Michigan trying to ban wakeboats

[larry_arizona]

Michigan house bill 5532 was introduced this week, basically restricting a 500 foot clearance to any anchored, docked or moored boat or swimming area. Also a minimum 20 foot depth while creating a boat induced wake.

No idea if this will pass.

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2023-2024/billintroduced/House/pdf/2024-HIB-5532.pdf


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[brad460]

I had mentioned this a couple years ago, but here in WI a lake on the Minocqua Chain has a ordinance on wake size which eliminated wakesurfing on that lake (Mid Lake in Woodruff).

With all the folks who think they need 4000 lbs of water, plus 500 lbs of lead and a 5’ tall wave just to surf are the problem- it’s turned into just trying to make the biggest wave, not what’s actually needed to surf. Reminds me of the snowmobiles who put loud cans on their sleds..causes trail closures because they think their sled sounds cool. In general wakesurfers can be worse than jet skiers…

I expect states, lakes..etc will start making it illegal to surf …it’s coming.

[larry_arizona]

Nothing worse than a arctic cat triple without a can.

Talking late 90's to mid 2000's.

Asshats would pull out there ear plugs at the gas station.


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[MJHSupra]

In TN, we had the 200 foot rule pass back in 2022. 500' would be pretty limiting for our lakes and rivers in TN.

That was the final rule, I would bet the law started off worse - usually the WSIA lobby helps out on items like this.

https://wsia.net


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240302/bc41764e8bb7d5732637d73290f1ebbb.jpg

[larry_arizona]

500feet will pretty much kill 75% of the 13k inland lakes in Michigan.


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[MJHSupra]

https://wsia.quorum.us/campaign/57373/?fbclid=IwAR2bVa06GJMUITdVI5LeN4DXpu58ljJpmKKF2zqj A6do81Y2gMeINjWOG04

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[Holdmybeer]

This sucks.

There are so many other rules people don't follow on the lake that do more damage and even cause fatalities, but they are targeting wake boats.

However, it only takes 1% to screw it up for the other 99%. So bad boaters causes these laws.

[HFarr]

This sucks.

There are so many other rules people don't follow on the lake that do more damage and even cause fatalities, but they are targeting wake boats.

However, it only takes 1% to screw it up for the other 99%. So bad boaters causes these laws.100% on your last sentence. Couple big waves with what was said about the snowmobiling's loud exhaust, except in our case a stereo that can be heard half a mile away blasting every 50 cent cuss word there is, and all the families on the docks, beaches, and pontoons begin to hate all wakeboats in general. All they see are obnoxious people they don't want around their families. And that is not the majority, but they are what create the label for all. Can my boat play loud music and make a big wave? Yes it can. But, I know when and where and how to be respectful around areas where people who don't enjoy that.
I'm also an 80's kinda music fan too when it is loud. Not so much a fan of the hard core foul mouthed music.

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[MJHSupra]

Those environmental groups have power. They get a lot of $ donations and rich backers.


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[sandm]

hfarr's whole post hit the nail on the head..... the wakeboat communities push for bigger and louder speakers on the towers. my gut is they are going after the wakes as it's easier than trying to go after the noise.

it used to be the 1% but now every family has a boat loaded down with kids and it's swapped from 2livecrew to swift and both can be equally offensive to someone who doesn't want to be around it.
you hear a lot of cars playing loud music but they disappear at the next light. that wakeboat full of saturday families just keeps circling and circling....

[larry_arizona]

I can understand the wakeboat hate and not all captains respect others using the lake.

I won't go into other groups that are difficult on the lake.

But this seems to be one target of many, if you take out one group, others will follow, the slippery slope.

Not even going to economic impact to thousands of wakeboat owners across the state until this actually happens.


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[HFarr]

I agree wholeheartedly that if they ban wakeboats, another sport deemed by "THEM", whoever that may be, to be harmful to the environment will be next in line. That's why we have to be respectful and stand behind one another, and stand up to these groups. When we wakesurf, it is time well spent with my family and friends. I dont want to lose that.

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[cucv]

We have 2 hearings tomorrow here in NH related to boating. They are trying to increase the no wake zone to 300 feet from shore for PWC's. They are also trying to increase wakesurfing to 500 feet from shore and 20' of water depth. It's very frustrating when you read the comments of the folks that support the bill, so many site the loud, foul music as justification.

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[sandm]

It's very frustrating when you read the comments of the folks that support the bill, so many site the loud, foul music as justification.


this does not surprise me and I still say it doesn't matter if it's nwa or taylor, I believe the true issue is buying a property on a lake and having to listen to the all day long barrage of music coming from every boat with a tower.
it's always been crazy to me to see 90% of these boats being bought for wakesurfing and people think they need 4 rev10's hanging off the tower to be heard at a half mile when they are only 20ft behind the boat :) most boat owners would be better served with 4 icon8's but we all know that's "not cool" :)

head to the sandbar away from population to crank it up otherwise leave the tower speakers off when around houses and I bet the issue slowly dies but the only likely outcome long term are bans on wakes to ultimately kill the music issue.

[HFarr]

Lime I daid earlier too, I strongly believe that is part of the push for the ban, and cucv your comment about the complaints seem to back that up. They could easily pass a sound ordinance. 4 wheelers and side-by- sides are the same way. I have seen some systems on those machines that rival the boats. What lake are you on in NH?

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[larry_arizona]

All for the sound ordinance, but if that were truly the problem, it would be far easier to pass a sound restriction than a 20 foot depth and 500 foot wake clearance.

Also interesting that Michigan and NH are using the same 20/500 restriction.


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[cucv]

We are on Ossipee Lake.

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[KnoxMojo]

We are on Ossipee Lake.

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Hey! I have wakeboarded on Ossipee behind an ATX and a Malibu. Saw 1 Moomba out there. Was with a friend that lives up there from the Marines, Cushing.

[cucv]

Hey! I have wakeboarded on Ossipee behind an ATX and a Malibu. Saw 1 Moomba out there. Was with a friend that lives up there from the Marines, Cushing.No way! Was this last summer? What color boats were you on?

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[KnoxMojo]

No way! Was this last summer? What color boats were you on?

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Pretty sure it was a black ATX with a white tower, maybe. It was moored in the bigger section of the lakes at a campground. Brett has a pontoon we were out on quite a bit. Was throwing a few inverts and spins out in front of the campground for everyone. We had a blast up there for a few days. Went for New Years this year and hit a few local mountains and Jay Peak

[cucv]

Very cool, I haven't met the owner of that ATX. We are in the bay with the sandbar.
We actually just got back from school vacation at Jay Peak. The family had a blast and the kids were asking if we could get a season pass there.

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[larry_arizona]

Some good news at least in the immediate timeframe.

The Michigan house bill 5532 is currently in discussions with the Michigan Boating Industries Association and is not planned to enter committee any time soon.

But it eventually will enter committee for voting consideration in the house.

Perhaps a wake up call (no pun intended) to get our act together to respect where our wake and noise impacts others.


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[Mobius22]

I am told that they received more emails on this issue from wakeboat owners than any singular bill/issue in many years.

[larry_arizona]

I am told that they received more emails on this issue from wakeboat owners than any singular bill/issue in many years.

It's up to 25k+. Funny thing is, somehow my letter was sent to all Michigan state reps and many replied to me thinking I was in their district.

The overall gist I got is this isn't going to progress as is or at all.


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[BigOrange]

I would love to get to a completely isolated spot to board or surf but on our TN lake, there are just too many houses and docks for that to be possible. I will say, when the TN law passed I was extremely worried about how it could be enforced. At least for two years, I think law enforcement has been lenient and not butts about this law. Our place on Tims Ford is at a locale that has probably 5 or so “river” miles before big lake water. Strict enforcement would kill my situation. I’d gladly never turn the stereo on if that kept us being able to use a wakeboat.

[larry_arizona]

I would love to get to a completely isolated spot to board or surf but on our TN lake, there are just too many houses and docks for that to be possible. I will say, when the TN law passed I was extremely worried about how it could be enforced. At least for two years, I think law enforcement has been lenient and not butts about this law. Our place on Tims Ford is at a locale that has probably 5 or so “river” miles before big lake water. Strict enforcement would kill my situation. I’d gladly never turn the stereo on if that kept us being able to use a wakeboat.

What are the current TN rules for wake?


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[Mobius22]

It's the model WSIA legislation of 200 feet offshore

[BigOrange]

Tennessee:

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are no longer permitted in coves or any “portion of a body of water” with a width of less than 400 feet.

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are not permitted with 200 feet of a “shoreline or a dock, pier, boathouse, or other structure located completely or partly on the water”.

[HFarr]

Tennessee:

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are no longer permitted in coves or any “portion of a body of water” with a width of less than 400 feet.

Wakeboarding and wakesurfing are not permitted with 200 feet of a “shoreline or a dock, pier, boathouse, or other structure located completely or partly on the water”.That is within reason, and I can see the logic behind that one.

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[MJHSupra]

What are the current TN rules for wake?


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The TN law is on post #4.


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[MJHSupra]

Per what @mobius wrote above, this is what WSIA publishes and on their flyers. All reasonable items.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240307/a896602b07f6d253b70bef609d39390d.jpg


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[sandm]

anyone catch this in vermont. will ban wakesurfing on 43 of the 73 inland lakes. says it's still being challenged but wonder if that's nothing more than a delay to the inevitable.

https://www.wcax.com/2024/03/06/vt-wake-boat-restrictions-expected-begin-this-summer/

[larry_arizona]

200ft is fair, 500ft is absurd


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[MJHSupra]

200ft is fair, 500ft is absurd


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For sure


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[HFarr]

Saw this post pop up on Google news. I have to say, by looking at the photo of the people in the room, it doesn't look like a wake surfing crowd.....https://fox11online.com/news/local/waupaca-county-town-farmington-wake-surfing-lake-waves-boat-safety-enviornment-lawsuit-ban-ordinance

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[HFarr]

Looks like the Michigan groups are still pushing hard for this. If you watch the video, the last 45 seconds sum up a lot of things. Please encourage everyone to be respectful. Perception of the bystander becomes reality.

https://www.fox6now.com/news/wakesurfing-boats-wi-lakes-calls-restrict-monster-trucks-water

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[larry_arizona]

Looks like the Michigan groups are still pushing hard for this. If you watch the video, the last 45 seconds sum up a lot of things. Please encourage everyone to be respectful. Perception of the bystander becomes reality.

https://www.fox6now.com/news/wakesurfing-boats-wi-lakes-calls-restrict-monster-trucks-water

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Looks like Wisconsin, but similar groups fighting in Michigan.

All for being responsible and respectful.

I find fisherman to be the most touchy and certainly understand their boats don't take wake very well. Fisherman seem to be a powerful group as they are behind most of the Michigan lake restrictions such as some lakes having time restrictions for high speed boating.

Point is, keep the fishermen happy and they will leave you alone.


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[sandm]

Point is, keep the fishermen happy and they will leave you alone.


lots of truth to this.... it's the 1% that will ruin it for everyone and in this me-me-me era, no one has any respect for other people anymore.

[larry_arizona]

lots of truth to this.... it's the 1% that will ruin it for everyone and in this me-me-me era, no one has any respect for other people anymore.

In fairness, if 1% of fishermen are dbags, that is a lot of dbags.

A few weeks ago, I was backing boat down ramp and fisherman walks behind my boat then turns around and walks back while warning my wife and son to stay away from his planar boards.

I got out and nicely said "please don't walk behind my boat as I am backing down ramp" "if you have a warning to share next time, you say it to me"

Dude had nothing else to say.


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[sandm]

In fairness, if 1% of fishermen are dbags, that is a lot of dbags.


have met a lot of fisherman dbags that own the lake and met just as many dbags in boats with towers. here on mead, I bet there's about a 50/50 split between boats with towers and power poles...


imo the difference is there's a lot less fisherman launching/retrieving and being dbags(in my experience). look at the number of tower boats that spend a day on the water with alcohol and come back to take out and are loud, disruptive with music and the such. I have seen more 200k wakeboats loaded up with 20somethings launching and think they own the ramp than a bass boat with 2 guys in jeans going out. all adds to the bad rap.

[larry_arizona]

Certainly varies from lake to lake, another observation this year on the 2 lakes I frequent most.

There are significantly less wakeboats this year.

I am talking 75% less. It is very noticeable.

Midweek, I am the only wakeboat out there.


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[HFarr]

Yes, my bad. I typed Michigan when I was thinking Wisconsin. It's probably because I posted that link here since it was about the same topic. And I agree with everything being said here. I have friends that fish, and so do I, but it's not my passion. There are certainly some that think lakes should only be for fishing. And I do believe there are more courteous people oit there than not. But, like was said here, everyone remembers the jerks and lumps them in with the others, thinking that is how everyone in that particular group acts.

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[sandm]

Interesting read.
The dealer mentioned at the end seems spot on. Educate and if it means losing a customer over bad practices so be it...
Education over enforcement...

https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/wake-surfing-controversy/