Education or License or Nada

[Rexone]

Based on what I see in the Boat length in Topock Gorge thread (bench racers forum) I'm curious as to what your views are on mandatory education and/or mandatory licensing for boaters. Feel free to explain why.

[CrazyHippy]

Voluntary unless you do something stupid, I think a safe boater class should be mandatory after just about any ticket.
BJH

[Brady Bunch]

I 2nd that

[76BARRON]

I don't want to beat a dead horse ,so ill try and keep it short.
1. Boaters with poor boating skill's/education SUCK!
2. PWC's (most,not all) have become a nuisance to all
The fix? liecenceing/education
(We may never be able fix the jerk factor)
3. Big boats on the ocean,lakes and such, GREAT! River?
So before I stick my foot in my mouth with my next comment
let me say where I'm coming from. I'v been on/off the
parker strip over 35+yr's. Parker Strip was made famous
(notorious?)by the many bad ass flatbottom's,hydro's
and other race(type) boats of the day, along with the
many race's held there.(not offshore!) You could go to any of
the 3 or 4 floating bar's and see 6 to 8+ boat's at each ,now
it's 3or 4 big boat's with even bigger stereo's.(and it seem's
like they never leave) BUT ! It does make a GREAT party!
But walk over to it (no boat parking/little or no concern for
smaller boat's that maybe in the area) naturally some NOT all
do try to make an effort to be responsible! kudo's to them!
Don't get me wrong I love boat's!all boat's! even the big
offshore type's! We have flat bottoms and a 26 ft but have yet
see why it is so gosh darn important to put the" BIG" boat on
Parker Strip!!!Oh'well,no worries!It will never change and Im
not going to try.I just go to place's and events that the big
boat growd does not.See! problem solved!
I do not know if any of this could or should be regulated.
BUT!
I do belive that there "MUST" be some sort of liecense or
education certificate involved! I think that most who read these
board's will agree,as we all have been a target /victim of an
jerk/idiot in a boat/P.W.C.
Last but not least ; How many of you boater's have your
U.S Power Squadron,Coast Guard Certificate or equivalent ?
I have mine!
That is the real fix ! A least a start !
so much for kepping it short, sorry

[Roxysnow]

Originally posted by CrazyHippy
Voluntary unless you do something stupid, I think a safe boater class should be mandatory after just about any ticket.
BJH
Full on agree with that!

[eliminatedsprinter]

Ill never support licensing of boaters, because the DMV will screw it up for all of us. I would support doing something simple like making all dealers show a basic law and safety vidio to all who purchase boats or PWC's .
As far as size limits, I'm sure some places could use them. However, the cost of drive units should make that a somewhat self limiting problem.

[Scream]

I have seen way too many knucklheads on the water, and thinking back to when I had my first boat, I probably could have used a lot of instruction in safety and basic knowledge.
Boaters (new) and PWC'ers need at least basic instruction. Probably the best is to require all sales to include a video course, which may not be adequate, but it is better than nothing.

[Havasu Cig]

I was against licenses, but after launching at Katherines a couple weeks ago and seeing all the stupid $hit people were doing I may change my mind.
If people were mandated to take a class it might cut down on some of the stupid things people do.

[Boatcop]

You shouldn't lump licensing and mandatory education into one category.
I'm dead set against formal licensing, but 110% in favor of mandatory education and certification.
Of the hundreds of students I've taught, not one has gone away without learning something new, and/or finding out they've been doing things wrong. Some of these have several decades of boating experience, including one who writes a column for Hot Boat. (I won't mention any names, Jim.)
Add to this the FACT that of those involved in accidents, over 90% have never had any formal boating education or training.
Come and listen to me ramble on for 8 hours, and I guarantee that you'll walk away a better boater. You could also save up to 25% on your boat insurance at the same time. That alone should have you folks beating down my door to take the class.
Our judges out here are already sending boaters to class for serious boating violations, and California law mandates that those convicted of boating "moving" violations go to class.
But licensing? We don't need any more bureaucracy mucking up the sport. A card that says you've taken a course, should be all that's required.

[76BARRON]

2 hour's every wednesday for 8 week's.
plus home work every week.
U.S.P.S. work book,coarse plotter,dividers,chart and a good eraser then a 95 question test , is what it takes to get a
U.S. Power Squadron Cert.
It kinda makes you wonder how much you can get out of a 1 hour
or less video tape? I support 100% anyone who does "anything"
to improve their knowledge or skill's on the water.
I can't help but wonder what it's like for "BOATCOP" to have to deal with the dope's on the water every friggin day!
It's good to know your out there! And I will always be polite
when you pull me over to check for "noise" no matter how many time's a day you check me I was thinking about putting some number's on my boat like Hmmmm.....89 db .what do you think?
THANK'S Boat Cop , Keep after the jerk's