I would like to know your opinion on whether or not you think watercraft operators should be required to pass an operators course and whether or not watercraft operators should have a license just as drivers do. People under 16 are required to take a boating course, but adults are not. I have seen some very unsafe and discourteous practices on the water lately, and they were adults who should have known better.
The solution lies not in granting the government another source of revenue paid by the law and rule abiding, which is all a boating license will be. The prove is in the driver’s license…we let real morons have them here in SC.
The more we just complain…the more things stay the same.
The state can have the revenue. they needit. We need safer boating. You just don’t even know how many people don’t even know how to read the channel markers.
Capt. Steve Fralin
Ugly Ducklin Charters
The Longest Established Inshore Fishing Guide at Edisto
Edisto Island, SC 29438
843-869-1580
843-908-2071
http://www.edistofishingcharters.com
We all drive cars, some more than others. Our culture relies on the automobile as it’s primary source of transportation. Therefore a great importance is placed upon the licensing and insuring of drivers to coexist with the infrastructure that we all rely on.
What would be next traffic lights on the water?
Matt
17’ McKee Craft
I think it’s a good idea.
Should make it mandatory that at least one licensed (sober) driver is on the boat any time it’s underway.
Happy boatin’ y’all!!
quote:
Originally posted by hanapaaI think it’s a good idea.
So do I.
Ron
2000 Camano Troll
2003 Glastron GS249 (for sale)
North Charleston, SC
Hanapaa hit the nail on the head, SOBER. How would you like to have your small children on the boat, and some idiot comes by and wakes you so hard it throws your children down in the boat. Would you be mad or nor? If you’re not, you must be the guy that did it.
Fishing Lady
Part of the watercraft license should also include backing a trailer down the ramp without pulling forwardor going all over the ■■■■ ramp.
Hell I went out this afternoon and was sitting in a narrow creek doing some fishing when 2 teenage girls come hauling ass around the bend and said oh ****. They were able to slow down enough to where it wasnt that hard of a bump, it scared the crap out of them more than anything. I got out of their way and let them go on about their business, as tehy were riding by me I asked is your heart racing real good about now. The driver said oh yeah I said just be careful. There was no need to be an ass because they knew they screwed up and there was no damage done to either boat.
But there should be a watercraft license.
No one knows if YOU are THE village IDIOT or not until YOU open your mouth and speak!!!
I have been staying in Cherry Grove all week and have seen some ■■■■ crappy boating. The lack of courtesy and consideration is appalling. No one observes no wake zones, no one seems to know the basic rules of navigation. Yesterday as I sat on a dock overlooking the channel our house is on, I watched a guy come flying down the channel towing a kid on a tube. He whipped around 180 degrees and as he turned, sent the kid on the tube flying into the marsh grass and up on to an oyster rake. The tube was shredded instantly and the kid got his legs cut up. This guy was in a metal-flake runabout and it appeared that he had no clue about saltwater and the hazards. As much as I don’t want to pay the govt. any more $, it does seem that some kind of license might not be a bad idea.
PS: And as for jet skis, they REALLY need some training.
Here’s a couple of threads from a while back:
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=35714
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=36330
I think that a boater’s license would be good thing. It will be a heated debate if the legislature brings it up and there are many hurdles to cross. I feel that the proceeds from a boater’s license should be directed to DNR education and enforcement and not allocated to the general fund. Too many new boaters not to have some form of training and proof of knowledge.
Why not tie it into boat registration, if you own one you should know how to drive one. I just don’t want another ■■■■ thing I have to keep track of renewing.
Dernflatlander and sand n suds, I think both of your ideas are really good ones. The DNR really should be the beneficiary of these funds so that they can afford to enforce the laws.
Capt. Steve Fralin
Ugly Ducklin Charters
The Longest Established Inshore Fishing Guide at Edisto
Edisto Island, SC 29438
843-869-1580
843-908-2071
http://www.edistofishingcharters.com
driver licenses don’t make people a better driver, same with boats ,most people are just idiots when it comes to driving boats. These people on the road whip in and out of traffic, ride your AZZ etc, they are the same mentality on the water. Make it where a person can radio in to the DNR or who ever with the dumbazzes reg number, if 2 calls come in for the same boat that day, mail that person a ticket with a LARGE fine. If this person gets 3 tickets in his lifetime no more boating period. You can loss your drivers licence make it the same for boating.
26’ Twinvee
Suzuki 175’s
www.creeksidemetalworks.com
I’ll agree with Capt Ed. Having a license don’t keep you from driving drunk or make you follow speed limits. I do agree there’s some people on the water that do need some education.
True that a driver’s license doesn’t make you a good driver, but to get a license, you have to know the rules of the road. You cannot claim ignorance because you had to pass a test to get the license. There are alot of watercraft operators out there that do not know the rules or markers (street signs, as you land lubbers would know it), or boating etiquette.
Just talked to my son who was anchored at Lake Murray while laying out on the deck. There was plenty of room around him and a Jetskier came within 10 feet of his boat. This kind of thing goes on all the time, and it is inexcuseable.
Everyone of you probably has a story of an incident where someone was either hurt or could have been because of people who don’t know what they are doing.
Please don’t complain about having to pay a small fee because DNR needs the revenue to be able to do their job. I agree with sand n suds that it should be tied into boat registration. Five or ten dollars every three years could save your life.
Fishing Lady
In favor of it. I don’t like govt regulation any more than the next guy…but…
In May we were going under the Ocean Isle causeway in a 16’ jon boat. Some jackleg in a deck boat passed us under the causeway in the channel so close that his spray soaked everyone in our boat.
This is just one of many lesser incidents I see each year on the water.
Simple madatory education should be required.
I agree that boater education should be mandatory for anyone to operate a vessel. It would make boating much more enjoyable for everyone out there. Not sure about the licensing due to the excessive overhead and baggage that would come with it. Mandatory education would be a step in the right direction.
Richie
Sea Tow Georgetown
24hr Dispatch: 843-527-4136
What can we do to make this happen? Any suggestions? I’m not talking about a license renewable every three years, but a one time deal to educate people.
Fishing Lady
All in favor of legislation, answer this question. Why do we have to buy a license to fish, (Fresh & Salt water), with the funds supposedly going to better manage our wildlife, and pay for DNR leased property. In the meantime, recreational boaters pay nothing for using the same lakes, boat ramps, and priveledges, that we pay for!! If you would like new laws, make a “Boating Tax”, everybody who uses the facilities are treated equal!!! “ESPECIALLY THOSE DAMNED PWCs” Or just lay in the yard!! Seeya, Scott
You know I never hated school, it was just the principal of it!
If this is the case why should people with no kids pay a school tax.
Same goes for horse riders, hikers, bird watchers on all WMA’s they don’t buy a hunting license to use the land.
Think about the poor souls with no boat sitting on shore that had to buy a saltwater license this year. Where there money going? (ENFORCEMENT)
Recreational boaters still paying that property tax and registration fees money is going somewhere.