Senility and Safety on the Water

[MattObjects]

Also I wonder if anyone in the club would want to crew for the more senior members.

This is definitely the preferred solution, and a path many other older club members have willingly taken. Of course it works best when the older member recognizes the issue and arranges his own crew or is at least receptive to the idea of having others aboard the boat.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Stu:
I have no illusions that licensing would solve all, or any, of the major problem of people operating boats who, for one reason or another, should not. I know, I know, another -- probably incompetent -- bureaucracy to deal with. Fees and tests to deal with. No one likes this kind of thing. But is it in your best interests to be out on the water, perhaps with family and friends, and have some know-nothing scare you to death -- or worse, cause you harm -- operating a boat for which he/she has no real knowledge or experience? There should be some standard boat operators need to meet to allow them to command a vessel.

 

[GGordonWoody]

It sounds like there's no stomach for imposing a mandate, so to mitigate your exposure to the "Crash-daddies" (too funny), can the club create a sort of "handi-capped" docking spot? This prestigious slip would have an honorary title, double wide berth, walkways on both sides, bright lights, plenty of thick, bright white dock edge. You could ram this spot with a tug and it might not budge. Neighboring boats within 500 ft. would be bubble-wrapped. Maybe one of the lines kicks off a Silver-Alert to notify neighboring marinas, just in case he decides to dock there?