Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

NPS wakesurfing laws

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 2
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous 1 2 template Next
    #1

    NPS wakesurfing laws

    I forgot to mention that when I was at Lake Powell I asked a ranger what the deal was I had heard about rules banning wakesurfing. The ranger was a Utah State ranger and said that the Utah law is that no one can be lying down or sitting at the back of the boat within 20 feet when the engine is running. Surfing is OK as long as you are standing when you do it.

    The discouraging thing is that he said the NPS has decided that a person has to be 20 feet away from the boat no matter what . This year the NPS is giving warnings and plans on giving tickets next year for wakesurfing. He said they are worried about Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

    I have not read some of the larger sites, but I think that we need to do some education and get the NPS to change the laws they are making with no understanding. THe problem I see with pretty much any National government regulation is that no one is going to be able to find out who actually made this stupid idea, and who to contact to get it fixed. I imagine calling the NPS at Lake Powell and they will not be able to tell me who the person is who made up the rule, they are just enforcing.

    Maybe someone already knows what we can do about this?

    This will include Lake Mead, BTW.
    Be excellent to one another.
    Tags: None
    #2
    It's all right here: http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/m...tml?1213329842
    "Call me anything you want ... Just don't call me NOBODY!

    Comment

      #3
      How about this...


      COAST GUARD CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY ALERT!

      Comment

        #4
        That is pretty scary stuff. But then as these boats have been around a long time at this point, where is all the data for the many deaths that must have happened?

        Comment

          #5
          If they can't produce pretty solid data that shows people getting sick while surfing, I would think it would be pretty easy to throw salt in thier game!?
          Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

          Comment

            #6
            To me carbon monoxide isnt the real worry....

            its the IDIOTS who think they can surf behind an I/O or an outboard as long as they are far enough back. That is just STUPID. especially if you get someone out there for the first time and they dont know what they are doing and they fly into the prop....
            Everything happens for a reason
            I live my post whore life 30 seconds at a time

            Comment

              #7
              When I spoke to the head ranger of the NPS at Lake Powell his first impression was that it was dangerous because of carbon monoxide, he even asserted that people have died at Powell because of it. After asking several questions to him, and then realizing from his answers that he didn't understand what wakesurfing was, I explained it to him in detail. By this time, his boss had come into the room and he had me on speakerphone with both of them. By the time that we had concluded our conversation, they both admitted that wakesurfing was safe and that they would inform their rangers of that. I have had occassional email correspondence with him, trying to get an opinion in writing that I could laminate and take with me on the boat, but no luck so far. I will be trying again.

              Surfdad, would you like to voice your opinion on this?

              Comment

                #8
                Has anyone ever taken a CO monitor on their boat to find out what the exposure actually is? We just started surfing last year and I plan to borrow a portable CO monitor from work in order to obtain results on what the exposure is. This is stemming from the fact that my 5 month old will be riding in the boat and I want to ensure she is safe even in the front of the boat. Banning this activity behind and inboard is pointless if exposure is within allowable limits.

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by jacques2727 View Post
                  Has anyone ever taken a CO monitor on their boat to find out what the exposure actually is? We just started surfing last year and I plan to borrow a portable CO monitor from work in order to obtain results on what the exposure is. This is stemming from the fact that my 5 month old will be riding in the boat and I want to ensure she is safe even in the front of the boat. Banning this activity behind and inboard is pointless if exposure is within allowable limits.
                  Larry with FAE did, check out www.boatpipes.com
                  Mikes Liquid Audio: Knowledge Experience Customer Service you can trust-KICKER WetSounds ACME props FlyHigh Custom Ballast Clarion LiquidLumens LEDs Roswell Wave Deflector And More

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Hey Tall,

                    I was caught off guard with the NPS rules. I am not quite sure when it happened, but Title 36 does contain a 20 foot rope length law. There is a TON of misunderstanding with rangers, but it would appear that we all need to start looking at making sure that we keep 21 foot ropes with us.

                    After Tall mentioned his dealings with the NPS ranger I spent a bit of time researching the Federal Register:

                    Title 36, Part 3, Section 3.12, Paragraph (c)(6) states:

                    No person shall operate a power driven vessel using a tow rope 20 feet or less in length when towing a person.

                    http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...0.1.12&idno=36

                    A 21 foot rope takes care of the issue, for that brief period when a person is being pulled up. Also, it isn't a 20 foot from the transom rule as the rangers seem to believe.

                    Hopefully we will see rope manufacturers addressing this issue by including enough length to make the rope 21 feet long...or 21 feet long from the transom.
                    Buy my kid's board! http://www.flyboywakesurf.com

                    Comment

                      #11
                      I think that we need to find out when it went on the books and see if it can be modified to something like Utah has which is a clause that states a "non-standing" position.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by lee View Post
                        How about this...


                        COAST GUARD CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY ALERT!

                        I know I won't be removing my shower any time soon from my boat.
                        www.automarinecare.com CWB, ACME, FlyHigh, Merc Marine, PCM, Marine-power, WETSOUNDS, HSE Volume Controls, Kicker, Sony, Samson Sports, and many other marine parts or accessory's.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Where is the law documented. This would be a good scenario for my wife to work through with here Law class in the evenings at law school. Maybe she can give a senior class member there first case.
                          www.automarinecare.com CWB, ACME, FlyHigh, Merc Marine, PCM, Marine-power, WETSOUNDS, HSE Volume Controls, Kicker, Sony, Samson Sports, and many other marine parts or accessory's.

                          Comment

                            #14
                            From what I can tell, it hit the Federal Register on 3/23/2007. The reference
                            is: 72 FR 13702, Mar. 23, 2007, authority is: 16 U.S.C. 1, 1a–2(h), 3. The full reference is above. The reference in the FR is from when the feds redid their regs, read paragraph 33:


                            33. One commenter recommended
                            that the NPS have a requirement that
                            tow ropes be 20’ or longer to reduce
                            exposure to carbon monoxide.

                            NPS Response: The NPS agrees and
                            has added this requirement to the
                            regulation.

                            It's obvious that the folks involved were clueless about wakesurfing and it would seem not well informed about CO poisioning either. Normally the NASBLA and WSIA are Johnny on the spot with this sort of thing so my guess is that this blindsided everyone.
                            Buy my kid's board! http://www.flyboywakesurf.com

                            Comment

                              #15
                              oops

                              Copy of the Federal Register:

                              http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-5111.pdf
                              Buy my kid's board! http://www.flyboywakesurf.com

                              Comment

                              Previous 1 2 template Next
                              Working...
                              X