Seat belts, motorcycle helmets... now PFDs?

[Larry]

Give me a break

Give me a break whats next what color is my underware,mind your own bussiness. do your inspections and leave me alone got enough laws

 

[Tom S]

Tom Myers good point - lets look at the numbers

(again)A vast majority of the 681 fatalities (2001) are due to outside factors (stupidity) not just the "lack" of wearing a PFD.297 fatalities can be attributed to ---> Alchohol/Drugs/Careless/Excessive speed/no proper lookout/Operator inexperience, etc 90 fatalities can be attributed to ---> Improper loading of passengers or gear, overloading, etc26 fatalities can be attributed to ---> Machinery and equipment failure, etc126 fatalities can be attributed to ---> Hazardous waters or weather (I think most people here agree that this is the time when even the biggest boats and best sailors find it prudent to wear the PFD's -- but to mandate it at all times !?!)Also pretty interesting to note that almost 3 out of 4 of the fatalities (492) occurred on Lakes, Ponds, Resevoirs, Damns, Creeks Rivers and streams and only 41 occured on an Ocean/Gulf (But then again one must look at the # of boating hours that are being done on both for the numbers to bear any good relavent info)If you go by some logic, it makes Ocean sailing the safest bet

 

[G.F.Kellor]

"Who's on first?"

Guns don't kill people, People kill people.... Opps, wrong forum?Maybe not....Who?/What? is this 'government' that everybody is refering to in this thread???The country I was born in had a 'government' that was made up of 'legislators' that were elected to office by THE PEOPLE.I thought this country had that kind of 'government'... Seems that 'the government OF the PEOPLE, BY the PEOPLE, and FOR the PEOPLE...doesn't exist anymore. Sure, 'we' elect 'representatives' who soon don't listen to WE THE PEOPLE and make laws that benefit special interest groups that have 'LOBBYISTS' to plead their case.The trend seems to have developed within certain political philosophies that the 'common' man isn't able to make his own decisions and thus laws need to be made by 'lawyers' (most legislators have 'law' experience)SO, who do you think is really going to benefit from any 'law'?... The 'special interest' groups that have the bucks to influence the 'representatives of the PEOPLE' into making laws that 'protect' the stupid common man....us... but in actuality put more money in the pockets of those who pay the lobbyists (insurance companies, PFD mfgs, lawyers etc.) to influence the 'legislators' to make the laws.... In the 60's there was an organization that had a slogan: "Less government, more individual responsibility." Apparently few people cared to consider that idea. We wouldn't be where we are if it would have been a popular concept.COMMON SENSE??? (an old Missouri preacher defined that as: "something a jackass wouldn't do".)Now, THAT'S a subject that should be taught in the schools...but I doubt there are many 'educators' that have the foggiest idea of what COMMON SENSE might be, let alone be given the responsiblity to teach it to the younguns. In a nutshell, no more stupid bureaucrats treading into territory they know little or nothing about !!! NO manditory PFD's !!!!

 

[Tom Evanko]

Wearing PFD's

As a retire BM1 from the Navy, it is my beleive that everyone should be wearing PFD's on boats under 50'. It is required in the Navy, even on larger boats.

 

[Jim]

PFD's? Huh!

There are too many people buying and operating boats with no clue how to. These people should be required to wear PFD's, and in fact take whatever course would discourage them from even using boats until they learn some common sense.We have a friend with a 28 foot power boat that has a GPS with all the toys. He does not have a clue how to use it. He also has PFD's but can't tell you where they are or why they should be used.Reading a chart, he doesn't even own one. So the well meaning laws will not make a difference.:{

 

[Ellis David Hay]

bring them back alive

safety rather then pride, ego or ruin your style

 

[Brad Newell]

Gov interference?

My inclination was to vote for "captain's discretion". The problem I have is a lot of "captains" sentencing their children to death because they (the captains) are too stupid to realize the dangers inherent in small-boat activities. I would make it mandatory for children under 18. If they are old enough to vote, they are old enough take the risk. Being free to tweak Mother Nature's nose a little is part of life.

 

[Gary]

About time on PFD's

As a memeber of the Coast Guard I have seen to many deaths where pfd's could have saved lives.

 

[Brad Newell]

just a comment

People tend to be a little more cautious off-shore. Anyone on the foredeck off-shore, who is not a little apprehensive, doesn't understand the situation.

 

[Harsh]

How many sailboats????

"85% under 21feet".....I would like to know the amount of deaths in sailboats. I wear a PFD like anyone in the wind but in a starwind 19 I'm not pushing the speed envelope.

 

[Keith]

USCG report

Types of Casualties By Types of VesselsThree hundred and fifty-two (352) fatalities occurred with the use of open motorboats, justover half of all boating fatalities. One hundred and one (101) people lost their lives while usingcanoes/kayaks in 2001. Approximately ninety-three (93) percent of canoe/kayak deaths werecaused by drowning. Fifty (50) fatalities occurred with the use of Personal Watercraft (PWC),the lowest number of PWC fatalities reported since 1993.I just seen this on the USCG site and noticed a type of boat missing ...SAIL BOATS!!!!!!!Maybe some of us do have a clue and aren't brain dead from exhaust fumes.

 

[George H260]

You cannot legislate common sense

I am sorry, but the USCG is off base. You cannot legislate common sense. If your male harmones keep you from putting on a PFD and your lack of common sense keeps you from ensuring your children wear PFD's at the appropriate times, this legislation will not achieve its goals. Perhaps more publicity about the types and numbers of accidents, weather/sea conditions, etc. might help.

 

[Sam Clemens]

Let's not be sheep

First the size of the boat has little to do with how safe you are in it.A stable 20ft work platform in a dead calm is more stable than a 40 footer in a steep 20 ft. sea and you there is less chance you will fall overboard.You need take some precautions acoording to the circumstance.Yes that's where the captain part comes in.Second counting percentage of people dying from not having life jackets on(or second hand smoke for that matter) is a joke . No doubt they are counting every fatality that didn't have a life jacket on but didn't account for how many of those people would have died from over exposure anyway. The ocean can be a dangerous place , the Navy lost more destroyers from the ocean than from the enemy in WWII.Third, Why are some people so eager to give their rights away to the goverment and assume that everyone needs their lives to be guided because someone came up with some numbers.Forth If you think you can make boating as safe as a Disneyland ride your fooling yourselves , it never will be, maybe only let people go out on flat calm days, maybe that's next.P.s. I'm a ex-cop that enforced laws , I do know there has to be laws but lets not turn into sheep.

 

[Barry C]

Carol's Law

I am suprise at the number of people who are against trying to save lives. I can only guess that many of those who are wincing at even opening a debate on mandatory PFD's are some of the ones that claim seatbelts take more lives than they save. Or maybe your one of those who drive around with out there kids in seatbelts or worse sitting on a tailgate as they drive around. (just so you know if you fall into either of those categories I have a cell phone and call 911 with your license plate number). Any ways as to Carol's Law - if I'm out under power by myself like to go fishing. no PFD required. If however I am solo sailing I have to wear one. If common sense was standard equipment this would not be an issue. However too many times a year someone goes out when they should stay in or doesn't grab that life jacket when the waters and weather churn up. The overall fact that some of the right wingers and libertarians don't want to accept is this -with each safety regulation we keep insurance costs down. See you on the Chesapeake I'm the one wearing his PFD. Barry C of Casey's Dream

 

[Larry Taborek]

Statistics

Although I cannot find the online statistics for 2004, I was able to find them for 2000. Were basically talking about 5 deaths per 100,000 boats per year. Thats about .0005% chance of having a fatility, which is a pretty low figure. Also, some of the statistics are muddied. Many more deaths happen in the fall and winter, suggesting hyperthermia. Although wearing a PFD might keep the victum afloat, they still might scumb to the effects of the cold. Also, many of the victiums were operating their boats in a unsafe manner, or under the influence. If wearing PFD's were made maditory, then its precisly these law breakers that are NOT going to be wearing a PFD, and maditory requirements will not help them. In short, I'm not sure that PFD's would save all the lives that the CG has stated would be saved if wearing PFD's were made maditory.I think that the CG office of safty has written some very good guidance governing the requirement for kids to have PFD's on. I salute them for their continuing effort to give guidance on the use of PFD's, but I don't believe that the statistics warrent the case for manditory usage.

 

[Sid Ballantyne]

KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OFF MY BOAT

In my humble opinion we have enough laws and rules and regulations about everything these days. Allow people to use common sense about their activites, the government does not need to be involved. Anyone who drowns because they were not wearing a PFD removes one more idiot from the gene pool anyway. KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OFF MY BOAT!!

 

[Sinbad]

Hey, Bubba, hand me another one

The jackets make great seat cushions and if oyu wore them, it would ruin the tan. If you die, your family has another thing to get rid of. Seriously, with the advancements in PFD's, wear it!!

 

[KenS]

21' What?!

A lot of boats are under 21'. Fishing, ski, runabouts, PWCs. Where dose it say anything about the sailing craft being in these stats?I have ben involved with the aiding and assisting of numerous fisherman whom ignore weather conditions, sea state and boat condition just to catch dinner. I have never had to rescue a sailor for any of these reasons. I think more boat type deffinition needs to go into the CG study. Also, in support of many others, I feel legislation agenst stupidity is futil. Education is the only posible solution.

 

[Tom S]

Anybody that is asking questions about statistics

and numbers etc, etc. OBVIOUSLY haven't been reading my posts.(lol... )All you want to know is here http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/boating_statistics_2001.pdf "Know the truth and the truth will set you free"Harsh of Dallas out of the ~500 drownings only about 14 were on Sailboats (no engine so I assume they were mostly under 21 feet) and 10 were from Auxiliary sailboats. (and some of them were wearing PFD's)And Tom Evanko, with all due respect to you and your service in the Navy you must remember we ARE NOT in the navy and are not subject to the regulations in such. You are in the service of this country and its the duty of the CO to ensure the safety of his peopleIt is up to the skipper and his decision, while I sail my boat, its my decision. THAT is what this country is about. If you don't want to be on my boat, no ones forcing you to.Have you read all the others comments?If its 95 degrees and 3 knots of wind & no waves and I'm on protected body of water why should I have to wear a PFD ? Why don't you just mandate everyone that goes swimming at the beach wear a PFD ?I'm not saying I never wear a PFD and when conditions warrant it, I do. But to mandate 7x24x365 is ludicrous.And all you people that think wearing a pfd is the only way to sail, then I say "Good for You....Wear one", we are not stopping you, but when you think it should be mandatory that I wear one at ALL times you are nuts.  ---- I'll say it one more time --- Its not our countries job to protect us from ourselves -- but rather from others -- Our Founding Fathers are rolling over in their gravesIf you want to be a lemming, then "go for it", but don't drag us other boaters over the cliff of over protective government. It **IS** weakening our society to take away personal responsibilities from people.My wearing a PFD should have NO impact on you --- NONE WHATSOEVER -- The only people that should care whether I wear a PFD is my family and my insurance company.

 

[Kent]

Another vote for Mexico

I never reply to these things, but... I am glad that my home port is in the 'Land of Mañana'. I am getting pretty tired of the 'new government' regulations in MY country. I don't think it is anymore their right to mandate that an adult wear a PFD, then it is their right to tell me to wear a helmet. If I fall in the drink and drown from not wearing a PFD it is of my own stupidity, and I will fight tooth and nail for the right of all people with poor judgement. FREEDOM OF CHOISE. People with poor judgement seem to be the overwealming majority of our country, don't believe me? just look how high Bush's poll numbers are.