• If you log in, the ads disappear in the forum and gallery. If you need help logging in or getting registered, send request to: webmaster@southernairboat.com

GainesvilleSun.com - newspaper coverage on Alachua AirbNoise

Southern Airboat Gallery Archives

New boat
993591_524685644246600_10460422_n
My Boat
Ever Wonder Where It Came From?
SNOOK FISHIN
Camp
D

Daddy Dave

Well-known member
lachua County commissioners got an earful of airboat Tuesday when Sheriff Steve Oelrich staged a downtown demonstration on the noise of the craft during a break from a commission meeting.

The show drew airboat enthusiasts and detractors along with curious bystanders when it was held around noon on the Main Street lawn of the County Administration Building.

“The wildlife must just love this,” Commissioner Paula DeLaney said after one boat was cranked wide open.

“You can’t have a conversation,” added Commission Chairwoman Cynthia Chestnut.

The roar of airboats is a growing issue as the county starts developing a new water recreation master plan that may include restrictions on the noisy watercraft. Meanwhile, airboat enthusiasts were set to meet Tuesday night to form a sportsmen's group to get involved in the master planning process.

Oelrich lined up two airboats from the U.S. Geological Survey — one without a muffler and one with a small muffler. The intent was to demonstrate how mufflers can substantially cut noise.

However, Oelrich said the difference would not be much because the altered airboat was not fully muffled.

“I’m very disappointed one was supposed to be muffled, but it’s only slightly muffled. I want to make absolutely clear this is not a scientific measuring kind of thing,” Oelrich said. “I hope to work closely with the airboat community. If we can reduce the noise by 50 percent, we would be a lot better off.”

Oelrich has a particular interest in airboats because he has a home on Orange Lake, a popular airboating spot.

Airboat users said they intend to fight restrictions such as curfews or the requiring of noise reduction. Some say they need to use their airboats at night to catch frogs for income. Others say they should be able to use their craft as they like.

A flier distributed at the demonstration from the Citrus County Airboat Alliance proclaimed, "Alachua County is the next battleground." Several other Florida counties have already restricted the noisy watercraft.

Residents of area lakes popular with airboaters complain that the noise rattles them and disturbs their peace and quiet — particularly at night. Others said airboats disturb wildlife.

The master plan will take months to develop, according to county officials.
 
13 July 2005

Letters to the Editor,
Gainesville Sun Newspaper

These comments are regarding Sherrif Oelrich's demonstration of airboat noise at the Tuesday, July 12, Board of Alachua County Commissioners 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 airboating at their fingertips.

I am a native Florida citizen, a USCG Captain and Florida licensed guide and have airboated for business and pleasure for decades. My son is also a USCG Captain and Florida licensed guide. Both of our airboats are fully muffled and we operate at night on remote and not-so-remote lakes in Alachua County and other places and - to my knowledge - have never generated a single complaint of any kind.

I and my clients have spent thousands of dollars over many years while airboating in Alachua County. 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 for these activities. We rent lodging, buy meals, purchase local goods and services services and make a multitude of other local expenditures every time we visit your county. We have no interest in offending anyone.

My great concern with the direction this airboat noise demonstration seems to be taking is simply that all law abiding citizens might be penalized for the actions of a tiny but onerous minority.

This noise ordinance issue can affect many folks other than airboaters. Maybe even those at The Swamp. Not to memtion users of all other vehicles or watercraf, be it Harley's, 4WD trucks, lawn mowers, weed whackers, Trans Ams, Toyota Supras, ATVs or PWCs. In most every activity, there is always an outlaw minority that makes asses out of themselves with no regard for others.

My understanding is that Alachua County already has a 90 Dba noise ordinance on its books. I ask that ordinance be enforced against the easily identifiable unmuffled airboating scofflaws. Most muffled airboats comply with that requirement when a short time allowance is made to get the boat on plane. Same as you enforce the other laws of your county, cite the violators and allow those who operate within the law to continue to do so.

I am an active member of Florida Airboat Association - FAA - and we are currently working very closely 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.

And, deal with the outlaw airboating element same as you do with other unlawful activities.

Respectfully Yours,

Capt. Dave Markett
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

Sportfishing Guide Services, Inc.
Airboat Charter Services, LLC
14913 Warman Street
Tampa, FL 33613
813-927-3474 cell
Nextel PID# 158*31*37658
813-962-1435 o/h
813-961-3474 fax
_________________
A I R B O A T

Anytime It Runs, Break Out Another Thousand
 
cancel your subscriptions to the Gainsville newspaper..........get some of their advertisers to support us not them. Hit them in the pocket and you will see the bias coverage swing in favor of airboaters.
 
From what I know about Gainsville it pretty much is a small town atmosphere. I would bet to say someone on the commission hunts. Like down here in S Fla, a guy had an airboat camp approved by the state because he had money and knew someone at the higher level. Politics is all about who donates what to whomever. Unless airboaters rally as one in the near future so capital can be raised, we will steadily loose areas to launch a boat at. Jet ski companies proved that noise takes a backseat to small town Sheriff complaints! Those little noisy SOB's are everywhere. Is it possible to really make an airboat quiet? Are we actually capable of making our machines comply to this? Every boat should have a muffler of some sort, but will that end the debate here? This is being used as a pawn to keep airboats off particular lakes, and at particular times. I bet those homeowners would love to have restrictions put on rather than a decibal level enforcement. I think the FAA should come up with a plan to LOBBY against this BS, and raise money to do it. 20$ times 2000 members raises 40k to get things started.

My own .02...
 
No question, FAA needs to be revised - and that is currently happening - to become a much more political force. At last weekend's FAA quarterly meeting, a professional lobbiest was interviewed about the 90 DBa @ 50 feet sound ordinance and a law to prevent airboats from being singled out in any Florida law was discussed. The fee? A minimum of $30K / year.

To the question of effective muffling. Yes, it is possible. As I understand things, Powershift had a test done on one of their stroker boats and it registered 73 DBa on plane at 50 feet. How? Corvette tuned exhaust manifolds, automotive flex couplings, mandril bent hard exhaust pipe and automotive mufflers. Their claim - NO PERFORMANCE LOSS.

Our greatest challenge is enthusiast compliance. The alternative is a hundred Alachua Counties at one time.

Individual airboaters must decide to join this effort. To support existing conservation based airboater clubs and help them raise serious monies for the political battles that lie ahead. We can win if we muffle our own individual boats, put pressure on our buddies to do the same, get organized and come off some $$$$.
 
Wow that is cheap for a lobbyist. I don't know how much success could be achieved on the 90db law if someone in fact can meet the law then everyone will have to meet it.

The not singling out airboats has good potential for success as the state has already indicated a reluctance to single out a particular type of vessel on other occassions which sort of sets a precident.

Now here is a big question for everyone to ponder on ... there are several attorneys I know of who own bad a__ airboats but yet you hear nothing from them about all this legal stuff ... of course all of them I know do run mufflers and I doubt if they buzz peoples house at 2am.

I belive we are going to have to change our driving attitudes in areas where there are houses. if we want to run at all hours of the night we are gonna have to go to places where there are no houses on the shores such as okeechobee, the st. johns marshes, the everglades and other type areas. So if anyone is aware of other areas that are not populated post them on here and let us start meeting there where we won't make everyone mad. We won't win anything by making a show of force in a populated area. Of course the number of people who show up for a monthly run can hardly be called a show of force but those who do show up have fun there.

Well thats my two cents worth on the subject.
 
Country141iq,

Guess that's why you are smart - that 141iq. Interresting concept, a grant request for airboat noise reduction compliance. Hmmmmmmmmm.
Wish I knew a grant writer to ponder your concept. Would serve many positive goals of FBITF.

This is a growth driven conflict. Bound to eventually happen and bound to get worse as our remote areas become housing developments.

Hopefully we will not require the services of the legal profession as we move forward, but, that is not likely. In Alachua County and other places where airboat noise is becoming a political issue, we certainly need to marshall our assets and to develop working relationships with those elected politicians who hold our future in their votes. Better to use honey than hammers.

Necessary to know where the hammer is if nothing else works.
 
I know two young men that I rescued off the river on monday from Sanford Florida that sire dosen't have a problem with airboats,one of them's comment to me was "I have never been so happy to see an Airboat in my life thank God for you and this boat" may be we need to start letting these folks in Government know about all the good things done with an Airboat.
 
:eek:ccasion5: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Matt

I will try and track down both these guy's they were up here in Georgia working for com cast telacomunications and I don't know if they are still in the area
or not and even though the boat is mine I am a Law enforcement officer and the boat is marked SEARCH & RESCUE and I had a DNR officer with me on the boat and we were assisting the Douglas County Fire Dept but it did sell every one envolved on the value of an Airboat but this is a volenteer thing that I do with my boat I do not get paid it all comes out of my pocket except for fule cost.
 
To: Editor Gainesville Sun

As a fellow Editor I am astounded that management of your paper has allowed such biased reporting to continue on the Airboat sound issue in Alachua County. Ms. Swirko clearly has a slanted opinion on the matter and therefore is not capable of reporting accurate and fair media to the readers of Alachua County. As stated in the International Journalism Code of Ethics, Editors and Journalist have a Responsibility, this being that the primary purpose of gathering and distributing news and opinion is to serve the general welfare by informing the people and enabling them to make judgments on the issues of the time. Newspapermen and women who abuse the power of their professional role for selfish motives or unworthy purposes are faithless to that public trust. Good faith with the reader is the foundation of good journalism. Every effort must be made to assure that the news content is accurate, free from bias and in context, and that all sides are presented fairly. Editorials, analytical articles and commentary should be held to the same standards of accuracy with respect to facts as news reports. Significant errors of fact, as well as errors of omission, should be corrected promptly and prominently.

In Ms. Swirko’s article dated July 14th 2005 she states “Airboat users said they intend to fight restrictions such as curfews, or the requiring of noise reduction�. Ms. Swirko fails to indicate who made the statement. The Florida Airboat Association supports statewide rules requiring automotive type mufflers for all airprop-propelled vessels. In fact the muffling device mounted on the airboat used by Sheriff Oelrich for his demonstration would not meet our recommendations and would fall short of our recommended standards.

Ms. Swirko has been contacted by several members of the Florida Airboat Association but has adamantly refused to interview or contact any of them for their side to this issue. The Florida Airboat Association contacted the Alachua County Sheriff Dept and The Alachua County Commission on numerous occasions expressing their concern of the Airboat Demonstration in downtown Gainesville. The Florida Airboat Association remains adamant in their opposition to this demonstration. Your paper has not reported or outlined any of the reasons that the Florida Airboat Association has for taking this stand nor have you reported any scientific facts relating to airboat sound. The Florida Wildlife Commission has spent the last few years working with airboaters in researching airboat sound. This research was made possible because of the hundreds of hours that airboater’s volunteered their time and boats. An accurate report of this research can be found locally at your County Commissioners office as I dropped off a copy myself on behalf of the Florida Airboat Association. The Florida Airboat Association had more than one member present at the demonstration conducted by Sheriff Oelrich and any member of your staff could have conducted a fair and accurate interview at that time. It seems that your paper does not wish to hear from the other side and only wishes to express the biased opinion of Ms. Swirko. I hope to see fairness and balance in any future articles that your paper wishes to print on this matter and hope that you will seek to give the sportsmen in Alachua County a fair shake.


Terri Latner
Managing Editor
Airboat World Magazine
 
Right on Terry!

If the've got the backbone to respond to your letter, please let us know what they say.

Again, nice job Terry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top