Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

[QC]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

Obviously we will need to require all Barge operators to wear a helmet and they must go to PWC sensitivity training. That one's easy . . .

 

[escapade]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

The course is kinda useful, didn't really learn anything just had to spend money for another government paper.

I love the questions that you really can't get wrong, what 4 items should be in your emergency kit .. I was tempted to write condom's

 

[P 0 P E Y E]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I am 100 percent in favor of it.

I only wish there was a practical component to the exam

I see some of the people who teach the book and bang into things when they operate a boat.

People are killed, die and get hurt every day on the water due to lack of proficiency, lack of a general clue and not possessing the necessary skills

knowing more of the rules of the road, how to be self reliant and knowing how to avoid situations that can turn ugly are the key.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

If one was self-reliant, why would a class be needed?

Let's face it, the only way a mandatory class would ever make boating safer is if you had to take a Driver's Ed course in which all aspects of boating are covered, including piloting all types of vessels, from a tinny to a cruiser, trailering, docking in a marina, navigating in open waters, emergency situations and at least 10 hours of piloting in each type of vessel.

Of course, a course such as that would cost thousands of dollars per person. Maybe we could subsidize it like everything else.. boaters pay $40, taxpayers pay the rest.

Of course, then we would have tons of inexperienced boaters awash in our waterways taking this course and making things unsafe for all. Hmm, or we could just have a 10 question test and a 4 hour classroom event, call them safe and experienced boaters and revel in our victory of making the waters safe for all.. Want to see the results of a 4 hour class and a 10 question test? Look at the motorcycle accident statistics.

Honestly, I won't hold my breathe for even one person to describe in detail even one single method of making the waters safer via licensing. The simplest arguments against are already driving our streets..

Come on, if you wish to argue for licensing, argue it and give working examples. This "Licensing will make all people safer and feed the hungry and house the destitute" stuff is old, very old. How will it make people safer? How will that be accomplished? How will it improve upon the dismal driver's licensing system?

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I'm against it for several reasons, many of which are gien by others above. The biggest problem I see is that the legislation would most likely be written with generating revenue in mind and the system would represent just one more hurdle to go through to appease the paperwork pushers at the government level. whether we're a nation of idiots or not, we're a free nation with an emphasis on indivudual rights and freedoms as well as individual responsibility. Some things are important due to the public good of course, but it hs to stop somewhere. I for one am against any new laws that put the federal government deeper into, my pockets or further into scrutinizing my life and activities. just my two cents...

 

[CanWoodsman]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

The course is kinda useful, didn't really learn anything just had to spend money for another government paper.

Government paper???
In Canada the government doesn't issue any cards. All approved courses and or tests are ran by and administered by non government groups. The only role the government plays is the mandating of these courses/tests and approving of the test questions(content & # of questions) and a few rules on how the tests are administered. No course is actually required as the option of just writing the test is an option.

Rick

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

FREE CERTIFICATION http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/default.htm

 

[ckone0814]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

FREE CERTIFICATION http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/default.htm

This course is not recognized by PA as a valid course. Even though I am not required by PA (age) to have a card, I want to do this anyway and obviously, I'd rather do it for free than pay PA $35. Can I just do it for NC or DE? Wouldn't I get pretty much the same value/info?

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I am 100% for this. I sometimes find it aggrivating that I may know the laws on the water but it becomes useless at times when someone else does not. I often have to do the incorrect thing (sometimes dangerous) in order to make up for the obvious ignorance of the laws from some other boater.

I am new top boating...no doubt about it. I took the Boater safety course and even did a VSC for my boat. I didn't have to in South Caroine (not above 16 years), not many do. But I really wish it was a requirement that ALL do, gov't mandated or not. This seems like common sense to me.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

But how is it going to make boating safer? Give some examples. And, I for one, do not believe you can use folks on here as an example. The people on here are in the minority of boaters as they mostly actually care to learn about boating and improve on it. Tell me how it is going to make the 99% of the boating population safer?

 

[witenite0560]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

Not to mention, if this happens, you can expect exhorbinant fee hikes of all kinds.
This is a perfect example of Big Government just getting bigger to feed itself. The laws are already on the books, just enforce them.
Granted, a lot of you live in far more heavily populated areas than I and this means your waterways are equally more populated. But, a pwc crashing into a barge? Hey, stupid kills, just not enough!!

How many of you remember some great summer memories paddling, rowing or motoring around a small lake as a kid? In these parts, it's not uncommon, with reasonable supervision and precaution. That doesn't mean you turn the 12 year old loose with a 100HP boat or a PWC. I did say "reasonable"! But, you can kiss all those memories good bye for future generations, if we let government get any further involved than it already is. My .02 worth.

But, if we keep "spreading the wealth" we probably won't be able to own luxuries like boats anyway. You may be able to buy one, but you'll have to share it with the less ambitious.

 

[FBPirate95]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

Obviously we will need to require all Barge operators to wear a helmet and they must go to PWC sensitivity training. That one's easy . . .

LMAO.....I wouldn't put it past anyone in charge.

 

[BumbleBeeTuna]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I wish more boaters would enroll in formal training, but whether it needs to be federally regulated I've not settled in my mind.

Offering incentives to those who have completed training makes more sense to me. Cheaper insurance or personal property tax maybe.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I wish more boaters would enroll in formal training, but whether it needs to be federally regulated I've not settled in my mind.

Offering incentives to those who have completed training makes more sense to me. Cheaper insurance or personal property tax maybe.

The incentives is not a bad idea. When I bought my first motorcycle (Honda Shadow), Honda would reimburse you for the price of the MSF (motorcycle safety foundation) course if you took it. Maybe the boat manufacturers could all get on board with that.

 

[109jb]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I am also 100% in favor of requiring boater education. The reason is simple. Just go to any area where there is a good amount of boating activity and you will see people operating boats in a manner that is contrary to regulations. True the regulations are there, but in many cases it is a matter of an operator just not knowing that he is even breaking the regulations. Education will teach people what the regulations are, but for many if you don't mandate it they will never do it.

Those that say "just enforce the regulations already on the books". Fine, but get ready for fee hikes there to pay for more DNR, Coast Guard, Marine police, etc... There simply aren't enough enforcers in most areas to adequately do this. If you want more, then the money will come from somewhere like increased boat registration fees, higher use taxes, etc... Enforcing laws or mandating education, either one is going to cost.

The way I would like to see it implemented is a free online course where you register, complete the course, and then print out a certificate of completion. The economic impact would be small and enforcement of the education requirement would be easier. All you would need is one officer at a boat ramp checking certificates instead of a officer in a boat trolling around looking for violators. Spot checking at boat ramps would get the word out that it is now a requirement.

I say we need something because I see far too many boaters that don't know the regulations. Last year a guy came zipping up to the dock on-plane in a 20 footer or so right till the end. My boat was tied to the dock, but I saw him coming and was able to hold it off from smashing into the dock. I yelled at him that he was supposed to be no-wake within 150 feet. He was appologetic and said he didn't know and he had only had the boat for about a month. After I calmed down I told him about some of the on-line courses he could take and he said he would do it. I hope he did.

 

[Ridemywideglide]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I am 100% for this. I sometimes find it aggrivating that I may know the laws on the water but it becomes useless at times when someone else does not. I often have to do the incorrect thing (sometimes dangerous) in order to make up for the obvious ignorance of the laws from some other boater.

And I suppose you never see this kind of ignorance in your car.? All licensed drivers you come accross fully know and obey the proper laws, and never require you do the incorrect thing to make up for thier ignorance....?

It's pretty useless, unless your a pro big gov't liberal, to establish a licence requirement. As said before, the insurance requirement get's 10 of thousands hit by uninsured drivers every year. And I've heard it estimated that half the cars you pass everyday are doing something illegal. Rather it's no valid license, driving under the influence, smoking crack, whatever.
Having a license sure stops all them doesn't it...?

Then there would have to be enforcement. Which we already don't have. You think that would change? I've NEVER seen a DOW officer at any lake I've been to in all of my life.. How sad is that..
I've seen the mussel inspectors check my boat more times than I've seen the people who are supposed to be out there upholding the law.
Do I mind? Not in the least. But it's yet another example of why the government would be the only beneficiary of a boat licensing program.

 

[CaptNCamille]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

Let the insurance companies handle it. First however, liability insurance should be required on all boats. As far as I know, in NY there is no state law requirement that a boat owner carry liabilty insurance on a boat. (Insurance would be required by the bank that financed your purchase, but that is not a state law requirement.) Then, if you want a discount on your premium you take a boating safety course.

 

[lowkee]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

I would be okay with requiring a free online exam for each boat captain. I sincerely doubt it would be 'free' at all, though, and it still wouldn't prevent people from doing stupid things.

No matter how many people do the right thing, there still must be someone on the water to enforce these rules are followed. Laws are nothing without enforcement. Enforcement, if performed, WILL pay for itself, as tickets run from $50 to $2,000. If someone writes a ticket for $50 5 times per day, he will have paid his salary plus fuel and boat maint costs. On a busy lake, there would be plenty of 'profit' to pay for not-so-busy lakes or slow (read: safe boater) days.

The only reason enforcement doesn't happen is threefold:

1: police (and prosecutors) like tickets for 'sure' things, like speeding or DUI, where them going to court won't be a requirement and witnesses aren't involved.

2: if government gets involved, you just know they will create this mound of red tape and a whole new department to waste the money which could be used to hire more boat patrol people.

3: government (likely local, county, state and federal, none of whom would share findings or budgets) would spend years doing studies to find out what equipment each patrol needs and by the time they secure a contract to buy the equipment, it is already outdated, they are in the hole budget-wise and the entire idea gets scrapped as yet another waste of taxpayer money. Thus leaving boaters to boat like maniacs with little to no enforcement and the cycle to repeat many years later.

Driving the roads is the exact same way. Each patrol car is equipped with $100K worth of equipment, installed after millions of dollars were blown on studies, tens of thousands of dollars were spent on training for the 'what if' scenarios of even the most mundane stop, just to write a failure to use a blinker ticket (for $30). There is no way the police find that a worthwhile stop, yet thousands (likely many, many thousands) of accidents each year are caused by just that, no/last-second blinker usage. Government wants (needs as it is currently run) profit, and there just isn't enough profit in safety.

I would add the only (and i mean only not just in the abstract), the only way safety will become a priority to boaters with little regard for others is to allow ANYONE to write anyone else a ticket. You can do that simply by requiring the offense to be clearly viewable on video. You could even pay the person giving the ticket for the time it would take to appear in court, if the person went to court over it. Would there be people who made it their mission to write tickets to anyone and everyone? Absolutely. Would there be safe boating for all? Yes. The ticket nazis would also drive people to begin fighting to remove the more idiotic laws, making (likely for the first time ever) LESS laws on the books, rather than more.

 

[witenite0560]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

Some incentives are already in place. Most insurance companies already ask, when you apply, if you have a boating education certificate. If you do, it lowers your rate. btw, here in Idaho the course is available on line for free. It only costs you $15 when you take the test and you can take practice tests for free. I know the course is something that Idaho Parks and Rec has subscribed to, so I'm sure it's available in other states, too.

http://www.boat-ed.com/id/index.htm

Unfortunately, it's proven that we can't regulate or teach common sense and some folks just don't get it. Let them pay the fines and costs, not the folks who follow the rules. Yes, I do agree, liability insurance should be mandatory. There again, just like with automobiles, some people will ignore it and take their chances and the rest of us pay the price. I say, hit'em hard when they're caught!

 

[109jb]

Re: Education Requirement for Rec Boat Operators

And I suppose you never see this kind of ignorance in your car.? All licensed drivers you come accross fully know and obey the proper laws, and never require you do the incorrect thing to make up for thier ignorance....?

But how bad would it be if drivers licenses weren't required. Forget drivers education and licensing. Just throw keys to the just turned 16 year old and let him loose. Does that make any sense??? If you answered no, then think about boats. A person with absolutely no boating experience can go buy a boat, immediately go drop it in the water and start tearing up the water. All without even the slightest hint of any type of education and it is all perfectly legal. In many states you can do this and not even have insurance. Doesn't make a damn bit of sense to me.