Just curious...

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Tom S

Y-knot -- all depends on conditions

and circumstances. I see nothing wrong with an ice cold beer moving at 2 knots a hot windless summer day .. just don't go beyond a beer or so But every person & circumstance is different. Not that I condone this, but one of the best skippers I know could back his 48 foot racing yatch into his slip @ Huntington in cross winds and contrarian tides with a "few" Scotches under his belt. I was (and still am) impressed, especially when I know some of the most sober people in the world that scare me the "bejesus" out of me when I am on their boats and all we do is leave the harbor. Its all 'relative'. The worst are the ones that are both 'incapable' AND 'drinking' that's when I look forward to getting back tp the dock.
 
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Pete

when will people learn?

It took years and years for people to embrace the idea that drinking and driving was a bad idea.So what makes anyone think that boating and drinking is O.K.? An few more boating/drinking deaths will bring out the law makers and more new laws to try and control the small percentage of people who can not control themselves.there are already law in some states that treat BUI (boating while intoxicated) as a motor vehicle offense and will pull your drivers license,same as DUI.I'm not aware on any state that alows "open containers" while driving so it won't be long before they are not legal on a boat.Bottom line is think what would happen in court if your where involved in a boating accident and had been drinking (even one or two) how do you think it would stand in a jury trial of tea toatlers? I don't see where the pleaseue out weigths the risk.I am also amazed how many have equated drink with relaxing.Is it that much trouble to wait until back at the dock or anchorage where thing are less of an issue to open a beer or what ever.I have no problem with anyone drinking but there is a right time and place for everthing and operating a boat,car,machinery etc just does not make good sense to me.I can't ever think of a time where "conditins are suitable" to drink and operate a boat.there are just so many things that can happen so quickly that you should have all your whitts about you at all times.I'm sure that no one who has ever killed or hurt anyone driving while drinking intended it but it still happened and there a thousand and thousands of death and injury every year !
 
P

Pete

when will people learn?

It took years and years for people to embrace the idea that drinking and driving was a bad idea.So what makes anyone think that boating and drinking is O.K.? An few more boating/drinking deaths will bring out the law makers and more new laws to try and control the small percentage of people who can not control themselves.there are already law in some states that treat BUI (boating while intoxicated) as a motor vehicle offense and will pull your drivers license,same as DUI.I'm not aware on any state that alows "open containers" while driving so it won't be long before they are not legal on a boat.Bottom line is think what would happen in court if your where involved in a boating accident and had been drinking (even one or two) how do you think it would stand in a jury trial of tea toatlers? I don't see where the pleaseue out weigths the risk.I am also amazed how many have equated drink with relaxing.Is it that much trouble to wait until back at the dock or anchorage where thing are less of an issue to open a beer or what ever.I have no problem with anyone drinking but there is a right time and place for everthing and operating a boat,car,machinery etc just does not make good sense to me.I can't ever think of a time where "conditins are suitable" to drink and operate a boat.there are just so many things that can happen so quickly that you should have all your whitts about you at all times.I'm sure that no one who has ever killed or hurt anyone driving while drinking intended it but it still happened and there a thousand and thousands of death and injury every year !
 
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eds928gt

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Jun 7, 2004
91
Hunter 34 Selby Bay
Actually, Lousiana allows them.

It is perfectly legal for an adult to drink alcohol while driving in Louisiana, so long as they are not drunk. Also, the legal drinking age there is 18 for beer. I see nothing wrong with drinking while sailing, so long as the operator is not drunk. Clearly, others will disagree. That's ok so long as they do so without becoming disagreable. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
 
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eds928gt

.
Jun 7, 2004
91
Hunter 34 Selby Bay
Actually, Lousiana allows them.

It is perfectly legal for an adult to drink alcohol while driving in Louisiana, so long as they are not drunk. Also, the legal drinking age there is 18 for beer. I see nothing wrong with drinking while sailing, so long as the operator is not drunk. Clearly, others will disagree. That's ok so long as they do so without becoming disagreable. ~ Happy sails to you ~ _/) ~
 
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Rich

could be a high price to pay in some waters...

The trend in the Northeastern States is to model boating regulations on driving regulations. In New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts each state is requiring boaters to take a "boater's ed" course to get their license(called the "safe boating certificate" in Connecticut); the operator must have the license certificate with them when they're operating the boat; and these states have established minimum blood alcohol levels for operators. Operating while drunk under these regs will get you the same painful jail time and suspensions that you would get with your car; Connecticut just lowered the threshold last year to reflect the same .08 as for driving. So there's a lot to lose by thinking you drink while operating a boat, but there are also some differences. Coast Guard patrols are nonexistant in most areas of Long Island Sound these days, so the likelihood of getting caught is much less than in a car. Powerboaters, for whatever reasons of custom or culture, tend to announce their drunkenness over the VHF for everyone to hear and will probably attract Coast Guard attention long before a sailor would. Statistically speaking power boats skippered by a drunk will quickly find trouble because of speed, but a sailor may go forever without doing much damage other than dock rash to his own vessel. And admiralty law may trump the state law when the question of who is really operating the vessel comes up (a state licensed vessel owner who passes off operation of the vessel to a crewman would be responsible for any mistakes the crewman makes, but might not be liable for drunkenness if they're not at the helm and nothing else happens). That said, I like to keep some libations on board for those times after the sailing is done. I also have no problem with moderate drinking under way by my guests, but I wouldn't put anyone at the helm after they've started drinking.
 
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Rich

could be a high price to pay in some waters...

The trend in the Northeastern States is to model boating regulations on driving regulations. In New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts each state is requiring boaters to take a "boater's ed" course to get their license(called the "safe boating certificate" in Connecticut); the operator must have the license certificate with them when they're operating the boat; and these states have established minimum blood alcohol levels for operators. Operating while drunk under these regs will get you the same painful jail time and suspensions that you would get with your car; Connecticut just lowered the threshold last year to reflect the same .08 as for driving. So there's a lot to lose by thinking you drink while operating a boat, but there are also some differences. Coast Guard patrols are nonexistant in most areas of Long Island Sound these days, so the likelihood of getting caught is much less than in a car. Powerboaters, for whatever reasons of custom or culture, tend to announce their drunkenness over the VHF for everyone to hear and will probably attract Coast Guard attention long before a sailor would. Statistically speaking power boats skippered by a drunk will quickly find trouble because of speed, but a sailor may go forever without doing much damage other than dock rash to his own vessel. And admiralty law may trump the state law when the question of who is really operating the vessel comes up (a state licensed vessel owner who passes off operation of the vessel to a crewman would be responsible for any mistakes the crewman makes, but might not be liable for drunkenness if they're not at the helm and nothing else happens). That said, I like to keep some libations on board for those times after the sailing is done. I also have no problem with moderate drinking under way by my guests, but I wouldn't put anyone at the helm after they've started drinking.
 
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Elliot

I looked it up....

Reading all this made me wonder what the law is for Washington State. It's just about the same as our rules for driving. Washington [state] law prohibits anyone from operating under the influence (OUI), which means operating any vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug. Washington law states that a person is boating under the influence if he or she: * Has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 grams or greater * Is under the influence of or affected by alcohol and/or any drug.
 
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Elliot

I looked it up....

Reading all this made me wonder what the law is for Washington State. It's just about the same as our rules for driving. Washington [state] law prohibits anyone from operating under the influence (OUI), which means operating any vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug. Washington law states that a person is boating under the influence if he or she: * Has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of 0.08 grams or greater * Is under the influence of or affected by alcohol and/or any drug.
 
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Daryl2400

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Jun 3, 2004
275
- - USA
Hell I drink during club races ......

while single handling my h34, My crew is known as the "Miller Boys". I get the state and CG to inspect my boat at the marina and issue me a sticker. Then they leave me alone for the rest of the year. I think I have more trouble docking in my slip when I'm sober
 
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Daryl2400

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Jun 3, 2004
275
- - USA
Hell I drink during club races ......

while single handling my h34, My crew is known as the "Miller Boys". I get the state and CG to inspect my boat at the marina and issue me a sticker. Then they leave me alone for the rest of the year. I think I have more trouble docking in my slip when I'm sober
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

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Jun 2, 2004
3,648
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Adult Dinghy Races

I belonged to a Yacht Club that had races on tuesday evenings. We started on the lanai (porch) ran as two person teams to the dinghy dock with a sixpack of beer. We had to the rig, launch, sail the course, pull the boat, stow the gear and consume the sixpack to finish. It was a very popular event.
 
Rick Webb

Rick Webb

.
Jun 2, 2004
3,648
Hunter 23.5 Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida
Adult Dinghy Races

I belonged to a Yacht Club that had races on tuesday evenings. We started on the lanai (porch) ran as two person teams to the dinghy dock with a sixpack of beer. We had to the rig, launch, sail the course, pull the boat, stow the gear and consume the sixpack to finish. It was a very popular event.
 
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ED

when you have that colision

the first question the investigator asks is who has been drinking! that should tell you something. My lawer, my insurance company and i are out there sailing around hoping you will hit me, i need a new boat and my neck is starting to hurt thinking about it. Seriously , this is not a good thing. Most responsible clubs wont tollerate it in an event, and if they do they are probably liable too, if someone drowns or gets hurt. Here's to looking for ya!
 
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ED

when you have that colision

the first question the investigator asks is who has been drinking! that should tell you something. My lawer, my insurance company and i are out there sailing around hoping you will hit me, i need a new boat and my neck is starting to hurt thinking about it. Seriously , this is not a good thing. Most responsible clubs wont tollerate it in an event, and if they do they are probably liable too, if someone drowns or gets hurt. Here's to looking for ya!
 
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Tom S

Rich, I don't know about Mass and RI

But in New Jersey & New York you are NOT required to take a "boater's ed" course to get their license. All you need is the money to buy a boat and you are off on the water. -- Kind of funny actually ;) (1 caveat - Yes in NJ for in land waters (not tidal waters) you need to pay a few dollars to get it added to your drivers license but there is no course or anything to take). I'll say it again -- > Who is more dangerous on the water ? a) A new motorboater guido 'yahoo' going 45 knots in his go-fast boat or b)a sailor leisurely ghosting along at 2 knots with a beer under his belt. Contrary to what some might think and write here, alcohol and sailboating is not an catastrophic epidemic waiting to happen. Now everyone lets go to the FACTS and the statistics .....not innuendo and opinion...MANY MANY more people die from alcohol and MOTORBOATS . The deaths on auxilary sailboats (like what we sail) are very minimal and are very rarely contributed to alcohol (maybe that is why the Coast Guard doesn't hassle sailboaters as much) Fatality rate in 2001 is 681 out of 12,876,346 (registered) boats. Out of that 12 were on Auxilary sailboats. They don't break out how many are even partially due to alcohol (or for that matter if some were heart attacks as 2 were "non-drownings) - Some interesting reading http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2001.pdf
 
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Tom S

Rich, I don't know about Mass and RI

But in New Jersey & New York you are NOT required to take a "boater's ed" course to get their license. All you need is the money to buy a boat and you are off on the water. -- Kind of funny actually ;) (1 caveat - Yes in NJ for in land waters (not tidal waters) you need to pay a few dollars to get it added to your drivers license but there is no course or anything to take). I'll say it again -- > Who is more dangerous on the water ? a) A new motorboater guido 'yahoo' going 45 knots in his go-fast boat or b)a sailor leisurely ghosting along at 2 knots with a beer under his belt. Contrary to what some might think and write here, alcohol and sailboating is not an catastrophic epidemic waiting to happen. Now everyone lets go to the FACTS and the statistics .....not innuendo and opinion...MANY MANY more people die from alcohol and MOTORBOATS . The deaths on auxilary sailboats (like what we sail) are very minimal and are very rarely contributed to alcohol (maybe that is why the Coast Guard doesn't hassle sailboaters as much) Fatality rate in 2001 is 681 out of 12,876,346 (registered) boats. Out of that 12 were on Auxilary sailboats. They don't break out how many are even partially due to alcohol (or for that matter if some were heart attacks as 2 were "non-drownings) - Some interesting reading http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2001.pdf
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,310
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Elliot, it's a percentage not a weight

Not intending to be a nit-picker, but you should know that the .08 refers to the percentage of alcohol in the blood. This percentage is related to a person's weight. i.e. a 200 lb. person must consume approx. twice as much alcohol as a 100 lb person to achieve the same BAC (blood alcohol content).
 
Joe

Joe

.
Jun 1, 2004
8,310
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Elliot, it's a percentage not a weight

Not intending to be a nit-picker, but you should know that the .08 refers to the percentage of alcohol in the blood. This percentage is related to a person's weight. i.e. a 200 lb. person must consume approx. twice as much alcohol as a 100 lb person to achieve the same BAC (blood alcohol content).
 
C

Chuck

licenses in MA

Rich, I don't know where you got your info, but mass does not require a trainig course or a license to operate. NH has passed a law requiring an operator's certificate which you can get by taking an online test and paying a $15 fee.
 
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