Boating whilst under the influence

[Babylon]

Is boating whilst under the influence of alcohol equivalent to driving under such influence?

Yes or No?

I'm essentially interested in the primary crew - ie the skipper and those necessary to work the boat, not necessarily everyone else on board.

 

[awol]

All depends doesn't it? Mega horse powered gin palace isn't the same as a Redcrest with a 2hp Mercury 2-stroke. Pissed on a bicycle or foiling Moth are both self-limiting activities but can be amusing to onlookers. If I had to choose my answer is "no".

 

[Seajet]

Not only is it a 'no', it still amazes me that on the roads we have opposing traffic each doing 'up to' 60mph with no barrier inbetween; really not much more than a sneeze and it's a 120mph head-on...

I know someone who was killed on a country road when the chap coming the other way had a heart attack, that doesn't happen with boats unless one is even more unlucky.

The good and bad thing about boats - inc powerful mobo's usually - is that it takes a long time to get into trouble; snag is it takes at least as long to get out of it.

 

[Seajet]

Just to play Devils' Advocate, an example where it was the same as drink driving, or same result anyway, was a little while ago in the southern U.S.

A group in a mobo at night on a lake were minding their own business slowly with lights on, when the Good Ole Boy - Deputy Sherrif I think - going flat out in his turbo-nutter mobo - drunk - went straight over them, killing a woman and injuring others.

His chums rallied round, 'forgot' to breathalyse him, then charged the victims !

This has become a cause celebre in the States, one can only hope for justice, and no I wasn't singling out mobo's, but obviously powerful fast ones have to be more risky when on the sherbert.

 

[johnalison]

Not only is it a 'no', it still amazes me that on the roads we have opposing traffic each doing 'up to' 60mph with no barrier inbetween; really not much more than a sneeze and it's a 120mph head-on...
.

I sometimes wonder what a Martian would make of our habit of keeping our 2-way roads from the days of horses.

Although I voted no, there are occasional 3rd party deaths from high speed craft, often speedboats or jet-skis being operated by the inebriated in confined waters, and tragedies when people fall overboard when drunk, so I can't give sail-drinking my full approval.

 

[prv]

No, it's not the same as drink driving.

That doesn't mean that sailing around completely pissed is a good idea, but that's a separate question.

Similar to what John said, if someone invented the car and road system today, it would immediately be outlawed as absurdly dangerous. Members of the general public, with minimal training, guiding tons of steel about in close proximity to each other and unguarded pedestrians? Madness!

Fast motorboats do have a little more in common with driving a car than sailing a yacht does, and I would not approve of operating such a boat while over the driving limit. But even then, the majority of them don't get above thirty, and they don't drive within inches of each other.

Pete

 

[Contest1]

The poll could have benifited from options such as while at anchor or underway.
Even so its hard to deny alcahol inhibits the ability to think clearly so not a good idea if the skipper may have to take command if circumstances change.
While not as dangerous as driveing a car, sailing under the influence can,t be a good thing.

 

[Babylon]

The poll could have benifited from options such as while at anchor or underway.

Good point, but I wished to keep it as open as possible - and as interested in the opinions expressed as by the bare poll results.

The problem with - for example - the 'at anchor' issue is that it depends on whether one's snugly anchored in calm weather up a protected creek with excellent holding, or in a less tenable position with winds likely to go round and/or increase at little notice.

So, I think the assumption for the sake of this question has to be that we're talking about 'under way' or in situations where getting 'under way' is a strong possibility within the duration of 'under the influence'.

I also haven't defined what I mean by 'under the influence' - but let's assume that we're talking about the sort of limits (2 pints, etc) that would apply to driving.

 

[Nico]

The question says is it the same so the only answer can be no. However there are many similarities and some critical differences. Bad question really.

 

[Babylon]

The question says is it the same so the only answer can be no. However there are many similarities and some critical differences. Bad question really.

Awwww..!

Well, go on then - what are the critical differences?

 

[awol]

Not only is it a 'no', it still amazes me that on the roads we have opposing traffic each doing 'up to' 60mph with no barrier inbetween; really not much more than a sneeze and it's a 120mph head-on...

Nope not 120mph just equivalent to each driving into a brick wall at 60mph. Mind you, it won't do either any good.

 

[Uricanejack]

I took the question to be about being in charge of a boat under way. Not tied up ,anchored or aground.
I knew 2 people who were lost on thier way back to the boat from the pub.
I nearly succumed to this myself once.
I don't drink under way or before getting underway.
I do enjoy a drink once Im anchored or tied up in the dock. I often hop in the dingy and row to the pub and back. probabaly the still the most hazerdous part of boating.

I voted yes.

If your aground to late to worry might as well have a quiet drink and wait for the tide.

 

[Slipstream 34]

Drink Driving and Drink boating.......

Having been to the triple boating fatality at Tarbert in 2005, and countless fatal car accidents I can honestly say the results are the same.

 

[Jonas]

To be in charge of a vessel is a position of responsibility, and requires sound judgement.
If you choose to impair your judgement then you have to accept the consequences.
For drink driving, one possible consequence is the penalty of the law; this is generally not the case for leisure boating.
We should all be aware of the possible consequences of impaired judgement in charge of a vessel.
The choice is yours, but be prepared to live with the consequences.
Someone above wondered what Martians would make of our traffic systems. I wonder what they might make of the majority of informed adults defending their right to reduce their abilities whilst claiming to be 'responsible drinkers'.
Smoking is well out of fashion now becuse of the proven health risks, yet alcohol has consistently killed & injured many more people both directly & indirectly and continues to do so.
The choice is yours.

 

[oldharry]

If your aground to late to worry might as well have a quiet drink and wait for the tide.

No chance! Aground, you will be compulsorily rescued by the local RNLI. The 'difficult discussion' that then follows will be widely and publicly reported.

 

[uxb]

This whole drink driving witch hunt really grips my 5hit.

It's just an easy target for plod and the hand wringers to get all righteous about.

Sure, it has caused accidents but so has parents screaming at their kids, people lighting fags, eating, staring at the scenery, being to old and decrepit to drive, trying to find radio ferkin 3 and a hundred other causes.

Aaaaaaaaaaarrrgggghhh.

 

[Seajet]

No chance! Aground, you will be compulsorily rescued by the local RNLI. The 'difficult discussion' that then follows will be widely and publicly reported.

Reminds me of the opening sequence of the brilliant film 'Brazil', where a team of police in special forces type gear grab their suspect, quickly bunging a hood over his head and handcuffs on.

" Welcome To Hayling" one whispers before clipping him to the CG helicopter and seeing him hoisted so quickly his boots are left quivering on the deck.

Ok I made up the last bit but by Daily Wail standards the Pope has it on video.

 

[Slipstream 34]

Nope not 120mph just equivalent to each driving into a brick wall at 60mph. Mind you, it won't do either any good.

Wise words... We can add physics to Seajet's long list of misinformed subjects.

 

[grenade]

"Is drink-boating the same as drink-driving?"

No, but one can get into trouble riding a horse, walking on a pavement, taking a bath, whilst drunk too. There is no law against those either but it's little comfort to the bereaved, injured, disturbed.

I enjoy a drink as much as the next guy. Surely, common sense rather than the law is a better gauge of what is and isn't irresponsible.

 

[Searush]

Having been to the triple boating fatality at Tarbert in 2005, and countless fatal car accidents I can honestly say the results are the same.

That is disingenuous. Just from the very fact that there are "Countless fatal car accidents" and relatively few from boats. Most of the car accidents will be major trauma whereas most of the boating ones will be drowning. The Tarbert incident is a pretty rare sort of event isn't it?