Grinna 2 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 I just got back from a week on the Gold Coast last week and there they have to register the vessel and have boat and jet ski licences and they're tied into their car licence. So, an offence on the water ... say exceeding a speed limit, and demerit points earned on their boat licence also apply to their drivers licence as well. Their drunk driving laws apply to skippers of boats just like car drivers so more than 0.05 mg/l breath alcohol and you lose the lot .... boat, jet ski and car licence. That means that more than one beer and you're up for losing the lot if you get caught ... even if you're at anchor for the night, because someone has to be capable of moving the boat at all times. Interestingly, although the licences are all tied together, you still have to apply, sit and pay for each one individually .... which just smells like a rort designed to extract money from the "rich bastids" who have boats. Link to post Share on other sites
Murky 1 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 We spoke to an insurer recently and they told us that their statistics said just over 75% of their claims were as a direct result of inappropriate GPS usage and poor knowledge of it's correct use. It's hard to know what you don't know until somebody shows you a good way of doing things. Just a [possible] perspective: what proportion of those 75% of claims that are now attributed to GPS, would still have happened in pre-GPS days but would have been chalked up to "owner error" or some other classification? In itself, that stat doesn't say whether accidents are increasing or decreasing - as much as anything, it could reflect the affordability of GPS and the number of boats that have them installed. Not to mention the fact that, for an embarrassed owner, saying "the dang GPS made me do it" is preferable to "I simply drove straight on to it". Link to post Share on other sites
markm 30 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 "the dang GPS made me do it" Do you have that problem too? Today my GPS told me it was a good day to clean my guns. The toaster thought I was better off sharpening knives but I'm going with the GPS Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 Every time MNZ has looked at licensing and registration, they have looked at other countries where they have such things and determined they have no effect on safety. So why bother? Link to post Share on other sites
Zoe 8 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 If you had to learn how to sail a sailboat before you could take a powerboat out there possibly wouldn't be a problem. Link to post Share on other sites
Rats 28 Posted June 12, 2012 Share Posted June 12, 2012 No, However getting through that "you just drive it like a car" mentality that prevails amongst motorboaters particularly is going to take some doing. I like the idea of an incentive like a rebate on insurance premiums if a qualification like a day skippers is presented. But sadly insurance companies have to come to the party and I for one cannot see insurance companies actually making it worthwhile. Will the premium be adjusted by what it takes to complete a day skippers course? I don't think so. The insurance companies will only be too pleased to take your money and if you plug in a reef as a waypoint in your GPS and then hit it.. why would they be obliged to payout.. it is you being a numbskull. I think a concerted effort at enforcement like a well publicized day or two writing tickets for tinnies with insufficient safety gear aboard or sea fleas operating above speed limit while in close proximity to shore or others would unfortunately do more good- as much as I detest any govt departments revenue gathering. The word that it might cost you big time if you don't toe the line gets out far more effectively than the notion of getting educated about things nautical... tragic really. Link to post Share on other sites
tuffyluffy 76 Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I believe it is the correct way to go or not. Just looking for opinions. We spoke to an insurer recently and they told us that their statistics said just over 75% of their claims were as a direct result of inappropriate GPS usage and poor knowledge of it's correct use. It's hard to know what you don't know until somebody shows you a good way of doing things. Im interested to know if you are lobbying for licensing given that you are in the ideal position to profit from it? Link to post Share on other sites
rigger 47 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Not marine related but road related, thought this bit might be of interest in this thread http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news ... d=10812827 The report added: "It is apparent that [many road fatalities] were caused by people who don't care about any kind of rules. These are men who speed, drink, don't wear safety belts, have no valid licence or WoF - who are basically renegades. They usually end up wrapped around a tree, but they can also overtake across a yellow line and take out other motorists as well." Link to post Share on other sites
ScottiE 174 Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 its a vested interest question by a vested interest party so my vote is against their interest by default Link to post Share on other sites
Powerboat Training 0 Posted June 15, 2012 Author Share Posted June 15, 2012 Interesting comments by all. It is by no means a vested interest question. Frankly we are so busy training people who want and actively seek training that we couldn't cope with the influx as we specialise in low volume high quality courses. We specialise in providing on-the-water education, so we take people out on boats and teach them how to behave and handle their boat in the real environment, not just in a classroom. We have found that a huge amount of recreational boaties love being taken out on the water and shown the ropes (no pun intended!) correctly. If more people knew that there were actually organisations like ours, I think we would see an increase in people seeking training, as our courses are fun and build awareness, ability, safety and confidence. And for any of you yachties out there in the Waitemata, you may have seen us out training with students on our Powerboat Training RIB, and you will notice that we always slow down to 5kts when within 50M of you, and hopefully all our students will do likewise in their future boating adventures. There is a significant difference between being taught to drive a boat by a mate and taught to drive a boat by a professional. Thanks for all the comments, it looks like it would take a brave government to introduce licenses! Link to post Share on other sites
Tim C 23 Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I firmly believe on the water discipline could be best resolved if every responsible yachtie was issued with a shoulder launched infra red homing missile per year. That way each of us could take out one irresponsible jet ski/fizz boat/launch each year, who came to close at high speed, put up a huge wake in an anchorage at dinner time, roared past just after you'd set your kite in a light race, etc etc. Of course no-one would know whether you had used your quota missile, so everyone would behave near yachts suddenly... Link to post Share on other sites
Mothership 6 Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 its a vested interest question by a vested interest party so my vote is against their interest by default Exactly my thoughts, reinforced even more by the thread creator's post in 'Introduce Yourself' viewtopic.php?&f=45&t=14650&p=224144 Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Because under a thin veil, it is spam and we all detest it. Well most do anyway. Why else would someone post to a website like this. They would be taken in a more welcome light if they had chosen to place an add here first, or at the very least, approached Squid, told him what and who they were and then Squid could have introduced them and raised the question. Otherwise I just view this kind of thing as a thin disguise at self promotion. Link to post Share on other sites
Powerboat Training 0 Posted June 16, 2012 Author Share Posted June 16, 2012 Hi, I actually found this website and thought it would be a good place to put a wanted ad which I have done. Whilst here I thought, wouldn't it be great to start a good relationship with the yachties on this forum and do everything I can to foster a healthy discussion and I think we are in a great position to help educate powerboaters so we can develop mutual respect. I do sail myself but my primary role on the water is powerboating. I do apologise if you thought my post was spam this was not the intention. I hope if people will engage us in a positive manner we can possibly do our bit to help change attitudes on the water. I know we will never reach everyone, but every marathon starts with a step. Cheers Andrew Link to post Share on other sites
Atom Ant 0 Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Because under a thin veil, it is spam and we all detest it. Well most do anyway. Why else would someone post to a website like this. They would be taken in a more welcome light if they had chosen to place an add here first, or at the very least, approached Squid, told him what and who they were and then Squid could have introduced them and raised the question. Otherwise I just view this kind of thing as a thin disguise at self promotion. Wheels with all due respect I think you have grabbed the wrong end of the wrong stick here. If I were them I wouldnt consider placing an ad due to the negativity they have copped when being open and honest about what they are trying to achieve. The lambasting they have been given by a few of you will serve to deter them from putting up an ad. If on the other hand they saw an open minded group of people... They haven't solicited business from anyone, and by them joining in, what makes them any different from all the other members who have marine business and have not placed ads, but have benefited from membership. Can you think of anyone Wheels? They could have come on here with a different name and said nothing about what they do. Is it not just possible that they genuinely want to start dialogue between themselves and yachties? And yes they run a commercial organisation but they are asking our opinion on what powerboaters can do to be more "neighbourly" on the water. I think it's a great idea that they ask us, after all we've all complained bitterly about the behaviour of powerboaters at times. I think we should be objective and give them the answers that will help them produce safer power boaters. Come ON! Again, welcome PBT. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Every time MNZ has looked at licensing and registration, they have looked at other countries where they have such things and determined they have no effect on safety. So why bother? Yeah but think of the increased sales of Hi-Viz jackets (authority/safety/purity) and clip boards. Those who like to hang out at boat ramps, telling others what to do, need to get their jollies too. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I love a good cynic. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 If you had to learn how to sail a sailboat before you could take a powerboat out there possibly wouldn't be a problem. The same could be said about learning to master a motorcycle before sittng a car license. But going on the huge number of kids sailing small yachts off Kohi & Takapuna, I think alot do learn how to sail first. I certainly did my time bailing out a Sabot and righting a P, long before I figured out how to start an outboard motor. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 543 Posted June 17, 2012 Share Posted June 17, 2012 I do sail myself but Well now, why didn't you say that in the first place. If you had to learn how to sail a sailboat before you could take a powerboat out It was the other way around for me. But I grew up in Canterbury. My first time on a Sailboat was not till my early teens. Then it wasn't till my late teens that I had my own, being a PT. I don't think it matters which way you came from, it is simply knowing a couple of rules and the rest really is about common sense and courtesy. Link to post Share on other sites
Fogg 427 Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Reading back here I think AA is right. And others of you were much too fast to jump in and judge this guy because of his initial post. Calm down guys. Just cos a few of us have been here for a while doesn't make it 'our patch'. New posters don't have to pass your personal test to make the grade you know. It's a free forum for all unless they get abusive - which is far from the case here. It's that clique mentality that has driven a few other good people away over the years. Instead of defaulting to suspicion how about you welcome someone with a different perspective for a change? Personally I think we should give a warm welcome to anyone from the powerboat community who is willing to front up here on a predominantly sailing forum to engage in discussion - knowing full well that he'll almost certainly attract some flack from some of you. Link to post Share on other sites
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