I agree that the cigerette boats should be ban from our lakes here in Maine. However I think they do have a place, and that is on the ocean. This is what this type of boat was built for. The vast open ocean, also people that operate a motorboat over a sertin size should be required to take the Coast Guard safe boating course before they go out on the water.

There is no way they will ban Cigarette boats, never ever. Too many of them and you cannot dicrimiate against a boat but you can against the driver.

Please remember Marc Gilbert, when you come to Maine you are not in the middle of nowhere. Sebago lake state park is far from a back country site... It's real close to Portland, have you got G.P.S.! Maine residents have not accepted cigarette boats driven by "Mass-holes from hell", and this state does not excist so you can come north to have your own little wilderness experience while the rest of us stay quiet and cater to your every need.. Lots of Mainers own and operate big go fast boats on "our" inland waterways in a safe way. We get to do that ..Its our State! fish head........ Mainers don't tend to run down people in small boats at nite who are enjoying the stars... We don't need people who spend a weekend here now and then to decide how we will conduct things on Maine lakes....TAKE BACK YOUR Robert LaPoint from Medway Mass. And give that rich Mass-hole another place to gooooo....

I don't think cigarette boats should be banned from Sebago and Long Lakes. They should be BANNED FROM ALL MAINE LAKES!!! In addition, a "headway speed only" law should be put in place, and enforced with severe penalties for violation. Banning them from one or 2 lakes will only increase the number of boats on other lakes and won't completely address the problem. David, as for your comment about discrimination, there are plenty of lakes that don't allow ANY type of power boat or have a horsepower restriction--so it is possible if enough people stand up for it. And for the record, yes, I'm an avid powerboater.

I'd like to clarify that I think a "headway speed only" law should apply during the hours that running lights are required.

SPEED LIMITS WILL KEEP THEM AWAY

If they cannot or will not ban these gas-wasting, polluting, noisy, monster speedboats, then at least put a speed limit on lakes and ponds.

Down here in NYC area, hardly a summer goes by without some idiot fool running into and killing some innocent people with one of those obnoxious things.

Those "boats" are bad enough here in NYC, where everything smells and is noisy.

I am horrified to learn that they are using these things in Maine's beautiful natural settings.

We in the Lakes Region are already discussing a vigilante action. We believe that, ban the boats or not, if we sink a dozen or two, they will get the message.

We going to take back our lakes!

Cigarette boaters beware

Skips right on the money with this. Why should the be banned?
Sebago lake covers about 45 square miles (117 km²) in surface area, has a length of 12 miles and a shoreline length of 105 miles. If you cant find a quiet place on that lake you need to go home. Sebago lake state park campground is for those who like to camp in their back yards, you know city slicker camping. Go to north country if you really like to camp, like off the Golden Road somewhere unless of course you have a problem with going to the bathroom on crotch branched tree or need to use the shower, In which case I wouldnt suggest camping at all. Maybe you should have just stayed home. Yup I have those days too. but my home is on a lake and to me there's really nothing like watching people having a great time doing whatever they like doing out on the lake. These lakes are our Native Mainer play grounds and we are taking them back.

I say Ban them. And I have a 39' Checkmate with dual 454's pumping out ample HP's in the family. You can empty a glass in your lap when she takes off. Its so fast you can't even hear the person next to you, or really see then either for that matter as your teary eyes are glazed over from the aaahh ever satisfying speed. Bouncing around down below is nice too. SO whats the point?
TO GO FAST. So if you stick on a speed limit - Again WHATS THE POINT?
Yeah I'm a big sexy stud in my ciggy and I just exceeded the speedlimit with an accidental twitch on the throttle. Oops.
Then the Police need even faster ones.
I say do away with them on the lakes. You can scream all you want. I don't care. There is a place for everything. Take the fast boats where they can be opened up, out on the ocean. I live on the water in Maine, I am a native, I own a sailboat, a powerboat, a rowboat, I love to boat and I would rather not get run down in one of them.
You can scream all you want "Equal rights for boats...blah blah blah" You may very well be paying for your sons casket, or your wifes funeral, or paying for your daughters medical bills your entire life. Or maybe you will get to carry with you the memory of killing a person with your big boat every time you see a boat.
You will be thinking about the topic differently then.
Its not about YOU where-ever you live its about whats safe for US, now. So a law like this may not be popular. But funerals aren't either.

Let's be reasonable and clearify what a "Cigarette' boat is exactly. I grew up in the lakes region and still live nearby. I always loved going out on the lake, be it Sebago or whichever. And a boat that can go fast enough to ski or tube behind, and that will take you less then an hour to get from one end of the lake to the other is great. A boat that you can get from one end to the other in 5 minutes is excessive and obviously dangerous. I don't care how big Sebago is, you get half a dozen of these monsters out there and ther is no "finding a quiet spot". They can get anywhere on that lake in a matter of minutes, and running them in the dark is just insane. You can go on about running them responsibly, but accidents WILL happen. Do you really want that on your conscience? Just think about the families and decide weather ripping up the lake is really that important.

I agree with Mark, and as a resident of Brandypond would also ban the sea planes which are even noiser

I wrote an editorial about these horribile boats that was published about two weeks ago. My major beef was the destruction of the quality of life on the lake due to cigarette boat noise. Now lives have been lost. Sadly, I feel my words were accurate, but too late. Come on folks, respect our state beauty, respect one another, these boats do not belong on our lakes, period.

First of all as a power boat owner I would like to say what happened is awful but.... It could just have easily been a guy in a 18 foot outboard doing 35mph that killed someone. If you look at the stats the majority of boating accidents do not involve speed but lack of experience. And most large boat owners have just that. Last year a kid was killed when hit by a "Noisy" Jet ski on sebago lake. Where was the outcry? this was a KID whith his whole life in front of him so lets lets ban jet skis. Oh I was on the highway the ohter day and a porche went by and it was loud and breaking the speed limit. lets ban cars that go over 65 from our roads. I am from maine and live on the water on Sebago, yes I have a "cigarette" boat, But I also have a brain. Some of you can use it if you need it. And while we are at it lets ban bass boats too. they are capable of high speeds and have spread millfoil all over our state. so if you all love these lakes as much as you claim climb on that band wagon!

These boats belong on the ocean, period. Even the MANUFACTURER says they are to big for most Maine boats. If you want a Cigarette boat, MAN UP and put it on the ocean where it belongs. Most people that buy them are to much of a sissy to put them on the ocean because you actually need skills to take on the Atlantic. I am sick of looking at them, hearing them and being afraid one of them will RUN ME DOWN. This is why I stay off the big lakes. It is not jelousy, envy or any of the other STUPID reasons people on here have given for people complaining. I COULD afford one but, THEY WOULD BE A WASTE OF MY MONEY!! I'll stick with my raft and head down a river where the CHECKMATE can't go. I pray for all of you that are on the lakes with those darn things. I mostly think the people that own these things are compansating for what they lack in other places! R.I.P Raye and Susanne, you'll be missed..

I agree with SC that people that own these big speed boats are compensating for what they lack in other places or they are insecure people who need attention. I also agree that it is all about the knowledge of boating and using your head. However it does not matter how much knowlege you have, if you are drinking alcohol, which 90% of boaters do and your driving a speed boat a full throttle - how in the hell are you going to act quickly when you need to. License or no license - you need a BRAIN! Wake up people!

congrats on your giant manhood or giant vag!@!$ SC & DB. at least you have belittled this enough to make it personal. everyone has there own pleasures, some big boats some fancy cars and some; the simpler pleasures. your comments show your ignorance. I am sure there are things you do and enjoy that a large amount of people disagree with keep that in mind before passing judgment.

I live near sebago, have a 27' powerboat, and keep it on the lake moored. It seems alot of people are splitting hairs over this term. I recently had a 19' bowrider which most of you would consider a tame boat. Great for tubing, skiing, etc. My powerboat goes right about the same speed. It's way more comfortable, and handles much better in the rough water. Basically, if you get rid of powerboats, the only people enjoying the lake will be the ones who are (these days) rich enough to afford it, goodbye the rest of us. F$#@ That! Even in my 19', I never felt the least bit threatened by any other boat out there. The ones that do, probably can't drive their own boat let alone watch out for everyone else at the time.

Good luck with your ban :)

Stop pointing fingers, we do not have all the facts.I agree that these boats may be noisy and in some cases too big but. people seem to be making alot of assumtions all used to bolster their personal beliefs. We do not know how fast the boat was traveling we do not know if anyone was drinking. We all assume it, but no one knows. For all we know the people who were killed were the drunk ones. they maybe at fault.
we need boater education.

If you are serious about wanting changes, there is an organization that has been fighting to make the lakes safer and quieter.

You don't need to donate dues to join. We need numbers, numbers as in
citizens willing to sign petitions and post comments and call representatives. We need to get grass roots about this issue.

Yes there is an issue with the impact of Off Shore racing boats on inland waters, there is also a safe boating issue.

LRSLA, has been working for six years to bring the message of Safe & Quite lakes to the Lakes Region of Maine.

Visit our site, become a member on our membership page, make a donation if you can, we are a non-profit so all donations are tax deductible.

Things have to change, deaths just cannot be acceptable on the lakes.

http://www.lrsla.org/membership.htm

With respect to the LRSLA I agree deaths are not acceptable on the lakes however banning offhsore type boats i.e. Sonics, Sunsations,Formulas, Bajas, Checkmates, and Cigarettes will not make the boating safer. It is an operator of a boat that makes it unsafe not the BOAT! LRSLA is using this accident to Grand Stand on the noise issue again...of which most of us comply with. I own a Formula and as a previous owner of a 19' bowrider I feel much safer on rough water with the formula.

As for the accident I knew both parties involved and view this as a tragic accident. Possibly no lights or speed involved but we won't know until the wardens finish their investigation. Could have happened with ANY two boats.

Stop trying to ban types of boats if you want safer boating then do what NH does and require a license to operate a boat...at least the operators would know the rules of the water.

Again Boats don't kill people, reckless operation does!

It does not matter the size or the horsepower- It is about ethics. When you can't see don't go fast. When there are other boats on the water, not skiing, tubing or going fast- don't speed near them. Save the big boats for big water. Not Thomas Pond or Crystal Lake in Gray or even Highland Lake in Windham/Falmouth. There is no need to have anything over 50 horse anyways on Freshwater. Some ponds/lakes are regulated for Horsepower. I say do them all.