Chris Larocque wrote:
On Wed, 09 May 2007 00:57:02 -0400, Chris Larocque
wrote:

i'm writing responses as I read them.

Mike: thank you for your response... my father is just as willing to
compromise as I am, but so far noone's told either of us what I wanted
to hear, which is that you can't tow toys with an outboard.

No one has told you that because if they did they would be wrong. Of
course you can pull toys with an outboard. You may as well be waiting
for someone to tell you the world is flat.

i had the idea in the back of my mind to take the boating courses,
but this USPS course i don't know about... is that gonna end with me
(and my father) getting our boating licenses? I was out on long
Island sound with my buddy's 22' cobalt and he spent a good deal of
time teaching me all about boating, rules of the water, what things
mean, ect... but priority #1 is walking out with a boating license...
if those courses do both (the ettiquite of the waves, the types of
boats, advantages and disadvantages of stern drive Vs. Outboard, ect,
along with leaving with a boating license, sign me up!)

Since you mention Long Island Sound I assume you are either in New York
State (Long Island or Westchester) or in Connecticut. Neither state
issues or requires a "boating license". However, in order to operate a
power boat, Connecticut now requires proof that one has passed a NASBLA*
approved boating course. New York State require such proof for those
under 18 (and for anyone to operate a PWC), and there is a bill in front
of the legislature to require proof of education for everyone operating
a power boat. The Power Squadron Boating Course is not only NASBLA
approved - it is the model upon which other courses are based, and it is
the most comprehensive. And yes, you will be issued a certificate upon
passing the course.

All that being said, forget about NASBLA* and licenses and certificates.
To go boating without basic formal education is just plain idiotic,
whether you have a "buddy" to show you the ropes or not. One of the
reasons boating is getting more scary and stressful is that too many
boaters think they know it all when they really don't. I hope you are
not one of them.

Did your "buddy" teach you how to tie a bowline? How to read a chart?
How to plot a course or determine your position on one? How about what
the laws are regarding PFD's? VDS's? Capacity and overloading? Did he
teach you about close quarter maneuvering? The "General Rule of
Responsibility"? Order of Priority? How about on board weather
forecasting? Using DSC? Proper ventilation for enclosed fuel tanks and
engine compartments? Did he show you all of the procedures for fueling
that would save you from a $25,000 fine or minimize the chance of you
blowing yourself and everyone else on the dock to bits? Did he teach
you about Variation vs Deviation? Mayday vs Pan-Pan vs Securite? Mo-A?
etc etc etc etc etc? Please don't be foolish about this. Take the
damn course!!


mike nailed what i needed to hear, and that's that you can't tow toys
with an outboard.

As someone else posted, either Mike was wrong or you misunderstood him.
You can absolutely, positively pull toys with an outboard. Could it
be you just think an i/o is cooler looking?


Larry Weiss
"...Ever After!"


*NASBLA = National Association of Boating Law Administrators