"thunder" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:54:36 -0500, RCE wrote:


Me too. I don't know, but I'd hazard a guess that there are far more
fatal boating accidents (for all causes) than small, private plane fatal
accidents (for all causes).

I wouldn't be the least surprised if you are right.

Boating may be a bigger in terms of participants though, so we'd have to
convert the numbers to percentages of registered boats and small
aircraft.

To be fair though, aviation is much more regulated. If, and I am not
saying it should be, but if, boating was as regulated as aviation there
would be very, very, few boating fatalities.

Private aviation is regulated in the respect that you need to be licensed to
fly, have a up to date physical (which is basically confirming that you are
breathing) and the aircraft have mandatory maintenance and inspection
requirements. Other than that, there's not much regulation other than
flying by the rules.
And some don't.

RCE

On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:00:15 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

Private aviation is regulated in the respect that you need to be licensed to
fly, have a up to date physical (which is basically confirming that you are
breathing) and the aircraft have mandatory maintenance and inspection
requirements. Other than that, there's not much regulation other than
flying by the rules.
And some don't.

If boats fell from the sky you can be sure that we'd be regulated the
same way. Thank heaven that the lobsters do not have an effective
lobbying organization.

With regard to more regulation, I'd suggest that we should be careful
what we ask for.

The lakes, seas and oceans of the world have run their own licensing
program for thousands of years, and it works: Those who pass get to
keep enjoying our sport, and those who fail, don't.

Seems fair to me and no additional taxes, fees or enforcement are
required.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 20:00:15 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

Private aviation is regulated in the respect that you need to be licensed
to
fly, have a up to date physical (which is basically confirming that you
are
breathing) and the aircraft have mandatory maintenance and inspection
requirements. Other than that, there's not much regulation other than
flying by the rules.
And some don't.

If boats fell from the sky you can be sure that we'd be regulated the
same way. Thank heaven that the lobsters do not have an effective
lobbying organization.

With regard to more regulation, I'd suggest that we should be careful
what we ask for.

The lakes, seas and oceans of the world have run their own licensing
program for thousands of years, and it works: Those who pass get to
keep enjoying our sport, and those who fail, don't.

Seems fair to me and no additional taxes, fees or enforcement are
required.


I would agree with you Wayne, if boating today remained the way it was in
the days of self-policing by the participants, commercial and recreational.
In those days most respected the rules and tradition of being at sea.
Unfortunately, that respect has faded, and boating is just another "right"
to many.

RCE

On Thu, 30 Mar 2006 21:08:29 -0500, "RCE" wrote:

Unfortunately, that respect has faded, and boating is just another "right"
to many.

The "law of the sea" will eventually catch up with them, it just takes
a little longer than we would sometimes like.