Lake Austin Ballast Ban??

[scottb7]

I just got back from a job interview in reno. Long story there and way off topic.

But on topic I would like to add a couple thoughts...Wife and I drove around lake tahoe. Which is amazingly big and beautiful blue water nestled between what in the winter would be phenomenal snow sports. The lake is so large that when you see it and walk across small beaches to waters edge you feel like you are approaching an ocean. Except it is fresh water.

And here is the thing. I still think it is complete crap that "no it nothings" will ban other people yada yada...i won't re-summarize the argument. But the thing is it did dawn on me that the waves i create with my weighted 21 foot boat and others might be creating with 21 or larger boats on some lakes may be inappropriate for the size of the body of water.

[Bogus]

I frequent Lake Austin and I heard the other day that a Lake Austin task force had put together a 54 page report concerning erosion issues on the lake. I have not heard any specifics of the contents of the report, but 54 pages sounds pretty substantial and probably has a lot of suggestions about changing current usage policies.

Personally, I use my boat for skiing, wakeboarding, surfing, and tubing, and I try to be as courteous and respectful to others as I can, but with the amount of people using Lake Austin for all kinds of watersports and activities, there are inevitably times when I mess up some paddleboarder or fisherman's day no matter what I'm doing.

I don't know what the best solution is, but I have a feeling someone is going to decide that for me pretty soon, and I may not like it.

[nyryan2001]

another example

http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum...t-again#393569

Quinner- did you actually read the thread you shared?

cliff notes: elitist skier is mad he is now going to get ticketed for breaking the law that has always been on the books, passing too close to docks, within 50ft. Blames his inability to continue to break the law on wake surfers.

Anyone, skier or surfer who breaks the law should get ticketed. You aren't special just because you have been breaking the law for the last 20yrs.

Yep. Making it too easy to make my point.

[MTRBTR]

But the thing is it did dawn on me that the waves i create with my weighted 21 foot boat and others might be creating with 21 or larger boats on some lakes may be inappropriate for the size of the body of water.[/QUOTE]

Bingo. Some of your lakes in the south and midwest are pretty small and the property is such that it can eroded. Some lakes and properties are erosion proof. I live in Montana where its calm in the morning but on a big Lake we can get waves created by wind that are larger than anything anyone can throw. Then who do we blame? God?
Most of our shorelines are gravel and also the lake levels vary so much that if you fix a dock it might be underwater or high and dry at any point in the year. I envy some of your lakes with constant water levels you can count on in the Midwest and the south. Then again I dont envy all of your traffic either. Hopefully all this controversy doesnt show up for a long time in MT (like everything else).

[High altitude]

after my 3rd yr in Iraq

All I have to say...is Thank You. You are welcome to throw whatever sized wake you want at my lake. -Marc

[Quinner]

LOL, your point is loud and clear, it is all about making it easy, just like surfing.

Whatever, life is full of choices, you could play football, hockey or be on the pom pom squad, you surf fairies keep cheering and waiving your poms, the unfortunate part is on some lakes in some areas all watersports will be penalized as a result. Have fun with your 4ft wake making the water unusable for anyone else to enjoy.

[SkiTundra]

cliff notes: elitist skier is mad he is now going to get ticketed for breaking the law that has always been on the books, passing too close to docks, within 50ft. Blames his inability to continue to break the law on wake surfers.

Anyone, skier or surfer who breaks the law should get ticketed. You aren't special just because you have been breaking the law for the last 20yrs.

It's often not that cut and dried. The sheriffs water patrol in our area will often view things with the intent of the law, not the letter. They're not so concerned with exactly how many feet one person is from another or docks as much as how safe they're acting overall. Whoever you're referring to in the other thread may well be within the intent of the law and not endangering, harming or annoying anyone.

[scottb7]

I agree that the guy that was in armed services should get to make whatever size wake he wants! Thanks for your service so **** much!

[SkiTundra]

Interesting incident today. Some guys were building riprap along someone's shoreline. A wake boat was going back and forth pulling boarders which was causing problems for the guys building the riprap. They asked the guys if they could reduce their wake or maybe take a break for a couple of hours since this was a somewhat rare calm day weather-wise that they could work. The wake boat driver refused and said he had a right to do what he was doing.

While I'm pi**ing people off... I have a very high regard for folks in the military. I've given my 1st class upgrades to them on planes and bought meals and beers for them. We all owe them a huge debt. Their service though does not give them any rights above other citizens. It does not give them the right to be a**holes. Nor, do I think most of them want such special privileges.

[High altitude]

While I'm pi**ing people off... I have a very high regard for folks in the military. I've given my 1st class upgrades to them on planes and bought meals and beers for them. We all owe them a huge debt. Their service though does not give them any rights above other citizens. It does not give them the right to be a**holes. Nor, do I think most of them want such special privileges.

Fully agree. I was just stating my appreciation for his service. Three tours is a lot of time away from one's family.

I happen to live on a private lake so I was just saying he can always come surf with me...no matter the wave size. (I must live on the only private lake with a course where we do more surfing than skiing.) I personally like both sports and have found a$$es and good dudes/dudettes in each category. -Marc

[Quinner]

There are contractors and enlisted over there, having the cash to buy a 100+k boat, odds are not enlisted.

Either way, agree with Tundra's completely

[nyryan2001]

Not looking for anything. I only included that reference for some background as to why I am such a new boater, with only 500hrs+ driving, been busy and didnt grow up on the lake. Thats sarcasm, I think we all know thats not a "new" boater. I would estimate around 120+hrs of that was surfing or driving while surfing. And Quinner Ive been both, not sure what that hsa to do with anything.

Back to the topic at hand.

Ski Tundra and Quinner- I wanted to ensure you didn't miss this, Centurion just released a new ballast fill system for wakesurfing. Allows folks to sac out for surf even faster, dont miss the video.
http://www.centurionboats.com/news/n...ts-system.html

[surroundsound64]

Not looking for anything. I only included that reference for some background as to why I am such a new boater, with only 500hrs+ driving, been busy and didnt grow up on the lake. Thats sarcasm, I think we all know thats not a "new" boater. I would estimate around 120+hrs of that was surfing or driving while surfing. And Quinner Ive been both, not sure what that hsa to do with anything.

Back to the topic at hand.

Ski Tundra and Quinner- I wanted to ensure you didn't miss this, Centurion just released a new ballast fill system for wakesurfing. Allows folks to sac out for surf even faster, dont miss the video.
http://www.centurionboats.com/news/n...ts-system.html

That actually looks pretty cool. Don't think I could own anything but a CC... But still cool.

[SkiTundra]

Ski Tundra and Quinner- I wanted to ensure you didn't miss this, Centurion just released a new ballast fill system for wakesurfing. Allows folks to sac out for surf even faster, dont miss the video.

Looking on the positive side (from a lake homeowner perspective), people might not be so inclined to keep their tanks filled all the of the time if they can fill and dump this easily. I wonder how accurately you can adjust the tanks with this?