New IDLE SPEED ZONE

D

DaleG

Member
exMember
Joined
Feb 21, 2001
RO Number
3500
Messages
82
I was out on the water last Wednesday and watched a crew change some signs. I checked and found where each end of the new "IDLE SPEED ONLY" Zone is --

from just North of the PGA Bridge -- to the Donald Ross Bridge,(except for a small section around a boat ramp) you used to be able to go 25 MPH in Manateee season and 30 MPH otherwise --no longer.

That roughly two miles is now IDLE SPEED.

Therefore from OLD PORT COVE to the Donald Ross Bridge is now IDLE SPEED ONLY.

I think this is just waterfront owners complaining -- Oh Well
 
Well guess what goes on down here for those folks that can afford to back a Politico....
Not to cast aspersions on my fellow Floridians BUT, if you can grease the powers that be you, can just about have any sign posted along your section of the ICW that would makes you feel good about yourself and Nature et.al.
 
<<...."if you can grease the powers that be you, can just about have any sign posted along your section of the ICW "...>>

I assume that most people who live along the ICW are boaters. And, as boaters they would NOT want to have to deal with a long NWZ every time they leave and come back to their dock. Also, don't many along there have boat lifts? If I lived there and were to grease any palms, it would be to _remove_ a NWZ.
 
People didn't want their property eroded by wakes from fast moving boats ..
Manatee signs were then put in place.
Areas don't complain, as a source of revenue comes into play supported by boaters..
 
Pay attention to wht Capt Chas has to say. The confluence of "peace and tranquility" and "new source of revenue" is bringing many more go-slow zones in South FLorida. It shouldn't be hard to understand how the "desires/rights" of waterfront property owners can overcome the desires of transient recreational boaters. Follow the money.
I live along the South Fork of the New River, the path that all megayachts must follow on their way upriver to the boatyards and largeboat marinas. Constant struggle to keep the waterway open for vital area boating business in the face of landowner pressure.
 
I grew up in a waterfront house in RI, and it was not a NWZ. We always enjoyed seeing the boats go by on plane, and we would never suppoirt a NWZ there. None of the neighbors even considered having one, either. Erosion was never an issue, but the land was surrounded by a boulder / rip-rap type barrier. Do most of those waterfront properties on the ICW not have erosion protection? It would seem erosion protection is a good idea anyway to protect from natural wave action / storms, etc.
 
quote:
Originally posted by saltysam

I live along the South Fork of the New River, the path that all megayachts must follow on their way upriver to the boatyards and largeboat marinas. Constant struggle to keep the waterway open for vital area boating business in the face of landowner pressure.

Click to expand...


And I for one would like to thank you for being on "our" side in that fight.
 
Glenn -- I think you are in the minority --- I have found that people who have property on the ICW want a no wake zone in front of their house --- sort of a reverse "not in myh back yard" sort of thing
 
The way things are going if you are going to use the ICW it might be advantagous to have a trolling motor attached. I live on Siesta Key here in Sarasota,Florida and a few years ago the mighty bucks that live on the North end waterside decided it was time to slow ALL the boats down that go from the North end bridge out towards Big Pass. So they snuggled up to local leaders and convinced them it was right to post "minimum wake" for that area. Many of the small boaters just skirt the outside of the markers to go faster. Money wins and boaters loose.
 
<<...."Glenn -- I think you are in the minority --- I have found that people who have property on the ICW want a no wake zone in front of their house --- sort of a reverse "not in myh back yard" sort of thing"....>>

It's probably a shore protection issue on the ICW. In RI, or most of New England for that matter, the shorline is eiher natural rock, or it is often lined with rip-rapping for protection. The wakes don't hurt the shore there, as they are much smaller than the natural waves produced by the winter storms. Even just afternoon summer breezes can kick up waves that are larger than typical wakes.
Of course, harbors, etc. have no wake zones there. But, few areas have NWZs up there.
 
Local newspapers claimed it was to reduce boating accidents in that stretch of the ICW.
 
Yeah, there was one bad accident there by an irresponsible boater and that's all the excuse they needed. I feel sorry for the locals. I just go outside now for my north/south journeys. Between the slow zones (and heck, I hardly ever go over 10 knots anyway!), the bridges and some of the general boating weirdness that goes on there, I can't take it no mo'.

George
Hatteras 56MY
boston Whaler 130 Sport
 
Not wanting to step on toes here but the property owners pay the local taxes and the local taxes pay the local authorities. Money talks...

Suggest you buy a SLOW boat; then the NWZs won't be a problem, and you'll actually have time to smell the mangroves and watch the bikinis.

If you're in such an all-fired hurry, buy a plane instead.
 
Yes, those of us who live on the water usually prefer no wake zones. I have had every boat I owned damaged by some fool coming by my house to the boat ramp at the end of my street, making enough wake slamming the boat into my dock. Most of us work hard for what we get and prefer not to have it damaged this way. There is a really big ocean here that you can go as fast as you want go use it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top