Maxprop wrote:
Most brand new boaters are clueless as to the Colregs, or even the more
fundamental "rules of the road."

Well, sure. So are most long-term boaters!

... They buy their boats from dealers and
brokers who couldn't care less if the buyer has any knowledge at all; only
that his check won't bounce and he's creditworthy. The problem begins he
those selling boats for a living should be "encouraged" by law to provide at
least a modicum of knowledge to buyers.


WHAT!!!
And you call yourself a conservative??

The gov't should not meddle in a marketplace, and on top of that impose
legal restraints on personal actions, based on your own private
squeamishness. Another indicator pointing to your fascist tendencies.


Here I often enter heavy commerical shipping lanes therefore I want to
be sure I'm in the right incase some derelict crew or Capt. causes any
damage to my vessel. Plus I do not want to impede anyone working... or
get sliced in half by a mile long tow hauser offshore, or snag some
shrimpers net and have to buy him a new one.


IMHO it's more important to have a good knowledge of both ColRegs *and*
practical seamanship so that you not only the traffic rules but you also
can make a reasonable prediction as to what other vessels are going to
do.... and keep out of their way!

In an backwoods harbor on the N Atlantic were seldom is seen another
vessel... Moorons approch to the rules is not to far out of line for
the average weekend warrior.


I used to believe that to be true, but I've found that most boaters, after a
verbal altercation with other boaters, make the effort to discover why they
were the focus of such vitriol.

Either that, or they follow you and beat the snot right out of you.

... That's why I spare no one from verbal abuse
should they do something really stupid.

While I've done it myself, that's dumb.

... I really don't find many experienced boaters these days
with no knowledge whatsoever, apart from the rank newbie and jet ski jocks.
Most possess a fundamental set of facts and rules, and they use them
properly.


Maybe I'm just more cynical, or it may be that your boaters up North
have more time to study when they can't go out in those long winter
months. I'd say about 1/4 of the long term boaters I meet either have no
real knowledge of the rules and/or their knowledge includes enough
serious errors & misconceptions as to be dangerous rather than helpful.

Here in the Great Lakes, we seldom have need for the more esoteric Colregs,
but many of us still have a working knowledge of them. It's rare to find a
third year boater without any knowledge of the rules of right of way, etc.


Aren't you the lucky ones, then.

DSK