Rangers demonstrate lakes laser speed gun (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Rangers demonstrate lakes laser speed gun

8:55am Wednesday 26th March 2003 in Sport By Gazette News Desk

National park rangers have been demonstrating their latest piece of high-tech kit, which should help boat owners on Windermere stay on the right side of the law.

The rangers have acquired a top-of-the-range laser speed gun which they will be using not only to help them enforce speed limits on the lake, but also to offer a service to boat owners and jet ski riders.

From Easter, they will be offering boat owners the chance to check their on-board instruments.

A lake patrol team will measure the craft's speed using the £4,500 laser gun, while the boat crew checks the readings on the speedometer and rev counter.

Any discrepancies can then be adjusted, ensuring crews have an accurate measurement of their speed.

Lake District National Park Authority ranger Steve

Tatlock said that the calibration would mean that boaters would be able to stay within the current six mph limit which is in force in some of the busiest parts of the lake, as well as being prepared for the controversial 10mph limit being introduced in 2005.

"Boat speedos are renowned for being inaccurate," said Mr Tatlock.

"It's really to give people the best chance possible of keeping on the right side of the law.

"Hopefully people will take this in the spirit in which it's offered and keep things on the straight and narrow."

The new laser gun is calibrated every time it is used, and unlike radar guns, it works well even when boats are plastic or fibreglass.

There are 6,500 registered powered craft on the lake, and in 2002 the patrol team issued 500 warnings, of which 168 were for speeding, or just under two per cent of the total.

Mr Tatlock said: "It's not so bad but speeding can soon get out of hand, particularly in congested areas like Bowness Bay."

Mr Tatlock said he understood that people felt strongly about the impending 10mph speed limit, but it was being introduced and they had to respond.

Anyone who would like their boat speedometer calibrated should contact the lake patrol team or lake wardens at Ferry Nab.