On Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:47:41 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

Question would be; does the local government really have the right to
dictate who can run a boat and how that boat can be rigged on a public
waterway

The answer is yes. There are many lakes with local restrictions. Some
allow no power boats at all, and some limit horsepower, typically to
under 10 hp or some such.