After a similar (to the SML tragedy) fatal accident at Lake Conroe, Texas a few years ago. The authorities imposed a minimum planing speed after dark speed restriction.

On this particular lake it was very much needed as there is as there is no general direction of traffic and boats are constantly criss-crossing.

I think this is a rule that we could all live with on congested lakes/rivers.

In light of the SML tragedy maybe it's time for OSO ers to get pro-active and campaign for regs we can live with before we get prohibitive ones thrust upon us.

They have them at LOTO and they work well. If memory serves it is 30 at night? It would have to allow me to get up on plane at leaste but as long as I could do that then I would be fine with it.

Jon

I'm generally against new regulations, but hearing a boat going WFO at night scares the hell out of me. I'm sure there's the same proportion of cruisers that run fast (for them) at night, but our boats will always stand out because you can hear them for miles, especially at night. It's hard to argue for running hard in the dark, unless you're sinking or somebody's dying on board.

Me too. But on these inland lakes maybe it is necessary to try to legislate common sense.

Not sure why you don't hear about so many boat on boat accidents on the Great Lakes or oceans.

Maybe the inland lakes are small enough to warrant this kind of thing. Almost seems like the "bigger water" skippers have a different philosphy about boating as seamanship verses boating as racing. But like I said. "seems." If this doesn't apply to an individual, they should disregard. I am not saying that if you boat on a smaller lake that you are automatically lumped in that group.

I would be in favor and a backer of such limits.

A new regulation or law is not the answer.

In our area if the pass a speed limit at night the next law would be a speed limit during the day.

You have to be responsible for your actions and know what your limits are and use good judgment as to what the conditions will allow whether it is day or night.

I don't need a law tell me I have to wear a seat belt.

I wear a seat belt because it the safe thing to do.

Same thing with night time boating.

It will be a long time before we night time boat, my wife is extremely scared of what happened and dosen't enjoy the ride worrying about some other idiot hitting us.

"Minimum planing speed" is already the "law" on Lake Travis. I like it.

However, I would be against a federal regulation. I would prefer that each LOCAL authority sets its rules.

Yes, I believe it is 30 MPH after dark at LOTO.

Agreed, Clay.

I'm just offering the possibility that OSO members that boat on controversial bodies of water get their boat friendly representative to sponsor such a reg on behalf of responsible Hi-performance boaters and thereby get some good press for a change.

I think the Lake Travis speed limit was also a result of the outcry over the Lake Conroe incident.

We'll know pretty soon if 45mph day / 25mph nite limit will be a new law on Winnipesaukee in NH by October.