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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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A Really Stupid Idea!

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DrDre
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/01/2007 : 12:27:32

Here's an article regarding licensing all boaters.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0801/p03s03-ussc.html?page=1

'the sky is falling....'

1998 250 WK "Ananda" #373 City Island, New York

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2007 : 13:57:02

We already have it in CT... You have to pass a test and carry a CT Safe Boater Certificate to operate a CT-registered boat here, and you can't register a boat if you don't have the certificate. (Ignorant operators in out-of-state boats can pass through--just keep going, please.) And the certificate can be revoked, as it was for the drunken yahoo whose boat killed a woman on a Com Pac 16 just a few weeks ago (after he fell overboard and left is boat running by itself). PWC operators must also take a course to get a separate certificate. My only complaint, based on observation, is the tests are apparently too easy.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/01/2007 14:03:26

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2007 : 15:42:44

Another thread with the potential to turn into a politi-fest....but for now I'll weigh in as it is more practical, and potentially affects ALL of us. Don't forget, once the wheels of government start turning they won't stop. The bureaucrats are just cringing at the idea that there's a whole bunch of people out there doing something without being regulated.

When I drive or fly I'm registered and liscensed, so you might as well add driving a boat. No new infringement on our liberties, just a variation on an existing theme. Will it throw up barriers to access the water to the upstanding citizen? Probably not... Will it slow down the evil doers? Probably not. Will it slow down the crazies/drunks like Dave described above? Maybe, and that would not be a bad thing. Accountability and consequences of your actions are good. And face it, a little mandatory boater safety education would go a long way towards reducing the havoc the morons wreak on the weekend.

Will it help secure our borders? Maybe. Will it cost a potload of tax dollars and create another office full of people that only have to show up to get pay and benefits? Oh yeah baby.

I try to be pragmatic in my old age.....other than send my money to BoatUS there won't be a lot I can do to stop it. Hopefully my OUPV will exempt me from the extra time and cost involved.....

There, no answers just musings.

Edited by - Oscar on 08/01/2007 15:43:54

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2007 : 19:15:22

I have a real problem with the military telling our elected state legislators what laws they must pass. It's for "security" or "the children", whatever, it's not the Coast Guards' call, it's a state issue.

Edited by - on

tmhansen
Captain

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USA
397 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 00:48:02

Oscar you reminded me of an incident that took place this past weekend. We took our fleet of prams up to a lake in the foothills for a family get together. While my son was beating his way up the 5 mph arm of the lake in his 8' opti a man driving the biggest, loudest (both engines and stereo) twin engine catamaran speedboat I have ever seen yells at him to watch where he is going. My wife saw the situation and said the guy cut my son off and left him nowhere to go. I only heard the houseboater whose boat my son was next to yelling something about sailboats having right of way. It was not until later I found out about the incident. Would that education would curb such ignorance but I don't have much hope.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5904 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 08:57:19

In Ohio, we have a similar requirement as in Connecticut. People born before 1972 are exempt from the requirement, but many of those who are "grandfathered" from the requirement take the course and get their safe-boater certificate. It takes several classes, but it's not difficult, and you'll learn a lot.

To be honest, I've always thought it was odd that a person could buy a boat or pwc and operate it without any training whatsoever. I suspect the rationale in the past was that there weren't so many boaters using the waterways to create any congestion, and they could easily avoid each other, but as the numbers of boaters increase, and the accessibility of fast, highly maneuverable vessels increase, the hazards have increased, and it's becoming increasingly important that boaters know the rules of the road.

I don't mind the government regulating an activity if there's a reasonable need for such regulation. If regulation is being done in the interest of safety, then I think it's a state issue, but if it's being done in the interest of national security, then it's clearly a federal issue.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 13:36:24

In Oregon we are moving to a license. I have no problem with it. I want to know that the person in the other craft has at least had to pass some sort of test to be driving his/her boat. I am also willing to pay a fee for the license if that help enforcement of the rules and regs of boating.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 13:49:59

I'd prefer to see stronger enforcement of safe practices and USCG regs, I wouldn't mind seeing a few more RIBs w/ blue lights!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 17:58:14

Like Steve, I was grandfathered but took the course anyway. (They asked me to be an instructor, but I traveled too much.) I'd like to see more enforcement around here--I just witnessed a near disaster a couple of days ago and wished I had some blue lights! In places with no certification, you have to wonder how you can enforce rules that many (or most) people don't even know exist. Certification ensures that they've been exposed to the rules--then they have no excuses for stupidity on the water, and they have something to lose.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 20:11:45

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I suspect the rationale in the past was........<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That if you were man enough to hollow out a tree, you were man enough to take it down the river.......

Dave you need one of these:

Edited by - Oscar on 08/02/2007 20:12:47

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/02/2007 : 20:25:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Oscar
 Dave you need one of these...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
That and a 9mm in a holster, or maybe a 50 cal. on a turret?

I wonder if that'd be legal if I didn't wire it up?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/02/2007 20:27:17

sweetcraft
Admiral

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USA
816 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 00:43:09

There is another interest by boat charters that might be negative. Their customers could be discouraged if more than money is needed. I have sailed in the NW where you wonder if boat coming at you is a charter or not. I have always said that a charter needed a big circle on the hull or main sail to give you a warning. The charter companies could advertise inside the circle and give their customer a crash course in boating safety after the check cleared. I like knowing that a boat near me has a qualified skipper. Don't boat insurance companies give a discount if the owner has completed a safe boating program. Just thinking out loud.

Edited by - on

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 05:52:21

Enforcement is the key. What benefit is there if there is no enforcement? In New York everyone who operates a pwc needs to "licenced" but does that mean that people operating a pwc apply the knowledge they should have learned? My experience says, "No!" And the reason for that is lack of meaningful enforcement. New York has a law concerning using cell phones while driving. Drivers can only use hand free kits. Does this law stop drivers from using them while driving. Not at all. The issue is enforcement. So, in mho, there is no need for more laws that we can't afford to enforce. but that then gets us into somethings political.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 08/03/2007 : 08:15:26

If only sail boats existed there would be no need for laws or enforcement (other than the laws of physics and their enforcement by Neptune, Posiden, and Davy Jones). It's the proliferation of overpowered boats that has upset the equalibrium between freedom and responsibility at sea. As much as I hate to see more politically motivated and potentially costly (to the boater) regulations, which for the most part will be unenforceable, I fear that regulation is inevitable. If there must be licencing of boaters I think the only sane way to do it would be to require a progressively higher degree of training,testing and fees dependent upon the top end speed of the vessel to be licenced. This would continue to allow the average Joe to get into boating without undue hardship but it would limit the number of casual boaters who have no real commitment to boating other than a credit card and the need for speed. Right now, where I sail the number of boats(especially power boats)on the water has been drastically reduced due to the faltering local economy and high gas prices. Because of this the boating has never been better, there are still A**holes out there, but they are few and far between. For the most part the people who are on the water are the serious boaters who don't need the Sheriff or Coast Guard following them around to tell them that they can't run over an anchored fisherman or plow into a slower boat.

Edited by - Renzo on 08/03/2007 08:17:27

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 08/04/2007 : 20:28:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">maybe a 50 cal. on a turret<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nah, too noisy. How about we glass in some small, say 2", torpedo tubes and build some scale model torpedos..... MUCH more discreet.

Oops, here we go again jacking a serious topic around......I'll go sit in the corner now.....

Edited by - on

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