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Originally Posted by GWC...
What's the difference between a boat ride and a car ride, regarding the driving part of testing for a license?
Seems to me that one would present no more liability than the other.
You either know how to operate your vehicle, or you don't.
Seems better to have an MP aboard, should one not possess the knowledge and or ability to operate a boat. It would also seem to make sense to discover this fact prior to turning someone loose on the Lake without said knowledge and ability.
A commercial license for the Lake requires an on-water boating test.
Seems the MPs have experience with this already.  |
GWC...
The way the bill is written, the driving test will not be administered by an MP officer, but more than likely a private firm authorized by the state. Therein lies the liability issue, as NH does not require insurance. Lets assume you take the test on your own boat with a certified instructor? What if an uninsured newbie t-bones another boat while taking the test? Every boat handles a little differently, If you take the test on thier boat, more than likely an 18' generic bowrider, it may have absolutely no bearing if your boat is a 28 Cabin Cruiser. What about out of state boaters? When are they going to be able to come to NH to take a boater driving test?
If we are going to go to that length of requiring a practical driving test, the lets just go all out and make it a Boating License instead of Boater Safety Certificate? I am not all that against it, I just see the logistics as a huge expensive stumbling block, especially when you consider you can only have the practical tests 6 months out of the year due to weather.
I think this portion of the law looks good on paper, but would be a logistical nightmare. I think just changing the BSC to a proctored exam, administered by the MP and others will work just as well and be alot less costly.
Woodsy