Big Sound Waves on the Lake - Loud stereos

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I love loud music at times, but the reason I turn it up is my friends are terrible singers and I need to drown their voice out. Other than that, I consider myself solar powered anymore, not much of a night owl on the boat or camping. We usually go quiet by 9pm on the lake.

FYI, we do wakesurf, but the kids have been told to stay out in the middle of the channels or big canyons (i.e. Rock Creek).
 
Loud music is for home or clubs, not while enjoying one of natures true wonders. It would be a good idea when out on the lake to take the time to teach young people that there is a time and place for loud music and on the lake isn't it. We have some great Indian flute music that we play at a low level when at Powell. Children can learn great lessons by understanding hydrology, ancient Indian history and the more recent history of the lake. It is a good time to get kids close to the earth and nature. Plenty of time for music when they are away from Powell. It sounds like much of the noise problem is with the adults who should know better.
 
Potter Water,

Thanks for your perspective and positive input.

Music is one of the most powerful things we have, its probably the most enjoyed art form that has been created. Music is not just about the loud club scene. Personally I am not a fan of the Club scene but I am fine with people enjoying what they love.

My kids often relate songs to different summers at lake powell. Its something they share with their friends and every time they hear a song that we played over and over during a trip they think of that trip and the amazing memories.

My family thinks music is life. I bet if I told them no music on a trip they would not want to come to the lake. Not to say there is not time for reflection or quiet time, which we also have but its in-between the music.

I can't imagine what would happen if during a trip I told them we were just going to listen to quiet Indian flute music. LOL it would not be pretty. It might actually be a good video to film and share, I bet that would go viral. Hehe.

Here is a pic of our last crew for a week ago, Tell me you could look at the great group of kids and get them to listen to flute music. :-)

IMG_1564.jpeg, these twenty

Mike
 
Being something of a cynic I believe that many people twist any definition of being courteous to suit themselves and their own desires. That said, I prefer to look at the laws/regulations/rules to get a book answer. At least you'll be aware of what is or isn't legal but that may not help much since our country has run amok with only following laws you actually want to follow in a caring and courteous way.

In GCNRA these are the actual laws as I have researched them:
  • Drones - prohibited
  • Fireworks - prohibited
  • Overloading a boat (even when not underway) - prohibited
  • Loud Music: IAW 36 CFR § 2.12 - Audio disturbances Note: The discussion of Quiet Hours which are not codified for out on the lake are actually a moot point as far as the law is concerned.
§ 2.12 Audio disturbances.
(a) The following are prohibited:
(1) Operating motorized equipment or machinery such as an electric generating plant, motor vehicle, motorized toy, or an audio device, such as a radio, television set, tape deck or musical instrument, in a manner: (i) That exceeds a noise level of 60 decibels measured on the A-weighted scale at 50 feet; or, if below that level, nevertheless; (ii) makes noise which is unreasonable, considering the nature and purpose of the actor's conduct, location, time of day or night, purpose for which the area was established, impact on park users, and other factors that would govern the conduct of a reasonably prudent person under the circumstances.
(2) In developed areas, operating a power saw, except pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit.
(3) In nondeveloped areas, operating any type of portable motor or engine, or device powered by a portable motor or engine, except pursuant to the terms and conditions of a permit. This paragraph does not apply to vessels in areas where motor boating is allowed.
(4) Operating a public address system, except in connection with a public gathering or special event for which a permit has been issued pursuant to § 2.50 or § 2.51
Click to expand...
Note: This law DOES apply to a portable generator but NOT to a vessel mounted generator.

Don't worry if you are inclined to rock around the clock on an overloaded boat with a portable generator powering a super duper JBL sound system shooting off fireworks while filming it all with a drone because 100 years from now everyone will just 'gots ta know' about the famed Party Monster Explorers at Lake Powell. Historical site is marked by the inscription "Ruido por aquí 2019" which would also be illegal. You should be good because the NPS, even if targeting violations, seem unable to hit a bull in the rear with a bass fiddle.

I may have forgotten to mention that I'm also a bit sarcastic.:sneaky:

FWIW
Goblin
 
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Goblin,

great post, haha

Funny thing is I see myself as a law abiding guy. And often tell my kids when in doubt make sure its legal. If its legal then its up to you to decide if its a good idea. If its illegal forget about it.

But as a part time hypocrite I obviously work outside that rules. LOL So i guess I am one of those that decide what rules I will follow, which actually surprises me. I am a pilot and for the most part I live and Die by rules and follow them to the T, hence why I am able to sit and write this. :)

This has been an interesting conversation for me and has given me a lot to think about. I want to make sure I am teaching my kids to be responsible lake powell users. I am pretty confident that they will continue to use the lake long after I am able to join them. So to that I think I need to tighten up rules and regs part of our trips.

One thing thats hard is the world has become so regulated. for instance the 15' cliff jumping rule seems silly to me. I think its a good recommendation but if an experienced person in a safe place wants to jump off a higher cliff they should have the choice to do that. I fear that by the time my kids are my age the entire lake will be no wake, everyone will be required to wear life vest anytime in the park, and we will all be on tethers or in personal protection devices, Oh and be required to have headsets on to listen to music.

The whiny minority makes the rules that keep the rest of us from living.

Mike
 
Michael Pyle said:
.... for instance the 15' cliff jumping rule seems silly to me. I think its a good recommendation but if an experienced person in a safe place wants to jump off a higher cliff they should have the choice to do that. .....
Click to expand...
I absolutely agree with this statement. I hope you will also agree with this experienced person paying all costs for any and all rescue, body recovery and medical care should they be necessary. After all we must thin the gene pool somehow.

Yay Freedom!
Goblin
 
Michael Pyle said:
Potter Water,

Thanks for your perspective and positive input.

Music is one of the most powerful things we have, its probably the most enjoyed art form that has been created. Music is not just about the loud club scene. Personally I am not a fan of the Club scene but I am fine with people enjoying what they love.

My kids often relate songs to different summers at lake powell. Its something they share with their friends and every time they hear a song that we played over and over during a trip they think of that trip and the amazing memories.

My family thinks music is life. I bet if I told them no music on a trip they would not want to come to the lake. Not to say there is not time for reflection or quiet time, which we also have but its in-between the music.

I can't imagine what would happen if during a trip I told them we were just going to listen to quiet Indian flute music. LOL it would not be pretty. It might actually be a good video to film and share, I bet that would go viral. Hehe.

Here is a pic of our last crew for a week ago, Tell me you could look at the great group of kids and get them to listen to flute music. :)

View attachment 5533, these twenty

Mike
Click to expand...
Looks like a great bunch of kids having the time of their lives. Since the boat didn’t sink I’ll assume all went well with the load ;). Everyone should enjoy the lake as they see fit and not live their lives according to others expectations. My only caveat is that you respect your fellow lake users and you respect the environment while doing so. We ALL break the rules somehow or other, sometimes inadvertently and sometimes not. I sped up in a wakelss canyon last week when my cousins kid was in acute abdominal distress. It would be easy to rip on me not knowing why I was moving faster than 5 mph, yet a simple smile and 5 fingers (not one) would have had me explain the situation. Oh and I watched a movie with some friends in top of the houseboat after 10 one night...with a speaker. Tolerance is key, and so is respect. We don’t always see these which is what gets folks so fired up. I don’t do the wakesurf thing, and my speakers are pitifully small but that doesn’t mean my way is the only way. And in my opinion, The 15 ft jumping rule is stupid, and if someone gets hurt jumping from higher I will still help them out, and yes goblin, I have said on many, many occasions, thin the herd, and early on before you have spawn. It is about personal responsibility and ownership of action. And still being a decent human being. And that my friends, is the world according to TR. Anyway, Mike, hope your folks come and wake surf near me one day, looks like it would be a good show.

TR
 
The loud music thing has always made we wonder WHY? Even when I was young and crazy, I have never been a big fan of very loud music and wonder what it is that makes it better if it is so loud. I love all kinds and styles of music and enjoy it at a volume that I don't absorb it through my skin and bones. On many occasions when in an environment with loud music I have asked around and often get a majority of replies it could be much lower and that would be fine. I sometimes wonder if it is a satiation where people are trained to think it must be laud to make it good and nobody dare question it so that's the way it gets played. Its like the emperor and his new clothes story. It just must be. LOL. (look that up if you dont get the connection) Before amplifiers everyone listened to music at "natural" levels" LOL. Might try the music at a volume that the entire 25Ft of boat occupants can hear it and enjoy it, not everyone in a 2.5 miles radius. LOL Yes I am a bit of an SA myself
Great discussion and hopefully everyone can enjoy great times at the Lake.
 
TR

Thanks. I just realized when you guys were talking about overloaded boat you were referring to the pic I posted. That’s a Mastercraft x55 that’s rated for 18 people. Everyone moved to the bow for the photo while we were in antelope canyon no wake zone. One of the kids is on a wave runner. That boat was far from overloaded.

Mildog

That’s a good point about volume levels. The volume knob tends to be a ratchet just like taxes. It goes up but never goes down. Haha. I agree that most if not all the time when you lower it people will be OK. I think it’s the one or two anthems that get played were it get all turned up, but we forget to turn it back down.

I have learned a lot from this discussion and have a lot of changes to implement.

Thanks again for all the great post.

Mike
 
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You can hear and see some strange stuff at Powell. About 10 years ago we were beached back in Cedar Canyon. Around the point from us was a single cruiser and about 150’ from them was a very large Houseboat and a large group. At about 10:00 that night we noticed a reflection of a fire on the canyon walls. We walked a little ways around the point and saw that above the beach on a ledge where these boats were, someone had started four huge bonfires and were playing load music. The fires eventually subsided but the music played until well after one. The strange thing was that the Houseboat group appeared to be more or less turned in for the night.

The next morning I decided to go out and mark the location of a large tree we barely missed when we came in the day before. It ended up being about 200’ away from the cruiser. It was about 9:30 am so I thought I was safe moving at wakeless speed and low idle behind the boats. As I was securing the marker to the tree I heard “Hey as***le we are trying to sleep over here”. I guess being polite is all in your perspective.
 
Michael Pyle said:
TR

Thanks. I just realized when you guys were talking about overloaded boat you were referring to the pic I posted. That’s a Mastercraft x55 that’s rated for 18 people. Everyone moved to the bow for the photo while we were in antelope canyon no wake zone. One of the kids is on a wave runner. That boat was far from overloaded.

Mildog

That’s a good point about volume levels. The volume knob tends to be a ratchet just like taxes. It goes up but never goes down. Haha. I agree that most if not all the time when you lower it people will be OK. I think it’s the one or two anthems that get played were it get all turned up, but we forget to turn it back down.

I have learned a lot from this discussion and have a lot of changes to implement.

Thanks again for all the great post.

Mike
Click to expand...
Yeah lol I was pretty sure of that, and it’s not my business anyway, that was also the point I was making. Funny thing is when I first read your post the thing that came to mind was that you were going to get a lot of comments on that and sure enough... this is like a winter conversation when everyone is cooped up and can’t get out on the lake, only it’s summer. People need to get out and enjoy.

TR
 
Michael Pyle said:
Potter Water,

Thanks for your perspective and positive input.

Music is one of the most powerful things we have, its probably the most enjoyed art form that has been created. Music is not just about the loud club scene. Personally I am not a fan of the Club scene but I am fine with people enjoying what they love.

My kids often relate songs to different summers at lake powell. Its something they share with their friends and every time they hear a song that we played over and over during a trip they think of that trip and the amazing memories.

My family thinks music is life. I bet if I told them no music on a trip they would not want to come to the lake. Not to say there is not time for reflection or quiet time, which we also have but its in-between the music.

I can't imagine what would happen if during a trip I told them we were just going to listen to quiet Indian flute music. LOL it would not be pretty. It might actually be a good video to film and share, I bet that would go viral. Hehe.

Here is a pic of our last crew for a week ago, Tell me you could look at the great group of kids and get them to listen to flute music. :)

View attachment 5533, these twenty

Mike
Click to expand...
That’s a lot of “kids”. Wish my family had discovered Powell when I was still a kid. I was
TR. said:
Yeah lol I was pretty sure of that, and it’s not my business anyway, that was also the point I was making. Funny thing is when I first read your post the thing that came to mind was that you were going to get a lot of comments on that and sure enough... this is like a winter conversation when everyone is cooped up and can’t get out on the lake, only it’s summer. People need to get out and enjoy.

TR
Click to expand...
ill try to do my part. 6 days and counting....
 
There are lots of party lakes. Havasu for example. If it is a matter of being on some water and making wakes and noise, why not go to one of those. Lake Powell is an unusual and rare place and one of the worlds wonders. The place itself is full of wondrous sounds and smells and feelings. The lap of the water as my boat moves slowly through it. The smell of the desert carried by the natural movement of the air. The infinite variations in sky and water and land from sunrise to sunset. The natural sounds and sights of the birds and wildlife. It is a place created by God and man to find peace and quiet and is to me natures own tranquilizer. It is harder and harder to get far enough away to find that tranquility on Powell. But, if loud music is a must and fast boats and floating islands are a must, then I will respect that and do my best to hide away whenever possible.
 
We took our hb up from page to halls 2 weeks ago (wonderful trip!), camped at Oak next to a big beautiful Bravado (drool worthy), they rocked the canyon in more ways than one and put on a spectacular fireworks show! I even woke out of a good sleep to enjoy it! The only complaint I had about their loud music was that they sometimes played the same cd over a couple times...however, if it had been flute music it would have been much worse. Ugh. Can't stand that stuff anymore...lol. To each his own...I've spent too many nights at rodeo grounds so have zero problem sleeping through just about anything.
I feel so blessed to be able to enjoy Lake Powell & as long as me or mine are not put in a dangerous situation then carry on!
 
Michael Pyle said:
I just realized when you guys were talking about overloaded boat you were referring to the pic I posted....
Click to expand...
I apologize if you felt I was referring to your boat. I wasn't directly in the same way that you did not confess to using drones or fireworks. If that did not apply to you then it did not apply to you. No explanation was necessary.

Again I am sorry if you felt directly attacked. Horribly overloaded boats are just pervasive similar to the other things mentioned.

Goblin
 
Goblin

No worries. That did not bother me one bit even if you were referring to me. I do all sorts of stupid stuff and have no problem when someone calls me out on it.

We have had a drone before we realized it was illegal then we took it off the HB.

So really you could have been talking about me. My first thought after I read your post was, wow has Goblin been on a trip with us? LOL

Thanks for taking the time to clarify.

Have a good weekend

Mike
 
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