Rich Andrews
Well-known member
At holiday park, the airboat capt's said the FWC guys are carrying around decibal meters? Thought they were not going to enforce the DB level? or are they for show?
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What I heard yesterday..
- Thread starter Rich Andrews
- Start date
jdotson
Well-known member
That's a new one on me. I'm not sure what they will be doing with them as there is not a state statute that sets a db level for the state but rather a db level that local governments can establish and enforce. That's like trying to issue a citation for speeding when there is no speed limit. Maybe they plan on using them to single out loud boats so they can check them for mufflers rather than stopping every boat they see. I'm sure they are under a directive to warn and educate anyone without mufflers until the law goes into effect.
fatboy0054
Well-known member
THEY WILL ENFORCE! SMART BOATERS ARE TRYING TO GET QUIET ! THE OTHERS WILL BE PARK ! JUST PLAIN FACT ! :shock:
Rich, that has to be a sand-house rumor. FWC isn't in the business of sound level enforcement. That only comes under local jusisdictions such as a Sheriff's department, and then the test must be made on the water, on plane, under controlled conditions. No on-trailer testing. It's too dangerous.
There is no Statewide sound standard, and the only thing the FWC officers want to see is a pair of mufflers. Have them, and as far as they're concerned you're good to go.
Not even the USCG can ask you for a sound level test.
If you find out different, we'll contact Tallahassee and get that stopped.
There is no Statewide sound standard, and the only thing the FWC officers want to see is a pair of mufflers. Have them, and as far as they're concerned you're good to go.
Not even the USCG can ask you for a sound level test.
If you find out different, we'll contact Tallahassee and get that stopped.
BATTLE READY
Well-known member
.....................
RD, once more .... you will not get a sound level citation from an FWC officer. The only thing one of these guys can cite you for is not having mufflers on your boat.
The FWC has had mufflers on their boats for quite some time. They're as interested as we are in getting quiet, because in areas where there is a sound standard they have to meet it too !! They're airboaters and sportsmen just like us. They're not the enemy. The FWC even brought three boats to the Quiet Airboat Demo. in May ..... three times more boats than the Airboat Manufacturers of Florida. Think about that. Your enemies are the people we elect to our local council positions. They're the ones who set sound standards. They're the ones who want us gone.
The FWC has had mufflers on their boats for quite some time. They're as interested as we are in getting quiet, because in areas where there is a sound standard they have to meet it too !! They're airboaters and sportsmen just like us. They're not the enemy. The FWC even brought three boats to the Quiet Airboat Demo. in May ..... three times more boats than the Airboat Manufacturers of Florida. Think about that. Your enemies are the people we elect to our local council positions. They're the ones who set sound standards. They're the ones who want us gone.
Waterthunder
Well-known member
(Remember this is my opinion) I bet they are doing sound research on loud boats. Most all aircrafts are reasonably quite and most car motors are too but we have all heard the ridiculously loud boat and I would bet they are trying to establish how to curb the loud boats. I also think the people with the super loud boats have no idea what airboating is about!This comment will cause even more people to whine and complain about me making my boat quite. Earlier this week I almost exchanged blows with somebody over my boats performance at the sound competition. I know and believe the FWC is not out to end air boating they want to end the 3% of airboats that cause all the problems. Think about it if there are no airboats then a huge part of the FWC and their officers will no longer have a job. You can not imagine how violent allot of air boater have become with me since the sound test. There is no noise standard but mark my words there will be one if people don't stop being stupid and continue running ridiculously loud boats. And for all the aircraft guy's whining about me making my airboat so quite. I believe aircraft motor boats are not the noise problem and anyone with a brain knows this.
Fwc or any other government agency is almost always exempted from any rule or law that has to do with sound or the use of an airboat in any restricted area even manatee county. They may want to gather some data for future laws about sound of airboats and hopefully other boats as well, ya'll surely didnt think this last go round was the end did you ?, heck it is just the beginning of the end. The government agencies will always be able to run airboats any where any time they want to. the only ones at risk for operation are private airboats used for pleasure.
So go ahead and get the smallest, loudest mufflers which barely meet the CURRENT LAW and watch what happens next, the law will change. Keep on buzzin waterfront property owners houses, and any other methods of reckless, inconsiderate operation and watch the laws change.
Our recent so called favorable treatment bill that was just signed had two parts against us and one that if your a hopeless optimist you might could say was in our favor, but it certainly does not preclude the addition of more laws from the state level and in fact it makes it even eassier because now there are actually laws that only pertain to airboats and not boats in general, so fasten your seatbelts and hangon the ride is just starting a precedent has been set for airboat laws, more to follow, guaranteed, they always seem to. just another perspective and certainly not the only one
So go ahead and get the smallest, loudest mufflers which barely meet the CURRENT LAW and watch what happens next, the law will change. Keep on buzzin waterfront property owners houses, and any other methods of reckless, inconsiderate operation and watch the laws change.
Our recent so called favorable treatment bill that was just signed had two parts against us and one that if your a hopeless optimist you might could say was in our favor, but it certainly does not preclude the addition of more laws from the state level and in fact it makes it even eassier because now there are actually laws that only pertain to airboats and not boats in general, so fasten your seatbelts and hangon the ride is just starting a precedent has been set for airboat laws, more to follow, guaranteed, they always seem to. just another perspective and certainly not the only one
Thunder and Cnty, those are great posts.
Anybody who doesn't 'get it' ..... anybody who wants to put some tin cans on the ends of their flex pipe instead of real, effective mufflers .... anybody who still thinks that mufflers don't make a real difference, is not a friend to any of us who want to be able to leave airboating to our children and grandchildren.
It's real simple folks. Make your boat as quiet as you can get it or we are ALL gonna lose them.
I don't know how much plainer I can make it.
Anybody who doesn't 'get it' ..... anybody who wants to put some tin cans on the ends of their flex pipe instead of real, effective mufflers .... anybody who still thinks that mufflers don't make a real difference, is not a friend to any of us who want to be able to leave airboating to our children and grandchildren.
It's real simple folks. Make your boat as quiet as you can get it or we are ALL gonna lose them.
I don't know how much plainer I can make it.
Waterthunder
Well-known member
I couldn't have said it better 141.
So go ahead and get the smallest, loudest mufflers which barely meet the CURRENT LAW and watch what happens next, the law will change. Keep on buzzin waterfront property owners houses, and any other methods of reckless, inconsiderate operation and watch the laws change.
When I was in my conflict the other night I realized the idiot I was arguing with will eventually cause me to loose my air boating rights!
So go ahead and get the smallest, loudest mufflers which barely meet the CURRENT LAW and watch what happens next, the law will change. Keep on buzzin waterfront property owners houses, and any other methods of reckless, inconsiderate operation and watch the laws change.
When I was in my conflict the other night I realized the idiot I was arguing with will eventually cause me to loose my air boating rights!
When it was GFC not FFWS I was told that GFC enforced ALL laws in the State of Florida. I know for a fact they have written traffic citations.
I agree at this point they are likely gathering information with the meters. Any reading with a hand held meter would be useless in court unless the operator had some kind of cetification to say they know hwo to operate it correctly.
I agree with Cntry141, this crap aint over and WE have set the precident for airboat only laws.
Scotty
I agree at this point they are likely gathering information with the meters. Any reading with a hand held meter would be useless in court unless the operator had some kind of cetification to say they know hwo to operate it correctly.
I agree with Cntry141, this crap aint over and WE have set the precident for airboat only laws.
Scotty
Waterthunder
Well-known member
Judging by what I have seen some people do the folks with the tin cans as a mufflers when they see an FWC officer holding a BD meter will purposely drive by the FWC officer, be as loud as they can while shouting I have mufflers and my boat is legal!
jdotson
Well-known member
I currently have the tin can looking mufflers on my boat (been on there for several years) and plan on having them replaced in the next two weeks (hopefully by tomorrow night). I do not plan on selling the old ones when I take them off either as I don't think they need to go on another boat. I can't hear the exhaust when I'm driving as it is but I recently let someone drive my boat while standing on the shoreline and it was much louder than I thought. I did have FWC look at them and tell me they would be fine but all they did was look. I would rather run quiet than not at all. Here is a pic of the "legal" but ineffective mufflers I am removing.
Quiet Boat???
I have heard it all .. I have heard and read right here about how much it costs .. I have heard how it loses power .. I have been told I was ruining it for everyone because now they would expect all airboats to be quiet.. I have been told how I am rich in order to have a quiet boat .. One fellow which, I think, was partly kidding me even wanted to know what was I ... some kinda outlaw? why did I have such a quiet boat. Yep i have spent a lot of money trying to be quiet and it hurt at times .. I did it because I want to be quiet, any idiot can be noisy and have no power to go. i will be quiet and have power. I also have shared everything that has worked and will continue to so others don't have to spend as much money and we all can keep on airboating a while longer.
While the results of a hand held meter may not hold up in court you can bet they will hold up in the minds of the lawmakers when they get told how loud boats are actually even with mufflers. Peer pressure will help sure but a good hit to the wallet will help faster. I don't even argue with folks anymore I just smile and say "whatever man".
The FWC boys have more power for law enforcement than any other agency in florida, they can give you speeding tickets, they can and do respond to all kinds of calls including domestic disputes, they don't need a search warrant to enter your house if they suspect game violations are occuring in there, least that is what I have been told by them and I don't feel like testing it in court myself. They have the most comprehensive academy of all and I wouldn't be surprised if sound testing was added to it if not already.
OLF art where did you get your info that the sound test must be done in thw ater and on plane? where is that law written down at ? I agree it makes safety sense but to say they can't test on the trailer or on dry ground, I bet they can if they want to until they lose one in court anyways. But that is not the answer the answer is get quiet and show some restraint in operation and don't have to go to court. again just my opinions and rumors I have been told.
I have heard it all .. I have heard and read right here about how much it costs .. I have heard how it loses power .. I have been told I was ruining it for everyone because now they would expect all airboats to be quiet.. I have been told how I am rich in order to have a quiet boat .. One fellow which, I think, was partly kidding me even wanted to know what was I ... some kinda outlaw? why did I have such a quiet boat. Yep i have spent a lot of money trying to be quiet and it hurt at times .. I did it because I want to be quiet, any idiot can be noisy and have no power to go. i will be quiet and have power. I also have shared everything that has worked and will continue to so others don't have to spend as much money and we all can keep on airboating a while longer.
While the results of a hand held meter may not hold up in court you can bet they will hold up in the minds of the lawmakers when they get told how loud boats are actually even with mufflers. Peer pressure will help sure but a good hit to the wallet will help faster. I don't even argue with folks anymore I just smile and say "whatever man".
The FWC boys have more power for law enforcement than any other agency in florida, they can give you speeding tickets, they can and do respond to all kinds of calls including domestic disputes, they don't need a search warrant to enter your house if they suspect game violations are occuring in there, least that is what I have been told by them and I don't feel like testing it in court myself. They have the most comprehensive academy of all and I wouldn't be surprised if sound testing was added to it if not already.
OLF art where did you get your info that the sound test must be done in thw ater and on plane? where is that law written down at ? I agree it makes safety sense but to say they can't test on the trailer or on dry ground, I bet they can if they want to until they lose one in court anyways. But that is not the answer the answer is get quiet and show some restraint in operation and don't have to go to court. again just my opinions and rumors I have been told.
Dave & country 141
I agree with you I like a QUIT BOAT or I would not have just spent 12,000 for you to build me a engine and a 2.68 gear box to swing the new Q series prop I am looking forward to being able to ride in my boat with out ear muffs it was a lot of money to change the drive system out but in the long run I will be saving a lot of gas and my hearing.
I agree with you I like a QUIT BOAT or I would not have just spent 12,000 for you to build me a engine and a 2.68 gear box to swing the new Q series prop I am looking forward to being able to ride in my boat with out ear muffs it was a lot of money to change the drive system out but in the long run I will be saving a lot of gas and my hearing.
jdotson
Well-known member
Well Cntry there is a lot of content on this site that mentions everything possible about mufflers, reducing sound, the aggravation, cost, etc...I've posted a few negative things myself but I know what is the right thing to do. It is human nature to hate change and the griping and complaining go along with change. This site is about the only place where an airboater can vent, gripe, complain, etc. and most of the time have someone else side with them. It is interesting how the mood and atmosphere changes on this site, particularly in the last 8 months.
Waterthunder
Well-known member
Sniper you will be amazed at how much better your boat will perform. And how much better it rides. I also hope next time you do a search and rescue you can hear every voice that needs help! I will post some pics of your motor here shortly, hopefully before lunch tomorrow.
SwampMatt
Well-known member
here's that picture JD. They really do look like tin cans! About the same size too. Yikes.
Scotty - you made a point that FWC enforces ALL laws of Florida, that is true, the original point was that the decible # is NOT a state law, but a scatterd county ordinance. FWC probably has the right to enforce county ordinances as well, but I'm pretty sure Broward (home of Holiday RV Park) does not have that sound ordinance. If they do have db meters, it's for something besides enforcement. There are no db laws to enforce in the everglades. (as far as I know)
The only state law is that you have to have mufflers.
Cntry is right, our new law is titled "Airboats Regulated" and is a framework upon which to hang any number of laws in the future. I find it ironic that the law that says "don't discriminate against airboats" contains two (so far) things that apply to airboats only. It's like a parent with a cigarette hanging from their mouth, telling their kid to not smoke.
And it says right in the law that the state owned boats (weed control, research, and FWC among others) are exempt from the flag and muffler law. Sure they have mufflers, but they don't have to.
Wouldn't it be nice if EVERY one of our boats was quieted... and the only airboat complaints came in because of FWC operations. It'd never happen, because the FWC guys are cool & courtious in the operation their boats. Mufflers or not, complaints come from immature, drunk, or irresponsible jerks out there hot dogging around near someone's back yard. Until that is stopped, those laws are going to keep coming.
You can't legislate inteligence.
:roll:
Scotty - you made a point that FWC enforces ALL laws of Florida, that is true, the original point was that the decible # is NOT a state law, but a scatterd county ordinance. FWC probably has the right to enforce county ordinances as well, but I'm pretty sure Broward (home of Holiday RV Park) does not have that sound ordinance. If they do have db meters, it's for something besides enforcement. There are no db laws to enforce in the everglades. (as far as I know)
The only state law is that you have to have mufflers.
Cntry is right, our new law is titled "Airboats Regulated" and is a framework upon which to hang any number of laws in the future. I find it ironic that the law that says "don't discriminate against airboats" contains two (so far) things that apply to airboats only. It's like a parent with a cigarette hanging from their mouth, telling their kid to not smoke.
And it says right in the law that the state owned boats (weed control, research, and FWC among others) are exempt from the flag and muffler law. Sure they have mufflers, but they don't have to.
Wouldn't it be nice if EVERY one of our boats was quieted... and the only airboat complaints came in because of FWC operations. It'd never happen, because the FWC guys are cool & courtious in the operation their boats. Mufflers or not, complaints come from immature, drunk, or irresponsible jerks out there hot dogging around near someone's back yard. Until that is stopped, those laws are going to keep coming.
You can't legislate inteligence.
:roll:
basketcase0302
Well-known member
JD,
I think you're right about the past 8 months
Sad to let governmental regulations "draw" a dividing line between us all. Gotta stop! Everybody needs to get on this same page and re-unite in full force to insure our, (and our kids) boating rights are always there!
Olf Art, If I'm not mistaken the 3 FWC boats there at the demonstration didn't even test :roll: I traveled the distance for the "real world" testing results I got. Which were not good at all, but truthful readings for a new airboater with 100 hours under my belt.
No "beer can" mufflers for me, I couldn't even pass with regular mufflers!
Basketcase
I think you're right about the past 8 months
Sad to let governmental regulations "draw" a dividing line between us all. Gotta stop! Everybody needs to get on this same page and re-unite in full force to insure our, (and our kids) boating rights are always there!Olf Art, If I'm not mistaken the 3 FWC boats there at the demonstration didn't even test :roll: I traveled the distance for the "real world" testing results I got. Which were not good at all, but truthful readings for a new airboater with 100 hours under my belt.
No "beer can" mufflers for me, I couldn't even pass with regular mufflers!
Basketcase