Daddy Dave
Well-known member
Airboat demonstration should be more realistic
Regarding Sheriff Oelrich's demonstration of airboat noise at the July 12 County Commission meeting: This test was done in an urban setting and not in realistic airboat operating conditions.
This causes me great distress as many have an interest in the possible outcome and wish this to be a realistic impression upon those commissioners whose vote hold our future of air boating at their fingertips.
I am a Florida-licensed guide and have air-boated for business and pleasure for decades. My son is also a Florida-licensed guide. Our airboats are fully muffled and we operate at night on remote and not-so-remote lakes in Alachua County and other places. To my knowledge, we have never generated a single complaint of any kind.
My clients have spent thousands of dollars, over many years, while air boating in Alachua County. And my guided activities in your county include nature and wildlife observation tours, frog hunting excursions and other fully lawful activities. We use the waters of Watermelon Pond, Newnan's Lake, Orange Lake and Lake Lochloosa. And we have no interest in offending anyone.
My concern is that all law-abiding citizens might be penalized for the actions of a tiny but onerous minority. My understanding is that Alachua County already has a noise ordinance on its books. I ask that ordinance be enforced against the easily identifiable unmuffled air-boating scofflaws. Most muffled airboats comply with that requirement.
I am a member of Florida Airboat Association, and we are working to scientifically determine the most effective methods of eliminating certain airboat noises. We ask only that Alachua County respect those efforts and support reasonable and effective measures to achieve the goals of the overwhelming majority of airboat enthusiasts.
Capt. Dave Markett,
Sportfishing Guide Services Inc.,
Tampa
Regarding Sheriff Oelrich's demonstration of airboat noise at the July 12 County Commission meeting: This test was done in an urban setting and not in realistic airboat operating conditions.
This causes me great distress as many have an interest in the possible outcome and wish this to be a realistic impression upon those commissioners whose vote hold our future of air boating at their fingertips.
I am a Florida-licensed guide and have air-boated for business and pleasure for decades. My son is also a Florida-licensed guide. Our airboats are fully muffled and we operate at night on remote and not-so-remote lakes in Alachua County and other places. To my knowledge, we have never generated a single complaint of any kind.
My clients have spent thousands of dollars, over many years, while air boating in Alachua County. And my guided activities in your county include nature and wildlife observation tours, frog hunting excursions and other fully lawful activities. We use the waters of Watermelon Pond, Newnan's Lake, Orange Lake and Lake Lochloosa. And we have no interest in offending anyone.
My concern is that all law-abiding citizens might be penalized for the actions of a tiny but onerous minority. My understanding is that Alachua County already has a noise ordinance on its books. I ask that ordinance be enforced against the easily identifiable unmuffled air-boating scofflaws. Most muffled airboats comply with that requirement.
I am a member of Florida Airboat Association, and we are working to scientifically determine the most effective methods of eliminating certain airboat noises. We ask only that Alachua County respect those efforts and support reasonable and effective measures to achieve the goals of the overwhelming majority of airboat enthusiasts.
Capt. Dave Markett,
Sportfishing Guide Services Inc.,
Tampa
