Harleys are exempt because a LOT of cops ride them. Grand Haven looks like a nice place to boat, but its not worth the harrassment by the cops.

Here's the procedure for testing. You may want to copy it and fight the ticket.

Excerpt from SAE J2005
(copied and pasted from pdf)

4. Procedure

4.1 Measurement Site—A suitable site is a body of water free of large obstructions or reflective surfaces such as
buildings, boats other than those involved in this procedure, large embankments or breakwaters, etc. for a
minimum distance of 8 m (25 ft) from the boat being measured. The boat being tested shall either be moored
to a dock or lashed to another boat. If moored to a dock, the dock shall be of open construction so that it
presents a minimum of reflecting surfaces. If the measurement is made in open water, the boat being
evaluated shall be lashed to the measurement boat to prevent relative motion and to allow positioning of the
microphone in the prescribed location. The measurement boat shall be positioned to minimize reflected
sound.

4.2 Boat Operation—The engine shall be operated at low idle speed within the engine manufacturer's
recommended operating range, in neutral gear if so equipped. For motorboats without a neutral gear, the
engine shall be operated at its lowest operational speed. The engine shall be operated for a sufficient amount
of time to allow water to flow through the exhaust system before taking measurements.

4.3 Measurements

4.3.1 The microphone shall be placed at a distance of 1.2 to 1.5 m (4 to 5 ft) above the water and no closer than
1m (3.3 ft) from the vertical projection of any part of the boat in the area adjacent to the exhaust outlet(s).

4.3.2 The meter shall be set for slow response and the A-weighting network.

4.3.3 The observer reading the meter shall not be closer than arm's length from the microphone to minimize sound
reflections.

4.3.4 The applicable reading shall be the average sound level measured during a period when the background
sound level is at least 10 dB lower than the measured sound level. Background sound level includes wind effects, noise from boats other than the one being measured, wave action, boat wakes, and other extraneous
noises.
Peak readings of intermittent sound levels created by wave slaps or changes in sound level due to
wave action and/or engine speed variation shall not be included in the applicable reading.

4.3.5 The observer shall record the applicable reading and the background sound levels taken immediately before
and immediately after the applicable reading.

5. General Requirements

5.1 The measurements shall be conducted only by persons qualified by training to perform these measurements.

5.2 Proper use of all test instrumentation is essential to obtain valid measurements. Operating manuals or other
literature furnished by the instrument manufacturer should be consulted for both recommended operation of
the instrument, and precautions to be observed.

5.3 Proper acoustical calibration shall comprise the complete measurement system including extension cables,
etc. Field calibration shall be performed immediately before and after each test sequence.

5.4 A measurement shall be invalid if changes in the background sound level affect the applicable reading.

5.5 The use of the word "shall" in the procedure is to be understood to be mandatory, while the word "should" is to
be understood as advisory.

PREPARED BY THE SAE MARINE SOUND LEVEL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SAE MARINE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND THE SAE SPECIALIZED VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT SOUND LEVEL COMMITTEE

The part that amazes me is I took a photo of the sheriff boat tied up to us and you could of shot a cannon down the channel in front of the fountain. Several years ago you could barely get a boat thru the same area at the same time. It shows there dumb A ways are costing them boaters. The problem is I believe they want it that way.

That is the whole problem. They built those new condos, and those people don't want boats there. Just like the jack asses that moved into the beach area of ST.joe and *****ed about the Venitian Festival until they got it killed.

Grand Haven is a beautiful area. I have taken my boats there over the years. The last time I was there we had six to eight boats x four people each. Dinner out each night plus whatever fuel we bought or what we filled up with at the party stores not to mention the hotels. I have vowed to never go back and I never will. It is a shame because it is a nice place and they have the opportunity to make money...

This guy is the worst. Officer dykehouse is his name. I heard he is retiring after this year, which would be great. Most of the younger guys aren't to bad. I played there game a couple years ago with noise, getting 3-4 tickets and then putting PVC turndowns on to pass there test after each ticket. I ended up buying ggb clamp on mufflers and haven't been pulled over in the last year and a half. I also got an safety inspection sticker this year for the first time. It's too bad they're keeping a lot of you guys away with their shenanigans because it really is a beautiful place to boat, also if you go north to muskegon ,they don't give a shiit about anything

That's the dick head that ruined this town for me years ago. Never put a fender out handed my wife a fender wipe and told her to hang on. He shut his boat down and we stared to drift in to the dock where they loaded sand. I had to beg him to let me go tie up at the dock so my boat didn't get damaged and he could finish his ticket. I pulled my lift and sold it after my dealing with him.

[QUOTE=Nightlife1970;3971381]That is the whole problem. They built those new condos, and those people don't want boats there. Just like the jack asses that moved into the beach area of ST.joe and *****ed about the Venitian Festival until they got it killed.[/QUOTE No doubt it sucks the s*it canned Venitian Fest. I'm sure it was a big money maker for St.Joe. Oh well there's always South Haven havent heard of any problems there and, the bars are in walking distance from the marina

if they didn't want noise then they should have moved to a small motorless inland lake....its like the idiots who move next to an airport then expect the FAA, Government or Airport to soundproof their houses...our society has become a bunch of whiners and unfortunately we all let it happen...actually quite sad

I had a run in with the sheriff patrol a few years back where they wanted to do a safety check. Makes to tie up to my boat with his RIB boat. I told him no way he was tying up to my boat. He said it was rubber and it wouldn't scratch. I stood my ground and He backed down. Handed him what he wanted to see. He drifted off and then came back and said I was OK. I will dock the boat or beach it but NO WAY are they going to tie up to me. Many years ago on Hardy Pond the local sheriff wanted to do a DB test. pulled his boat up behind my boat and told me to start the engine. I just stood there with arms crossed and told him I would when he performed the test properly. HE GOT real mad and ordered me to start the boat. I told him I would ONLY when he performed the test according to the law. After glaring at me for about 30 seconds he moved his boat to where it needed to be. BUT then he couldn't get his meter to work.
( probably because MY boat was so frickin loud - It never would have passed the test.) after three times with his boat drifting away I told him he was done and I considered it harassment after this. Guy was not happy.