http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=184983

Coast Guard Requests Authority to Require 'Proof of Proficiency'
By Louis Gerlinger
May 3, 2006
If approved, the provision could lead to mandatory licensing for
boaters nationwide.

WASHINGTON D.C. (LNS) - The Coast Guard has asked Congress for
authority to establish a "proof of proficiency" requirement for
recreational boaters - which, officials conceded, could lead to
mandatory nationwide licensing for recreational boat operators. A
legislative change proposal, which was submitted by the Coast Guard's
Office of Boating Safety, would amend Section 4302(a) of Title 46,
United States Code, which gives the Secretary of Transportation
authority to prescribe regulations, by adding subsection (4) which
would read (The Secretary may prescribe regulations) "establishing
minimum requirements for recreational vessel operator proficiency."
California presently doesn't have a mandatory education or licensing
requirement for recreational boat operators

wf3h wrote:
http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=184983

Coast Guard Requests Authority to Require 'Proof of Proficiency'
By Louis Gerlinger
May 3, 2006
If approved, the provision could lead to mandatory licensing for
boaters nationwide.

WASHINGTON D.C. (LNS) - The Coast Guard has asked Congress for
authority to establish a "proof of proficiency" requirement for
recreational boaters - which, officials conceded, could lead to
mandatory nationwide licensing for recreational boat operators. A
legislative change proposal, which was submitted by the Coast Guard's
Office of Boating Safety, would amend Section 4302(a) of Title 46,
United States Code, which gives the Secretary of Transportation
authority to prescribe regulations, by adding subsection (4) which
would read (The Secretary may prescribe regulations) "establishing
minimum requirements for recreational vessel operator proficiency."
California presently doesn't have a mandatory education or licensing
requirement for recreational boat operators


Hmmmmm. "Proof of proficiency" sounds like a different concept than
"slept through a boating course one afternoon in order to obtain a
'minimally educated' certificate (currently required in about 40
states)".

If the Coast Guard would simply require that boaters need to get an
attendance certificate for a USCG Aux or Power Squadron course (many of
which are one-day events), this is already being handled on the state
level in almost every state where there's an appreciable amount of
water upon which to boat. I'm surprised that CA is so far behind the
trend. The USCG proposal isn't very necesary if it is simply for more
education.

However, if the USCG wants to establish some actual standards of
"proficiency" to demostrate *capability* as well as basic education,
I'd be 100% in favor of that. Some guy who is totally clueless about
how to operate his boat is a hazard to everybody around him- regardless
whether or not he can parrot "red, right, returning" and make a lucky
guess about basic COLREGS.

Another benefit; this program might eventually cut down on the number
of those licensed masters who should really have their certificates
printed on toilet paper. The vast majority of
pleasure boaters self certifying sea time to sit for the OUPV or
100-ton license do so with a wink, and a nod, and would also suffer
from a guilty conscience if they were so endowed.
It might be tough to convince the USCG that a boater who just purchased
a boat six or eight months ago (and for whom the USCG has the original
"proficiency" record) has logged enough sea time to test for a license.

On 15 May 2006 08:22:11 -0700, "
wrote:

The vast majority of
pleasure boaters self certifying sea time to sit for the OUPV or
100-ton license do so with a wink, and a nod, and would also suffer
from a guilty conscience if they were so endowed.

I've heard you say that before, any supporting statistics or evidence?
Certainly anyone who has been boating for half a lifetime or more
should have no problem documenting sufficient hours, same for anyone
who uses their boat several times a week for 5 to 10 years.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On 15 May 2006 08:22:11 -0700, "
wrote:

The vast majority of
pleasure boaters self certifying sea time to sit for the OUPV or
100-ton license do so with a wink, and a nod, and would also suffer
from a guilty conscience if they were so endowed.

I've heard you say that before, any supporting statistics or evidence?
Certainly anyone who has been boating for half a lifetime or more
should have no problem documenting sufficient hours, same for anyone
who uses their boat several times a week for 5 to 10 years.


Pray tell, how would all these boaters "document" their hours?

"Mys Terry" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 15 May 2006 18:11:11 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
. ..
On 15 May 2006 08:22:11 -0700, "
wrote:

The vast majority of
pleasure boaters self certifying sea time to sit for the OUPV or
100-ton license do so with a wink, and a nod, and would also suffer
from a guilty conscience if they were so endowed.

I've heard you say that before, any supporting statistics or evidence?
Certainly anyone who has been boating for half a lifetime or more
should have no problem documenting sufficient hours, same for anyone
who uses their boat several times a week for 5 to 10 years.


Pray tell, how would all these boaters "document" their hours?


You keep a log. It's done on the "honor system".



Great. So in other words, nothing. That's not much different than the way
boats are sold to yahoos too dumb to operate a soup spoon.

On Mon, 15 May 2006 18:11:11 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Pray tell, how would all these boaters "document" their hours?

Don't know about you but I have logs of one sort or another for just
about all of my time on the boat.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 May 2006 18:11:11 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Pray tell, how would all these boaters "document" their hours?

Don't know about you but I have logs of one sort or another for just
about all of my time on the boat.


A record that could be faked, in other words. If the Coast Guard accepts
this form of documentation, it would be pretty much the same as their doing
nothing at all.

"Mys Terry" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 15 May 2006 18:26:21 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


"Mys Terry" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 15 May 2006 18:11:11 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
m...
On 15 May 2006 08:22:11 -0700, "
wrote:

The vast majority of
pleasure boaters self certifying sea time to sit for the OUPV or
100-ton license do so with a wink, and a nod, and would also suffer
from a guilty conscience if they were so endowed.

I've heard you say that before, any supporting statistics or evidence?
Certainly anyone who has been boating for half a lifetime or more
should have no problem documenting sufficient hours, same for anyone
who uses their boat several times a week for 5 to 10 years.


Pray tell, how would all these boaters "document" their hours?


You keep a log. It's done on the "honor system".



Great. So in other words, nothing. That's not much different than the way
boats are sold to yahoos too dumb to operate a soup spoon.


Uh... Take the test that the hours qualify you to take and then tell
us how you did on it.

Log Books on boats are legal documents and are often used in court as
evidence to decide cases.


Just one comment: Exxon Valdez :-)

On 14 May 2006 19:15:33 -0700, "wf3h" wrote:

http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=184983

Coast Guard Requests Authority to Require 'Proof of Proficiency'
By Louis Gerlinger
May 3, 2006
If approved, the provision could lead to mandatory licensing for
boaters nationwide.

WASHINGTON D.C. (LNS) - The Coast Guard has asked Congress for
authority to establish a "proof of proficiency" requirement for
recreational boaters - which, officials conceded, could lead to
mandatory nationwide licensing for recreational boat operators. A
legislative change proposal, which was submitted by the Coast Guard's
Office of Boating Safety, would amend Section 4302(a) of Title 46,
United States Code, which gives the Secretary of Transportation
authority to prescribe regulations, by adding subsection (4) which
would read (The Secretary may prescribe regulations) "establishing
minimum requirements for recreational vessel operator proficiency."
California presently doesn't have a mandatory education or licensing
requirement for recreational boat operators

I hope they put some math in the test!
--
'Til next time,

John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

"JohnH" wrote in message
...
On 14 May 2006 19:15:33 -0700, "wf3h" wrote:

http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=184983

Coast Guard Requests Authority to Require 'Proof of Proficiency'
By Louis Gerlinger
May 3, 2006
If approved, the provision could lead to mandatory licensing for
boaters nationwide.

WASHINGTON D.C. (LNS) - The Coast Guard has asked Congress for
authority to establish a "proof of proficiency" requirement for
recreational boaters - which, officials conceded, could lead to
mandatory nationwide licensing for recreational boat operators. A
legislative change proposal, which was submitted by the Coast Guard's
Office of Boating Safety, would amend Section 4302(a) of Title 46,
United States Code, which gives the Secretary of Transportation
authority to prescribe regulations, by adding subsection (4) which
would read (The Secretary may prescribe regulations) "establishing
minimum requirements for recreational vessel operator proficiency."
California presently doesn't have a mandatory education or licensing
requirement for recreational boat operators

I hope they put some math in the test!
--
'Til next time,

John H

Essay: Your boat is 30 feet high, measuring from the waterline. The water is
10 feet deep. Clearance under the bridge is 42 feet. Which information is
missing here?