poor duck! Or speed??? Those dudes are flying from hole to hole!
Next time I am on the ramp and helping some poor drunk on their butts fisherman that just sunk thier Ranger cuase the plug was out....I will remind them not to badmouth the ski folks!
Again nothing against most fishermen...

Good luck katie!

Hey..I am just reacting to katie's situation!
Bottom line is(and my point)...it's part of boating to be tolerant of others!We could all make a case against some other craft that interrupts our day on the lake....If you fish , ski...jet ski ..or whatever, be
good to the rest all the world!

In Katie's case...it's BS... that someone would attempt it!

Did not in anyway mean to offend fishermen...I fish too!

Out of curiosity, where about is this crazy lake?

Definitely get involved with the decision making process. The world is run by those who show up!