MR Gadgets ( Dick Tryce ) is where I take my drives. He just built one for me from scratch.

Just heard that the officer harassing boaters was relieved of his position due to multiple complaints from boaters on torch. They said he was doing more harm than good. Apparently he had hit a few boats with his and somebody is going after the county for damage to their boat caused by him.

I heard the same thing. Good riddance.

Was he harassing boaters with loud or louder than normal exhaust noise?-----Or, was he known for just harassing any kind of boater in general? Did he have or usually have a decibel meter on his patrol boat? Would you happen to know what effect this will have on offshore type of boats with questionable exhaust sound? Thanx for any reports you have heard---and getting this bit of news out to us!

And anyone who got a ticket from him can now contest the ticket and, since he probably won't show up, get found not responsible.

By the way, was he a Sherrif's Deputy marine patrolman? Maybe it was the same officer that we came across on the Grass River as we were about to enter Clam Lake on Labor Day weekend 2012. I was on a rental pontoon boat and he stopped us and asked for ID, if there was any booze was on the boat, and proceeding to do a safety/equipment check on the rental boat I had rented for the day and then told me he pulled me over for excessive wake.

His reasons for pulling me over were very surprising to me as I distinctly remember only making maybe a 1" wake...yes, only 1" inch, but he said it was too much, and I responded, "One inch is too much?" and he said, "Yes, it is for here!" I did not argue with him. I was very surprised and find it difficult to believe. I think his motives were to catch us boozing too much or something---not sure. I might drink 2-3 times per year---and not to get hammered.

I know and understand the Grass River is a highly protected water way, but 1 inch of wake is too much???I suppose I could have gone slower yet, but I think it is a little humorous because in some areas I believe I have seen the wind blow teeny weeny little waves in there that were bigger than my wake. Anyway, it just seemed to be a little ridiculous, but maybe I am wrong or missing something---not sure. Just was wondering if it was the same guy (?).

I was up at Torch Lake for Labor Day weekend. On Sunday night, we were sitting at that little party store and gas dock right on the Torch River just before it goes out into Torch Lake. It was about 2 hours before dark would settle in and we were watching some of the boats coming in from the day. One of those boats was an all black single engine boat----I cannot remember the Make of the boat, but it had a radical sounding engine...looked like it had wet exhaust and it was thumpin' pretty good---he was shouting to some guy on the dock that he got stopped for noise, but he did not say if he got a ticket or not. It looked as if he slips his boat at the Torch RIver Marina. I would have liked to talk to him.

I did happen to talk to a guy who they call "Bones" or something like that. He has a 39' Velocity--mostly yellow with some other colorful markings has some big blower engines in it. He told me he has never had an issue with the noise up there...and he lives up there and keeps his boat at Torch Lake Marina. That's good to know!

The black boat is Sam's, a good friend of mine, as is Bones. Both of them are definitely over the limit. It seems like those of us who are always around up there, don't get bothered much. The water patrol was mostly new guys this year, and none of them know how to properly use the decibel meter. The best advice I could give would be to keep it real cool on the river and near the sand bar.

Thanks for the feedback. Being a cool customer is a big part of it, that's for sure!

Ok, so here we are the middle of July 2015....can anybody give us any updates/reports about Torch Lake with noise issues, etc.???

Also, someone had told me that the "sand bar" area had become carelessly trashed by some irresponsible party people on the sand bar during the 4th of July and the locals were not happy about it.

Does anyone have any further info to comment on? Thanks