Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education

Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating)
yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss
potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators.

The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los
Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room,
700 16th Street, Sacramento.

"There is no question that California's boating accidents and
fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about
boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor
Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer
today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive
boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?"

The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters,
representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies,
boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina
operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of
so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively
addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said.

Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in
recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force
behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory
boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted
Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006.

Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior
Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about
how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is
on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in
fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten
people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have
taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating
accidents and fatalities."

"Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is
making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive
and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance
boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of
Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California.

Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern
California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about
the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've
always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but
now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are
being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan
said.

More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the
damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle
who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing
on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that
there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California.
"I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to
do this now," she said.

A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but
was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was
Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He
is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association.

Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If
we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the
injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened,"
he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we
are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to
consensus and move this forward."

The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident
statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout
the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns
and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any
proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating
education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other
states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is
important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said.

In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80
percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law
in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that
are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who
might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said.

The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and
developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to
lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education
legislation has to come from the boating community," said David
Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the
discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to
any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education
legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation."

The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety
and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through
programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars
and boating facility construction loan payments.

- 30 -

If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety
course.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...
Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education



Excellent!

This seems to be one of the perpetual boating discussion topics in
Finland as well. We still live in a free wild world, though there has
been some effort in building a formal education system. One fear is
that if the authorities get involved in setting up the system it will
introduce quite a bit of costs to burden boaters. Therefore our safety
courses are run by volunteer organizations, which is a typical
situation for many boating related services in Finland. In many EU
countries the regulations are stricter, so one goal of our education
system is providing the necessary certification for pleasure boaters
who want to rent a boat abroad.

Piloting larger/powerful vessels involves stricter regulations, though
it seems our fatalities concentrate on small motor boats (and
rowboats). Alcohol is a high risk factor. It could also be good to have
education for some boaters about not creating disturbing waves, what is
a safe distance for overtaking, etc. But a question remains how much
this is dependent on knowledge and how much on attitudes and does a
mandatory education system bring benefits equal to the incurred
overhead.

Risto

Chuck Gould wrote:
Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education

Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating)
yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss
potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators.

The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los
Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room,
700 16th Street, Sacramento.

"There is no question that California's boating accidents and
fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about
boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor
Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer
today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive
boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?"

The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters,
representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies,
boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina
operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of
so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively
addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said.

Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in
recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force
behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory
boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted
Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006.

Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior
Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about
how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is
on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in
fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten
people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have
taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating
accidents and fatalities."

"Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is
making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive
and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance
boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of
Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California.

Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern
California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about
the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've
always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but
now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are
being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan
said.

More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the
damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle
who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing
on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that
there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California.
"I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to
do this now," she said.

A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but
was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was
Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He
is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association.

Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If
we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the
injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened,"
he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we
are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to
consensus and move this forward."

The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident
statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout
the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns
and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any
proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating
education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other
states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is
important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said.

In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80
percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law
in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that
are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who
might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said.

The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and
developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to
lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education
legislation has to come from the boating community," said David
Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the
discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to
any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education
legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation."

The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety
and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through
programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars
and boating facility construction loan payments.

- 30 -

If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety
course.

Chuck,
I think it is a good idea. My kids had to take 30 hrs of drivers
education, and I had to sign off on "X" number of hours of supervised
driving under their learners permit.

I know the government won't pass a perfect law, but our current system
of allowing people on the waterways without any knowledge of boating
safety or Rules of the Road is crazy. All you need to do is go out on
any Saturday and you can see the reason why 80% support some form of
mandatory boating safety edu.

Recently, it seems more states are raising the minimum age of driving to
18, another good idea.


--
Reggie

That's my story and I am sticking to it!

Chuck Gould wrote:
Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education

**********************************snip************ ******************************

Oregon passed mandatory boater education several years ago. It is
being phased in over a few years by age group.

It is quite easy to pass, the test is open book and can be done online
in an hour or two. One needs to merely have the test open in one
browser and the manual open in another.

Have my doubts about the effectiveness

Dennis

"Varis" wrote in message
oups.com...
This seems to be one of the perpetual boating discussion topics in
Finland as well. We still live in a free wild world, though there has
been some effort in building a formal education system. One fear is
that if the authorities get involved in setting up the system it will
introduce quite a bit of costs to burden boaters.

By all means the beaurocratic BS must be kept to a minimum and the education
should be immediately available to all and free. No one wants to buy their
boat, or God help us a PWC, then spend the summer taking a class before they
can put the boat in the water!

I see 2 levels of certification: a mandatory quickie information only
computer course before registration of the vehicle can occur and a longer
voluntary hands on course.

Harry Krause wrote:
The camera shop guy says he has 100 of those lenses on order, expects a
"big box" within the next month, has a waiting list of about 20 names,
and is selling them at $699.99. It's a large camera store in Bal'mer. If
you have a legit email, and you are interested, I'll send you the details.

Harry,

Thanks, Send the info to .


--
Reggie

That's my story and I am sticking to it!

Reginald P. Smithers III wrote:
Chuck Gould wrote:
Boating Experts Focus on Mandatory Boat Operator Safety Education

Los Angeles -- The Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating)
yesterday hosted the first of two stakeholder workshops to discuss
potential legislation to require safety education for vessel operators.

The second meeting, which will build on information gathered in Los
Angeles, is scheduled for August 17 at the Clarion Hotel, Terrace Room,
700 16th Street, Sacramento.

"There is no question that California's boating accidents and
fatalities are too high. That's a problem for anyone who cares about
boating and about public safety," said Cal Boating Director Raynor
Tsuneyoshi in his opening statement. "The question we hope to answer
today is: Should the State of California require boaters to receive
boating safety training in order to operate a motorized vessel?"

The all-day workshop had 38 participants including boaters,
representatives of boating interest groups, government agencies,
boating accident victims, safety advocates and educators, marina
operators, and boating law enforcement personnel. "The cooperation of
so many different interests is incredibly valuable in effectively
addressing what we all know is a problem," Tsuneyoshi said.

Mandatory boater education has been gaining traction nationwide in
recent years and 42 states now require some type of certification. The
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been a driving force
behind the nationwide movement toward mandatory education. Mandatory
boat operator education is on the NTSB's list of "Most Wanted
Transportation Safety Improvements" for 2006.

Bill Gossard, National Recreational Boating Program Manager and Senior
Transportation Safety Advocate for the NTSB, spoke to the group about
how mandatory education is working in other states. "If California is
on board with mandatory boating education, a projected decrease in
fatalities is expected at 10 to 15 percent, saving between six and ten
people a year," he said. "California needs to join the states that have
taken this important step toward reducing recreational boating
accidents and fatalities."

"Recreational Boaters of California appreciates the effort that DBW is
making to bring together all of the stakeholders for a comprehensive
and productive discussion of actions that can be taken to enhance
boater safety and education," said Jerry Desmond, Jr., Director of
Government Relations for Recreational Boaters of California.

Harry Monihan, government relations director for the Southern
California Marine Association, a boating industry group, spoke about
the group's historical opposition to mandatory boater education. "We've
always taken the position that you can't legislate good judgment, but
now we are becoming more flexible because our members and customers are
being subjected to risks of uneducated boaters on the water," Monihan
said.

More than one participant spoke from experience in describing the
damaging affects of boating accidents. Pam Rudy spoke of her son Kyle
who was killed last year when a rented pontoon boat he was vacationing
on ran over him. She attended the meeting to express her belief that
there is an urgent need for mandatory boater education in California.
"I believe that education is urgent and necessary. California needs to
do this now," she said.

A boater education law passed the California Legislature in 1999 but
was vetoed by Governor Gray Davis. At the time, Chris Brewster was
Lifeguard Chief for the City of San Diego, which sponsored the bill. He
is currently President of the United States Lifesaving Association.

Brewster began his remarks by apologizing to the victims present. "If
we had been able to get that legislation passed in 1999, many of the
injuries and deaths described today probably wouldn't have happened,"
he said. "Each day that we don't have mandatory boater education, we
are responsible for more tragedies. We must find a way to come to
consensus and move this forward."

The morning was spent reviewing and discussing material about accident
statistics and existing boating education laws nationwide. Throughout
the afternoon, participants had an opportunity to share their concerns
and help outline the specific issues that need to be addressed in any
proposed legislation. "The variations on structuring a boating
education law include age, type of vessel, reciprocity with other
states, penalties, administration, and dozens of others. Each detail is
important to someone," Tsuneyoshi said.

In an informal poll of the meeting participants indicated nearly 80
percent conceptual support of pursuing a mandatory boater education law
in California. "Now we have to find a way to satisfy objections that
are related to structure and process, and we have to determine who
might sponsor such legislation," Tsuneyoshi said.

The next meeting will focus on discussing the various options and
developing a framework for a law, although no group has come forward to
lead the process yet. "We have been clear that any boater education
legislation has to come from the boating community," said David
Johnson, deputy director of Cal Boating. "The department can lead the
discussion, facilitate consensus and provide technical assistance to
any group that wants to sponsor mandatory boat operator education
legislation, but Cal Boating can't be the sponsor of the legislation."

The Department of Boating and Waterways promotes on-the-water safety
and helps develop convenient public access to the waterways through
programs funded by vessel registration fees, boating fuel tax dollars
and boating facility construction loan payments.

- 30 -

If it's your boat, it's your responsibility. Take a boating safety
course.

Chuck,
I think it is a good idea. My kids had to take 30 hrs of drivers
education, and I had to sign off on "X" number of hours of supervised
driving under their learners permit.

I know the government won't pass a perfect law, but our current system
of allowing people on the waterways without any knowledge of boating
safety or Rules of the Road is crazy. All you need to do is go out on
any Saturday and you can see the reason why 80% support some form of
mandatory boating safety edu.

Recently, it seems more states are raising the minimum age of driving to
18, another good idea.


--
Reggie

That's my story and I am sticking to it!

I agree, I support this kind of thing, seems like a no-brainer to me.
In states that have instituted similar requirements, deaths and
accidents have gone down, that seems well worth any slight extra hassle
or cost. (The courses in New York are just eight hours of classroom
time and are free from Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary;
enormously beneficial to complete boating newbies and it seems to me
that even boaters with some experience might learn or be reminded of a
thing or two or at least get a good chance to share their own
experience and knowledge and contribute productively to the
discussion.) I found it a perfectly enjoyable excuse to get out of the
house for an hour or two on a few winter weeknights.

richforman

Bryan wrote:
"Varis" wrote in message
oups.com...
This seems to be one of the perpetual boating discussion topics in
Finland as well. We still live in a free wild world, though there has
been some effort in building a formal education system. One fear is
that if the authorities get involved in setting up the system it will
introduce quite a bit of costs to burden boaters.

By all means the beaurocratic BS must be kept to a minimum and the education
should be immediately available to all and free. No one wants to buy their
boat, or God help us a PWC, then spend the summer taking a class before they
can put the boat in the water!

I see 2 levels of certification: a mandatory quickie information only
computer course before registration of the vehicle can occur and a longer
voluntary hands on course.


Our law in Washington State, enacted in 2005, allows a very short
window of time after taking delivery of boat to get the education.
(This was included at the insistence of the boat dealers, who, rather
understandably, didn't want to see a lot of sales stall out when the
buyer was hot to trot and then realized he hasn't taken the course).

One of the neat aspects of our state law is that there really isn't a
new governmental department created to oversee this. The training
itself can be any course that is "approved" by the regulatory agency
(in our state it is the State Parks Department), and the list includes
the typical courses taught by the USCG Auxiliary or the Power Squadron.
In fact, anybody who can produce a certificate showing that they ever
completed such a course has automatically met the requirements.

In our state the "Boatsmart" course offered by both the USPS and the
USCGA meets the education qualification, and that is often offered in a
one-Saturday full day format.

Washington issues cards showing that the boater has met the minimum
education requirements. The cards cost $10 or $15, and are good for a
lifetime without renewal.
The only additional future cost would be for a replacement card if the
boater should happen to lose the original. The Parks Department is
using the card fees to pay the salaries of the people they hired to run
the database of "educated" boaters and send out the card, so it is a
self-funding program.

Our law phases in over a period of years, with the youngest boaters
required to meet the requirements first. Each year the age group that
is required to show proof of boating education expands upward by a few
years.

The law applies to everybody except old fossils like me, born before
1955. I guess the state figures that by the time enough years go by to
where our age group would be included, we'll all be senile and
unteachable anyway.

***************
We must have had a group of students down on the fuel dock last
weekend. I was topping off my fuel.....($400!....but I'll go hundreds
of miles and would not need any more fuel until spring if I didn't want
to have the tanks relatively full for winter)... when a group of mostly
men followed a young female instructor down to the dock. Everybody was
wearing life jackets, which is an unusual sight when you see people
walking out onto the fuel dock from shore. While I was fueling up, they
gathered around the pump and the instructor lectured them about proper
fueling procedures. I was glad that I had followed all the basics,
(including having a petro diaper positioned at the vent to intercept
any accidental burps). It would have been embarrassing to be pointed
out as the example of "how not to fuel your boat."

wrote:


Yeah, our drivers education is so effective we never have any bad
drivers on the road ;-)


Yeah, but can you imagine what the roads would be like if there were
*no* licensing laws requiring basic familiarity with rules and a test
for basic competency? Whenever you get a lot of people together, with
opposing directions of travel and/or priorities in a small area "no
rules, no minimum exposure to any rules, and no qualifications of any
kind" is a recipe for a disaster.