REMOVABLE OF DOCK BUOYS?????

[Champ188]

Some of the sentiment about removing the buoys entirely may have to do with certain dock owners bending the placement rules to make it appear that entire coves are no wake.

[Quillback]

On ‎8‎/‎29‎/‎2016 at 4:30 AM, dan hufferd said:

Most people don't know what 100' looks like. They might as well do away with the law. If you take the buoys down no one will slow down.

. Enforcement will be a huge problem without buoys.  People can take the ticket to court and argue that they were not within a 100 feet.  How can the LEO prove that they were unless there is a point of reference that shows where the 100' line is?

[Quillback]

6 hours ago, Champ188 said:

Some of the sentiment about removing the buoys entirely may have to do with certain dock owners bending the placement rules to make it appear that entire coves are no wake.

Yeah, the entrance to Mill Creek (the one across from the mouth of the Kings), it's like a  downhill ski slalom course to get between the buoys on your way in. 

[Browning Guy]

14 hours ago, 96 CHAMP said:

need to have a petition drawn up and get all the signatures you can and send it in, after all we all pay there wages through our taxes. Just a thought.

I totally agree and that is why this topic is being brought up. Thanks to OA, we (fisherman who are dock owners) have a forum to bring this up. Hoping the same fisherman who own docks and/or buoy at their dock will continue to send me a private message so we can organize a group.  We are hoping an attorney (who is a dock and buoy owner) down in the Aunts Creek area will be willing to assist us in this matter.

The argument of "well if that's what law enforcement says we we'll do... then that's what we we'll do" doesn't work for me (this coming from a law enforcement officer). This law hasn't been changed, YET.  Your suggestion is right in line as we do pay taxes and as dock owners pay for access across COE (public) property to have electricity to our docks and to pay (tax) for a permit for a dock and with that, pay for electrical inspections. We love our dock and thoroughly enjoy having it, so we pay the fees (taxes) to have said dock. We just hate to see them destroyed by folks who could care less about what happens to them and if a buoy assists in protecting a few docks........ Please, continue sending your Private Messages for suggestions and to get involved. Thanks.

[vernon]

15 hours ago, MOPanfisher said:

Again that is in line with what the MSHP I doing all over.  The COE is falling in line.  As if they had any real choice in the matter.  If the MSHP, as the agency that permits and enforces the law and wants to change it then what are you going to do, except express disagreement.  As for TR it will eventually go the same way as LOZ, whatever ends up happening there with NWIS buoys and no wake zones.  Most definitely make your thoughts, comments and feelings know to the MSHP in Jeff City, even better if it were to come from an organized group of Marina Owners etc. As a boater I see in smaller waters that often boaters simply ignore buoys, signs, and common courtesy where wakes are concerned.  I wish I had an answer that would work, some sort of magic formula I could pour into the water supply and suddenly everyone would think about the effect a boat wake has on other boats, docks shoreline etc.  I know the COE does some odd things (trust me I have seen it up close) but this one is coming down from the state level, in fact I believe that the MSHP would love to be completely out of the buoy permit business except for enforcement, similar to MOOT establishing speed limits on roads and then MSHP doing the enforcement.  The buoy program was inherited with the merger of the old Water Patrol and MSHP sees it as a detracting from their main purpose of enforcement, but that is a topic for cold beer, hot coffee or mediocre fishing. 

Good on you for the effort anyway.  USACE is kind of like Trump and republicans - the fault always falls there, facts be darn.  I'm pretty sure that the corps was somehow involved in Hillary's emails and Benghazi too by way.

[vernon]

3 hours ago, Quillback said:

Yeah, the entrance to Mill Creek (the one across from the mouth of the Kings), it's like a  downhill ski slalom course to get between the buoys on your way in. 

Good example right there.  Just as well drop the trolling motor upon entering.

[Old plug]

   No forum would apply to me being on LOZ. But from what I have read on this thread I am real happy about it. Would seem the corp has grossly overstepped their bounds. Have to wonder can you do work on your own dock such as reenforcement welding etc. Mine here is supposed by cross bracing both below the dock and thru the cieling. All of it is 2 " 1/4" angles as a minimum. I did 90% of the welding myself. Would they allow you to do that down there. I did not need a permit either. In the worst conditions my dock does not wobble or wiggle in any manner. It moves as a solid unit. 

Does the corp dictate to you your choice of a lift.? Mine is a box type lift that lock against the lift when it is raised. Another thing that greatly helps in dock stabilization. But you need to have a higher rate lift than what the boat is. As a example my 18 1/2 ft Targa is kept on a 6000 lb lift. Takes it awhile to get down but it's worth the time for the added stabilization. 

[pvspmo]

3 hours ago, Quillback said:

Yeah, the entrance to Mill Creek (the one across from the mouth of the Kings), it's like a  downhill ski slalom course to get between the buoys on your way in. 

I have a slip in a community dock in Mill Creek.  The wake boats and ski doos actually use those buoys as a slalom course.  It is unbelievable to watch some of these people come into that cove!  The damage to the docks, cables, lifts and boats is never ending...  That little stretch coming into Mill Creek should be designated as a "Bottleneck" according to the water patrol guidelines.  

[Quillback]

Just now, pvspmo said:

I have a slip in a community dock in Mill Creek.  The wake boats and ski doos actually use those buoys as a slalom course.  It is unbelievable to watch some of these people come into that cove!  The damage to the docks, cables, lifts and boats is never ending...  That little stretch coming into Mill Creek should be designated as a "Bottleneck" according to the water patrol guidelines.  

I'm with you on that.  I would like to see all coves marked no wake.  It stinks for us fishermen to have to idle all the way back, but I would pay that price to keep the wakes out.

[pvspmo]

Just now, Quillback said:

I'm with you on that.  I would like to see all coves marked no wake.  It stinks for us fishermen to have to idle all the way back, but I would pay that price to keep the wakes out.

We actually looked into the "Bottleneck" option a couple of years ago.  I can't remember exactly, but it took a certain percentage of slip owners in the affected area to sign a document requesting approval.  If my memory still works, it seems like 10 or 11 docks on the Needles Eye side and 7 or 8 on the west side of Mill Creek several of which are community docks holding 12-20 slips.  The legwork was overwhelming and waterpatrol at the time told us that after we did everything that was required, they would probably not approve us anyway...  So we continue to fix our docks and lifts.  I idle in and out every time I am there, doesn't matter if i'm in my bass boat or pontoon boat.  Been cussed at by pleasure boaters and fisherman for doing it... I just smile and wave!