State mulls mandatory mufflers for airboats

[rick]

By CINDY SWIRKO
Sun staff writer

A state decision to start requiring mufflers on airboats will dampen the noise but not all of the rancor some area residents feel about airboats.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted last week to draft a new policy that will require mufflers. The final public hearing will be...

...."Mufflers are one thing, but every airboater out there will tell you that prop noise overrides the noise of the muffler after they get up to a certain rpm," Markle said. "So if they are out on the lake at 4 a.m. and they are running above a certain rpm, they are still going to wake me up. I am going to push for curfews."....

Here's the rest: http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050928/LOCAL/50928004/1078/news

 

[jim]

It's already starting.

 

[Muddyduck]

Did anyone else notice the link on the same page as the story dealing with complaints about motorcycles in Alachua County. Guess we are not the only ones with issues.

 

[cntry141iq]

I hate to say it but yepper it has started there but it has been over here for a while. Considerate operation is the only thing that will stave off curfews. It only takes one idiot to set aside a 100 courteous actions. Mufflers alone are not gonna do it theyt are just the beginning not the final chapter.

 

[SwampDoggy]

Here's the scoop (in my humble opinion): Requiring "effective mufflers" is not that big of a deal. Even requiring a specific decibel level at a specific distance is not that big of a deal. We can comply, in the interest of common courtesy to people who don't like the awesome sound of motor-power. What IS a big deal is trying to impose a curfew on an adult population in this "free" country of ours. Especially on a recreational activity. Have we really given our elected officials the power to control when and where we have fun? What ever happened to punishing criminals instead of punishing us regular folks just trying to enjoy life? This whole "curfew" thing gives me the Willies. I'm hoping there are enough of us to keep this from happening. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to see that it doesn't happen.

 

[cntry141iq]

It's hard to punish criminals much easier to go after law abiding citizens. Take gun control for instance ... Yes waiting periods may keep an otherwise honest law abiding person from doing something stupid in a rage, however criminals still buy their guns off the street with no waiting periods and no background checks.

Curfews are the easiest way to stop airboat noise period. No testing required, no problem with understanding if it is a violation occuring or not. They can't ban them in the intra-coastal waterway but I have never found that to be a place condusive to airboating.

Ya'll don't want to hear it but .. we need to start looking towards remote areas to run these things because sooner or later the locals will get tired of the state laws and local ordinances will be passed imposing outright bans or curfews that start at 6pm and run till 8am I belive that is what manatee county has done.