We have several people told they must remove their boats from the lake or be arrested. They will not be allowed back until they meet the 86 dB level. Almost impossible and very expensive.

We are writing everyone we can think of including the media. We had pretty much a blow up Sunday at the lake. As a 38 Formula was being escorted away to be tested, bunches of boats fired up and rev'ed their motors. It was ugly. Not only is this new law wasting law enforcements time where it could possibly be better spent focusing on safety issues, it has now created a major rift between us (power boaters) and house boaters as we have told them that if we get checked, we will insist that they get checked also. Lots of the older house boats will not pass. I hate to do this but fair is fair, right?

Totally rediculous, This is why we have manditory flare guns, 99% of boaters have cell phones along and a majority have marine radios. Its all about the $$$ to cash in. What a bunch of water running bandits.

So stop bit**in and come north! I don't recall anyone up here gettin messed with for sound. The water cops here are pretty chill for the most part. Just watch out for the Coasties!!! Reguardless...Lake Charlevoix, and Little Traverse Bay on Lk MI is a great place to boat, with little or no harassment.

You are kidding about Vermont.... They are one of the toughest states going, if you sneeze to loud they will write you up and then if you don't use enviroment safe tissue you will get another violation.

Vermont, Above 82 decibels Prohibited = Civil Violation $300

Saugatuck, MI is a fun place to go! I was just down there this past Saturday and had a great time! I got back and took the boat back down Sunday. Partied on the docks all night walking around with drinks in hand and the cops came up and shot the **** with us all night. Grand Haven is just having a bad year. Hopefully it will turn around next year and it will be back to normal.

I agree up north is great! I boat on the Bay and Torch lake 90% of the time and the cops don't even give me a second look. But I am concerned that this may spread throughout the state.

And the fact that these cops are pulling this crap and getting away with it irritates the chit out of me! :angry-smiley-055:

When a police officer orders you to start your engine for a db test, politely refuse. It's not like a breath test that counts against you if you refuse. I would love to see what they try and cite you for when you refuse. I'll take that citation before a judge every day of the week and have the officer explain that he ticketed you for refusing to pull your boat off of a sandbar and start it up.

The intelligent alternative to the inane demand of making you start the boat is to make all boats pass a noise test the same way a car has to pass an emissions test. You would be required to have your boat tested once a year or once every two years to be certified as complying with the noise regulations. You would get some form of paperwork after the test showing compliance.

Now, you're all thinking that they will never go for this since you could just change the exhaust right after the test, but the same is true for emissions testing and that has been around for years since the Fed gov made such tests mandatory. Propose an alternative to the legislature rather than merely *****ing about how things are currently done. Politicians are stupid. Do the work for them, let them take the credit and enjoy the fruits of your labor later.

Last year was just as bad. They have decided noisy boats don't have a smuch clout as rich homeowners.

Somehow we spent the weekend in GH right before Coast Guard fest and were not bothered at all. Then a few weekends later down in Holland same Sheriff dept stopped us.
Told me to stop using my silent choice & wrote a R&R ticket.

Just 1/2 hour prior I had spoken with manager at Eldeans Shipyard on seasonal slip rentals with lifts. I e-mailed him the following week & said forget that & explained why. I rec'd a thoughtful reply from Wade Eldean.

I also spoke with Marine Sargent who is in charge of all this mess trying to get clarification on R&R. He said homeowners assoc. bought them equipment for every boat & will provide anything they need. Homeowners also have sheriifs dept on speed dial, and call to complain at every opportunity. They were also quite upset about a cove called "Hankey Pank". The guy was ok and we talked about the whole subject for quite a while, but obvoiusly disagreed.

I feel for you guys up there, but for me its going to be a long frinkin time before I go back there.


About 12 yrs ago there was a poker run out of St. Joe headed north, when the boats entered So Haven some rum dum DNR guy ticketed every boat. Afterward everybody raised hell and I think tickets were overlooked and the guy got in trouble. Officers went out of their way to be nice for a long time. My brother-in-law as well as many others would not go back to that port for 10 yrs afterwards. And we finally took him there this summer. I think there's been enough turn over in various depts that no one remembers now.

We were there last nite, Larry says the rest of the dock is going to be slips next year, no more Oral Gables:greenchainsaw: I can't believe they sold out to the dock sitters, we used to get 50+ boats on that dock. Saugatuck is now closed and dead. Go to Pigeon Lake (Port Sheldon), it has become a good spot but no nite life.

What was the ticket for?

We all had more fun in Saugatuck this year then Grand Haven!!

Sound, 97 db, 93 db w/ slient choice on (496's)

Wow! 93 with silent choice on? How are we suppose to get under 90db? :confused:

The problem with most Cops is their us against them mentality. In their mind your already a criminal and everyone lie's, etc. Cops are trained to take control of situations, argue with them and they will step up to the level neccessary to maintain that control over you; someone in their head that's already "guilty" of something.

I totally agree! The only problem is he'll probably be waiting for you when you leave, now that you have do a thorough job of pi$$ing him off. These guys have a new toy (db gun) and agenda given to them by the homeowners who bought next to the railroad tracks and can't stand the noise of the trains.
The REAL crime here is not allowing the use of switchable exhausts- a lot of $$$ is spent to have these systems, and most use them in an effort to be respectful in the marinas and other noise-sensitive areas. It's the area of the law that needs the most work, IMHO.
Everyone is sensitive to noise of one type or another- I've been working on private jets for 25+ years and can't stand the noise of them anymore, and I don't care much for cars that have been turned into vibratory spam cans from hip-hop playing subwoofers. And, sorry to those that own them with open pipes, but I can't stand Harleys-they easily exceed 100+db, and the law is doing nothing about them. I live on the river on a scenic route, and I can hear them coming from miles away (BTW, I have no problem with muffled ones)

I still love the sound of an offshore performance boat , and I don't see the problem in just letting us enjoy them as long as we are respectful. Kevin is right- politicians are stupid, and if you do the work for them, some good might come from it.
Jim

82db my dog barks louder than that:throw:

We got warned while touring Lake Michigan a month ago. I sent an email to the mayor and all of the city council members expressing my dispeasure, and that i would not spend money in GH again.

I got no response. Zero. Nada. Nyet. Nothing.

They don't care if another performance boat ever goes there.

I have a friend who is a State cop. He has a Pantera with a 468 and 4 in exhaust. Loud for sure. He was kicked off Torch and told by one of his H2O brothers that he could only run on the big water on tues. and thurs. Reason: All the "cotton tops" around the Marina didn't like the sound of his boat. He can't be loud but they can stand on thier porches and flip him off as he goes by?!?!? I can see the noise being a problem at night but....

You guys are right, it is a money thing. But society is getting soft too. My opinion, keep your loud exhaust. Don't conform to today's society. My .02

WOW - ain't that the truth!!! I have been in the south for about a month now and here is just another reason why everyone is from OH & MI.

That's amazing that they are doing that.:greenchainsaw:

The following is a list of DECIBEL INTENSITIES taken from Encarta 2005.

0-Threshold of hearing
10-rustle of leaves, a quiet whisper
20-average whisper
20-50-quiet conversation
40-45-hotel, theater between performances
50-65-loud conversation
65-70-traffic on a busy street
65-90-train
75-80-factory noise( light/medium work)
90-heavy traffic
90-100-thunder
110-140-jet aircraft at takeoff
130-threshold of pain
140-190-space rocket on takeoff

http://www.800nonoise.com/tutorial_noiselist.htm

Sound Decibel Level Time Permitted
rustling leaves 20 dB no limit
whispering 25 dB no limit
library 30 dB no limit
refrigerator 45 dB no limit
average home 50 dB no limit
normal conversation 60 dB no limit
clothes dryer 60 dB no limit
washing machine 65 dB no limit
dishwasher 65 dB no limit
car 70 dB no limit
vacuum cleaner 70 dB no limit
mixer 70 dB no limit
electric sewing machine 70 dB no limit
busy traffic 75 dB no limit
mini-bike 80 dB no limit
alarm clock 80 dB no limit
noisy restaurant 80 dB no limit
office tabulator 80 dB no limit
outboard motor 80 dB no limit
passing snowmobile 80 dB no limit
average factory 85 dB 8 hours
electric shaver 85 dB 8 hours
screaming child 90 dB 8 hours
passing motorcycle 90 dB 8 hours
convertible ride on frw 95 dB 4 hours
subway train 100 dB 2 hours
diesel truck 100 dB 2 hours
woodworking shop 100 dB 2 hours
pneumatic drill 100 dB 2 hours
boiler shop 100 dB 2 hours
jackhammer 100 dB 2 hours
helicopter 105 dB 1 hour
power mower 105 dB 1 hour
snowmobile drvrs seat 110 dB 30 minutes
inboard motorboat 110 dB 30 minutes
sandblasting 110 dB 30 minutes
live rock music 90-130 dB 8-0.3 hours
auto horn 120 dB 7.5 mins
propeller aircraft 120 dB 7.5 mins
air raid siren 130 dB 3.75 mins
THRESHOLD OF PAIN 140 dB danger level
gunshot 140 dB danger level
jet engine 140 dB danger level
rocket launching 180 dB danger level