Weird Proposal

[Rick D]

From Sail Magazine article:

The problem of plastic and waste in the ocean is not a new one, but a group of concerned boaters is newly invigorated about addressing its cause. "Most boaters don't want to return to docks with empties because of DUI laws" says Rudy Socha, CEO of Wounded Nature... It goes on to suggest: The most promising solution so far is for volunteers at individual marinas to record the number of bottles aboard when a boat leaves the dock and then when it returns.

Is it me or is this just nuts? It's in fact insulting to me and I am sure most other boaters. I have never observed or heard of such a practice for such a motivation. I gotta write a letter but dignifying this with a response may be foolish.

 

[justsomeguy]

Hello, Off Topic.

Yep, it's nuts.

Cheers!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Nuts, completely. Same folks who complain about the nanny state now wanna count bottles! Crazy. Not on MY boat, they won't.

 

[Alansails]

Says he tonque in cheek "More Government-Bigger bureacracy-lets take all the responsibility you take for your safety and make everybody safer-we could create another division just for that " Sorry but really???.. I do not like trash in the water/on the water as it hurts all of us but we need to take responsibility for our selves-I agree with you but I am not a wordsmith. I will take alcohol aboard our boat as well as provisions and take the emptie/trash back to shore. I believe in Karma in that when you throw that plastic empty ice bag overboard someday/somewhere you will get it back and than some. It all boils down to taking responsibility for yourself being aware of others! Thanks for letting me help you rant.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Will these volunteers be issued PFDs?

 

[Rick D]

The following is the letter I sent. it occurred to me that maybe Sail was the victim of a hoax though:


Ok, the proposal by Wounded Nature to count beverage containers at the dock when departing and when returning to fix a problem with boaters dumping beverage containers overboard is a regressive solution in search of a problem. It seems to me you have been the victim of a hoax. What else could it be? In well over 50 years of boating, I have never heard such a preposterous justification for tossing something overboard as fear of a DUI. For that matter, I can't remember the last time I saw any boater toss a container overboard, at least in the coastal oceans.

 

[Phil Herring]

This calls for a quote from Dr. Strangelove:

Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.

 

[Rick Webb]

Major Kong is One of My Movie Heros

Thanks for that one Phil

 

[jakez]

The entire thing is nuts. I wonder if the journalist chose the extreme example to quote there, or the interviewee is just pulling some stupidity out of his ass. If I were boarded or checked upon return to the marina and there were a lot of empties on my boat, unless I'm alone, it doesn't mean a thing. Not to mention, you can't be convicted of DUI because you have empty bottles on your boat. Maybe I haven't emptied the trash in a while. Just a stupid article, or stupid quote.

 

[philwsailz]

Just make sure your bottles are not cool, wet, and sweating...

 

[Calif. Ted]

beer and rum come in plastic bottles ?

 

[philwsailz]

Ahhhh....

Time for a red herring. Sea water and a little food coloring will top those bottles right back up after emptying... I still have a bogus bottle of rum in the mancave bar just for effect

 

[justsomeguy]

http://www.sailmagazine.com/news/wounded-natures-cleaning-water

I think Calif. Ted's take on this is most insightful!

 

[kloudie1]

Years ago, used to drink Dixie Beer (New Orleans local) because they were the only folks still using steel cans. I didn't feel bad about ripping the can sides and sinking them because I knew they'd not last very long in salt water. Today cans and bottles all come ashore and go into the recycling bin.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

the solution: 25 cents deposit for all cans and bottles.

 

[weinie]

I'm going to be the one guy that's going head to wind on this thread...

I can understand where this guy get's the idea from. Now don't get me wrong; I don't condone BWI nor do I suggest throwing bottles over the side.

That being said...

I often have a beer or more during a day's sail. Having a crew of two or three also contributes to the amount of empty's on board. With the coasties and local police having the ability to board and search a boat on the water without cause and at any time, there is a part of me that dreads what might go through their minds when they come across a 10 empties sitting in a 5 gallon bucket in my lazzerette.

I even insist that my guests pour their beers into plastic cups just so I don't give a passing police boat any extra reason to board us.

 

[justsomeguy]

The non-profit's raison d'etre is plastic in the ecosystem, not aluminum or glass.

It was kind of a strange leap from that, to wanting an inventory of our liquid rations.

 

[Rick D]

Response From Sail Editor

Hi Rick
Thanks for your note. I agree that the count-at-the-dock idea seems a bit ridiculous, but I also know that discarded cans are a real problem, especially as they wash up on shore. Whether or not the problem stems from fear of a DUI, I can't speak to. But I do know the folks at Wounded Nature are sincere and have a worthy mission: to clean up the shores. I wish them luck!

Sincerely
Meredith
---
Meredith Laitos
Senior Editor
SAIL Magazine

 

[Stu Jackson]

Their "logic" makes no sense. We recycle. So I bought a 24 pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Two weeks ago. I now have four bottles in the fridge and the other 20 empties in the box. What would these dopes do to me?

 

[Rick D]

But, Are WE The Problem???

Their "logic" makes no sense. We recycle. So I bought a 24 pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. Two weeks ago. I now have four bottles in the fridge and the other 20 empties in the box. What would these dopes do to me?

Well, I think everyone can agree the idea of counting beverage containers in and out is preposterous. What annoys me more is the notion that we, boaters, are complicit in them being there in the first place. Maybe it's just my area, but every boater I know would be horrified to toss a can over, or a bottle, or a plastic one. OTOH, there are tons of litter that comes washing down the river or gets tossed by beach-goers and some other low life scum that I have observed just tossing their fast food crap on the ground when a trash can is 20' away.