Mandatory Licensing

40' Go fast
40' Trawler
40' Cruiser
40' Sailing vessel
40' Motor Yacht
40' Houseboat
40' Fishing boat
40' Row Boat
40' RIB

I see your point.... I have always believed, more often than not, when you get in to the larger vessels, they're more experienced, there's more investment, and simply more financial reason to know what the hell you are doing. Do skippers of larger boats gaff? Sure they do. But they normally are not the kind that puts 11 people in a 17' bowrider, and it would have been 12 but they needed room for the beer. The waters in my Port in Newburyport is a free for all. People riding in boats with lawn chairs for seats. I just think licensing would make the ease of just "going out and the hell with everyone" crowd thin out. I'm not a pro government anything, but I've seen too many on the water that have no business being there.
 
quote:
Originally posted by TigerPaws

quote:
Originally posted by boathandler

Upgrade the mandatory education to something more rigorous than the current superficial standard. No license necessary.

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What mandatory education?

SeaQuest OE

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It's a state-by-state matter. Virginia, for instance, has none. Maryland, my state, requires all persons born after 6/30/72 to carry aboard the boat a card stating that they have passed a NASBLA-approved boater safety test, if they wish to drive a motorized boat on Maryland waters. It's mandatory (the law).
 
quote:
Originally posted by stmbtwle

How would you enforce "mandatory"???? Require the trainee to present a "certificate" of some sort? Sounds a whole lot like a "license" to me... so we're back to square one.

For those who don't think "licenses" are a good idea, fine. Lets NOT require licenses to drive a car, practice medicine, or fly a 747....

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It's not a license, because all licenses need to be renewed periodically, unlike, say, a diploma, which does not.

As for enforcement, that's beyond my pay grade. I'm just a private citizen.
 
License or not, old or young, I am more concerned about DRUNK boaters...
 
quote:
Originally posted by inkblue

License or not, old or young, I am more concerned about DRUNK boaters...

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Two words for everybody to keep tucked away for easy reference:

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS (SA)

Licensing will not stop the fools and the a-holes who choose not to operate a car, boat, a/c or anything else under the rules-of-the-road.

It falls upon you..the individual..to understand what is going on around you and have the ability to make a split decision under fire.
 
True story:

2 years ago I see the CG tender boarding a 26 ft Hydrosport. All decked out(loaded). 3 guys in it. Seemed like they were coming back from tuna fishing(the Penn 150's sold that).

They're boarding them. 20 feet away. A 17' Aluminum with 6 Mexican looking dudes sitting in those white plastic chairs
for a patio. Each holding a fishing rod. Looked right out of Jaws. I scream at the CG laddy standing off in the rigid and I point. He gave me the dirtiest look.

There's no way in hell these guys are out there is they have to pass any type of test.
 
STEELA,

There's no way in hell these guys are out there is they have to pass any type of test.

And your point is what? Maybe they WERE from Mexico and were hear legally, then what? I do not live in the U.S. anymore I only visit for a few months a year, so I should be REQUIRED to have a license to boat in any given state I am visiting?

No license will stop STUPIDLY!

SeaQuest OE
Anchored at Rum Cay
 
quote:
Originally posted by STEELA

Boat decal. Pretty simple and visible.

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Have you ever borrowed a boat? Or rented one? STICKER? Are you looking to REQUIRE something to be affixed to a documented vessel which may be only passing through for a few days, weeks or months? How would anyone know the difference?

Please think through this.

SeaQuest OE
Anchored at Rum Cay
 
I think with all the money us boaters pay for licenses, you'd think some of that money can go into a better job of enforcement of our waters. Especially on weekends.
 
CaptnDick you know you don't need a license to dock/undock or even command a Government vessel, they're exempt. Sorry about the oversight. But you DO need one for a commercial vessel (you know that, too, or you wouldn't have one).

IF you could buy the Nimitz it would then no longer be a government vessel and would be subject to Coast Guard regulations, inspection, etc. I doubt it would even pass. I suppose you could stick VA numbers on the bow and call it a pleasure boat, but the first time you tried to get the "friends" to help pay the operating expense, you're going to need that license.

Personally I don't care if VA requires a license or not, I'm not going there any time soon. But should I change my plans, I'm pretty confident they'll accept the one I have.

I'll agree no license will stop stupidity; but IF DONE RIGHT it could help stop ignorance, and that's a start. Only Darwin can stop stupid.

Hiroshi I agree with you 100%; but it seems the only thing our fees go to around here is manatee signs. They're getting to be a regular hazard to navigation (the signs, not the manatees).
 
stmbtwle,

"IF DONE RIGHT"? Do you REALLY believe any government agency can do much is ANYTHING right?

Face it all a license will do is put more of OUR money in some state run agency with NO real benefit to anyone except to leave all of us a little poorer.

And by-the-way please answer how your boating license would handle transit boaters and or boater who is visiting the U.S. for a few months at a time going from state to state?

SeaQuest OE
 
I think a boat license is a good idea. Yes, a little more red tape and a few bucks, but look at the
gain. Some filtering method on the water. Will it make all bad boaters go away? No, but it will cut
them in half, maybe more. I can not tell you how many people are out there with out even rudementary
boating skills, never mind common sense. Drivers ed for the water would be a good thing. I think it would make us
all a little safer and maybe drop ins rates.
As far as state to state, out of country, not an issue. Treated like an auto license, no hassle
at all. Pick up your international drivers licence with your pass port. State to State, even easier,
make sure you have it on you. Not every state has a license? That is the snag. If all states do not
issue it, who has the right to operate in x waters? Until 50 state status, you would have to
have a license issued by the state in which you boat. But lets be realistic, how many states do you
boat in? I think safety wise some baseline boating education standards is a no brainer.
As far as costs go, what did you spend on your drivers license? Do you really think an extra
50-100. is a huge # for some universal boating standards? Insurance savings should more than cover it.
Make water violations translate to land, and drunk and dangerous boating will go way down too. Some
states are already doing that now.
 
Tigerpaws you do have a point re government agencies doing anything right. However I have a lot of respect for the Coast Guard licensing program... Unfortunately it's not required for pleasure boats.

I would expect any state-run program would have reciprocity with other states, even countries, much as our drivers licenses are accepted by other states. It's not like we're starting at square one here.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pauliewog

I think a boat license is a good idea. Yes, a little more red tape and a few bucks, but look at the
gain. Some filtering method on the water. Will it make all bad boaters go away? No, but it will cut
them in half, maybe more.

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please tell me you do not seriously mean that.

Any licensing requirement/test will be geared to the least common denominator and that current incompetent fool at the helm will simply become an incompetent fool at the helm with a license.

All licensing will do is ensure that more of my $ goes into that huge black hole collectively referred to as the government.
 
Do I detect an anti-government sentiment here...

[:-dog][:-disguise][xx(][:-drool]
 
quote:
Originally posted by Pauliewog

I think a boat license is a good idea. Yes, a little more red tape and a few bucks, but look at the
gain. Some filtering method on the water. Will it make all bad boaters go away? No, but it will cut
them in half, maybe more. I can not tell you how many people are out there with out even rudementary
boating skills, never mind common sense. Drivers ed for the water would be a good thing. I think it would make us
all a little safer and maybe drop ins rates.
As far as state to state, out of country, not an issue. Treated like an auto license, no hassle
at all. Pick up your international drivers licence with your pass port. State to State, even easier,
make sure you have it on you. Not every state has a license? That is the snag. If all states do not
issue it, who has the right to operate in x waters? Until 50 state status, you would have to
have a license issued by the state in which you boat. But lets be realistic, how many states do you
boat in? I think safety wise some baseline boating education standards is a no brainer.
As far as costs go, what did you spend on your drivers license? Do you really think an extra
50-100. is a huge # for some universal boating standards? Insurance savings should more than cover it.
Make water violations translate to land, and drunk and dangerous boating will go way down too. Some
states are already doing that now.

Click to expand...


No personal offense to you, sir, but that is without a doubt one of the largest utterances of utopian bullsh!t I have read in quite some time.

Boating accidents are not necessarily caused by "drunk and dangerous" actions. There are stupid people on land, sea and air all around us...are you for advocating regulating shopping carts, power scooters and kids' bicycles as well, since they are also sources of accidents going some place to happen. Do you want another layer of bueauracracy in your life?

I, for one, do not care to have another set of "nanny laws" thrown in my lap because of the liberal mindset of protecting me from myself. Only then to watch my tax dollars go into the pockets of politicians and administrators who haven't the foggiest idea of what they're doing.

Go back to page one of this one-year old thread and read what I had to say about this "idea" last year.
 
I rarely agree with Msibley but in this case he is right. Christ Pauliewog get you head out of the sand and wake up to the REAL world.

SeaQuest OE
 
Long over due! Way to much nonsense by poor boat operators who haven't a clue or give a rats arse about safe boating.
Down here in So. FL. any numskull who has cash can rent a high powered boat without the slightest knowledge of safe boating operation.
If that were the ONLY problem then that could be dealt with BUT, it only take money to buy a boat and turn the key to go..
You just have to watch boaters slamming into docks, bulkheads ,daymarks , buoys and speeding in no wake zones, to see that a serious safety issue exists.
This poll was taken years ago and Les stated he thought it was only a good revenue source for different municipalities ... You will note that Les has moved away from these waters(humor) ..I submit that this is ONE of those reasons why!
I am sure most of the boating public would like to enjoy a safe day on the water knowing that the boat approaching at flank speed is operated by a person who KNOWS that their boat doesn't have BRAKES and not to fear for their life's.
LICENSE ALL BOAT OPERATORS, it could mean your life!
 
captchas,

You MUST like the government butting into your life? Not everyone else dose, I for one do NOT. Additionally do you truly believe a license will make anyone safer? There will be exceptions for tourists, people from other states and countries. A national boating license is a fantasy so what is left is a few state collecting money, there is no REAL consideration about safety.

As I have said before I am no longer a resident of the U.S. in fact I am not a resident of any country, so am I to be denied boating in Florida waters for a few months? I have a news flash for you, that would be illegal under international treaties which have the force of constitutional law. So then I and people like myself would be exempt from the licensing requirements. OH! And the BS about the international DL, all you have to do is apply to the UN and pay a small fee, no written test, no drivers test. Wow! That is safe. You boating license would be the same BS, simply admit that you like and favor big brother government and get it off your chest.

SeaQuest OE
 
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