New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

I was talking with a Kent County Marine Patrol Sheriff, and he said there was new legislation being introduced this year which would make Michigan's watercraft noise laws match up with the manufacturers and Ohio's. When I read Ohio law it said that no boats were allowed without permanent mufflers and that no bypasses were allowed. He also said the maximum noise level from any "shore or stationary object", (such as an anchored boat) was 75 decibels. There were other maximum noise levels, but this "shore or stationary object" one got me.
When I questioned him about the inability to accurately measure a boats decibel's he told me about the tests being run on the new noise gun in the attrached links. He said the new legislation would make it legal to use this gun and that the Lake Associations in Michigan were helping to finance their development and purchase. We already have a max 55mph speed limit on all inland lakes and the 3 feet behind and 3 feet up noise test. Now this new "Noise Gun" where they will be on shore or in a anchored boat!!!!
I am not sure that I did the links properly, first time, you may have to cut and paste them.
Ohio guys, do they enforce the no switchable exhaust and permanent muffler rules? All three of my bigger boats have switchable exhaust. What permanent muffler would pass all of these requirements? Any? :eek:



http://www.parallax.com/html_pages/r...boat_noise.asp

http://www.egr.msu.edu/~radcliff/BoatNoise/

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

I wonder if they're going to try to enforce the limits on the Great Lakes or is it just on the little inland lakes. My Excalibur has mufflers but my Scarab doesn't have anything. But I boat on the Detroit River/Lake Erie so maybe they won't bother us on the big water. I can see how it would be a problem for home owners one inland lakes.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

The law in Michigan applies up to 3 miles off shore but they very rarely enforce it. I don't know how much of the articles attached in the links you read, but this gun works out to over 1000 feet with accuracy within plus or minus 3 decibels. As soon as approved, they will no longer need to be at the 25 meter distance for testing or the 1 meter behind at idle.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

So, has it changed from 90 decibles to 75 decibles now?

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

The law has not changed in Michigan. At one time switchable exhaust was illegal but not now. The 90 db is the normal acceptable limit. St. Clair county on has 2 meters and they are not usually used unless someone complains. There is a law on the book already that states you must have mufflers but again is not enforced.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

There is not boat made that will pass 75 db 3' back and 3' up. Even trolling motor outboards are 80+ db. My 2.5's Mercs are 96 db with the exhaust in the water. My I/O cat is 110 db :eek:

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

A noisy office of low traffic street is btwn 70 and 80 DB so I think that they are saying if your house makes more then the 75 db constantly then they want it fixed. Things like AC condensors and so on can make some noise. As for your boat that is not a staionary object, wll mine is but.... :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

The new gun that they are talking about scares me but some how it has to get a read off you for distace but that would not be so hard and I am sure that they are going to get that figured out.

Jon

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

We were pulled over by ODNR late last season with a reading of 92. They indicated 90 is the limit. :( We were let go with a warning but I believe 90 is the limit in Ohio.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

I forgot to mention the speed limit on the great lakes ( in Michigan) is 55 mph if you are less than 1 mile from shore. something I am sure I have never broken :rolleyes:

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

The new "Gun" is a radar gun which measures distance, not speed, measures ambient noise, measures the noise of the vehicle it is tracking with the distace finder, and calculates the noise the vehicle is producing. The current standards vs the new proposed J34 standards are below.

Comparison of Current Standards
Current MI Statute – Idle (J2005, 90 dB @ 3ft)
(J34, 70 dB @ 25m)
Full Power (Coast Guard, 115 dB )
(J34, 86 dB @ 25m)

The reason they could not enforce J34 was the rule of 25 meters. With the new legislation, if passed, they would make the "Gun" legal and it would be like when radar was first used for car speed. Before they had to be within a certain distance and pace you, then radar and they could track you anywhere.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

This is the Ohio law which Michigan is trying to mimic along with the legalization of the new "Noise Gun" with the added changes to J34 maximum allowable decibels (70 at 25 meters idle and 86 decibels at 25 meters full power).

OHIO LAW

Exhaust Muffler Required: Effective January 1, 2000
Every powercraft operated on the waters in this state shall be equipped at all times with a muffler or a muffler system that is in good working order, in constant operation, and effectively installed to prevent excessive or unusual noise.


No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of a powercraft on the waters in this state in such a manner as to exceed a noise level of 90 decibels on the "A" scale when subjected to a stationary sound level test as prescribed by SAE J2005.

No person shall operate a powercraft on the waters in this state in such a manner as to exceed a noise level of 75 decibels on the "A" scale as specified by SAE J1970. Measurement of a noise level of not more than 75 decibels on the "A" scale of a powercraft in operation does not preclude the conducting of a stationary sound level test as prescribed by SAE J2005.

No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of a powercraft on the waters in this state that is equipped with an altered muffler or muffler cutout, or operate or give permission for the operation of a powercraft on the waters in this state in any manner that bypassed or otherwise reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of any muffler or muffler system installed in accordance with section, unless the applicable mechanism has been permanently disconnected or made inoperable.

No person shall remove, alter, or otherwise modify in any way a muffler or muffler system in a manner that will prevent it from being operated in accordance with this section.

No person shall manufacture, sell or offer for sale a powercraft that is not equipped with a muffler or muffler system that prevents noise levels in excess of those established in division (B) (1) of this section.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

Here are some of their comments on the new gun.

The noise gun is user friendly. All functions recording sound and distance from a suspect boat, are automated. It compensates for envronmental conditions: ambient (background) noise from nearby watercraft, wind, reflective surfaces (docks, etc.) Officers only need to point the device at a target boat for a sound level recording which can be used as evidence in a court of law. Thus, problems of current enforcement, which require cooperation of the suspect boater under complex, controlled test conditions, are simplified. As the noise gun’s trigger is depressed a uni-directional microphone, sensitive to only narrow beam of sound and a laser range finder are integrated to provide a continuous reading of noise and distance to target boat.

The test runs revealed that the target boat’s bearing is important. The Elliott boat was equipped with a “captain’s choice”, an option to run the engine with or without a muffler. Unmuffled boat noise increased from about 90 decibels at closest passage to about 97 decibels as the boat was going away. The test demonstrated effectiveness of the boat’s muffler. Despite 10-15 mph ambient wind noise the device-achieved measurements over a wide range of distances with accuracies of better than 3 decibels.

Roscommon County Sheriff Francis Staley, and Antrim County Sheriff Terry Johnson each operated the noise gun which they found very workable and were able to make repeat measurements of the test boat’s noise, an essential for successful wide usage.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

So if i'm in violation how will they catch me?? Let's Rock.

:evilb: :evilb:

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

Vhf radio or cell phone!!!! :p :p

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

My brand new honda push mower is 94 db How long before the courts make me put another muffler on at my expence. They should make the dealers comply not the owners. I spent two grand on mufflers for my fountain and it still will not pass. so, I quess it will be ticket time and how many of those will it take before they throw me off. They might better take our birthdays away while the a$$ O's at at it.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

Just another reason to make sure you vote these fools out of office for pushing a law like this

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

What kind of mufflers and what is the current decible level? My belief is the law is challengable if the technology does not exist to comply. As some have stated, outboards will not pass and almost all of the patrol boats over here have one or two big outboards. I am just looking to make sure whatever mufflers I change to are the best available so I do not ever have to replace them.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

Best post in this thread. Fax, call, e-mail these politicans and let them know when comes election time you will campaign to un-elect them.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

CMI Sound Elimination System Muffers work, we have tested them on 1400 HP engines. They switch on their own so they are legal.

Ask Brad Zastrow. They got him legal for the stationary test.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

"Every powercraft operated on the waters in this state shall be equipped at all times with a muffler or a muffler system that is in good working order, in constant operation, and effectively installed to prevent excessive or unusual noise.No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of a powercraft on the waters in this state that is equipped with an altered muffler or muffler cutout, or operate or give permission for the operation of a powercraft on the waters in this state in any manner that bypassed or otherwise reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of any muffler or muffler system installed in accordance with section, unless the applicable mechanism has been permanently disconnected or made inoperable."

I'm not sure they would be legal under the new law, if approved. My belief is that many of the new systems would pass the old standard of 90db at idle at 1 meter. But 70db at idle at 25 meters, 86db at full throttle at 25 meters and 75db from shore or any stationary object? These are the new J34 standards.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

I have stock 525sc's with GGB mufflers and at 750rpm it is at 94 db. I can see trying to get a built 510 to 1075 motor closer to the limit, But a stock boat from the factory that has not been altered should be left alone. I have a neighbor that hates my boat and every time I stsrt it up he calls the cops. I bought a remote control boat that reves 1200, I will run this boat around his place all summer hoping he takes a shot at it . He has taken the fun out of it , and I am going to see to it That I take the fun out of his summer .

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

What are New York's laws on noise? Are switchables legal or is it like Ohio as I posted? I have some RC boats that even those who like noise think are obnoxious.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

switchables are not allowed, I even took them off my last boat and sold them. I agree with the rc noice mine it bad , but if I can run my weedeater and the neighbor doesnt mine , Then he can listen to my rc with the weedeater engine. It will be interesting to see how the summer goes. Why can't we all just get along.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

boats are select few. Lets not even get into Harley's with open pipes :rolleyes: or the honda cars with the mufflers :rolleyes:

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

What is the max in New York? I'm surprissed your'e running that loud at idle with GGB's. They were one of the mufflers on my short list. I'm not sure anything out there is quiet enough to pass this new SAE J34 rule, but with Lightning Captain's call on the Empress, Gil switchable's on the Scorpion, and Corsa Captain's call on the BT I have to do something to try and meet the requirement of nothing is allowed which reduces the effectiveness of the muffling device.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

Just bringing back to top for reference with "Noise Police" thread.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

we have tried all the exhausts out there on extreme blower motors from 750-1200hp, dry/wet without any success, even the cmi's, the cmi's also are bad for spring failure, have now seen it on 2 boats here at loto, we have a great source for any custom configuration for polished turndowns, we have been able to easily make all the boats we have done legal, the last was a triple engine 900 hp blower motor application , which was 104 without 83 with at idle, we also made them so you could put an insert in them if you want to be fully protected on a moving tests, the most economical way to make them legal so far is this method we believe,

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

Wiggler, we were down there last weekend for the poker run and I was trying to find your boat. My dad called me and asked me to look at it to see your set up. I did see a big cruiser with turn downs on it at one of the stops and it looks like a great idea, but what about reversion, what type of cam are you running , we have a split pattern .710, .690 lift roller with a 108-110 lobe seperation, on naturals. any type of info would be appreciated . we won't be ready for this year but will be in next year with the new hull design .

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

no chance at all of reversion, the boat is out of the water, trying to sell, had it on 54. if you are concerned about reversion a simple hole inside the transom on bottom of tailpipe, and transom exit similar to nortechs stealth is an easy fix, my application just has too much angle and downturn for that. have to talk to my engine guru to get you specifics on my motors, sorry can guess but will get you exactly if you need it, thanks jim

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES.

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

Wiggler, On the turndowns, how well do they clear the drives and steering? I have 3A's and double hydraulic. Any issues?

Re: New Noise Law & Mufflers
 

we made mock ups with 5" pvc, checked all movements then produced them , no problem with clearance, they work great, we can custom build them to any application, I believe this is the best answer for no power loss, economical and looks cool, for sound ordinances, jim