No they don't sponsor it

We host it in Grand Haven and we secure the permits to not have to worry about noise on that weekend

Maybe we should call the Ottawa Co. Sheriff's Dept every day during the summer and tell them we like the sound of the boats or do NOT mind the noise---the call would only take less than one minute. I would think that each positive call should counter each negative call that comes in. Sounds fair to me.

Let me know when you want me to call, I love the the sound of those michigan boats. I can hear them all the way from Milwaukee

Todd Hartigh,
I would like to read about the Silent Choice law in Michigan. Could you tell me where you found this infromation.

Thanks

Here is the Michigan Marine safety Act, read rule #8. Here on Lake St Clair the Sheriff Dept has not made it a issue, but at times the DNR has, unlike the Sheriff Dept, I here the DNR dose not need probable cause to come on your boat and look for the cut out !!! [Silent Choice]

Thanks for the information

That last sentence "A modern device, underwater exhaust system or a system discharging cold water through the exhaust of an inboard engine, each of which is capable of muffling the noise of the exhaust of the engine in a reasonable manner, shall be considered as meeting the requirements of the rule" specifically allows silent choice, so long as there are mufflers on the thru-transom exhaust. Silent choice is a modern device which allows "underwater exhaust system or a system discharging cold water through the exhaust" depending on the position of the switch. Therefore, if the noise of the exhaust of the engine is muffled in a reasonable manner (read: you meet the dB requirements) regardless of the silent choice setting, you're all good.

what about all the motorcycles on the road that are just as loud if not louder than a boat? why do they not get tickets everytime they go out?

Because bikes are trendy nowadays. Some of the same people that are *****ing about the boats probably have loud bikes.

Marie Havenga of the G.H. trib did write an article () about this problem. I don't think it had much impact. I called or emailed her mid summer after being tested at pigeon lake. She was fired up about being pulled over herself by a part time deputy in the G.H. channel. A week later the article came out. It was objective and fair but lacked the punch needed to start something. In talking to her and others I did learn that the Spring Lake Homeowners Assoc. donated two very expensive decibel meters to the Ottawa Sherriffs dept. Considering large boats have a no wake rule on S.L. sounds like a bad investment. I was moored toward the end of the year at G.H. Muni marina and watched the deputies pull over every boat that came from the wharf and send about 50% back to the blocks. I took pictures of each bust in hopes of using them in some sort of campaign. You would think the people that matter in the town goverment would have a clue about the economic impact after hosting SOTW in the years past. Obviously they are not that bright. Too bad. As a G.H. resident living right on Lake M I can personally vouch for the fact that fastboat traffic in and out G.H. harbor was way down. As a side note most days I wake up at 6:00 AM to the sound of an unmuffled hog as where performance boats are never on the scene until noon or later. As much as I hate to say it I recommend crossing G.H. off your list of destinations until the town fathers and the sheriff wise up which unfortunately will never happen.

http://www.grandhaventribune.com/pai...1529392136.bsp

Cheers,

Marc