Noise issues on Torch
 

Looking to make it up to Torch lake this summer, anyone heard of any issues with noise? I don't need any tickets, Thanks :hitfan:

I was hoping you would check

You may encounter some harassment if you dont have silent choice while you're going through either torch or clam rivers. Out on the lake they dont mess with us much.

I was "told" last year they were going to issue warnings and this year issue tix. FWIW

Any word if anyone has been issued one yet?

yes indeed. i was on a buddies cat and the dick head wator patrol muttered the exact same thing.

off weekends might be ok but grab your ankles on holiday weekends!

We have a group of boats coming up to the area the 4th of July weekend. We are staying in Elk Rapids but we are planning on heading to the sand bar on the 4th. Is there any insight you guys can give me? We are coming up from OH and are looking forward to a good weekend. I really don't want to have any trouble.

Shane, Kirk knows a few of the water cops pretty well. I will make a call and get the number to call the cops direct. We should be ok.

The water patrol in my conversations with them in years past has been watching out for people who are drunk or causing other problems. Don't give them a reason to bother you and they leave you alone. I don't have silent choice exhaust and have never had a single issue about noise, hopefully things are no different now!

Last year's over the top cops are gone, they had a meeting with law enforcement and they wont bother you this year unless youre being an idiot.

So far the police presence has been far less than last year, but the number of people out has been far less due to the crappy weather. As stated already, don't give them a reason and you'll probably be fine.

Just follow prowrench around and u'll be fine, he should get pulled over first before any of us law abiding citizens! :D

That's what I'm afraid of, I'm the idiot! Lol

Me too, at times. We'll consider you a decoy!

I am kind of lucky. We have captain's call on our new boat but it doesn't seem near as loud on our twins as it did on our Baja with a single. Less chance of legal entanglements, I hope.

Cheers!

Who is "they". Why did they have a meeting?

They= local business owners and residents concerned with over zealous law enforcement. There is a hotline now u can call if u feel youre being harrassed. This is all info from people that live there... I have twin HO's no mufflers and dont use silent choice, havent been stopped once... Ever... And thats where i do 90% of my boating. PROWRENCH will tell u same thing. Also there are much louder boats than ours not having any issues. Be slow and idle around the sandbar, everything else is fair game. We have a blast up there

They ( the Police) have not bothered me on torch, But I did ask them when I was at the dock on the river what they look for, and their response was straight to the point anyone boating like a Moron and endangering the welfare of other boaters. Pretty easy to understand. Have fun on a beautiful lake. just be smart and use your head!

Great, thanks for the heads up, we will be there on the 4th. We have 3 boats but are coming via elk lake all 6 of us on my buddy's silver cig. Come find us!

Shouldnt be hard to find a silver cig lol... I'll be up there on my boat, see ya then

Well, this one is a one of a kind. My buddy has redone a 1979 36, its BEAUTIFUL.

IS silent choice legal in MI? In ohio it is illegal to have properly working silent choice?!?! WTF

PS i can't wait to get up there ROSS! And yea the CIG is a bad ass ride!

We will be there also on a 33' Outlaw. We'll all have to meet up for a run down the lake.

Saw that boat at put in bay before, it is amazing(silver 36 Cig)

Wouldnt happen to be the silver boat in this picture would it?

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g4...rplaycig-1.jpg

As far as a group run goes, we should have a pre-planned time like saturday at 5 or so or early sunday... Whenever is best for most of us. I'll have the gopro to get some footage

Yep, legal in Mi!

Thats the boat in that pic. We are staying in Elk Rapids and we will be on the bay. Not sure where you guys are going to be staying? It would be great to run with you guys.

Really! well at least I don't have to worry about that! Thanks for the info

Watch out for submerged deadheads in the inlet off of Elk Lake by Elk Rapids. Some are marked, some aren't. You guys don't need to be doing those kind of repairs over the Holiday Weekend. The stumps in Skegmog by the Torch River are marked pretty well, you shouldn't jhave any trouble there. Have Fun!!

PS Never had an issue with noise.

We're gonna do a run to Suttons Bay and Power Island on Friday or Sunday. Private message me and I will get you my cell. I'm Matt, I have a 312 Fastech, Shane has a 32 Fountain, Brian has the 36 Cig.

I sent you a pm.
ed

If the run is Sunday i am in for sure, but wont be up north till late friday so let me know which day youre aiming for. -AJ 989-307-8350

Correction- going to end up coming up wednesday night after all.... So im in either day

Just a warning, the noise police are back at it on Torch. Mainly the head of water patrol, Jim Skool. He is telling people that if he sees the boat again, it will be impounded. Know the law. Videotape the whole thing. They're doing the testing completely wrong. Completely stock boats with muffler tips fail the test when you stick the meter in the pipe.

Last time I read it SWITCHABLE exhaust was illegal in MI. Silent Choice is illegal but they don't enforce it.

Did you get stopped prowrench?

Really? I knew it was in Ohio, never heard that it was in MI. What would be the reason for banning it, talk about stupid lawmakers....

I had the same thoughts - If you had silent choice and used it where you needed to be quiet then what is the problem.

MCL 257.707 prohibits the use of a cutout or bypass on a motor vehicle operated on a HIGHWAY or STREET, the statute says nothing about waterways.

The statute/administrative rule applying to boats is 324.80156 and states boats require muffler or underwater exhaust, and lists the test procedure. Guess it depends on the court's interpretation of "or".

Having copies handy for court may a wise idea. Note that I didn't say to keep them on the boat, as the guy writing the ticket and conducting the tests ain't a judge...

Keep in mind, in most but not all cases---------The Sheriff's Marine Patrol are part-timers. Many are NOT certified police officers. Just trained in the marine functions and given ordinance authorization only. Tickets are issued/written under the County ordinance, and not the State. Makes a small difference in the monies the County and/or Township gets to keep from the fine.

A poster wrote about impounding a vessel. My experience tells me that if it WAS legal, it would have to be done by a fully certified law enforcement officer. BTW, DNR law enforcement is just that.