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The Future of Airboating is in Your Hands

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Protecting our Outdoor Heritage

P.O. Box 2086

Bartow, FL 33831

The Future of Airboating is in Your Hands

Dear Airboating enthusiast and business owners:

The FAA continues to fight for airboating recreational access and defend us from your opponent. The term “sportsmen who use airboats” could be reduced to “sportsmen who walk or paddle”. The time to act is now!

The FAA lobbyist, Bonnie Basham (Capital Ideas) has represented the FAA in Tallahassee for the past 2 years. On our first trip to Tallahassee we were victorious in getting HB 733 passed. We have received recognition from the United States Congress, the State of Florida Legislature, the Governor and his cabinet on behalf of airboaters in Florida.

 

We are asking for your help to fund the fight for your rights to use your airboat in a responsible manner. Is giving up the expense of one weekend on the water worth your future air boating activities?

Why act now? We are facing restrictions on a county-by-county basis. As these precedents have not destroyed us, they will eventually result in a dynamic effect. The FAA has become more involved with Florida legislators and our side has somewhat mobilized by promoting the positive side of airboats.

 

While hiring a lobbyist is no guarantee of success, it does make a statement to our opponents and the state bureaucrats that we are to be taken seriously. Your contribution will help prepare to give equal footing to fight. How can we accomplish this goal.? Enclose your contribution now and help us accomplish your goals! Make check payable to FAA, which will continue to fight and protect your rights as an airboater.

Sincerely,

Bishop Wright, Jr. President

 

You can also go to www.floridaairboat.org and click on the donate button.

   
 


NEWS FLASH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  April 2006

Airboat Muffler/Flag Law passed - may possibly be in effect in October.

(1) The exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any airboat operated on the water of this state shall be provided with an automotive-style factory muffler, underwater exhaust, or other manufactured device capable of adequately muffling the sound of the exhaust of the engine as descried in s. 327.02 (24). The use of cutouts or flex pipe is prohibited, except as provided in subsection (4). Any person who violates this subsection commi9ts a non-criminal infraction, punishable as provided in s. 327.73 (1).

(3) An airboat may not operate on the waters of the state unless it is equipped with a mast or flagpole bearing a flag at a height of at least 10 feet above the deck. The flag must be square or rectangular, at least 10 inches by 12 inches in size, international orange in color, and displayed so that the visibility of the flag is not obscured in any direction. Any person who violates this subsection  commits a non-criminal infraction, punishable as provided in s. 327.73 (1)

Read the entire bill - Airboat Bill

          


Measurement and Characterization of Sound Generated by Airboats

By: Florida Fish and Wildlife conservation Commission &

Florida Atlantic University college of Engineering

Airboat Sound Study

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Airboat Safety Manual

           


AIRBOAT MUFFLING REQUIREMENTS

Is there a new law that requires mufflers on airboats?

Technically there is no "new" law. Florida law (Chapter 327.65, Florida Statutes) has required every vessel operated in Florida to have their engine exhaust effectively muffled in a reasonable manner for many years. Flex-pipe had been widely accepted as a form of "muffling device" for airboats, but no work had been done to determine its effectiveness. Recent scientific research concluded that flex-pipe alone is ineffective as a muffling device, therefore it cannot meet the legal requirement for effective muffling without the addition of a device designed to muffle engine exhaust sound.

Why has airboat sound become an issue in Florida?

Airboats historically have operated in the more remote areas within Florida, and concern over airboat sound by the public had been minimal. Concerns about excessive noise from airboats have recently been voiced by many people, including homeowners near the water, people involved in fishing, and others involved in outdoor recreation. As development continues on or near our water resources, previously remote areas are becoming populated by people who have an expectation for outdoor sound levels to stay within reason. This trend is anticipated to continue well into the future.

Did FWC pass a new rule to require muffles?

FWC Commissioners did not pass a "rule," but instead directed staff to implement an "enforcement protocol" for FWC officers relating to muffling airboat exhaust. Based on the scientific research, the protocol provides clarification and direction to law enforcement officers about the fact that flex-pipe alone does not meet the muffling standards found in statute. It directs officers to begin an educational effort aimed at informing airboat operators that automotive-style mufflers are required to be installed on the exhaust of airboats operated in Florida. Once the FWC’s educational effort has been completed (including a direct mailing of information to everyone who has registered an airboat in Florida and information-posting on the Web), officers will begin issuing warnings and citations for violations.

Do airboaters have a grace period with the FWC in order to comply with the muffler requirement?

Yes. The FWC Commissioners wanted to ensure that the airboating community had appropriate opportunity to make the modifications necessary to comply with the law. The educational period is intended to extend until June 30, 2006. After that date, officers will continue to take an educational approach by issuing written warnings followed by citations to those who continue to violate the requirement.

What kind of a muffler does the FWC consider acceptable for an airboat?

The FWC enforcement protocol requires that all airboats operated in Florida utilize mufflers to reduce exhaust sound levels. 

“Muffler” means an automotive-style sound suppression device or system designed and installed to abate the sound of exhaust gasses emitted from an internal combustion engine and which prevents excessive or unusual noise.

The FWC will not specify which mufflers are to be used on airboats.  All airboat owners are encouraged to seek the quietest and most effective muffling device's) for their particular vessel and engine combination.

This information was obtained from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

myfwc.com

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission  now as an online boaters safety course. Click on the link below to find out more info.

Boatsafty.com

           


 RULES OF THE ROAD (water)

You hear a lot of talk about The Rules of the Road, but to many boaters these rules are Greek. The following reminders may help to make some sense.

  1. Red lights are always on left (port) side of boat and green lights are on right (starboard) side.

  2. When two boaters meet head on, both should steer to the right (starboard).

  3. When vessels are crossing, the boat on the right (starboard) has the right-of-way.

  4. When passing another vessel, the vessel being passed has the right-of-way.

  5. When boating in a narrow channel, keep to the right (starboard).

  6. Sailing vessels under sail have the right-of-way all the time.

  7. If you find yourself in danger, five short blasts of the horn will signal nearby boaters.

  8. Any action to avoid collision must be made early and be readily apparent to the other vessel.

A good rule of thumb is watch out for the other guy! 

           


Eastern Airlines Flight 401 Crash

FLORIDA AIRBOAT ASSOCIATION

SOUTHERNAIRBOAT

AIRBOAT DIRECTORY

AIRBOAT TRADER

JOLLY GATOR FISHCAMP

LOUGHMAN LAKE LODGE

LONE CABBAGE FISH CAMP

ALL GENEVA

Air-boat (information on what is an airboat)


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Last modified: 08/13/08