A new Kansas law regulating the noise level of motor boats is creating a lot of confusion among their owners. The law prompted David Farrington of Overland Park last week to move his 30-foot power boat from a slip at Perry Lake to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. And for fear of being ticketed, he hadn’t boated the previous month and a half. According to the Kansas law, Farrington’s boat is now illegal because it’s equipped with a “captain’s call.” The device allows boaters to shut down a system that muffles the exhaust and dampens the noise. When the switch is activated, the engine gets louder. The equipment became illegal in Kansas on Jan. 1 and is prohibited on all Kansas lakes, not just Perry. The new law also requires boat motors to register no louder than 86 decibels at a range of 50 feet, which puts other owners out of compliance. Missouri has a similar law but allows the captain’s call as long as the motor doesn’t exceed the 86-decibel threshold. That level is generally equivalent to the noise of an up-close electric shaver. State officials say Perry, Cheney and El Dorado lakes have produced the most noise complaints. “Quite a few of us are now afraid to operate our boats at Perry,” Farrington said. “I can give you the names of probably 20 to 30 people who are looking at leaving Kansas. They spend an enormous amount of money on gasoline and food.” Steve Hawks, manager of the Ozawkie Boat Co. near Perry Lake, refused to accept delivery of a power boat last week because the manufacturer had equipped it with a captain’s call device, which is sometimes referred to as a “silent choice” or “harbor switch.” Farrington and other boaters have complained to legislators and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the agency enforcing the noise-level law. They want the law modified to specifically allow the device. Rep. Lee Tafanelli, an Ozawkie Republican who represents the Perry Lake area, said those voices have been heard. He said the department will allow boats outfitted with the captain’s call to operate on state lakes as long as their owners don’t switch to the louder setting. Tafanelli said the law may need to be modified next year to reflect the department’s enforcement policy. “If the law isn’t clear, then we need to make sure it is,” he said. Farrington said several boat owners received warning tickets this summer and were told to leave the lake. Tafanelli said he was told the noise levels of those boats greatly exceeded 86 decibels. “Many people are unhappy,” said Bryan Best, general manager of Lake Perry Yacht and Marina. Best said about 300 power boats are in slips at the marina, and about 100 of those are affected by the new law. “People are coming to me and saying, ‘What do I do? I know I’m above the 86 (decibels),’  ” Best said. “A lot of these boats are 50-foot house boats. How are they going to kick them off the lake? It’s just ridiculous.” Best said many boat owners like loud engines. “It’s an adrenaline rush when you’re going 50 miles an hour on the lake and you hear this rumble behind you,” he said. While they may like it, others don’t. And they complain when a boat is too loud. State officials point out that most boats expel exhaust through the propeller hub and won’t be affected by the new law. Other boats, including large house boats, expel exhaust above the water line and don’t have muffler systems. That makes them four times louder and also illegal. Bob Holloway, a boat dealer and co-owner of Xtreme Marine, said that manufacturers provide every boat owner with the motor’s decibel level and that most are below 86 decibels. Dan Hesket, the department’s boating law enforcement administrator, said in a memo that the majority of marine engines, if they currently violate the law, can comply by adding “tip mufflers” that attach to the exhaust outlets and start at $500 a pair. Farrington said he would like to see the Kansas statute modified to more closely follow the Missouri law. Upon learning that the state was relaxing enforcement on captain’s calls, he said he would return to Perry Lake next year and cruise with his muffler system on. But he’s still uncomfortable with a law that prohibits the device that allows him to turn it off. “I’d really like to see that changed,” he said.

What do you all think of this law???

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02' 225BR "Liquid Highway"

Ed:

What are the specifics of the law??  Our local group of boating friends just went through this issue in Wisconsin.  There are several boats in our group equipped with Captain's Call and when an uninformed DNR Officer started trying to write tickets, let's just say that it "hit the fan".  Now granted, several of them are very loud at WOT but there seems to be major confusion among law enforcement in WI.  One friend in the group is a retired state trooper who decided to research the issue thoroughly in an effort to get another friend of ours off who was stopped and told that the ticket would "be in the mail".

 In Wisconsin, we have the 86 decibel rule as well but they must measure the boat from behind at idle with a decible meter and then subtract 4 from that reading.  There is no measuring at WOT or any speed above idle.  I'm curious if Kansas' law has any of those provisions or if it's just 86 period and they measure wherever they want???

In our case, the guy who was threatened with the ticket later got a letter from the DNR admitting that they had confused the law and that no ticket would be issued. 

 Personally, my thought on the law is that there should be restricted hours for boats who make too much noise.  Think of it like "quiet time" at a campground.  Everyone is there to enjoy the place but loud music and partying disturbs the general population after a certain hour.

I can PM you some links to threads where this is discussed in greater detail if you're interested.

 Travis

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Travis Ploman
Mosinee, Wisconsin
2003 Crownline 208LX
"Don't Tell Me..."

The new law is disappointing to hear about.  I didn't know.  One of the reasons my wife and I have bought LPX packages is because of the captains call exhaust.  And she gets mad at me if I ever run it quiet - we both like the rumble.  Ed - what do you think about your boat?  I remember during the 2005 rally at Table Rock, I'd follow your boat and it sounded awsome with the thru hull exhaust out the back.  I think it was louder than any of the LPX's running that day with the side exhaust. 

I'm actually surprised that there's complaints from Cheney Lake.  I've been there and there's nothing around, so I wonder who would generate complaints.  I could see them coming from Perry because of all the sail boaters on the lake.  Still, I think people need to find something better to do then call in complaining about boats sounding too good. 

Wonder what's next - 35 mph speed limit on water like California? 

 

 

 

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Chris & Rachelle Lula

Here's some quick info I found on tests.  I'm assuming Kansas law is based on SAE J34, which is the 86 dba @ 50 ft.  So that means water patrol must have a sound meter, sit still with their engines off, and let us buzz'em 50 ft off their starboard or port, eh?  After that, they gotta catch up to us, right?  Haha.  I think for measuring sound, there's some room for argument as far as validation of a ticket.  But the real kicker of the law is making captain's call illegal. 

SAE J34: The most precise measurement available, taken of a boat at a distance of 50ft with wide-open throttle (the near maximum noise of the boat). Although great for engineering standards, it is difficult for enforcement purposes in the field. The Coast Guard recommends 86 decibels (dBA), which most states have adopted as law.

 

SAE J2005: This measures the engine sound at idle with the microphone 1.5 m away. SAE recommends a limit of 90dbA for this method, which does not account for the speed or power of the boat.

 

SAE J1970: In realizing the enforcement difficulties of the previous methods, SAE designed this shoreline noise test enabling regulations keeping the boat under 75 dBA at 50 ft. by operation, not mechanics. The operator is responsible for controlling the noise of the boat.

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Chris & Rachelle Lula

This might sound stupid, but here goes.  What benefits does the Captain's Call feature give you?  Is this just something to stop the muffling of the sound (similiar to tuning a Harley to be louder?) 

 So in short this feature is; just there for the sake of making the boat loud?  

Rookie captain here, still trying to "earn my sea legs!"

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Lee
2007 C/L
220 LS 270 HP Volvo
"Just in time"

As a kid I loved the look of those boats with the fancy chrome pipes and unmistakable sound watching them from shore. For me it's a performance thing that separates the "men from the boys" so to speak. That said I kind of regret adding it as it costed a bunch, allows a little more dB of noise with system "off" (through prop), but moreso allows fumes to blow into cockpit at idle depending on which orientation boat is with respect to wind, and lastly...wife telling me" What's all that noise?...Nice that we can shut it off!" "I reply to her that....welll uh, that's what all the big boys have on their boat...I mean uh, those uh 30 footers with big blocks! Now we're playing with power!. "She replies..."If you wanted to look like one of the "big boys" why didn't we just buy one of those 30 foot boats then?" I reply honey we'd Never" be able to afford one of those??? "Her reply "Exactly". Very funny I reply. (Be it her way we'd been better off putting boat must have expenses into "junior's" college fund).

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CA$HFLOW

One more thing:

Our State WA where I currently live (hope to relo to SC) has a law on exhaust "emissions" that requires us WA staters to place a decal or label in vicinity of passengers that states something to the affect of "Prolonged exposure to exhaust Fumes can be dangerous".

I say the local governement/state whatever's enact a law allowing Thru Hull with a label : "The difference between men and boys is by the price of their toys".       rev 1.4 local ordinace req. dept marine bureau

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CA$HFLOW

Regarding the performance of the captain's call - I've been told by others that it adds a few more horses (one of my boat buddies in Florida told me 10 to 15 hp) because of the reduced backpressure.  Thru hull, each cylinder bank is diverted thru what looks like a 3" diameter tube out the side.  With the captain's call off, the exhaust is diverted to I think 2 1/2" pipes down to a Y in the back of the engine, and then I'd assume the outlet is 2 1/2" or 3" outlet going thru the drive.  I'm sure this can't be the most streamlined exhaust flow. 

 

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Chris & Rachelle Lula

Remember though that 10-15HP only adds about 1 MpH gain in top speed... 

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CA$HFLOW

Funny this comes up, I just heard rumors that they where talking about passing a law, didn't know it was already passed.

 I left mine on, "loud", all year at my home lake, even got checked by the game wardon on a busy weekend, told me our boat sounded good. Is this going to be inforced, or just a reason to stop somone if they start getting out of control.

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Chris, Roxanna & Jadyn
2003 225LPX Volvo DP 385HP
"NOT SO MELLO"

This issue is all over some of the other forums.  We talked to a some people at Perry out in the cove a few weeks ago - it sounds like they are really cracking down on the louder boats there.  I would guess that it does have something to do with the large number of sailboats...  Nothing against the sailboats, but I still wish a little bit that I had ordered mine with the Captain's Call - I would love to be able to really hear my 350 mag (and pretend its a 496 HO!)

There are a few go-fasts on Perry with twin big blocks and straight thru-hull that probably attract the most attention.  I love the sound, but I don't think Renea quite gets it... hopefully the law will be applied with "reasonable" judgement, or better yet modified to at least allow Captain's Call.

Here is the actual law if anyone is particularly interested:

Statute 32-1120: Muffler system requirements; violation of noise level restrictions.
(a) The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any motorboat on the waters of the state shall be effectively muffled by equipment so constructed and used as to muffle the noise of the exhaust.

The muffler system shall be in good working order and in constant operation and effectively installed to prevent any excessive or unusual noise.
(b) Muffler means a sound suppression device or system designed and installed to abate the sound of exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine and which prevents excessive or unusual noise.

(c) A motorboat operating on the waters of the state shall have an exhaust water manifold or a factory-type muffler installed on the engine.

(d) A person shall not operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat in or upon the waters of this state if the motorboat is equipped with an altered muffler, muffler cutout, muffler bypass or any other device designed or installed so that it can be used continually or intermittently to bypass any muffler or muffler system installed on the motorboat, or to reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of such a muffler or muffler system.

(e) A motorboat shall not be operated on the waters of this state under any condition or in any manner whereby the motorboat emits a sound level in excess of 86 decibels on the "A" weighted scale, when measured from a distance of 50 feet or more from the motorboat, as prescribed in society of automotive engineers standards, SAE J34 and SAE J2005.

(f) No person shall remove, alter or otherwise modify in any manner a muffler or muffler system installed on a motorboat to prevent the muffler or muffler system from being operated in accordance with this statute.

(g) The provisions of subsections (c) through (e) shall not apply to motorboats officially registered and competing in or while on trial runs 48 hours immediately preceding a regatta, race, marine parade, tournament or exhibition which has been authorized or permitted by the department.

(h) A law enforcement officer who has reason to believe a motorboat is being operated in violation of the noise levels established in this section may direct the operator of the motorboat to submit to an on-site test to measure noise level. An operator of a motorboat who receives a request from a law enforcement officer pursuant to this section shall allow the motorboat to be tested. If, based on a test to determine the noise level of a motorboat, the noise level of the motorboat exceeds the decibel levels established in this section, the law enforcement officer shall direct the operator of the motorboat to take immediate and reasonable measures to correct the violation, including, but not limited to, terminating the voyage of the motorboat until the motorboat no longer operates in violation of this section.

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240 EX

This is great info - thanks for finding how the law reads.  Now - this doesn't automatically mean that captain's call is illegal.  My dealer tells me that Crownline's captain's call has baffles in the pipes that go out the side, so in essence it's still a muffled exhaust.  What would make it illegal is if it does not meet 86 dba @ 50 ft.  Don't know if it does, but I doubt it.   

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Chris & Rachelle Lula

I have captain's call and I just wish I could make mine louder to challenge em...lol.

Okoboji Lake in Iowa also has a noise restriction of 86 db at 50 ft.  I went right by water patrol at just over idol (so not really loud) and they didn't bat an eye.  I have heard they enforce it pretty well on that lake too.  By the way i had just passed under the bridge from east to west lake and of course I revved it up under the bridge for the extra noise. 

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2006 21 Classic - Olathe, KS

Steve I can see you doing that with that s#*t eating grin on your face as you went by.

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And you'd be behind me (cause your slower) wishing you could be doing the same buddy!

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2006 21 Classic - Olathe, KS