Now The Noise Issue!!! Are you equipped?

SHARKEY-IMAGES · 06-02-2003, 05:28 PM

The next Boating Regulation Commission meeting, scheduled for July 9th, is going to include a presentation from a local environmental conservation group which is intending
to complain about the noise generated by performance powerboats.
Facts are always helpful -- and John H. Shanahan, Jr. would like to see the performance powerboat industry fairly and accurately represented at the upcoming meeting.
Interested dealers, brokers and service center reps are certainly
welcome to attend: 10:00 am on Wednesday July 9, 2003, at the Bay Head Yacht Club, Bay Head, NJ.
If you have any supporting data that may help John, here is his contact info:
John H. Shanahan, Jr.
Member, NJ Boat Regulation Commission
c/o Boating Safety Institute of America
Post Office Box 46
Maywood, NJ 07607-0046

Telephone: 800-237-1708
On the Web: BoatSafety.org

Peconic · 06-02-2003, 06:12 PM

I believe noise is the true issue behind the speed limits. Now that the speed limit issue is kindof blunted, the true issues come out.

In the past, I have done a lot of publicity work for the prime offenders & polluters (mainly auto manufacturers.) Based on that experience, I can only recommend to take this very seriously.

Politically, pollution is an argument that is as good as impossible to fight. All I can recommend is to take a page out of the books of the oil companies, automanufacturers etc. When it comes to environmental issues, they embrace them with all six arms, they co-opt the issues and slow their opponents down. This is a very successful strategy. It might not be intuitive. But it is very successful. If you can't fight them, charm them.

Making "All NJPPC members observe local and state noise ordinances" an 11th commandment would be a cheap way to placate the attackers. It's the law anyway.

They are about to issue very restrictive noise laws in CA, and as CA goes, so usually goes the neighborhood. The only way to comply with these laws is with below-the-waterline exhaust. (And no captain's call, BTW.)

If I don't want these laws to be passed on our coast, I would sing the praise of current regulations, and vow to observe them all the way.

Ron P · 06-02-2003, 06:31 PM

Sharkey, I thought you would appreciate this. Harry told us that he's the guy that placed the no wake bouys.

We named him Sgt Bouy and he seemed to like his new name.

BTW, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I didn't find any new markers on the north side of the canal.

SHARKEY-IMAGES · 06-02-2003, 07:33 PM

Yes I know. We had a long talk out in Trenton. He kept us from getting an additional 11.5 miles of No Wake Zones! My hat comes off to him. He has been a great asset to us powerboaters. BTW...There are a few added or moved on the North side of the canal as well....