Boater Safety Training Effectiveness?

[WeirsBeachBoater]

I have an idea, but I am told it is not practical. Here goes.... Make Boating just like driving a car. It is a privilege, not a right. Phase this in, Make Children take a boating safety classroom course, and then when they are old enough to operate a boat over 25hp, make them take a "road test", or rather a practical boating test. We all agree the present test doesn't make you a better boat handler.

[upthesaukee]

So much is said about making boat licensing just like a car. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but just because someone has taken a test to drive a car doesn't make them a good driver.

We all see the Capt. Boneheads on the lake and wonder how they ever got away from the dock. Gee, too bad they didn't have a drivers test like they would in a car. Well, they probably drive their car the same way.

There are just as many boneheads out there behind the wheel of a four wheeler. On land and on the water, the only thing that may help change the attitudes and bad habits will be better and more stringent enforcement.

All that can be hoped is that through boater education, more people have been helped by it than not! IMHO.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

So much is said about making boat licensing just like a car. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but just because someone has taken a test to drive a car doesn't make them a good driver.

We all see the Capt. Boneheads on the lake and wonder how they ever got away from the dock. Gee, too bad they didn't have a drivers test like they would in a car. Well, they probably drive their car the same way.

There are just as many boneheads out there behind the wheel of a four wheeler. On land and on the water, the only thing that may help change the attitudes and bad habits will be better and more stringent enforcement.

All that can be hoped is that through boater education, more people have been helped by it than not! IMHO.

Upthesaukee, I have to agree with you. No matter what the boneheads are going to be there. How much the education has help I think that story really won't be told for years. Many of us took the test online because we have been around boating for years and in my mind was a good thing, it relieved stress on the class room course. How many have really thought about how many course and test would have had to been offered in order for everyone to get certified by an instructor. It would have been a mess and we would have been complaining about that. Instead the state took the approach they did, and have now given everyone a fair chance to get the certificate before tightening the regulations. In my mind they did the right thing. I believe in the future we will see on the water tests for the younger boaters... but remember to accomplish this means the need for more man power, more expense and therefore higher taxes and fees.... sorry but it is the truth. And if they had phased that all in, at the begining the expense would have been unbelievable.

Lets all remember something it is the bad Guys that make it hard on all of us. Sure we all get angry at the Boneheads out there, and there are plenty of them. But just like with the speed limit why should the responsible people pay for the mistakes of the idiots. Ask your selves this question although some of us think it would be a good idea for everyone to have taken a proctored exam, and an on the water test, how would we feel if due to scheduling and testing availability we missed all or part of a boating seating. I do believe we will get there in the future we just have to give it time..... the current automobile diver liscense exam procedures didn't happen over night. Heck my Dad had a Maine diver liscense simply because an already licensed driver wrote a note to the state and said he was ready..... These things happen in phases.... and if they don't start by doing some grandfather which is what is happening now..... things get out of hand.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Silver Duck

"I'm curious how effective the forum folks think that this training requirement has been so far!...the percentage of operators who ignore the 150 ft. safe passage rule has actually increased in the last season or two..."

This year, you advised the forum that you had joined the boaters who cruise at 1200-1500 RPMs. One notices more violations of personal space at those speeds, with a dose of Wikipedia's "availability heuristic". (Your choice of speed will affect what you see).

While I basically agree that infractions are on the increase, the number of Winnipesaukee boaters is declining as well—perhaps due to the combined nuisances of licensing, oversized wakes, other perceived boating hazards, and gas prices.

Here are examples of what I saw this year:

1) I have the misfortune of having a hotel-style McMansion being built nearby (the one with the new, paired 60-foot docks next to their new 50-foot dock).

Boaters stopped to gawk at 75-feet from our shoreline—then continued their shoreline drive by accelerating to twice headway speed and continuing at the same 75-foot distance!

2) I also had the misfortune to be sailing near a shore where a ski boat made an exaggerated wake for the towing of his "wakesurfer".

After his fourth circumnavigation of my boat in just five minutes, I had to signal my displeasure; fortunately, one of the six on board saw the signal mirror and the boat went elsewhere. (But I did have to signal him. )

3) Off my shore, an unmarked NHMP PWC stopped a lone driver who was towing seven (7) tubers.

The MP stayed only seconds—never asked for certification—and zoomed off.


I'm afraid that until...

1) The test becomes enough of a challenge (flunk a few),

2) The test becomes serious nationally (and the fee increased markedly),

3) Enforcement gets serious (and increases penalties),

...that the lack of empathy for fellow boaters will continue—despite the best efforts to legislate common sense.

Oh yes...Too many boaters are unfamiliar with New Hampshire-only rules. Visitors need to pick up one of NHRBA's free cushions ("a throwable device") with our unique NH rules printed on it.

[tis]

I, too, agree. I don't think it has made much difference. I don't think taking a "road" (water?) test would help either. I think the only thing that helps is being stopped for a violation. Then those who don't know or remember a rule will remember it. And as you all said, those who are going to break the laws will anyway.

[Dave R]

I think there have been steady impovements, especially in crossing situations, except in busy areas like near Weirs Beach. I imagine boating there could be pretty stressful in a smallish boat with a newbie at the helm and some Capt. Boneheads in big boats don't seem to care about that.

I think there will always be 150 foot boat-to-boat violations, but those typically aren't at all dangerous (really, 50 feet is PLENTY of room if there's no collision course), and therefore, aren't at all that bothersome to me.

[KonaChick]

Until infractions are tied to your driving license things won't change much I'm afraid. People just do not take it seriously and it's worth the risk of having to pay a nominal fine if you get caught. Most people choose to drive a boat within the confines of the law and with respect for other boaters, the rest could just care less. The money they pay for the boating ticket isn't a deterrent. Having your boaters license taken away for a certain period of time (like the drivers license point system) and high fines ALONG with boater education will work much better IMO.

[Kamper]

I've noticed a big difference in PWC operators. Perhaps because there was a big push to ticket them a few years back. I've experienced far fewer people initiating thrill maneuvers close enough to my bow that I have to take evasive action.

Less so for regular boaters. Hardly any change for no-wake situations for any type of vessel.

[gtxrider]

I would like to know how many boat/pwc operators have taken the course on line or otherwise? Maybe it should be required the certificate be visable just like our fishing license here in NJ.

In my experience the 150' rule is the most broken rule.

[NavGirl316]

What is the exact penalty for these people who are pulled over by the MP and don't have a certificate? Anything other than a fine?

[jrc]

270-D:11 Possession Required; Penalty. –
...

IV. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation punishable by a fine of $50 for a first offense and $250 for any subsequent offense.

[tis]

I believe when you are pulled over for certain violations, you must take the course again. That was from a discussion with a MP a couple of years ago, so not sure if all came to be.

[John A. Birdsall]

Tis said something to the effect of having to take the coarse over and perhaps get relicensed for certain infratures.

I don't think so, they do not do that for motor vechiles why would they do that for boaters. I think that they will suspend your license to drive a boat for a period of time such as the guy who killed someone. But that is a suspension.

I think that boaters education is great, and those that enjoy both boating and boating safety will respect that. I think that those capt boneheads will do what they want when they want and where they want with no regards to you or me. And suspend their right to drive and they could care less about that also.

Boating will be safe on the lake starting in January for about four months.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by John A. Birdsall

Tis said something to the effect of having to take the coarse over and perhaps get relicensed for certain infratures.
{snip}

I don't know if I noticed any more violations this years, I'd say a bit less perhaps. I see the problem is that a 1 time only test allows people to "bone up" for the test and then flush away any knowledge gained soon thereafter. Make the test a recurring one and it's possible that even Capt B might retain some of the more important points.

More enforcement might help but I'd be interested in seeing the stats on who's stopped for what and how many times they've been stopped before.

[Kamper]

Originally Posted by John A. Birdsall

... I think that they will suspend your license to drive a boat for a period of time ... And suspend their right to drive and they could care less about that also. ...

IF you get DWI in a car the revocation terminology is "motor vehicle" so you cant operate a boat either. There was a push a while back to make BWI impact your highway privileges too but it went nowhere. I think some states have interpreted their DWI sanctions as being the same for land or water. I expect that will be looked at again here, if the Safety Certificate program doesnt achieve aprciable results.

IMO. That would be easier to implement than a leisure boat license program.

[Silver Duck]

APS

You're probably correct that I notice close passages more at 1200 - 1500 RPM than I would at my cruising speed 3500 RPM; also, more boats are passing us when operating at low speed. Another factor is that my wake at 7 MPH provides less inducement to Cap't. Bonehead to keep his distance than it does at 35 MPH.

However, the fact remains that, while I was running at hull speed, the Cap't. and a whole lot of his boneheaded relatives chose to play "strafe the old farkle in the slow moving cruiser" at distances that even the Cap't. couldn't mistake for 150 ft. (No real harm done as long as the other boat physically misses me, but somewhat annoying!)

There also seems to be an almost universal asumption that a slow moving boat is automatically the "give-way boat" in a crossing situation. (Which I typically do anyway, just out of courtesy.)

Getting back to the original topic, does anybody know whether the curriculum is different in the classroom instruction from what it was in the internet course? If so, is there more emphasis on actual safety matters in the classroom instruction?

Silver Duck