Unnecessary Boat Noise Regulations

[GordMay]

Find out how these proposed changes to boat noise emissions could affect you

Transport Canada is proposing five policy options to avoid unnecessary vessel noise disturbances.
The first policy option will make no changes to existing regulations, and the second will modernize existing regulations. The third option introduces performance measures for manufacturers, while another introduces performance measures for boaters.
The last option is the most comprehensive, introducing new regulations for both manufacturers and boaters. According to Transport Canada, this policy option would ensure that new and existing boats don’t exceed noise emission limits, will allow police to use a tool to measure decibel limits, and will require operators to modify their boats to meet new standards.

More about ➥ https://cottagelife.com/general/chan...across-canada/

Here are some examples of typical noises, and their decibel levels:
Faint to moderate sounds
20 decibels – watch ticking
30 decibels – whispering
40 decibels – refrigerator
50 decibels – moderate rainfall
60 decibels – dishwasher
Loud sounds
70 decibels – city traffic
80 decibels – noisy restaurant
Very loud sounds
90 decibels – lawn mower
100 decibels – chainsaw
110 decibels – car horn
120 decibels – rock concert
130 decibels – jet engine 100 feet away
140 decibels – shotgun blast

[goboatingnow]

Sounds like a good plan !

[Mike OReilly]

How about regs to limit the noise from blasting cockpit stereos or generators.

[rslifkin]

Noise is an interesting thing. As quiet as my boat is (compared to many powerboats), I still sometimes wish it were a little quieter on long runs. We went out on a friend's boat the other day an as soon as he moved the throttles above idle the only thought in my head was "damn I'm glad my boat isn't this loud" (and the boat in question is still quiet compared to the un-muffled speedboats).

[kayakerChuck]

I have customers with 10-$15,000 USD stereo systems on their boats. It's not pleasant to be ANYWHERE near them. Same with open exhausts.

My club is on a popular river. It can be hard/impossible to have a conversation Saturday afternoons or evenings.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

What difference would new regs make ?
The old ones in Canada have never been enforced re: open or switchable muffler systems.

Years ago a 40' catamaran go-fast with twin 700hp engines pulled into Wiarton Marina for the season. Now Wiarton is at the base of a large rockface. The noise and echo was incredible. Next morning just about every current slip holder was waiting for the manager and told him if the go-fast was going to stay, they would leave. The go-fast was gone next day.

New regs would only help if they either make enforcement easier, or make it harder to end up with an overly loud boat without doing the work yourself to open up the exhausts.

[boatpoker]

Just for reference here are the current regs that are not being enforced

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by boatpoker

Just for reference here are the current regs that are not being enforced

I see one challenge there. No definition of "muffler". So they could easily use those very minimal slip on type mufflers right on the exhaust outlets and claim it's a muffler, so they must be compliant (even though it would have very litle effect on noise).

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

New regs would only help if they either make enforcement easier, or make it harder to end up with an overly loud boat without doing the work yourself to open up the exhausts.

Originally Posted by rslifkin

I see one challenge there. No definition of "muffler". So they could easily use those very minimal slip on type mufflers right on the exhaust outlets and claim it's a muffler, so they must be compliant (even though it would have very litle effect on noise).

The new policy option 5 would ensure that new and existing boats don’t exceed noise emission limits, will allow police to use a tool to measure decibel limits, and will require operators to modify their boats to meet new standards.

[jt11791]

"Unnecessary Boat Noise Regulations"
Which word does "unnecessary" modify?

[flightlead404]

Only occasionally bothered by noise and its only transient so I don't really have a dog in the hunt so to speak.

But the regs would be easily enforced in a measurable non-arbitrary way if they simply said "this is how much noise you are allowed to make in xxx type of location as measured by such and such device from x feet away at WOT"

Different noise limits allowable offshore, lakes/rivers, populated areas, designated environmentally protected areas.

That's it. HOW you achieve getting under the threshold is immaterial. Muffler, different type or location of engine or mounting, whatever. Doesn't matter.

Make the penalties stiff, basically you may not operate the boat, period. Give a year from passage to implementation and make sure to thoroughly broadcast the message including to manufacturers.

There's no need to dictate to manufacturers anything at all about the design, just the ultimate requirement. They will figure it out or not be selling new boats that don't comply.

[Lake-Effect]

We live a few hundred meters from the lake shoreline. Some of those performance boats are plainly audible from our back yard, though they might be more than a kilometer offshore. Certain jetskis can be heard as well. On a sail last weekend, we were passed by an inboard/outboard runabout that wasn't that offensive from its front or side, but once past, the sound from its stern was audible for quite a while. So, some room for improvement.

Stereos, generators etc - mainly a nuisance when docked/moored/anchored. Then again, when we had several microcruisers anchored in a bay, the sounds of children and adults splashing and playing drove away a condo-sized powerboat

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by jt11791

"Unnecessary Boat Noise Regulations"
Which word does "unnecessary" modify?

Good point.
A: I meant Noise, not regulations.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Good point.
A: I meant Noise, not regulations.

We all know that boats are necessary, so it can't be that word!

[GordMay]

The goal of the Safe Quiet Lakes’ Decibel Coalition is to enhance the existing legislation in place for small vessels to include decibel limits.

The coalition calls the current legislation “weak” and difficult to enforce. Eg:you must have a muffler, if you’re operating a boat on Canadian waterways, but a decibel limit is not in place.
The proposal, the coalition is putting forward, is that the law be expanded to include decibel limits on motor noise from boats, and base that on international measurement standards★, and decibel levels. The changes must also be easy to understand and enforce.
★ SAE J2005 – Stationary Measurement: Proposed limit is 88 dB(AS) measured three feet behind the transom at idle.
★ SAE J1970 – Shoreline Measurement: Proposed limit is 75 dB(AS) as the boat passes by at any distance, measured from shore.

Small hand-held decibel meters can be purchased from many sites on the internet. There are numerous Apps available for smart phones. Recommend apps: NIOSH Sound Level Meter and Decibel X Sound Meter. Ensure that the decibel scale is set to A and the speed to slow.

Decibel Coalition ➥ https://safequiet.ca/our-initiatives/decibel-coalition/

Current Law and Proposed Changes ➥ https://safequiet.ca/our-initiatives...posed-changes/