Michigan Water Noise

[x2boarder]

Does anyone know if there are laws about noise pollution on inland Michigan lakes? The police are patrolling every night waiting for us to get crazy with the speakers. They have told us people keep calling them and complaining about my boat being too loud…but when I can just make out the music @ 70 feet behind the boat…how can people hear it at shore? Any ideas?

[Roonie's]

noise travels across water very well. I have grown up on the water and we could hear people's NORMAL conversations in the middle of the lake.

[wiltok]

What lake are you on? I'm in Soutwest Mighigan - and there are a number of wakeboard boats with REALLY load speakers. It doesn't bother me (they are usually just passing by) but I could see how others could be annoyed.

Anywho, I understand it is very difficult to measure sound on the water. Are they giving out tickets? On what law?

[Maristar210]

Sound travels on the water especially loud rock music. You turn it up to hear it over the motor of your boat and everyone else suffers as a result. Don't be the guy everyone points at as being the "a$$hole with the loud stereo". If it's late you should be respectful. Violation of this is the very reason you see certain lakes enforcing no wake from 7 pm until 11 am. This very reason.....

[fintek9]

Originally Posted by Roonie's

noise travels across water very well. I have grown up on the water and we could hear people's conversations in the middle of the lake.

True that, my speaks come on only if I'm at a point were I know I won't
bother anyone!.. which in turn is rare, so they don't come on while boarding.... tower speakers are directional, they travel more then you think! you have boat noise to contend with also when your riding,
so it probly does'nt seem to loud, but on shore it is!!..I turn my towers
on low just to listen when we float for sun...

[ProTour X9]

Originally Posted by Roonie's

noise travels across water very well. I have grown up on the water and we could hear people's NORMAL conversations in the middle of the lake.

I like to hear the drunken pontooners at night while I'm fishing, it helps your patience. I would also like to know about this because a certain person started hours on our lake (and took off our ski course) so now we want to blast some tunes at him.

[betsy&david Harrison]

Kids boarding on the lake next to ours...we hear their music loud and clear. And that is with houses inbetween.

[x2boarder]

Originally Posted by wiltok

What lake are you on? I'm in Soutwest Mighigan - and there are a number of wakeboard boats with REALLY load speakers. It doesn't bother me (they are usually just passing by) but I could see how others could be annoyed.

Anywho, I understand it is very difficult to measure sound on the water. Are they giving out tickets? On what law?

He said if he stops us again he is going to give me a ticket. He claimed it was a "city ordinance", but the lake isn't in city limits. It is kinda funny because he stopped us and was like, we are getting complaints about a blue / white....I mean blue / yellow, then you see him lean over so he can read the markings on my boat "X2". I'm like....sure you did buddy. I keep the music way down in the mornings and at night...but in the middle of the day on Saturday when there are 50 boats all tearing around the lake...how can they complain about some music? Maybe I should play some classical!!

[ProTour X9]

Originally Posted by x2boarder

Maybe I should play some classical!!

Play "Sing Sing Sing"!!!

[PaulW]

It has got to be so loud to hear when your back riding. I have all the speakers in the boat down to nothing and still you get your ears blasted in the boat. When the music gets to a certain level then it is no fun, you can tell that it is doing damage to your ears. My wife wears earplugs.
My son likes the music up loud to hear the favorite song while riding, but I don't see the big deal. I must be getting old, and I even grew up on loud rock. If I lived on the water the loud music would annoy me, so I try to keep it down.