Ban all Bassboat's

[Al Agnew]

I guess I wasn't clear that my thoughts weren't just about bass boats, but the numbers of big, high speed boats in general.  I agree that anglers in bass boats are a far smaller part of the problem than idiots on jetskies and speedboats.  Just as anglers in jetboats on the rivers are a far smaller part of the problem than the motorheads that are just spending the day running up and down the river incessantly to see how fast they can get from point A to point B.  And I agree that on lakes, there is no way in the world that you can limit use, except for horsepower limits and/or strict enforcement of speed limits and no-wake zones, you can't limit the number of users.

[tjm]

I don't think the guy writing the opinion piece expects it to result in banning all bass boats,  I thought when I read it that his intention was to draw attention to the speed and numbers problem as a whole. There are 100mph pontoon boats according to the 'net and 100mph with no brakes is just stupid, imo, but beyond the stupidity it endangers any one not traveling 100mph because they can't get out of the way. If the article creates discussion in a dozen or so places as it has here and 20 people (or a 1000) start to see things the way Al expressed them, I think the writer and the editor will be satisfied. Of course it makes a difference whether you are the swimmer or the wade fisherman  or the cat with the high-speed boat. On the other hand in an overpopulated world, what is the loss of a few lives.

There will be no solution if no problem is perceived,   and at the rate things happen,  the problems are often not acknowledged until the damage is done. 

Speed on water will never be enforced, power could be.

[Flysmallie]

As someone that has driven a fast bass boat and loves it, I never understood why there wasn't a speed limit? 

[fishinwrench]

39 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

As someone that has driven a fast bass boat and loves it, I never understood why there wasn't a speed limit? 

Because TECHNICALLY they don't have control off road.  The 30mph night-time speed limit isn't even something they have the jurisdiction to enforce.  Give the summons to a lawyer and he'll have it thrown out without even making a phone call.  

Of course hiring a lawyer to do that costs more than the fine.  

[skeeter]

43 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

As someone that has driven a fast bass boat and loves it, I never understood why there wasn't a speed limit? 

I'm sure you know that there is a 30 MPH speed limit after Sunset on Missouri waters.  Rumors have it that the largely invisible Water Division of the MSHP has been enforcing that recently on TR.  I guess someone loaned them a Radar Gun ?  

30 MPH sure beats Indiana's law which allows only Idle Speed after dark and they enforce it but don't have the number of acres of water that Missouri does. 

[skeeter]

28 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Because TECHNICALLY they don't have control off road.  The 30mph night-time speed limit isn't even something they have the jurisdiction to enforce.  Give the summons to a lawyer and he'll have it thrown out without even making a phone call.  

Of course hiring a lawyer to do that costs more than the fine.  

Hiring a Lawyer is usually the smart thing, in the long run, to do because the fines and Court Costs for any moving violation goes on your record ( yessir, even on the water ) that the thieving Insurance Companies get hold of and that fine and Kangaroo Court Cost will seem small after they use the excuse to jack-up your Premiums for the next three to five years.  Had never heard your information before about no jurisdiction on the night speed limit thing, thanks for mentioning that. 

[Flysmallie]

3 minutes ago, skeeter said:

I'm sure you know that there is a 30 MPH speed limit after Sunset on Missouri waters.  Rumors have it that the largely invisible Water Division of the MSHP has been enforcing that recently on TR.  I guess someone loaned them a Radar Gun ?  

Yeah I know about the night one. 25 years ago the now gone MSWP had radar guns in their boats. At least the one I had dealings with did. 

[fishinwrench]

Speedometers on boats are not accurate, so there's really no discernible line that  we could be expected to stay under.

The other (really fun) reason why a speed limit isn't enforced, is because they don't have a patrol boat that can catch us.   😃

[skeeter]

Just now, Flysmallie said:

Yeah I know about the night one. 25 years ago the now gone MSWP had radar guns in their boats. At least the one I had dealings with did. 

Uh-oh, that doesn't sound good 😉 

The LOZ MSWP used to have decibel meters on their boats too and used them and that's getting to be needed on TR but, heck, we seldom see a Water Cop...unless you pass by the location of a water-accessible bar after dark. 

[slothman]

I saw the WP, with lights on, pulled up next to a bass boat by the grand glaize bridge yesterday evening. I can’t imagine why though.