HM Coastguard calls for jet skiers to respect other water users

[Graham376]

Licensing and insurance are mandatory here, doesn't make any difference to behaviour. Moorings used as slalom courses at high speed and tenders often targeted for close pass. When N Wales based, insurance was checked at the slip before they were allowed to launch but then young kids would use them who I'm sure wouldn't be covered.

 

[johnalison]

It is a waste of effort. I have yet to meet a jet-skier who could read.

 

[cherod]

So ... driver licensing, vessel registration, compulsory annual surveys ...

NO

 

[Sealong]

Was that wise?

My sense of humanity got the better of me !

 

[Graham376]

So ... driver licensing, vessel registration, compulsory annual surveys ...

No to the above but, bearing in mind the damage they can do to people or property, I think third party insurance should be compulsory.

 

[lupa]

How many people reading this have actually been hit by a jet ski? Not me I know.
But I have been hit by 2 yachts, 1 motor boat and countless dinghy racers in chichester harbour.
Let's all sit on our ivory decks casting stones at people.
After all we are all perfect arnt we.

 

[25931]

So ... driver licensing, vessel registration, compulsory annual surveys ...

There is no annual survey here. Did you forget to mention 3rd party insurance or do you agree that it would be beneficial ?

 

[25931]

How many people reading this have actually been hit by a jet ski? Not me I know.
But I have been hit by 2 yachts, 1 motor boat and countless dinghy racers in chichester harbour.
Let's all sit on our ivory decks casting stones at people.
After all we are all perfect arnt we.

Do we not have 3rd party insurance ?

 

[JumbleDuck]

There is no annual survey here. Did you forget to mention 3rd party insurance or do you agree that it would be beneficial ?

Yup, just forgot it. Can't see the point as a general rule ... how much damage can a kid in an Oppie do? Maybe more point above a speed limit, but how would it be policed? Is there actually a problem at the moment?

 

[25931]

So ... driver licensing, vessel registration, compulsory annual surveys ...

Yup, just forgot it. Can't see the point as a general rule ... how much damage can a kid in an Oppie do? Maybe more point above a speed limit, but how would it be policed? Is there actually a problem at the moment?

We're talking about water scooters vide #2

 

[russ]

I cant believe how many idiotic and ignorant motorboaters and jet skiers speed past our boats berthed at Shamrock Quay. The wash rocking all our boats and potentially damaging them. knuckle draggers.

 

[[3889]]

My objection to licensing isn't the principle or even the imposition of reasonable administrative costs. It's the inability of licensing authorities to resist using the system to effectively impose a covert tax. Look at SSR fees which have risen 250% in the last 15 years. £35 ain't a lot but it is extortionate for the service provided.

 

[JumbleDuck]

We're talking about water scooters vide #2

I was responding to

Why should boats be any different to cars or airplanes or many other forms of transport.

 

[JohnGC]

There is currently a problem in Plymouth; Jet Skiers buzzing swimmers. MOD police, civilian police and MCA all trying to curb it.
Jet ski idiots are 'bullying swimmers and boats in Plymouth'

But I don't believe for a moment that, someone who thinks scarring swimmers is OK, would be prevented doing anything just because it required a licence.

I would hazard a guess that laws covering "menace" and "bodily harm" have more teeth than those for not having a licence (although the route to confiscation of the Jet Ski might be simpler).

 

[duncan99210]

My experience of PWC users in UK is limited to encounters in and around the Menai Straits, where they are a menace. It’s not so much the high speed runs through moorings, annoying though that may be, but the total lack of awareness of how other craft move.
At the time we had a Hardy Pilot capable of 20+ knots. On one particular occasion, we were heading from Beaumaris toward the Swellies at about 17 knots and were passed by a gaggle of PWC. So far, no problem. However, they were perhaps 50 metres or so in front of us and slap in the middle of the channel when they stopped. Dead. Spread over perhaps 20 metres or so. I put the helm hard over and chopped the power and we came to a halt in a hurry with flurry of attendant wash. These guys (and it was a bunch of young men) just didn’t understand what they’d done wrong: lots of water to either side when in fact there wasn’t and the tide was pushing the water along at a fair lick. The lesson I took away from that is that I’d treat them all like accidents looking for somewhere to happen and now give the things a wide berth whenever possible.
All that said, unless there is a will to police whatever restrictions are put in place, then there isn’t a vast amount that can be done. And even if there is a will and resources to police regulations, the chances are that they’ll still be ignored by those who frankly don’t care about other water users. You only have to look at the numbers of people being picked up for unlicensed/uninsured/no MOT/riding illegal bikes to see how little notice is taken of rules that get in the way of folks enjoying themselves.

 

[GTom]

My experience of PWC users in UK is limited to encounters in and around the Menai Straits, where they are a menace. It’s not so much the high speed runs through moorings, annoying though that may be, but the total lack of awareness of how other craft move.
At the time we had a Hardy Pilot capable of 20+ knots. On one particular occasion, we were heading from Beaumaris toward the Swellies at about 17 knots and were passed by a gaggle of PWC. So far, no problem. However, they were perhaps 50 metres or so in front of us and slap in the middle of the channel when they stopped. Dead. Spread over perhaps 20 metres or so. I put the helm hard over and chopped the power and we came to a halt in a hurry with flurry of attendant wash. These guys (and it was a bunch of young men) just didn’t understand what they’d done wrong: lots of water to either side when in fact there wasn’t and the tide was pushing the water along at a fair lick. The lesson I took away from that is that I’d treat them all like accidents looking for somewhere to happen and now give the things a wide berth whenever possible.
All that said, unless there is a will to police whatever restrictions are put in place, then there isn’t a vast amount that can be done. And even if there is a will and resources to police regulations, the chances are that they’ll still be ignored by those who frankly don’t care about other water users. You only have to look at the numbers of people being picked up for unlicensed/uninsured/no MOT/riding illegal bikes to see how little notice is taken of rules that get in the way of folks enjoying themselves.

Not easy to give a wide berth if you move 10kts tops (sailboat+current) and they do 40.

 

[duncan99210]

Not easy to give a wide berth if you move 10kts tops (sailboat+current) and they do 40.

Indeed, I was thinking more of the odd occasion these days when I get to play in a RIB or similar.

 

[greeny]

OK so I take it that the general opinion on licensing is no.
But off the top of my head, go one step further.
He who giveth the license can take it away. Just like a car. So if licensing was compulsory, and the breaking of marine law meant possible loss of license, we would at least get some of the idiots off the water in this way. Not all, granted, but like cars there would be bans and increased insurance premiums for the offenders. The system used on the highways is not perfect but it does get some of them out of operation for a while.

 

[greeny]

The nature of bureaucrats is to make simple things difficult and expensive.. Taxation through regulation until we give up and buy everything from abroad.

Sorry, I don't get the connection. What are we buying from abroad?

 

[Blue Sunray]

True, but the 20mm Bofors

You just made that up didn't you?