Everyone that makes memories on South Carolina’s lakes, rivers and coastline is encouraged to attend a series of meetings around the state.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is conducting the meetings in preparation of potential regulation changes to discuss how to make you and your family safer on South Carolina waterways. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.
The meetings are scheduled to be held on:
Aug. 11 - Fort Johnson Marine Center - Auditorium - 217 Fort Johnson Rd., Charleston
Aug. 13 - Clover School District Resource Center - Auditorium - 320 Clinton Ave., Clover
Sept. 8 - Center for Advance Technical Studies - Auditorium - 916 Mount Vernon Church Rd., Chapin
The state of South Carolina has an abundance of water resources with 8,000 miles of rivers, 460,000 acres of lakes and 3,000 miles of coastline.
As of 2014, there were approximately 485,000 registered boats in South Carolina with thousands more registered each year. The Palmetto State consistently ranks in the top ten of all states for registered boats.
For more information, contact Lt. Kim Leverich at 1 (800) 277-4301 or LeverichK@DNR.SC.Gov.
I’ll catch hell for this but quite honestly I’d love to see a “boater’s Ed course” that was mandatory to pass before you could operate a boat. There are too many people out there that don’t know the rules of the road. We’re required to take such a mandatory class to drive a car. Why not for a boat?
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
More people die in cars and there already is a mandatory class for cars… Even though it may annoy the crap out of you that people don’t understand the rules of the road, for the most part, there really aren’t that many boating fatalities each year, especially during daylight hours… So, before we go about implementing more laws, think about the TRUE benefit to doing so… Don’t say, “It’s going to save thousands of lives each year” when only 20 people in the state die each year. Also, note that many of these fatalities would be prevented with a LIFE JACKET which nobody wears…
One thing I am not, and that is conflicted about this… Statistically there is NO NEED for mandatory courses or licenses…
As your article mentions, 485,000 boats registered in the state. Look at the accident report:
I kinda agree with bangstick a boating class but I do know that they will never do that. Agree 100% with Skinnee just wear the (**() LIFEJACKET!!! My main complaint about other boaters are the ones who fly past you within 20 ft full speed when you are anchored and fishing. I am guessing they think they are maverick from top gun buzzing the tower.
Delayed but not Denied!
The comeback starts Tomorrow
6 recreational boaters showed up last night. 6 vs about 30 members of miscellaneous safety groups, USCG Aux, Local Power Squadron, NMMA and DNR. They are going to make changes; we can either get involved or accept whatever changes get handed down. Starting to sound familiar?
Licensing , lower BAC levels, Increased life jacket law and connecting your DMV drivers license to the boat (which I agree with). They want the public input, but when there are only a few guys in the room who oppose new laws, our voices are much smaller than the other groups. Guys there was talk about requiring to wear a life jacket, more no wake zones, speed limits and a 0 tolerance approach to alcohol. All of this is on the table and if no one objects or comes up with a better idea some of this will happen.
“If you had to tell someone how good you are, then you probably aren’t that good”
6 recreational boaters showed up last night. 6 vs about 30 members of miscellaneous safety groups, USCG Aux, Local Power Squadron, NMMA and DNR. They are going to make changes; we can either get involved or accept whatever changes get handed down. Starting to sound familiar?
Licensing , lower BAC levels, Increased life jacket law and connecting your DMV drivers license to the boat (which I agree with). They want the public input, but when there are only a few guys in the room who oppose new laws, our voices are much smaller than the other groups. Guys there was talk about requiring to wear a life jacket, more no wake zones, speed limits and a 0 tolerance approach to alcohol. All of this is on the table and if no one objects or comes up with a better idea some of this will happen.
“If you had to tell someone how good you are, then you probably aren’t that good”
02 Carolina Skiff 175 RG Honda 90 -
This is horrible... MORE government for a problem that does not even exist (statistically speaking)...
This is horrible… MORE government for a problem that does not even exist (statistically speaking)…
[/quote]
Agreed, one of the other rec boater gents in the forum hit heavily on the statistics and what exactly is it they are trying to accomplish. Didn’t really get much of an answer other than one fatality is too many.
“If you had to tell someone how good you are, then you probably aren’t that good”
Ah man, it’s tragic that people really believe that rhetoric. That’s why we have so many stupid laws now! Thanks for reporting this. I think I will be sending some emails.
I’ll catch hell for this but quite honestly I’d love to see a “boater’s Ed course” that was mandatory to pass before you could operate a boat. There are too many people out there that don’t know the rules of the road. We’re required to take such a mandatory class to drive a car. Why not for a boat?
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
6 recreational boaters showed up last night. 6 vs about 30 members of miscellaneous safety groups, USCG Aux, Local Power Squadron, NMMA and DNR. They are going to make changes; we can either get involved or accept whatever changes get handed down. Starting to sound familiar?
Licensing , lower BAC levels, Increased life jacket law and connecting your DMV drivers license to the boat (which I agree with). They want the public input, but when there are only a few guys in the room who oppose new laws, our voices are much smaller than the other groups. Guys there was talk about requiring to wear a life jacket, more no wake zones, speed limits and a 0 tolerance approach to alcohol. All of this is on the table and if no one objects or comes up with a better idea some of this will happen.
Most people that need help with their boating skills have to much pride to admit that and think that they can figure it out on their own.
Here’s the FREE SC online boating safety course im taking currently. I encourage everyone to take a stab at it, from amateur boaters to the vets out there. You can never be educated when it comes to personal safety.
The one topic that wasn’t addressed was personal accountability. The online courses are a great idea for people who hold themselves accountable, but it is way too easy to have someone else take the test or just cheat and google everything. If they try to move towards a dedicated license or certificate (seemed to be the preferred lingo to avoid any “licensing” legalities), they want it to be a a more official test taking environment similar to the written test at the DMV for a drivers permit.
500,000 registered boats in SC, it will be a major undertaking if they try to do a dedicated license.
“If you had to tell someone how good you are, then you probably aren’t that good”
I was at the local boater’s meeting. I think I was the person mentioned earlier using statistics to argue against new legislation. The DNR has just posted an online survey to that can be taken by anyone interested/not interested in having new legislation. I know that recreational boaters were not represented in the turnout at the meetings. Three different boater’s safety organizations were well represented and pushed their agendas quite well. Their argument was fun equals danger so everyone should stop having fun even if done responsibly. I would strongly advise that everyone take the survey. There is no new legislation that will prevent someone from acting like an idiot and I do not wish to lose any privilege currently available to me in order to try. Statistically speaking the number of deaths per boat or hour spent boating is so ridiculously low with current legislation that no new legislation is warranted and will not improve the statistics. Everyone should be encouraged to take a boater’s safety course and we should encourage those who have not to do so. Prevention is the only remedy. Here is the web address to the DNR page containing the link to the survey. Please make your voice heard. Encourage everyone you know to take the survey.
Hold on to your BVD’s Batman. I see nothing good coming from this. At best, the only thing that will com out of this is more government oversight, more restrictive regulations, increased DNR cost, higher fees, and no real solution to the problem.
I’m Lost. I’ve Gone to look for myself. If I should return before I get back, PLEASE ask me to wait.
…
Couldnt they simply post a large sign at each public landing with the basics printed clearly with pictures, maybe give free pamphlets to boaters with the paperwork on their newly purchased boats or even send out a flyer (or website) that has to be signed by the boat owner before they will get their updated registration…? I would think thease things would cover more ground when Iit comes to getting the information infront of people rather then having them track it down…
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
Couldnt they simply post a large sign at each public landing with the basics printed clearly with pictures, maybe give free pamphlets to boaters with the paperwork on their newly purchased boats or even send out a flyer (or website) that has to be signed by the boat owner before they will get their updated registration…? I would think thease things would cover more ground when Iit comes to getting the information infront of people rather then having them track it down…
-Albemarle 248xf “Chella”
-Dolphin 18BC Pro
-Miscellaneous boats
You mean like the "Buckle up it's the law signs" or the "No texting" signs or the "No drinking and driving " signs scattered all down the side of the road and up on billboards that are ever so clearly being ignored ? I say make the education part of it mandatory or if your under a certain age or haven't had a vessel registered in S.C. for X amount of time. That way you get all the newbies and our youth educated without forcing the seasoned guys to waste time on something they already know. And if you are worried about the seasoned guys maybe come up with a refresher course like every 5-8 years. But keep the the laws to a minimum , education is the issue not lack of govt.
