20 HP Limit

According to this site, they had some sort of sting operation a few years ago on Arthur.
 
There are boats running 40+hp with 20 stickers every time I'm out, especially during the bass tourneys.  Also saw a guy trolling with his 100+hp or what ever it was, big motor the last time out...  Not sure if he attempted running it from one place to the next.
Do what he did and have a 9.9 kicker in the water next to it... 
 
Not sure why the limit isn't 25, since that is what most makes have in that size range.

ORIGINAL: ddubs3

What are the odds of getting fined for running a 25 HP there?

none if youre fishing a tourney. other than that if youre not stupid youre pretty safe with your 25.

if youre running a 30-40 full bore like most guys do youd think theres a good chance...however, i havent heard of any issues. just sayin'

ouch. did they check your motor? just askin'

just curious about the motor of an average joe because theyll never check a tourney motor/shut down a tourney. just sayin'

pulling into the dock at arthur with the waves crashing in from a full-bored 150(not that you were doing that) would be hilarious. maybe plead you didnt know there was a limit.

woulda done the exact same thing.

I'm not sure that there is a solution out there that will satisfy all parties. I'm okay with the restrictions the way they are.

You could go to unlimited horsepower and make no wake zones and enforce speed limits. Although this would be too hard to enforce and open the lake to pleasure boaters, jet ski's, speed boats, etc.

Of course there is nothing wrong with these types of boaters... But I don't feel that Moraine is capable of supporting the increased boat traffic, while maintaining it's quiet appeal to fisherman and recreational boaters.

Once again there will be people looking to push the envelope, same as now. Make the max h.p 20 and alot of guys run 25-30 h.p. engines. Before w/ the 9.9 h.p. max, alot of guys running 15 & 20 h.p.

Funniest thing I saw a few yrs back was a guy firing up his 9.9 (most likely juiced to 15 hp by his speed) on Tamarack one day.  He regretted it when he slammed into a stump and did his prop in.  We were on the other side of the lake in my canoe.  He got back in with his trolling motor but man, some people.
 
I wished they would have went to 25 hp just to open it up to more options for boaters but I am ok with the way things are.  Don't understand the jet ski explanation though.  PWC's and water skiing can always be excluded from any lake with regulations, regardless of HP ratings. 

ORIGINAL: Lovgren69
Of course there is nothing wrong with these types of boaters... But I don't feel that Moraine is capable of supporting the increased boat traffic, while maintaining it's quiet appeal to fisherman and recreational boaters.

 
This is exactly why it isn't a "no wake" lake IMO.  This lake is jammed packed on nice Summer weekends.  I couldn't imagine it with twice as many boats on it. 
 
I personally wouldn't buy a 25hp, although I have given it thought.  Like said, the PFBC is in a huge need of cash.  With their ability to make cash (ticketting violations), I wouldn't doubt they are repremanded for giving warnings instead of tickets.  I'm guessing in 5 years when the economy is completely stabilized (hopefully sooner), running a 25hp will be an excepted "look the other way" by the WCOs.

ORIGINAL: Porktown

ORIGINAL: psu_fish

I saw a guy on Kahle fire up the outboard. Also have seen the PFBC with a 40 or 50 horse on Kahle but I suspect they were doing trapnetting at the time and need the power to run back and forth but the very motion that they can use whatever HP they want bugs me.


The PFBC at the Espyville Marina have a big ole motor on the commission boat...looked like a 75? Anyone see this docked at the marina? boat appeared to be a Grady White

Seriously?  They are law enforcement.  Not that our lakes are full of criminals, but they should have a boat that can at least keep up with half of the bass boats other motor...  They also serve as the lake's first responders to accidents.  If some idiot runs into a boat full of kids, I wouldn't mind a 90hp boat cruising up to rescue and get to a dock with an awaiting ambulance in 1/4 the time of most boats can.

 
Same here.  I wouldn't complain if they had a 27' Contender with trip 250's on it...  well, maybe since they are in such a bind for $ but, sure would be fun riding around pymy on that! 

Ive seen some boys at Pymatuning trolling with their 250 verado. The water should be like roads, there should be a SPEED LIMIT

Yeah I agree, speed limit, but other people would ruin it
!!!

ORIGINAL: Erie Mako

Lets limit the PaFBC to 20 horsepower...and at the same time make the State Police run Ford Focus cars to chase criminals! - I agree with Porktown.

About the "no wake zone" stuff...get real...does any boat operator actually read and OBEY the no-wake rules???
It people actually followed the rule on Moraine on a busy day, they would never be able to "get on plane"!!!
Within "100' of shore, docks or launch ramps...no wake"
Within "100' of moored or anchored boats...no wake"
Within "100' of drifting boats...no wake"

Ever see the sign that has "YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WAKE" painted on it?

 
The 9.9 on my 17' only allows me to go at a speed that is considered "no-wake" on most waters...  I try my best to go about half throttle when I am passing within 100' of anyone, including shore fishermen.  4 mph isn't all that much different than 8 mph any way... 

I dont know what you guys think, but my 20hp boat makes a bigger wake than my big boat with a 200hp on plane.  So yea, i really dont get it.  I think a speed limit, or no wake is the way to go.  The biggest problem with this stupid 20hp rule is what it does to unlimted lakes on a weekend.  You all know what i am talking about.  I live in Slippery Rock and within a reasonable drive i can take my big boat to Shanango, Conneaut, or East Brady.  During the summer its next to imposible to fish due to traffic.  If you open up Wilhelm, Pymatuning, and Arthur that would free up a lot of space im sure. 
 
I hope the people that decided to limit Pymatuning back in the day feel really good about what that did.  How many people have died or almost died on that lake when a storms kicks up because they couldnt get off in time. 

ORIGINAL: gusgus637

I dont know what you guys think, but my 20hp boat makes a bigger wake than my big boat with a 200hp on plane.  So yea, i really dont get it.  I think a speed limit, or no wake is the way to go.  The biggest problem with this stupid 20hp rule is what it does to unlimted lakes on a weekend.  You all know what i am talking about.  I live in Slippery Rock and within a reasonable drive i can take my big boat to Shanango, Conneaut, or East Brady.  During the summer its next to imposible to fish due to traffic.  If you open up Wilhelm, Pymatuning, and Arthur that would free up a lot of space im sure. 

I hope the people that decided to limit Pymatuning back in the day feel really good about what that did.  How many people have died or almost died on that lake when a storms kicks up because they couldnt get off in time. 

 
Those tax payers with smaller or unpowered boats, should and do have the right to launch their boats in waters without fearing for their lives.  Like all laws / resrictions, the general public has given our government beyond resonable proof that more than half of us lack common sense (not directed at you).  You may follow a speed limit, but very highly doubt that everyone is as responsible.  Tell the truth, do any of the unrestricted lakes above, have 1/4 of the sail boats, kayaks or small motor boats on it as Moraine or Pymy?  Where do these guys go when we start allowing guys doing 40mph?
 
As for getting off the lake...  If you are caught in a storm that bad, you likely practiced "just one more cast" a few too many times.  If it is that bad, getting to the closest shore (including islands) at the widest portion of the lake is still less than a mile.  Do you really need to try to make it back to your car when the sky opens up?  I grew up with a scanoe powered by a 2hp motor.  I waited out many storms on the shores of islands or misc. shore lines.  Yeah, if you have another motor on the back, I see no issue with dropping in emergencies, but Pymie is not Erie.  It's pretty big, but nothing that you can't reach some sort of land, in less than 10 minutes in just about any powered vessle.