"Phil Abuster" wrote in message
...

"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
...
Please excuse my ignorance in posing this question. As a UK sailor of
many
years experience in racing and cruising yachts, I am curious to know,
since
the subject rarely turns up, whether our US cousins have a similar series
of
qualifications to those administered in the UK by the Royal Yachting
Association (Yachmaster, at various levels).

I am not extolling the virtues of such "official"qualifications, indeed
many
UK sailors think they are less than useful, just curious to know if such
training and examination facilities exist in the US, as the subject never
seems to be discussed in this NG.

Dennis.



You Brits have America beat hands down. Just look at some of the training
available in your country:

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/02/...-the-martinis/

Our Coast Guard/Navy is too busy dealing with Islamophobic paranoia and
incompetent boaters. There should be strict licensing of anyone who takes
to US waters and with that licensing should be rigorous training and
qualification. Currently, licenses are passed out too freely and the
taxpayer bears the brunt of the expenses.

=========================

Here we go again :::: Licenses?
li·cense (lº"s.ns) n. 1.a. Official or legal permission to do or own a
specified thing. b. Proof of permission granted, usually in the form of a
document, card, plate, or tag.

Why are you so quick to give up your constitutional right of FREEDOM? Do
you think the license

requirement is for safety? YOu are dumber than a stump.. it is TAXATION,
pure and simple.

Where does all the boat registration money go? Boater education? Not up
here.. it goes in the

pocket of Mr Politician, the fat asshole who gets the big fat paycheck and
the big fat retirement.



Benjamin Franklin
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve
neither liberty or security"

"Sir Thomas of Cannondale" wrote in message
news:6GUxj.2$Td2.0@trndny08...
=========================

Here we go again :::: Licenses?
li·cense (lº"s.ns) n. 1.a. Official or legal permission to do or own a
specified thing. b. Proof of permission granted, usually in the form of a
document, card, plate, or tag.

Why are you so quick to give up your constitutional right of FREEDOM? Do
you think the license

requirement is for safety? YOu are dumber than a stump.. it is TAXATION,
pure and simple.

I understand your argument. However, the point you are missing is that the
waters of the US are in the public domain. If a stretch of water was
privately owned, then gov't meddling should be forbidden. The roads are
public conveyances and licenses are needed to drive upon them. Air pilots
needs licenses and strict testing, so do planes. Same with radio operators.
Planes can fall out of the sky and boats can sink. Why are boaters given
such latitude (pun)? Most boating accidents occur because of lack of
training and accountability. Licenses are not taxation, fees are not taxes.
Just as geese fly over state borders and can be regulated by the Feds, water
travels in the form of currents between varying jurisdictions and the feds
would do well to be the over riding authority for boaters. It's already that
way for commercial carraige operations, just extend it a bit and tighten up
the qualifications. This is simply of matter of regulation with results, the
result being weeding out the foolish and incompetent and making boating
safer and more enjoyable for those who have earned the right to operate
water vessels upon the waters of these United States. For the case of inland
waters, it is up to the individual states to regulate boaters.



Where does all the boat registration money go? Boater education? Not up
here.. it goes in the

pocket of Mr Politician, the fat asshole who gets the big fat paycheck and
the big fat retirement.

In many states it funds the recreation depts. Those depts are self funding.
Boater education is best handled privately as it is now. The only change is
the education will be mandatory and more rigorous.Right now the cost that
boaters impose is spread upon all taxpayers - especially when you consider
the cost of policing, rescues, etc. Boaters should pay their own way, also
insurance should be mandatory.







Benjamin Franklin
"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security,
deserve neither liberty or security"