Gary, I also have recently read the statistics published by the Coast Guard related to drownings involving boating accidents as they relate to PFD'S. yes, it is true that most boating deaths involved boats under 21 feet . But upon a closer look the facts reveal that 90 percent of these deaths occur on or involving power boats. In the United States the majority of recreational power boats are under 21feet. My question is why do we as sailors have to be constantly lumped into and be regulated as a "generic boating" community. When most sailors have trained for years on learning to read wind and weather variations, Navigational Aids, a litany of knot skills, along with first aid and man over board drills,, compared to our power brethren that simply insert a key and fly down our waterways without the common courtesy of boaters wake, respect for wildlife, noise pollution, water pollution or even the rules of right of way. I constantly become frustrated by the lack of respect power boaters have when it involves sailboats.......If the law must be changed let it revolve around something that is related to the boats potential for hazard and death............ like horsepower!...or the captains compitency! On our vessel our children always wear their PFD'S I and my wife wear them when the surounding conditions justify....mostly in foul weather conditions and when the cigarette boats are cutting in front of our bow! IMHO
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Rob, where did you find the report
I would also like to look at the data and was looking around the USCG site and didn't see. Where did you find it? Jim S/V Java
I would also like to look at the data and was looking around the USCG site and didn't see. Where did you find it? Jim S/V Java
PFD
In either Sail or Sailing there was a recent article that broke down the raw numbers into more pertinent facts. Like most sailers my children, when young, always wore the PFD. We just told them it was the law and we were not going to get a ticked because they didn't want to wear one. If I singlehand I have a SOSpenders and wear it. No big deal, just common sense.
In either Sail or Sailing there was a recent article that broke down the raw numbers into more pertinent facts. Like most sailers my children, when young, always wore the PFD. We just told them it was the law and we were not going to get a ticked because they didn't want to wear one. If I singlehand I have a SOSpenders and wear it. No big deal, just common sense.
Jim, information for your reading
Here are a few links for verification of the national statistics on boating saftey....By Nation and by state. have fun. http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2002.pdf http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2001.pdf http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2001/html/chapter_06.html http://www.floridaconservation.org/law/boating/2000stats/2000Presentation_Final.pdf http://www.commanderbob.com/cbstats.html http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/02/02boatacc.htm
Here are a few links for verification of the national statistics on boating saftey....By Nation and by state. have fun. http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2002.pdf http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2001.pdf http://www.bts.gov/publications/transportation_statistics_annual_report/2001/html/chapter_06.html http://www.floridaconservation.org/law/boating/2000stats/2000Presentation_Final.pdf http://www.commanderbob.com/cbstats.html http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/02/02boatacc.htm
Disagree a Bit
Although I concede that sailing type sailors probably are at least marginally better at water skills, I doubt that most have "studied for years, etc.". Most of us took some sailing lessons over a few days or weeks and then went sailing on our own. Arkansas, and I suspect many of the other states, require some of the type training you are talking about before going out in a boat on your own. I tend to look at the spectrum of sailing type sailors as being a mix of very good sailors down to the type you are accusing the power sailors of. The power boat sailors have pretty much the same spectrum of skills. Maybe ours is shifted slightly higher, but to say that they all just turn on the key and go is a bit of exageration. I remember someone in this forum or one of the others very recently who went out and tried to sail without any training. Go talk to "Power Squadron". On my lake where there are a lot of fisherman, many retired, they probably spend as much time on the water as I do. I treat them with respect and caution. But all as that means to me is that I take my being the stand on boat with a grain of salt and I treat their fishing activities with respect. One thing which could seperate us from the power boats is the use of alchohol while sailing. Unfortunately it doesn't take much reading of this and other sailing forums to realize that this is not the case.
Although I concede that sailing type sailors probably are at least marginally better at water skills, I doubt that most have "studied for years, etc.". Most of us took some sailing lessons over a few days or weeks and then went sailing on our own. Arkansas, and I suspect many of the other states, require some of the type training you are talking about before going out in a boat on your own. I tend to look at the spectrum of sailing type sailors as being a mix of very good sailors down to the type you are accusing the power sailors of. The power boat sailors have pretty much the same spectrum of skills. Maybe ours is shifted slightly higher, but to say that they all just turn on the key and go is a bit of exageration. I remember someone in this forum or one of the others very recently who went out and tried to sail without any training. Go talk to "Power Squadron". On my lake where there are a lot of fisherman, many retired, they probably spend as much time on the water as I do. I treat them with respect and caution. But all as that means to me is that I take my being the stand on boat with a grain of salt and I treat their fishing activities with respect. One thing which could seperate us from the power boats is the use of alchohol while sailing. Unfortunately it doesn't take much reading of this and other sailing forums to realize that this is not the case.
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