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Proposed mandatory PFD law
The NTSB in their bureaucratic wisdom is proposing a rule to require ALL
people on recreational boats to WEAR PFD's ALL the time. Here is a link to the site, and the e-mail address to send your comments to. Since boating has continually gotten safer, I certainly see no need for this. I do support the PFD laws for kids and small boats like canoes, kayaks, and PWCs. If you don't want to end up wearing a life jacket all the time, send it your comments! ____________________________ http://www.ntsb.gov/academy/CourseInfo/MS701_200408.htm This site is the NTSB. They are considering this month a rule to require all on board to wear PFD's ALL THE TIME. Check out the site and then e mail Holloway, Keith (NTSB) with whatever comments you have. Be nice! -- Keith __ Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes. |
#2
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Proposed mandatory PFD law
False alarm.
There is no legislation or administrative ruling that will be taking effect in 30 days. There is a "discussion" of the general concept of mandatory PFD usage scheduled for August 25. |
#3
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Proposed mandatory PFD law
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#4
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Proposed mandatory PFD law
On Mon, 9 Aug 2004 07:10:40 -0500, "Keith"
wrote: The NTSB in their bureaucratic wisdom is proposing a rule to require ALL people on recreational boats to WEAR PFD's ALL the time. Here is a link to the site, and the e-mail address to send your comments to. Since boating has continually gotten safer, I certainly see no need for this. I do support the PFD laws for kids and small boats like canoes, kayaks, and PWCs. If you don't want to end up wearing a life jacket all the time, send it your comments! ____________________________ http://www.ntsb.gov/academy/CourseInfo/MS701_200408.htm Having been a victim of a accidental overboard (twice) , I'm all for it. Besides, the new suspender type inflatables are comfortable and don't get in the way of anything. Later, Tom S. Woodstock, CT ----------- "Angling may be said to be so like the mathematics that it can never be fully learnt..." Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653 |
#5
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Proposed mandatory PFD law
On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 11:43:44 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: Having been a victim of a accidental overboard (twice) , I'm all for it. Besides, the new suspender type inflatables are comfortable and don't get in the way of anything. ================================================== ===== I own a suspender type inflatable but I certainly don't wear it all the time, only when I perceive a very real risk of going over and/or a very real risk of non-recovery. Would you advocate that the passengers aboard a 70 foot motor yacht all wear inflatable vests? What about a 50 foot trawler in inland conditions? What about a 40 foot sportfish? Or a 30 foot express cruiser in flat water? Hopefully you see my point. The vast majority of the time I would not want to be wearing a PFD even in my 24 ft I/O, let alone any of the other examples mentioned. On the other hand I have no problem what so ever wearing my vest on deck in rough mid-ocean conditions, even on a 60 footer. Discretion and experience is required to make an intelligent call. Have you ever tried to legislate that? |
#6
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Proposed mandatory PFD law
On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 10:47:52 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote: On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 11:43:44 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: Having been a victim of a accidental overboard (twice) , I'm all for it. Besides, the new suspender type inflatables are comfortable and don't get in the way of anything. ================================================= ====== I own a suspender type inflatable but I certainly don't wear it all the time, only when I perceive a very real risk of going over and/or a very real risk of non-recovery. Would you advocate that the passengers aboard a 70 foot motor yacht all wear inflatable vests? What about a 50 foot trawler in inland conditions? Good point. And I will adress that further on down. However, let me say that my very first experience with going overboard was off the rear end of a 47 foot Hatteras/Bertram/Something when I slipped on some fish scales/blood, bounced off the transom and went ass over tea kettle into the Caribbean. Fortunately for me, the mate was quick on the draw and chucked a life ring - short swim, they did a Williamson turn and pulled me back through the tuna door. :) I've worn a PFD ever since that incident and that was over 25 years ago. What about a 40 foot sportfish? Or a 30 foot express cruiser in flat water? The second time was this summer on a flat calm St. Lawrence Seaway trip - thirty foot Luhrs (sp?) open sport. Once again, fish guts on the floor, ba da bing, ba da boom and I'm over the side. This time, I'm wearing my inflatable and it worked great. Unfortunately for me, the idiot running the charter didn't have a boarding ladder that was workable (as in the aluminum was so rotten, it broke when they put it into the holder), so we had to call the Coast Guard who got there, pulled in me in and I rode back to the pier with them - I wasn't going to step foot in that boat again. :) I have a 32 foot Contender CC and a 20 foot Ranger CC - I wear one on those boats. I wear one on the Vineyard Ferry and I make my wife wear one. I won't get on a boat without wearing one. I have participated in Search and Recovery as a diver for folks who could very well be alive today if they had been wearing a PFD when they went over - one of the recoveries was a beautiful 20 year old girl who was knocked overboard about ten or so years ago in a boating accident at night - she drowned - no PFD. I have ample personal experience with overboards and drownings to make a strong case for wearing a PFD all the time. However, my personal experience may be an anomaly I grant you. Hopefully you see my point. The vast majority of the time I would not want to be wearing a PFD even in my 24 ft I/O, let alone any of the other examples mentioned. On the other hand I have no problem what so ever wearing my vest on deck in rough mid-ocean conditions, even on a 60 footer. Discretion and experience is required to make an intelligent call. Have you ever tried to legislate that? It's not a question of legislating anything like experience. I have a ton of experience on small and large vessels - mostly fishing type boats - a few sailing vessels. I have had two accidents involving accidental overboards - one on a large vessel and one on a smaller vessel. In my experience, it's dangerous period. Thus, I wear one. You have a ton of experience and wear one based on the situation. We are both experienced, yet have two different viewpoints - that's fine. The point you make about vessel size is supported by USCG and Canadian stats on accidents. It would appear that most accidents involving accidental drownings involve boats under 26 feet LOA - that seems to be pretty valid from 1997 on through 2004 although the LOA is creeping up a little to around 30 feet, But you can't stop at a certain LOA level if you are going to attempt to create legislation that actually accomplishes something. A rule stating that you have to wear one under 26 feet LOA is discriminatory in a sense. Could we agree on a compromise? Say anytime on an open deck, a PFD is required in a recreational circumstance? Later, Tom S. Woodstock, CT ----------- "Angling may be said to be so like the mathematics that it can never be fully learnt..." Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653 |
#7
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Proposed mandatory PFD law
On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:51:54 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote: Could we agree on a compromise? Say anytime on an open deck, a PFD is required in a recreational circumstance? ==================================== Not likely. I believe it should be a matter of personal choice or left up to the discretion of the captain. It's true that preventable accidents have happened (and happened to people I knew), but the numbers are very small compared to automobile/motorcycle casualities. I'm a firm believer in keeping the government out of boating to the maximun extent possible. Every new law gives the USCG or your local F&W enforcer another excuse to board you. |
#8
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Proposed mandatory PFD law
On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 11:22:22 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote: On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 12:51:54 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote: Could we agree on a compromise? Say anytime on an open deck, a PFD is required in a recreational circumstance? ==================================== Not likely. I believe it should be a matter of personal choice or left up to the discretion of the captain. It's true that preventable accidents have happened (and happened to people I knew), but the numbers are very small compared to automobile/motorcycle casualities. Ah - so such things as seat belt laws, driving lights, air bags and helmet laws are rational reactions to the amount of traffic deaths, but PFDs are not a rational reaction to the stats on boating accidents & drownings? I'm not looking for an argument, I'm just curious. Really. I'm a firm believer in keeping the government out of boating to the maximun extent possible. Every new law gives the USCG or your local F&W enforcer another excuse to board you. Then we shall agree to disagree on the boating PFD issue. Later, Tom |
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