BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Looks like mandatory safety education for California boaters soon...

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wrote:
On 27 Jul 2006 06:40:29 -0700, wrote:

That's one of the reasons I
support requiring people to show that they at least have been exposed
to the basics.
Before I get misunderstood, I am saying I wish boating education was
more like FAA education, where yoiu have to qualify for each class of
boat you operate. That will never happen. Simply putting in some
insignificant qualification like the current driver's license is
virtually meaningless ... for cars or boats.
The driver's license is just a tax and an ID to cash checks (get on a
plane or buy a gun).
Parallel parking a Saturn in driver's ed no more qualifies you to
drive a motor home or a Hemi 300 than that power squadron evening
course at the civic center qualifies you to operate a 46' Bertram or
an 800 HP Donzi.

Hmmm, interesting, you're taking this from the other angle compared to
some other posters. I don't disagree, but I'd say it's better than
nothing - at least it seems to help, and it makes sense to me that it
would, to ensure that boaters have had at least some exposure to the
rules of the road, how to read nav aids, interpret lights, etc. It
doesn't guarantee that they won't screw up, but statistics seem to show
that it lessens the volume of problems, in states where these rules
have been introduced. You're suggesting that the licensing
requirements be even more strict and meaningful, and as you say,
that'll probably never happen.

richforman