Aquapalooza Sig event - Alan Jackson

A

Aquarius

New Member
Oct 11, 2007
166
South by South
Boat Info
310 Sundancer 2007
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350 Mags V Drives
I just saw where Alan Jackson is going to be at the signature event. Anybody besides me going to Lake Martin in July for the festivities?
 
I had not heard that about Alan Jackson. I'm still thinking about it. I've wanted to check out Lake Martin.
 
Well...my wife and I are big Alan Jackson fans...it's not unusual to see him and the family out and about down here on his custom Merrit "Hull Billy" We're from Alabama and I cut my teeth in boating around Kowaliga Beach on Lake Martin.

I just called my brother in Birmingham and we might plan to go up to Birmingham and trailer his Formula to Lake Martin that weekend.

I guess they let Formulas in...:huh:...probably try to sell him a Sea Ray.

Sounds like fun:thumbsup:
 
What up with the boat restrictions on Lake Martin, I guess no go fast or new cruisers are allowed?
 
I think it's a dumb place for sea ray to have a signature event considering the size limits on the boats. Based on their restrictions I can't go and it's so close to us.:smt021
 
everthing's irie said:
I think it's a dumb place for sea ray to have a signature event considering the size limits on the boats. Based on their restrictions I can't go and it's so close to us.:smt021
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Yup...Alabama has some Ef'd up boating laws. The legislature was really PO'd that they coudn't regulate the Tennessee River and it's lakes...that's TVA baby!!:thumbsup:

Seems like my brother told me it had something to do with the lakes that are operated by Alabama Power/Southern Services. I think some of the anti boat whackos in Geargia tried to pull the same crap there but it didn't work even though Southern Services runs Georgia Power as well.

The Formula dealer in Central Alabama is on Lewis Smith Lake which is one of the "restricted lakes". Ed Neelam runs that dealership and he fought it hard but lost out to the whackos. He still sells Fastechs to people that run on the Tennessee and take them to the Gulf.

I laughed my ass of when they first wrote that bill with the 60 mph restriction. B.A.S.S jumped up and down because even though they are headquartered in Montgomery, they couldn't hold their tournaments in Alabama because 99% of all Bass Boats will top 60 MPH....Gomer had to re-write/ammend the law to not restrict the Bass Boats:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043not to mention JR's PWC that will make 70 MPH.

We all know that a Bass boat is much more stable and safe at 60~70 MPH than a Formula, Cigarette or Fountain is. :thumbsup:

When I was up there in 2006 for Christmas my brother had Tivo'd some of the news on this farse for me. The local media referred to the go fast boats as "Cigar Boats":huh:

My brother bought his '83 233 LS Formula about 3 years ago in Kentucky and brought it home and launched it soon after at Logan Martin Lake on I-20 between Birmingham and Atlanta. It has a 260 on a No. 1 Mercruiser and might make 50 mph on a good day. It even has thru prop exhaust and is super quiet. The first day he was out every body on the lake was breaking their neck to get a look at the "Cigar Boat". The water cops stopped him and measured the boat and it really pissed them off that they couldn't stretch that Formula to 27 feet. They left him and said "You better watch it boy!!"

Most people and boaters in Alabama are cool but there is a small group of "Redamus Nckumas Maximus" that think they own the place and no one stands up to them.
I moved from there in 1976 to Florida. It hasn't changed in some respects and in some ways it has. I still own a lot of property there ...but I live here in South Florida and have for the last 33 years. Maybe the laws will eventually change.:huh:
 
sprink56 said:
Yup...Alabama has some Ef'd up boating laws. The legislature was really PO'd that they coudn't regulate the Tennessee River and it's lakes...that's TVA baby!!:thumbsup:

Seems like my brother told me it had something to do with the lakes that are operated by Alabama Power/Southern Services. I think some of the anti boat whackos in Geargia tried to pull the same crap there but it didn't work even though Southern Services runs Georgia Power as well.

The Formula dealer in Central Alabama is on Lewis Smith Lake which is one of the "restricted lakes". Ed Neelam runs that dealership and he fought it hard but lost out to the whackos. He still sells Fastechs to people that run on the Tennessee and take them to the Gulf.

I laughed my ass of when they first wrote that bill with the 60 mph restriction. B.A.S.S jumped up and down because even though they are headquartered in Montgomery, they couldn't hold their tournaments in Alabama because 99% of all Bass Boats will top 60 MPH....Gomer had to re-write/ammend the law to not restrict the Bass Boats:smt043:smt043:smt043:smt043not to mention JR's PWC that will make 70 MPH.

We all know that a Bass boat is much more stable and safe at 60~70 MPH than a Formula, Cigarette or Fountain is. :thumbsup:

When I was up there in 2006 for Christmas my brother had Tivo'd some of the news on this farse for me. The local media referred to the go fast boats as "Cigar Boats":huh:

My brother bought his '83 233 LS Formula about 3 years ago in Kentucky and brought it home and launched it soon after at Logan Martin Lake on I-20 between Birmingham and Atlanta. It has a 260 on a No. 1 Mercruiser and might make 50 mph on a good day. It even has thru prop exhaust and is super quiet. The first day he was out every body on the lake was breaking their neck to get a look at the "Cigar Boat". The water cops stopped him and measured the boat and it really pissed them off that they couldn't stretch that Formula to 27 feet. They left him and said "You better watch it boy!!"

Most people and boaters in Alabama are cool but there is a small group of "Redamus Nckumas Maximus" that think they own the place and no one stands up to them.
I moved from there in 1976 to Florida. It hasn't changed in some respects and in some ways it has. I still own a lot of property there ...but I live here in South Florida and have for the last 33 years. Maybe the laws will eventually change.:huh:
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you can have a boat that goes over 60mph...it just can't be over 26 long. I haven't seen any bass boats over 26 foot long.

it's a beautiful lake! water is very clear and 80% is of the shoreline is undeveloped.
 
Aquarius said:
You can have up to a 310da and be legal on lake martin.
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SUMMARY OF ACT 2006-398 (effective date of July 1, 2006):​

  • Applies to Lake Harris (Lake Wedowee), Lake Martin, and Weiss Lake ONLY.
2. Beginning October 1, 2006, there is an absolute ban on recreational vessels that are BOTH (a) greater than 26 ft-11 inches and (b) are “rated by the manufacturer for or capable of a top speed in excess of” 60 mph. No exceptions except general exceptions listed in last item below.
  • Beginning July 1, 2007, there is a general ban on:
(a) “houseboats” (“residence boats” defined under current msd law as “any structure used primarily for habitation located on any waters in the state, floating or supported totally or partially on pilings” and recreational vessels that constitute a fully equipped dwelling similar in content to a mobile home with an msd, galley, and sleeping quarters) and
(b) recreational vessels over 30 ft-6 inches in length, as determined by the straight line distance between the ends of the boat, excluding bowsprits, outboard motor brackets, rudders, or other attachments.

Exception for DCNR annually permitted vessels:
(1) needed for use on a temporary basis;
(2) houseboats “licensed and in use” on July 1, 2006, if they meet all applicable standards for sewage discharges, are moored at a marina or other facility with a certified pump-out station or other approved means of sewage disposal and are inspected annually;
(3) boats over 30ft-6 inches and NOT rated or capable of 60mph if they meet both of those requirements and were “licensed and in use” on July 1, 2006 or were on site and available for sale at any marina located on any one of the above lakes on July 1, 2006.

These excepted vessels are
(1) issued a DCNR permit on an annual basis for that particular lake only (and are to be issued only after annual inspection if required under exception (2) above). The permits are not transferable to any other lake. [If boat transferred to another person permit could be transferred as long as on same lake]. DCNR is to develop and adopt rules setting up the permit, and is authorized to charge and collect a fee to cover reasonable costs.

4. General exceptions from this act for law enforcement, public safety, search and rescue, scientific research, dam operation/maintenance, medical vessels and for sailboats equipped with a mast and sails that are dependent on wind for propulsion in normal operation.

It appears that the law allows up to 30"-6" and allows any boat up to that size as long as it can not exceed 60 mph. The way the law was ORIGINALY written there wasn't a size exclusion relative to speed. That is what upset the Bass Boat crowd so the law was ammended with it's current language which also narrowed the lakes of restriction to Martin, Weiss and Harris.

So if you if you show up at Lake Martin with a boat that is 30'-6" or less in length you are good, as long as it's can't go over 60 mph unless it's less than 26'-11". You might get the "stink eye" if you show up with a 242 LS Formula with twin 383's that will run 70 but you'll be legal. :thumbsup:
 
Aquarius said:
You can have up to a 310da and be legal on lake martin.
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(b) recreational vessels over 30 ft-6 inches in length, as determined by the straight line distance between the ends of the boat, excluding bowsprits, outboard motor brackets, rudders, or other attachments.


A 2006 290 measures 31' 6" by these standards a 310 would measure more wouldn't it? I hope I am incorrect because I would like to go but I don't want to be hassled if I go.
 
everthing's irie said:
(b) recreational vessels over 30 ft-6 inches in length, as determined by the straight line distance between the ends of the boat, excluding bowsprits, outboard motor brackets, rudders, or other attachments.


A 2006 290 measures 31' 6" by these standards a 310 would measure more wouldn't it? I hope I am incorrect because I would like to go but I don't want to be hassled if I go.
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I hear you. I suggest calling Russel Marine and ask them before you decide. If you are that close and you don't look like a "Cigar" boat :smt043with thru hulls and all that mess you should be ok.:huh:

What amazes me is how they came up with these measurements?:huh:
 
They don't count swim platform in the measurement. They measure the hull to where the swim platform starts.
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A 310da is legal on lake martin. I bought and keep my boat there. A 310 is the largest they will allow unless you were already on the lake when the rules changed; therefore you would be considered grandfathered in.
 
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The new 290's swim platform is integrated, its not a bolt on like earlier models, so it does reach 31.5 feet and hard to tell where the hull ends and it begins

But if it were me, I would go anyways, just try not to look guilty and no one usually bothers with ya :)
 
I assure you...a 310 and smaller is allowed on the lake. :smt001
My previous boat was an '06 290da.
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I spoke with Russell Marine this afternoon and they confirm that they have been approved for 310's but nothing larger. I was also told that they have some larger boats in inventory that they don't know what they are going to do with because they are new and not Grand Fathered. They don't like the law any more than we do because it limits their business which is quite good right now.
 
Ok, I called Alabama DCNR today and they stated that normally my 290 would not be allowed. However, for this event, the weekend of, they have lifted the restrictions in full and all boats are allowed.:thumbsup:

The previous posts are correct. The newer 290's swim platform is counted in the length of the boat. I asked them why and how the law came to be. They stated it was not DCNR that came up with the law that the home owners associations on 3 lakes got a bill passed restricting boat size. There is a clause grandfathering in boats prior to 2006 already on those lakes.

But don't take my word for it, call them yourself and get the scoop.:grin:
 
When I did some research about a year ago I got this from more than one land owner and marina operator... The law was designed to do 2 things:

1.) Reduce noise levels. Get rid of the high speed (loud) jet boats.
2.) Eliminate unsightly fishing/party barges. Stop people from bolting campers and old mobile homes on to pontoons and calling it a house boat.

I live closer to Weiss Lake and have seen some of these monstrosities. Nasty! I'd be willing to bet that the rules for Lake Martin will soon change to allow for longer cruisers but no "house boats" and no loud a$$ jet boats.
 
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