Couple, mid-50s, no practical bluewater experience, no real practical sailing experience per se, retired, buys bluewater cruiser and outfits and refits for passagemaking, imbibes sufficient "grape" to point of passing out at night, haven't sailed enough together to develop "crew concept," but otherwise get along ok, depends solely on electronics and has no appreciation for or expertise with paper charts and rudimentary navigation skills, has cancelled health and boat insurance so can maintain $1,500/month lifestyle. Plan on cruising Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, maybe the Virgins, possibly up East Coast and into the Great Lakes. Has pretty much hired everything done on the boat, no rigging, electrical or mechanical experience to speak of. One member of this team reads voraciously and believes that's all that is necessary. Has potential to figure out they might know less than they think they do at some point, but really don't want to listen to anyone who offers contrary opinions even tho those offering opinions and/or suggestions/recommendations have either USCG licenses or quite a bit of ocean-going, bluewater passage making experieince. Seems hell-bent on learning all of it the hard way. Ok; y'all's opinions. Am I overly concerned about these peoples' welfare; being too much of a mother hen or what? Thanks to all.
- Status
Maybe they will run out of money!
Bob: If they are lucky, they may run out of money now that the stock market is down. This will cause them to have to go back to work for a couple of year to build up the kitty. In the mean time they can lean what they need to before they kill each other. Another Idea! Sabotage their boat, jsut little things like running down their batteries when they are not there, syphon their fuel out etc etc. This should kill their over confidence and rethink their journey to HELL. TELL them DOn'T GO, DON'T you're gonna DIE!
Bob: If they are lucky, they may run out of money now that the stock market is down. This will cause them to have to go back to work for a couple of year to build up the kitty. In the mean time they can lean what they need to before they kill each other. Another Idea! Sabotage their boat, jsut little things like running down their batteries when they are not there, syphon their fuel out etc etc. This should kill their over confidence and rethink their journey to HELL. TELL them DOn'T GO, DON'T you're gonna DIE!
Then There's "Dumb Luck"
A few years ago a (formerly) single-handed OPEN fishing boat (about 25ft x 7ft beam x , say 2 ft draft), flat bottomed, with an open ended "wheel house" (windshield and two sides) went from Japan to just off the coast of the Queen Charlottes near Dixon Entrance - with nobody on it. With the right boat and a certain amount of dumb luck maybe you can do it. I'm always amazed at how many drunks have unbelievable car accidents and walk away scott free. On the other hand, several years ago we were rafted onto a Tyana 52 in mint condition in Barkley Sound. A couple years later they T-boned at night off of Cabo by a freighter and sank in a couple minutes. The skipper was still trying to undo the liferaft while 15ft underwater and they lived to talk about it. Maybe a few good books and a jug the night before might have prevented this? Tell em' GOOD LUCK! P.S. Bob: If this was written by someone else I probably wouldn't have responded.
A few years ago a (formerly) single-handed OPEN fishing boat (about 25ft x 7ft beam x , say 2 ft draft), flat bottomed, with an open ended "wheel house" (windshield and two sides) went from Japan to just off the coast of the Queen Charlottes near Dixon Entrance - with nobody on it. With the right boat and a certain amount of dumb luck maybe you can do it. I'm always amazed at how many drunks have unbelievable car accidents and walk away scott free. On the other hand, several years ago we were rafted onto a Tyana 52 in mint condition in Barkley Sound. A couple years later they T-boned at night off of Cabo by a freighter and sank in a couple minutes. The skipper was still trying to undo the liferaft while 15ft underwater and they lived to talk about it. Maybe a few good books and a jug the night before might have prevented this? Tell em' GOOD LUCK! P.S. Bob: If this was written by someone else I probably wouldn't have responded.
This is a little freaky
Steve, you're almost scary! I'm sure everyone is familiar with the big Enron flop here in Houston. These folks had a lot of Enron stock and they were talking the other night about maybe having to go back to work for a few more years because of the Enron collapse! Maybe God's moving in mysterious ways! And, John, my curiosity is up; why if someone else had written this you might not have responded? Also, that's plenty scary about being 15 ft under water trying to get the life raft free and still survived! Lucky they didn't get chopped up by the screws on that freighter!
Steve, you're almost scary! I'm sure everyone is familiar with the big Enron flop here in Houston. These folks had a lot of Enron stock and they were talking the other night about maybe having to go back to work for a few more years because of the Enron collapse! Maybe God's moving in mysterious ways! And, John, my curiosity is up; why if someone else had written this you might not have responded? Also, that's plenty scary about being 15 ft under water trying to get the life raft free and still survived! Lucky they didn't get chopped up by the screws on that freighter!
Answer to Bob
Well, I had to do a "site check" for Yaga - apparently you are not the person who sailed form Texas to Baltimore in Yaga, it was Mickey McHugh. It was a really good story and probably even more exciting to sail. Sorry for the mixup. It's been a long stressful week and if that isn't enough, now my computer has a blue screen. Still think those people need LOTS OF LUCK!
Well, I had to do a "site check" for Yaga - apparently you are not the person who sailed form Texas to Baltimore in Yaga, it was Mickey McHugh. It was a really good story and probably even more exciting to sail. Sorry for the mixup. It's been a long stressful week and if that isn't enough, now my computer has a blue screen. Still think those people need LOTS OF LUCK!
Reply to John
Hey, no problem! Sorry wasn't the fella you were thinking I am, but, if it matters any, I've sailed from Houston to Grenada and back through the Florida Straits, the Bahama Channel, Providenciales and on down through St. Thomas, the Virgins, Lesser Antilles and West Indies and have watched the Green Flash from Mallory Square more times than I can remember!!
Hey, no problem! Sorry wasn't the fella you were thinking I am, but, if it matters any, I've sailed from Houston to Grenada and back through the Florida Straits, the Bahama Channel, Providenciales and on down through St. Thomas, the Virgins, Lesser Antilles and West Indies and have watched the Green Flash from Mallory Square more times than I can remember!!
Experience is Good
Bob - Those are some really good passages and that experience is good. Sometimes it's hard to convey that to others, though. Wind and waves can be wierd; I've seen 35 knots that was a piece of cake and then I've been in 25 knots that was really knarley and just wanted out. Last summer comming back through the inside passage, at night and in rain, we turned to go into our anchorage and were almost T-boned by a huge seiner running near shore without any running lights. It was a wood boat and he basically didn't show up on the radar. And a couple years ago, traveling through pea soup fog, I almost ran into a barge - also made of wood - that didn't show up on the radar. It was on a mooring buoy at about my 11-o'clock, just behind my mast shadow. After awhile all these experiences add up. That's one reason why I gave up flying!!
Bob - Those are some really good passages and that experience is good. Sometimes it's hard to convey that to others, though. Wind and waves can be wierd; I've seen 35 knots that was a piece of cake and then I've been in 25 knots that was really knarley and just wanted out. Last summer comming back through the inside passage, at night and in rain, we turned to go into our anchorage and were almost T-boned by a huge seiner running near shore without any running lights. It was a wood boat and he basically didn't show up on the radar. And a couple years ago, traveling through pea soup fog, I almost ran into a barge - also made of wood - that didn't show up on the radar. It was on a mooring buoy at about my 11-o'clock, just behind my mast shadow. After awhile all these experiences add up. That's one reason why I gave up flying!!
Back to the original question...
Are you being too much of a mother hen? No, you're simply being more rational and realistic than the couple in question. But there's not a damn thing you can do about it if they're really set on learning the hard way. I have three teenagers. Do you think they listen to me and learn from my mistakes??? These folks either really WILL learn, and live to tell about it, or they'll get in a serious accident or get lost at sea or something. At least they'll be sailing........................
Are you being too much of a mother hen? No, you're simply being more rational and realistic than the couple in question. But there's not a damn thing you can do about it if they're really set on learning the hard way. I have three teenagers. Do you think they listen to me and learn from my mistakes??? These folks either really WILL learn, and live to tell about it, or they'll get in a serious accident or get lost at sea or something. At least they'll be sailing........................
MY TWO CENTS
WOW!!! Unfortunately, this story repeats itself any number of times every year. Amazingly, most of these earstwhile sailors live through the experience if they don't give up first. Not to get political, but this story is a perfect example of why we need licensing/testing of EVERYONE who owns or operates a boat. Just like those drunks who walk away scott free from a terrible crash, many times inexperienced, untrained boaters (I wish I could put all the blame on powerboaters, but know that isn't true) either survive an accident or cause one and have absolutely not a clue what happened. I spent 24 years in the Navy dodging clueless boaters in the Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere. OK, off my soapbox. How about posting this couples itinerary w/ time frame so the rest of us can plan to be doing something safer than sailing (like driving in downtown DC at rushhour) when they are in our areas?!! Seriously, I applaud your concern and encourage you to continue your efforts on their behalf. Maybe show them some of these postings. It's one thing to learn how to knit by reading a book but another to take a large sailboat offshore w/ no training or experience. Good Luck and thanks on everyone's behalf. Tim Leighton
WOW!!! Unfortunately, this story repeats itself any number of times every year. Amazingly, most of these earstwhile sailors live through the experience if they don't give up first. Not to get political, but this story is a perfect example of why we need licensing/testing of EVERYONE who owns or operates a boat. Just like those drunks who walk away scott free from a terrible crash, many times inexperienced, untrained boaters (I wish I could put all the blame on powerboaters, but know that isn't true) either survive an accident or cause one and have absolutely not a clue what happened. I spent 24 years in the Navy dodging clueless boaters in the Chesapeake Bay and elsewhere. OK, off my soapbox. How about posting this couples itinerary w/ time frame so the rest of us can plan to be doing something safer than sailing (like driving in downtown DC at rushhour) when they are in our areas?!! Seriously, I applaud your concern and encourage you to continue your efforts on their behalf. Maybe show them some of these postings. It's one thing to learn how to knit by reading a book but another to take a large sailboat offshore w/ no training or experience. Good Luck and thanks on everyone's behalf. Tim Leighton
The problem with "just go"
I think that the voratious reader read the "drop the dock line and just go" phrase one too many times. One of two things will happen, they will go and have a great time or they will go and have a miserable time. Either way, in my opinion, they should spend some time learning a little more about the basics, that may help them to have a great time. Other question, have you pointed them towards chartering as a "taste" of cruising? If they take that suggestion, I'm glad it's not my boat in the charter fleet. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
I think that the voratious reader read the "drop the dock line and just go" phrase one too many times. One of two things will happen, they will go and have a great time or they will go and have a miserable time. Either way, in my opinion, they should spend some time learning a little more about the basics, that may help them to have a great time. Other question, have you pointed them towards chartering as a "taste" of cruising? If they take that suggestion, I'm glad it's not my boat in the charter fleet. Regards. Bruce Neon Moon
It looks too easy
Pretty scary. If these people are close to you, why don't you suggest that they take a USCG "Safety at Sea" seminar, and read some books on heavy weather sailing. You said that one of the persons reads everything, so a good book on heavy weather sailing for a holiday gift might be a blessing to them. While I don't agree that licensing is the way to help eliminate untrained boaters, I do believe that education is a must. I like required training before taking a boat on the water, but don't like the governments putting their hands in our pockets in the name of boating safety. Why don't you suggest that they take a USPS or CGA basic boating course? I like the USPS courses and I am a member with a 'full certificate' having taken every course from seamanship to celestrial navigation. Unfortunately, just telling them about the dangers probably won't phase them. You really have to BE THERE (just once) in a 50 kt wind and 35' seas before you will believe. Rich
Pretty scary. If these people are close to you, why don't you suggest that they take a USCG "Safety at Sea" seminar, and read some books on heavy weather sailing. You said that one of the persons reads everything, so a good book on heavy weather sailing for a holiday gift might be a blessing to them. While I don't agree that licensing is the way to help eliminate untrained boaters, I do believe that education is a must. I like required training before taking a boat on the water, but don't like the governments putting their hands in our pockets in the name of boating safety. Why don't you suggest that they take a USPS or CGA basic boating course? I like the USPS courses and I am a member with a 'full certificate' having taken every course from seamanship to celestrial navigation. Unfortunately, just telling them about the dangers probably won't phase them. You really have to BE THERE (just once) in a 50 kt wind and 35' seas before you will believe. Rich
Mid-course Response
I'm rolling all over the floor laughing at some of the advice y'all are sending! Frankly, I've done some of those things...sailed in fog, rain, high seas, low seas, been surprised passing something in said fog, rain, dark that didn't see til right as I was passing it, driven in DC rush-hour traffic, don't charter my boat and I FLY for a living!!! So, I can relate! This really is pretty good advice I'm getting and I enjoy the validation of my position by sailors from all walks and levels. I kinda have the sneaky suspicion that one good blow that gets 'em seasicker than hell might go a long way toward revising their expectations as well as their estimations of their own experience levels. Let's all hope so.
I'm rolling all over the floor laughing at some of the advice y'all are sending! Frankly, I've done some of those things...sailed in fog, rain, high seas, low seas, been surprised passing something in said fog, rain, dark that didn't see til right as I was passing it, driven in DC rush-hour traffic, don't charter my boat and I FLY for a living!!! So, I can relate! This really is pretty good advice I'm getting and I enjoy the validation of my position by sailors from all walks and levels. I kinda have the sneaky suspicion that one good blow that gets 'em seasicker than hell might go a long way toward revising their expectations as well as their estimations of their own experience levels. Let's all hope so.
One Man's Dream
Bob, Your scenario reminded me of a canoe trip I was on three years ago in Northern Saskatchewan, 400 km from the nearest community, 300 km from the nearest road. The country is 80% water, 20% swamp,little relief and alive with misquitos. No VHF, no SSB. Not unlike an offshore trip excluding the bugs. My partner and I had planned this trip for more than a year, and after 10 days on the water we had not seen another sole and did not expect to. Mid morning we had a problem to deal with. A forest fire (one of the hazards of wilderness travel) was looming up ahead on our route. We stopped to reconnoiter from a small rise and spotted a small canoe approaching in the distance. The voyagers were a very decrepid looking young couple from Germany who had never been to Canada before and had never canoed before. Purchased a beat up 15 footer, and rounded up 4 or 5 plastice pails for their "gear", a bow and arrow (honest)and set off. The only meat that they had eaten in days was one rabbit. They were living on fish. The only map they had was a beat up AAA Road map which didn't cover the area and no tent. They were using a tarp. They had no idea where they were, except that they were pretty sure that they were on the right side of the divide and that if they kept following the creeks and streams eventually they would arrive at Lake Athabasca. They asked if we knew how far that might be. (They did have compass of sorts) After a discussion about the dangers of forest fires, my partner and I retreated to an island on the lake while the fire burned out. Our German friends carried on for a closer look. We never saw or heard from them again and I often wonder were they ended up. Clearly he was having the trip of his life living his dream of being a wilderness explorer. His partner, while she didn't complain was obviously terrified. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
Bob, Your scenario reminded me of a canoe trip I was on three years ago in Northern Saskatchewan, 400 km from the nearest community, 300 km from the nearest road. The country is 80% water, 20% swamp,little relief and alive with misquitos. No VHF, no SSB. Not unlike an offshore trip excluding the bugs. My partner and I had planned this trip for more than a year, and after 10 days on the water we had not seen another sole and did not expect to. Mid morning we had a problem to deal with. A forest fire (one of the hazards of wilderness travel) was looming up ahead on our route. We stopped to reconnoiter from a small rise and spotted a small canoe approaching in the distance. The voyagers were a very decrepid looking young couple from Germany who had never been to Canada before and had never canoed before. Purchased a beat up 15 footer, and rounded up 4 or 5 plastice pails for their "gear", a bow and arrow (honest)and set off. The only meat that they had eaten in days was one rabbit. They were living on fish. The only map they had was a beat up AAA Road map which didn't cover the area and no tent. They were using a tarp. They had no idea where they were, except that they were pretty sure that they were on the right side of the divide and that if they kept following the creeks and streams eventually they would arrive at Lake Athabasca. They asked if we knew how far that might be. (They did have compass of sorts) After a discussion about the dangers of forest fires, my partner and I retreated to an island on the lake while the fire burned out. Our German friends carried on for a closer look. We never saw or heard from them again and I often wonder were they ended up. Clearly he was having the trip of his life living his dream of being a wilderness explorer. His partner, while she didn't complain was obviously terrified. Peter Milne S/V Blue Heron
Licensing/Testing
This is off the subject being discussed, but I have to respond to Tim's remark about licensing and testing all boaters. In my opinion, when we hand someone a license, a lot of the time that is the end of their education, thinking that now they know everything. How many people go back and take a driving course once they receive their driver's license? This, again in my opinion, is more dangerous than the beginner knowing their limits and trying to learn as much as possible. We cannot legislate responsibility and knowledge through government licensing. The key here is continued education, not a one time minimal skills curriculum. -Roland S/V Fraulein II
This is off the subject being discussed, but I have to respond to Tim's remark about licensing and testing all boaters. In my opinion, when we hand someone a license, a lot of the time that is the end of their education, thinking that now they know everything. How many people go back and take a driving course once they receive their driver's license? This, again in my opinion, is more dangerous than the beginner knowing their limits and trying to learn as much as possible. We cannot legislate responsibility and knowledge through government licensing. The key here is continued education, not a one time minimal skills curriculum. -Roland S/V Fraulein II
Boatyard Fodder
In addition to all the points already raised, two thoughts stick out in my mind. You describe a couple on a somewhat limited budget, and as you said, "Has pretty much hired everything done on the boat, no rigging, electrical or mechanical experience to speak of." Living aboard, much less coastal and blue water sailing, can be pretty tough on the systems of even the most well found boats out there. Unless this couple starts learning to DIY on the maintance, etc. they will see there cruising kitty quickly eroded away (no matter how good the market does, go baby go...) I can remember how ticked sh-tless I was the first time I bleed the ol' yanmar. I tell myself that everything I learn to do now is in preparation for "the Day" ,maybe, that I cut the docklines. They might have given up health and boat insurance but encourage them to get tow boat insurance or something as simple as running out of diesel is going to end up costing them a months living expenses.
In addition to all the points already raised, two thoughts stick out in my mind. You describe a couple on a somewhat limited budget, and as you said, "Has pretty much hired everything done on the boat, no rigging, electrical or mechanical experience to speak of." Living aboard, much less coastal and blue water sailing, can be pretty tough on the systems of even the most well found boats out there. Unless this couple starts learning to DIY on the maintance, etc. they will see there cruising kitty quickly eroded away (no matter how good the market does, go baby go...) I can remember how ticked sh-tless I was the first time I bleed the ol' yanmar. I tell myself that everything I learn to do now is in preparation for "the Day" ,maybe, that I cut the docklines. They might have given up health and boat insurance but encourage them to get tow boat insurance or something as simple as running out of diesel is going to end up costing them a months living expenses.
A comment on licensing
Drive a car? Gotta have a license. Hunt? Hunt ducks? Fish? Fish in salt water? Scuba dive? Fly airplanes like some of the very best people on earth I know do for either a living or just for fun? All these require at the very least a modicum of formal training and licensure. Alabama several years ago manadated a Boater's Education and basic licensing course if you were going to ply the waterways in that state and the number of boating-related accidents and fatalities plummeted. By biggest angst here in Texas is that the only qualification some beer-guzzling nerf herder who never stepped foot on a deck before in his life needs to buy a 50-foot, tri-engined Cigarette and go blasting obliviously across Galveston Bay -- or some inland lakes -- is an assurance his check doesn't bounce! Bona fide, licensed captaincy and years spent out on the Big Salty under most all conditions (some quite by accident) notwithstanding, I would personally lead the charge to the nearest Texas Boater's Safety Course if our Legislature passed such a law. Without hesitation, too, I believe whether we have a formal state-required education course and licensing procedure, everyone who drives cars, boats, trains or planes needs regular recurrency training a time or two in his or her life. I leave Sunday for 3 wonderful days in balmy Wichita KS where some nicely-minded individual awaits to make my life an unspeakable hell in a flight simulator to make sure my passengers have reasonable assurance of arriving at their destinations despite the conditons alive and kicking! Of course, getting ME to their destination alive and kicking is actually the foremost thought in my mind, but then, again, that's another story! The day any one of us thinks he or she has nothing left to learn in these endeavors is the day I hope I'm sitting in the yacht club bar while that person is putting out to sea because I want to be as far away from that suicidal individual as I can possibly be! I pray God that should the day ever come that I believe that of me; that I have learned and seen it all, then that's the day God gives me that momentary glimpse of crystal clarity permitting me to toss my wings on the table and drop my anchor for the last time...for far better that, than allowing me to continue until someone gets hurt or killed with me in command.
Drive a car? Gotta have a license. Hunt? Hunt ducks? Fish? Fish in salt water? Scuba dive? Fly airplanes like some of the very best people on earth I know do for either a living or just for fun? All these require at the very least a modicum of formal training and licensure. Alabama several years ago manadated a Boater's Education and basic licensing course if you were going to ply the waterways in that state and the number of boating-related accidents and fatalities plummeted. By biggest angst here in Texas is that the only qualification some beer-guzzling nerf herder who never stepped foot on a deck before in his life needs to buy a 50-foot, tri-engined Cigarette and go blasting obliviously across Galveston Bay -- or some inland lakes -- is an assurance his check doesn't bounce! Bona fide, licensed captaincy and years spent out on the Big Salty under most all conditions (some quite by accident) notwithstanding, I would personally lead the charge to the nearest Texas Boater's Safety Course if our Legislature passed such a law. Without hesitation, too, I believe whether we have a formal state-required education course and licensing procedure, everyone who drives cars, boats, trains or planes needs regular recurrency training a time or two in his or her life. I leave Sunday for 3 wonderful days in balmy Wichita KS where some nicely-minded individual awaits to make my life an unspeakable hell in a flight simulator to make sure my passengers have reasonable assurance of arriving at their destinations despite the conditons alive and kicking! Of course, getting ME to their destination alive and kicking is actually the foremost thought in my mind, but then, again, that's another story! The day any one of us thinks he or she has nothing left to learn in these endeavors is the day I hope I'm sitting in the yacht club bar while that person is putting out to sea because I want to be as far away from that suicidal individual as I can possibly be! I pray God that should the day ever come that I believe that of me; that I have learned and seen it all, then that's the day God gives me that momentary glimpse of crystal clarity permitting me to toss my wings on the table and drop my anchor for the last time...for far better that, than allowing me to continue until someone gets hurt or killed with me in command.
Hey Bob (off topic)
A real good sailing buddy of mine got to fly that simulator last week. Be prepaired for the instructor to deploy a bucket on you when your not ready. My buddy winged over and everybody died. Steve,
A real good sailing buddy of mine got to fly that simulator last week. Be prepaired for the instructor to deploy a bucket on you when your not ready. My buddy winged over and everybody died. Steve,
Show them some pictures of empty boats drifting...
....in the Atlantic with no crew aboard, and everything eeriely in the place and condition as when they fell overboard.
....in the Atlantic with no crew aboard, and everything eeriely in the place and condition as when they fell overboard.
Licensing Concern
Washington (BIG Washington, vice little wash.) keeps bringing up the boater licensing question. There are a lot of boaters here and a certain number of them make the news every year, and when they do up comes the license discussion. On the surface this seems like a good idea. Take, say, something like the power squaderon course and pass a test then you too can drive a boat. However, many of the incidents already involve an infraction of the law. If the existing laws are not enforced, and they really aren't, what makes one think a license will improve things? Opening day of boating season, 4th of July, Memorial Day, on all these days the hot-rod boats are out buzzing around doing 60 or more and passing close by to other craft creating a dangerous situation. Where is the enforcement? How many rendezvous are there where bloody marys are the morning drinks and the skippers cast off the docklines and head for home? Where is the enforcement? There isn't any. So, with a license law we will pay for a license only to see the money disappear to the general fund and spent on who-know-what. There are numerous boating laws already. If things are so bad let them enforce the ones they got now. If someone wants to cruise the South Pacific - let em. Kinda like taking the guard rails off Tioga Pass road to eliminate bad drivers! See Tioga Pass pictures: 1. http://www.jgk.org/pictures/tioga-pass.html 2.http://www.yosemitepictures.com/canyon_view.htm 3.http://www.yosemitepictures.com/lee_vining_canyon.htm 4.http://www.swparks.com/us/travel/centralcalifornia/pictiogapass5.html
Washington (BIG Washington, vice little wash.) keeps bringing up the boater licensing question. There are a lot of boaters here and a certain number of them make the news every year, and when they do up comes the license discussion. On the surface this seems like a good idea. Take, say, something like the power squaderon course and pass a test then you too can drive a boat. However, many of the incidents already involve an infraction of the law. If the existing laws are not enforced, and they really aren't, what makes one think a license will improve things? Opening day of boating season, 4th of July, Memorial Day, on all these days the hot-rod boats are out buzzing around doing 60 or more and passing close by to other craft creating a dangerous situation. Where is the enforcement? How many rendezvous are there where bloody marys are the morning drinks and the skippers cast off the docklines and head for home? Where is the enforcement? There isn't any. So, with a license law we will pay for a license only to see the money disappear to the general fund and spent on who-know-what. There are numerous boating laws already. If things are so bad let them enforce the ones they got now. If someone wants to cruise the South Pacific - let em. Kinda like taking the guard rails off Tioga Pass road to eliminate bad drivers! See Tioga Pass pictures: 1. http://www.jgk.org/pictures/tioga-pass.html 2.http://www.yosemitepictures.com/canyon_view.htm 3.http://www.yosemitepictures.com/lee_vining_canyon.htm 4.http://www.swparks.com/us/travel/centralcalifornia/pictiogapass5.html
Reply to Steve Cook
Hey, Steve Cook! Thanks! Those guys love doing that. In the history of the program, TR's have NEVER deployed in flight -- since 1969 -- but train we must in case they do! And, the ol' 560 really wants to do the barrel when it does in the sim! Hate it when they do that!! We're supposed to keep them flying semi-straight and semi-normal! Emergency Stow switch and speed 125 KIAS til stowed! Only one of the multi-multi-part Memory Items we're s'posed to know!!! Waaaa-hooooo!!!
Hey, Steve Cook! Thanks! Those guys love doing that. In the history of the program, TR's have NEVER deployed in flight -- since 1969 -- but train we must in case they do! And, the ol' 560 really wants to do the barrel when it does in the sim! Hate it when they do that!! We're supposed to keep them flying semi-straight and semi-normal! Emergency Stow switch and speed 125 KIAS til stowed! Only one of the multi-multi-part Memory Items we're s'posed to know!!! Waaaa-hooooo!!!
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