On Wed, 09 May 2007 00:00:23 +0000, Larry wrote:

"Leanne" wrote in :

Just because I am over 70, you want to take my boat away? I will admit
that the reason I bought my little ketch 11 years ago was because
being a split rig makes it a lot easier to handle the sails. I guess
it is time for me to join the stink potters and but a trawler.


Leanne




Not at all! I never said that! I said that IF you want to go offshore,
expecting young rescuers to risk their lives to save you, you MUST be
certified to be in a certain physical condition...or...failing
that...MUST have certifiable seamen aboard able to handle the boat during
your incapacitation or in overwhelming emergencies. Noone's gonna take
your boat toy away from you.

But, let's be reasonable just for a change, this hermit-on-a-boat crap
you see on every dock, the old man with the heart condition sailing with
his clueless wife who is, at best, an "informed passenger" and servant,
"and the world can kiss my ass" attitude IS endangering lives, besides
their own. Those boys in the helo deserve more respect and to be treated
better than just cannon fodder for some old fool hell bent on killing his
family....at all costs.

There DOES come a time, at some point, where EVERY ONE OF YOU needs to be
told NO, if you're so self-centered you cannot see the danger you're
putting yourself, and these rescuers/other boaters/etc. in.

This boat stupidity of just having money, being totally blind and driving
the Hatteras 58 away from the dock is JUST STUPID!

Larry

The problem is, Larry, that having a license is not any kind of a
guarantee that you will do what you should. Look at the people that
drive big boats. To get a Master's or Chief Engineer's papers is a
long and painful process, far more extensive then it would be feasible
to require an amateur sailer to go through. Yet having spent the years
at sea and sat the tests government licensed ships crew screw up --
frequently. Can you say Valdez?

Now, having said that, I concur that if you want to go to sea then the
monkey is on your own back and you should be able to take care of
yourself. But Licenses?

Let me give you just one example: I spent much of last year in
Singapore where ALL individuals who operate a boat that is powered by
an engine are required to have a license and I can assure you that the
Marine Police continually check for unlicensed operators.

One day I arrived at the Marina and saw a bunch of the guys standing
around a 25 ft. power boat on a cradle. Walked over and the boat had a
big hole in the bow. Says to the Fiberglass Guy that's stand there,
"what's this then?" He pointed to the bow and said, "see the green
paint?" It turned out that the owner/operator had programmed a buoy as
a waypoint into his chart plotter and was coming home after dark and
the buoy was right where it was supposed to be..... But, he had a
license.


Bruce in Bangkok
(brucepaigeatgmaildotcom)

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