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Should lakes limit boat sizes such as Lake Havasu??

18K views 133 replies 70 participants last post by  f_inscreenname 
#1 ·
This past week, I spoke with two boaters that thought that limiting the size of a boat on their local waterway was a better idea than regulating speed. I know that Canyon Lake regulates both the boat's size as well as speed. Several other lakes in CA regulate speed. Richard Miller was involved in a nasty lawsuit with the state of Alabama a couple years ago which we (boaters) lost.

I can remember in the early 90s when a 26' Nordic was a big boat at the Windsor launch ramp in Lake Havasu. After a lengthy discussion, and no clear answer, I told them that I would poll our members.

Opinions?
 
#5 ·
As a Texan with friends who attend Havasu events, I say no way. Maybe on small limited access lakes with heavy population but Havasu isn't the case.

Just another attempt by small special interests to try and regulate a much larger segment of the population and take away rights from folks that actually spend money and support the area.

In the case of the 2 in the initial post, they aren't thinking straight.

The AL lake in question was a much smaller lake and more of a fishing venue if it's the case I recall. Whole different type scenario.
 
#7 ·
DONT GET ME STARTED................big lakes (mead)i have no problem with...but ...
the river nothing over 24ft :p:p:p

i was at lake elsinore a while back and the guy had a 42 fountain with capsule cockpit//cmon thats is so stupid on that little lake he was running wide open..you cant tell me at 100 mph + he could see all thats going on with the lake.......

my 2 cents if its a offshore boat it belongs offshore in the ocean......
ok now you can bash me..............remember im old school..go easy;)
 
#9 ·
I say no way! It would really hurt the economy of Havasu if that happened. I think they should limit boats under 20' to weekdays only. :)devil:)hand



It certainly is very nice to be able to go take a boat out to Elsinore just to test it out which is probably what the guy in the Fountain was doing that day.
 
#11 · (Edited)
x 1000000000000000000000.. And 24' would be pushing it!!;)

For the record, I believe that once they regulate one thing, it makes it a hell of a lot easier to keep introducing new ones.. Even though I hate big boats on the river, I would rather have them there than have the government's hands in the mix!!!!
 
#12 ·
Hell no they should not regulate size on the lakes or rivers. How would all the rich people show off how cool they are by running their 30' 130 mph cats in Parker in front of all the small boat losers:rolleyes:
 
#33 ·
X2 I love going to Havasu and seeing the big boats out there running up and down the river as long as they are doing it safely. Now as far as some of the lakes I can see them doing that. I really don't even know why these big boats would even want to go to a small lake like Lake Elsinore or Castaic especially with the 35MPH speed limit. On those lakes I had alot more fun out there when I had my Sea Ray.
 
#25 ·
I completely agree with CambellCarl.....UNDER 14' would do wonders! If you fockers cant see at 50+ foot houseboat and manage to avoid it, even if you are chit-faced, something is WRONG! I would bet my right nut that 99% of you guys can recite numerious occasions where a PWC has come out of the blue, with no clue......or spln right in front of your forward progress....In this case, "Size" is EVERYTHING! :D

My Cat will be sporting PCW INTAKE between the forks this year!
 
#30 ·
Comment:

Well this is a relatively easy question to answer. All federal navigable waterways [this includes the Colorado river] would not have size restrictions unless Congress authorized limitations.

This leaves the smaller state regulated lakes such as Pleasant and El Capitan here in San Diego which can impose such restrictions. I have not done a Lexis/Nexis search on this issue but from what I recall it is very difficult to impose vessel restrictions on a navigable waterway.

Your question needs more refinement when you say "lakes" places like the Delta which have tankers coming in and Lake Michigan, Erie etc...makes one ask are those people serious. Really, you would get some laughs if you posed such a question on those bodies of water hell they look like oceans.

KAP

P.S. I run a 28 ft deckboat on the lower Colorado river and people think it is too big for the area. Yet our boat leaves very little wake when your riding on top:D. Any arguments let one of the X-Star wakeboard boats go by and compare. They throw wakes that would sink a good size boat with a low free board.
 
#38 ·
After reading some of the replies, I think we should ban Wake Board Boats and PWC!!!!:)devil
 
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