Mandatory Life Jackets be worn
- Thread starter Alan
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I disagree with this being mandated. It should be a personal decision as to when and where one dons a PFD. I agree with mandating that they be available but not worn. Would this be only while under way ...everyone on the boat ..even while inside...while anchored out..sleeping ......doing the wild thing......no ....going too far.
Totally agree.
EDUCATION is the solution not more 'rules'.
What's next? ... the USCG entirely prohibiting 'boating' because inevitably someone dies while boating? - the perfect 'nanny state'?
The USCG needs to justify its existence (funding) by other means.
You'all need to stop wining.
Ten years from now, after boaters have gotten used to complying with being forced to wear a PFD, and revenues from ticketing those not in compliance have declined significantly,
safety conscience bureaucrats will then demand that all PFDs must have attached to them ... a whistle, flares, a flash light, emergency water, a personal EPIRB, and a water proof bag carrying a "Twinky" or other suitable nourishment.
Failure to have any of the above, properly secured to your PFD, will subject the unsafe boater to fine or imprisonment.
Revenue, 'er...Safety ... First ! !
Ten years from now, after boaters have gotten used to complying with being forced to wear a PFD, and revenues from ticketing those not in compliance have declined significantly,
safety conscience bureaucrats will then demand that all PFDs must have attached to them ... a whistle, flares, a flash light, emergency water, a personal EPIRB, and a water proof bag carrying a "Twinky" or other suitable nourishment.
Failure to have any of the above, properly secured to your PFD, will subject the unsafe boater to fine or imprisonment.
Revenue, 'er...Safety ... First ! !
Buck, ya gotta add:
required survival suits must be worn when water temperature drops below 80F and/or air temperature is below 70F.
Flip flops are NOT allowed on boats, whether stationary or moving
Sunscreen (minimum 30SPF) must be worn at all times, even when below
"Old man" hats, like Tilleys, and never baseball caps, must be worn by all boaters at all times except for from a half hour after sundown and a half hour before sunrise.
All skippers over the age of 55 must wear beards (must be gray or white, no coloring allowed!) to look nautical, including female skippers (over 75).
And, of course, all children must be above average...
required survival suits must be worn when water temperature drops below 80F and/or air temperature is below 70F.
Flip flops are NOT allowed on boats, whether stationary or moving
Sunscreen (minimum 30SPF) must be worn at all times, even when below
"Old man" hats, like Tilleys, and never baseball caps, must be worn by all boaters at all times except for from a half hour after sundown and a half hour before sunrise.
All skippers over the age of 55 must wear beards (must be gray or white, no coloring allowed!) to look nautical, including female skippers (over 75).
And, of course, all children must be above average...
So when was the last time everybody was pulled over by the USCG for something administrative? I have never been stopped by them (knock on wood) and only seen then on the bay two or three times, mostly doing the weekend warrior ships in a row stuff.
I, for one, amd not much concerned as this seems to be a very hard to enforce law. Similar to the seatbelt laws on the books.
I, for one, amd not much concerned as this seems to be a very hard to enforce law. Similar to the seatbelt laws on the books.
Hard to enforce? This is "click-it or ticket month in MD, and I got nabbed last June a block from Herrington Harbor, in front of the Happy Harbor after getting a few quick things at WM.
So bad laws are okay, as long as they're hard to enforce?
Wouldn't be at all difficult to enforce, btw. The area where I boat is often lousy with USCG and other DHS types (incl. in the air), and county Sheriff's Deputies. Not hard for them to look over, quickly assess approximate boat size, and see if everybody visible is wearing PFDs.
Seatbelt laws aren't hard to enforce, either. All the cops have to do is eyeball you and your passengers as you drive by. They regularly set up "click it or ticket" enforcement zones around here. Despite the fact they usually announce they're going to be doing it and usually have BIG SIGNS either side of the enforcement zone, people still get caught. Tho not as many as they used to, because compliance is up to something like 85% in Michigan.
We started letting the government pass laws to protect us from ourselves decades ago. (Seatbelt laws. Motorcycle helmet laws. Etc.) Now the government believes it's its duty to protect us from our own bad decisions/behaviour. Had a McD's fry lately? They taste like salted cardboard now. Another victim of "protect people from themselves" attitudes.
Jim
So a contractor pays the Government a direct fee to have the right to collect your fee, the government has no further obligation, and THAT ISN'T the most lucrative for your government?
Didn't say that... I said that private contractors give the test and can issue the card. Some $$ goes to the gov't, but not alot, I imagine.
There are some for-profit issuers, but most boating associations/schools can also qualify as testers and issuers, so getting the card becomes part of their basic boating classes.
All in all, it's actually a good mix of government and non-government players. The government occasionally gets it right.
To say the least !!! The afloat Coast Guard is very, very busy doing, and doing well, the HS and safety at sea missions and has little time to worry about this nonsense, and by extension from another thread, discharge of shower water by yachts. The real problem is that every harbormaster, "marine patrol" (whatever that is), and municipal law enforcement on the water, will be waiting to pounce on boats everywhere for violations, which of course will enrich their coffers. Thus this becomes analogous to the 55 mph speed limit. How many remember that? The 55 mph limit was simply a means by which every state police and municipal police could give out $100 tickets whenever the mood struck them since everybody drove more than 55. And btw, be assured that this power grab is not the uniformed Coast Guard's idea but rather the civilian side of the CG, which now reports to their civilian counterparts in DHS. Remember DHS? They are the guys groping your "junk" at the airport. Someday maybe we will wake up. Please respond to the BOAT US call for comments on this.
Bill,
I've been boarded twice by the CG in the past 5 years, for safety inspections; the last time was two weeks ago going into Cape Charles.
Usually I get a safety inspection in the Spring (after the first boarding), but hadn't gotten to it this year, yet.
Anyway, the Cape Charles CG guys were VERY nice. No problems at all, I showed them everything on the list before they even asked.
In fact, one of them was kinda "gee wizzz" cause he'd never been on a sailboat.... really ! ! I think maybe that's why they boarded me, so he could see the boat.
Anyway, they even helped me tie up as the wind was gusting pretty good that afternoon.
The CG guys and even most of the Marine Police are not bad guys unless you're doing something wrong.... they are just being paid to enforce the idiotic laws that the greedy politicians and bureaucrats make.
I could go on and on, but I'll stop here so that Phil doesn't spank me for talking politics. .
The few coasties that I know unofficially don't give a rat's a## if you fall over board and drown but if you are wearing a pfd it makes it easier to find your dead butt before you begin to stink. If you happen to fall off your boat and either self rescue or are rescued by fellow boaters they would rather not know. They don't need more paper work.
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