In article .com,
wrote:
Are you suggesting that
they have to do this on some regular basis? Not being too serious, I'd
like to see a driving test before you can operate a boat.

Now, that'd be really worth something, but I don't think we'd ever see
that. Too expensive, prohibitvely complicated
to administer (would people have to report to the docks on Saturday
mornings and wait in line for boat-driving tests with
the coast guard or something?), and politically people would probably
just never go for it.

I'm pretty politically correct, and I'd love to see it... probably
right though... not going to happen. It could be done through local
sailing schools for a state-mandated fee, but no matter how you cut
it, it would be expensive and unwieldy. I could even see something as
minimal as just taking the boat out of the slip and returning safely
to Earth. It wouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

At one point, I used my reciprocal priviledges with another
organization to rent a boat in So. Cal. That's what they had me
do... kind of a joke, but I could see their point I guess. One of
their instructors backed the boat out of the slip and handed me the
wheel. All he wanted me to do was make a big turn and dock the boat. I
said, "backward"? But, no just drive it straight in. No current, no
wind... odd for letting someone they don't know charter a $1/4 mil
boat.

If they pay any attention at all to the course, they will at least come
away with a sense of how much there is to be aware
of and to learn, that goes along with operating a boat, that they might
not have realized before if they are new to it.

One hopes...

Right now, in New York State, unless I'm incorrect, it is ONLY people
operating pwc's that, when I see them on the water,
I know they have either had a boating safety course, or if not they
will be eventually caught and ticketed.

Out here, anything goes. However, the CG and local law enforcement are
pretty visible. If you look like you know what you're doing, then they
typically don't board you. If you don't, then you're likely to have
that happen. A week or so ago, there was some guy doing a bit less
than 10 kts. near the harbor entrance... clearly marked 5 mph speed
limit. The Sheriff told him to slow down, then he was boarded by the
CG when he exited the channel. Amazing coincidence.


--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com