On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 10:54:47 -0500, G. Richard Stidger
wrote:

I think the point is- If we just pay the $300 fee, what next? $400,
600? Where will it end? If the Bahamas can get away with it, maybe
other countries will try it too?


it happened on Everest simply because they realized they could charge as
much as they wanted and somebody would pay.Fees went from $5 to$25
to....$65,000USD to vist and climb and the numbers of people have risen
exponentially!
Same revenue and less paperwork. Unfortunately people of moderate income
don't count when fees are assessed.

I don't understand why marinas, suppliers, and now countries think
that boaters have UNLIMITED deep pockets.

step outside of 'our' world for a moment. The majority of people in the
world are struggling to make ends meet and feed a family, not struggling
to sail their recreational sailboat into someboy elses waters at the hosts
expense.
Your naive view is unfortunately very prominant in the USA and many parts
of Europe, "let them eat cake". We are all very wealthy cf the people that
inhabit the cruising grounds. Unfortunately the 'graft' never gets to the
needy, but still, if we can afford a boat and have the time to recreate in
tropical waters we are rich!

There are probably some,
but it certainly isn't me.

yes, it is you...and me. We aren't Bill Gates but we are in the 90
Percentile on a worldwide basis. Have you traveled and, more importantly,
have you _noticed_ how most people live in these 'playgrounds'? If you
noticed. did you care?


I would never consider going to Bahamas with this BS fee. I would
find another place to go.

Come to Canada, if you fall off your boat drunk we will send search and
rescue to pick you up, dry you off and tow your boat back to port. All at
taxpayers expense. Hell, even if you are balooning around the world and
fall inbto aframers field we will dispatch a hercules and a fleet of
helicopters to deliver your champaign and drag your ballon back home for
you...while there are real emergencies happening to fishermen at the same
time. We have set a presidence that cannot be met by most other
countries...we get spoiled!


Send them a message. Vote with your pocketbook.

Rich

the irony of your name is too sweet and Rich!
rick

"Jerry" wrote:

Steve - what boycott are you talking about? The "I'm too cheap to pay
$300"
boycott?

There are a lot of non-mega boats over here. Can't say that any of my
favorite anchorages are that much thinner in population. I was hoping
that
the $300 would keep out a few more.


"Steve" wrote in message
...
I guess, what I'm saying is, find an alternative until they come to
their
senses. I doubt that it would take more than one season to get their
attention..

I'm sure there will still be some Mega Boat with Mega Buck owners who
would
still 'cross the boycott line' and that hurts. They probably welcome
our
boycott since that means few boats in the anchorages and butts in the
bars.

Me? I'm on the west coast and haven't been to the Bahamas since 1971.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions







--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/