Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

[rallyart]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

If they were to just ask for a couple of scenarios "Who has the right of way?" and "is it a criminal offence to drive while drinking?" before you picked up your new boat the world would be a better place. If you fail your paid for boat just sits there. Good incentive to learn early.
Or maybe ask randomly at the fuel docks. Those that fail could Sumo wrestle in the inflated suits for the entertainment of those inconvenienced but who knew the answer.

As an aside, in Canada you need to be 16 and have a licence to operate a jetski. I watched three people dock their jetskis one day while fuelling. The 12 year old was the one who docked perfectly, and the only one who had his PFD done up, the adult two were clueless. I guess it is most important to take the time to learn regardless of the rules.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

You are 100% correct in your assessment. And that sums up the dilemma here! Do you force all of the "Duh" people to take a course, while at the same time penalize all of the honest experienced responsible people?

All I can say is: Would you like to drive on the highway in a community where driver's education, licencing and competency testing was not required?

People will always do stupid things and disobey the law. Drunks and texters are rampant. But could you imagine how it would be if there were NO laws?

I don't think like would be the issue. I probably would do it.

I agree drivers education is important as is boater education the number of auto owners and drivers is STAGGERING. However we are comparing apples to oranges, recreational boating is not the same as getting in your car to goto work every day. true the number of boaters is increasing and as you said education is important.

However I feel that licensing and regulating the entire recreational boating community is a money grab in a poor economy. (Sorry I am not trying to make this a political issue.) Next thing you know the government is going to want to register and license all ATV owners to reduce the risk of injury and accidents as they ride off road.

SASTO, it takes a big man to admit his mistakes and one has to know humility to be able to laugh at their mistakes. I know I make mistakes all the time but they usually aren't the same ones( other than getting married. and I'll be in my sixties when my youngest child graduates high school)

 

[sasto]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

SASTO, it takes a big man to admit his mistakes and one has to know humility to be able to laugh at their mistakes. I know I make mistakes all the time but they usually aren't the same ones( other than getting married. and I'll be in my sixties when my youngest child graduates high school)

Thanks tswiczko......appearently I can't smell (sp) either. I know my mistakes more than anybody....doing the unknown can lead to failures. If I did nothing I would have never made a mistake.

Proud? Of me?.....nah

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

My Daddy always said "If you learned something from it, it wasn't a total failure"

 

[fisherguy123]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

People will always do stupid things and disobey the law. Drunks and texters are rampant. But could you imagine how it would be if there were NO laws?

I guess there are no boating laws in Illinois.......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGWiaqGjQaU

 

[GabEye]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Sorry because I might be in the wrong part of this forum to ask this - but do you also need insurance for a boat? Am (fingers crossed) going to be purchasing my first at some point this year and just wondering what I'll need. I checked out http://www.boatinsurance.org but and got some good info but couldn't find out if it was mandatory or not?!

 

[RGrew176]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Sorry because I might be in the wrong part of this forum to ask this - but do you also need insurance for a boat? Am (fingers crossed) going to be purchasing my first at some point this year and just wondering what I'll need. I checked out http://www.boatinsurance.org but and got some good info but couldn't find out if it was mandatory or not?!

The simple answer is you should have insurance.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

It's not really your boat that you're insuring, it's the damage you can cause with it to others that YOU are responsible for. Insurance is a MUST!

 

[dan t.]

Re: Do you need a boaters license in your part of the world ?

Yep,any fool can pass it and still be a fool,the real insult is that a comercial fisherman with 30+ years of experiance still has to get one. I know a few and they are more than a little Peed Off