Jet skis - solution

[david_e]

The facts are;

On the water we can not do a great deal to control these pests.

The authorities are limited in their ability to control them.

The retailers/launchers have no interest in educating them.

SOLUTION = Knobble them before they get to the water.

1. Let the trailor tyres down.
2. Order a wagon load of cement to be dumped on the slipway
3. Get a rude anti jet ski car sticker
4. When you see them on the road, cut them up, make them brake hard or anything to make them crash the trailor.
5 Sand in the fuel tank.

Report activities back here to specially created forum site

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[ThomasHome]

They\'re not all bad

A couple of week ago we snapped our sheer pin on our outboard in Priory Bay, we were anchored about half a mile out, the see was a little choppy. I started to row back to the boat with the Mrs and the dog, after we'd got about a third of the way a jet ski type thing came over and asked if we wanted a tow, as he didn't think we were rowing for fun, we got soaked but were very greatful for the lift. He said as he left that not all jet skiers are idiots.

I now carry a spare pin!

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[DavidBolger]

16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

A 16 yr old jet skier collided with a powerboat on Youghal, Co Cork last night. The Jet Skier was killed, the power boat driver was thown out and is in a serious condition and the person in a "dinghy type thing" being towed by the powerboat was rescued by the lifeboat. The powerboat eventually ran out of fuel and was recovered.

This is a terrible incident but hopefully we can learn from it and put in some regulation. Why are some people afraid of regulation? I say, introduce it now and enforce it with confiscation of the craft if anyone is caught without their appropriate licence. Anyone who objects to this is an irresponsible idiot who has no confidence in their abilities to get the necessary tests and exams. These are the type of people who should be put off the water. I've seen them plenty of times. People with unseaworthy boats who think that they are old seadogs, know it all and believe that nobody can teach them anything new. When you stratch the surface, you discover that they are pretty thick and have just survived by pure luck and putting other people into danger in rescuing them.

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[ThomasHome]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

I am not afraid of regulation, I am strongly in favour of policing the things. I was pointing out that not all jet skiers are bad, there are some who are responsible.

I was cut up by a BMW this weekend, but I'm not going to start letting tyers down and put sand in fuel tanks of every BMW I see. No amount of regulation will stop the the bloke driving like a tosser.

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[DavidBolger]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

I wasn't getting at you and I agree that not all are bad and some of them are responsible. My point is that I have seen people on this forum who seem afraid of regulation which I can't understand. I would not mind having to carry my license or pass some exams if we can stop incidents like this. The tone I get from this forum is that, yes something needs to be done but not regulation, please.

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[IanBry]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

Nor will it stop similar behaviour on the water.

Regardless of how high the previous posters knee jerks, the only way to stay safe is to keep your wits about you and assume everyone near has the potential to do something stupid.

Then be gratefull if they don't, but prepared if they do.

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[IanBry]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

The tone I get is not regulation please...

..because the undoubted suspicion is that regulation will cost money (licence fee's etc.) which will not be put into the enforecement of the regulations. So the honest decent folk will pay there money and see no benefit.

Regulation is not the answer to everthing. Most of these actions are against the law but it doesn't stop them happening does it? It doesn't need more regulation just more / better policing.

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[DavidBolger]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

Do you have any certificates for your boating?

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[ThomasHome]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

I'll have to sit on the fence on the regulation issue. You have to pass a test to drive, then keep to speed limits but it doesn't stop hundreds of prople being killed on the road and miles of traffic jam caused by dangerous driving.

How do you start regulating things that float? where do you draw the line? I had a beach cat capable of 25 knots but you could almost swim faster than my tender.
If you put restrictions near beaches then where can you anchor up?

We now love in a country where big bro is keeping an eye on everything we do, if its fun then ban it or tax the hell out of it.

On the other hand smothing needs to be done to help reduce accidents.

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[MainlySteam]

Since March this year we have had a Navigation Rule (ie in the legislation) which requires, among other things:

Without reasonable excuse, no vessels may exceed 5 knots through the water:
Within 50 metres of another vessel or person in the water
Within 200 metres of the shore, any structure, or any vessel displaying a dive flag
While anyone has any part of their body over the bow or sides of a power boat.

So jet skis must do their thing at least 200m off the beach and more than 50m away from any other vessel (including another jet ski) or person in the water. Furthermore, if you are a skier, donuter, etc you are not allowed to let yourself be towed under such circumstances, and local bylaws cannot overtake the navigation rule (ie so in a 10 knot area the above all still applies).

There are obvious exemptions for organised races, events, access lanes, ships over 500T that cannot manoeuvre at these speeds, etc.

Fortunately, jet skis now seem to be going the way of the hula hoop as those attracted to them without much commitment to them as a sport, either grow up or move on to other mindless antics on land.

John

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[IanBry]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

Only Day Skipper but I'm working towards Coastal Skipper at the moment.

Why? Do you assume all those who don't want to see bureaucrats regulate everything from sizes of bananas, to how to go to the bathroom are doing so because they have no wish to learn? Or no concern for safety.

Not at all - but there is far too much badly constructed and contradictory legislation, to see that as some sort of holy grail that will prevent idiots from getting on the water. I doubt there are many people without driving licences on the road but there are still a many dangerous drivers out there. Even with far higher policing that your ever likely to see at sea.


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[ThomasHome]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

I did the RYA levels on Dinghys then bought a Cat and did the Cat version, now have Day Skipper, I also have a UK driving licence with 3 point for speeding!

I bet you can't honestly say that you have never broken the speed limit in a car however safe it may have been to do so.

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[pugwash]

is this a youth thing?

How much of the problem would be solved if there was a blanket ban on driving jet-skis and speedboats (say over 10hp) until you are 17 ?

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[DavidBolger]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

Well Ian, as someone who has done a certificate and is working your way towards a higher qualification, it has obviously had the desired effect. You are safety consious and are aware of the dangers posed by the behavior of people who I dare say have not taken the requiste courses. So, by taking the course you have reduced the risks on the water. I'm sure you are by nature a safety consious and considerate individual but it is possible that before doing your day skipper, you were a wreckless lout (unbekownst to yourself, obviously) and your behaviour could have resembeled the loathsome individuals we are all discussing. But your day skipper course changed all that and you became the considerate, well mannerared, safety consious boatman you are now. So, the system works!! The next step in the process of course is for you to have a large red letter L on your sails until you pass your coastal skipper.

My proposal is that anyone on the water must have a licence for which you pay a fee of say €20 per year and must pass a test similar to the Day skipper/coastal skipper before getting a licence. This would fund the coastguard/rescue services to regulate the waters. Anyone on the water without a valid licence would have their craft confiscatied and only returned to them upon production a valid licence. I agree that some people will still abuse their freedom on the water as car users do on the land but it may have prevented the English 14 year old and Irish 16 year old being killed over the last week. Anyone who can't afford €20 per year shouldn't have a boat as I'm sure they would not be able to afford simple safety equipment such as in-date flares etc.

I hope I am not detecting a Europhobe trend in this forum. The benefits of standardisation, regulation and harmonisation are too numerous to list but it seems certain sections of the UK are intent on ignoring them. I can only assume that these are not the people involved in the steel, boat building or car industries (to name a few) which have been effectively eliminated dues to the UK's uncompetitiveness, currency and effective withdrawl from the EU.

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[qsiv]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

I just dont get this focus on bits of paper.

What matters is peoples experience, and as far as I am aware that is not what the certificates test. I'm not saying that the qualification route is without merit (it certainly isnt), but to assume that it answers all the issues is equally wrong.

As for me, with the exception of my Radio Licence and ICC, I don't at the moment have any qualifications at all, and I'm not absolutely convinced that I would be better or safer with them.

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[DavidBolger]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

So why are you worried about having to carry your bit of paper? If you are as experienced as you say you are, you will pass easily and people who are wreckless will at least be shown the correct way before they hit the water.

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[SlowlyButSurely]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

I have my Yachtmaster piece of paper but I can't honestly say that it made me any safer or more cautious. I think I did the course because I was already cautious.

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[DavidBolger]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

This is really the point. The people who have the pieces of paper don't really need them because they already have the necessary skills for boating (so therefore no problem with introducing mandatory licence requirement). That's why you need to enforce the licence on everyone else.

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[jimi]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

Took the words out my mouth. The targets are'nt the experienced old codgers but the inexperienced and unaware drivers of craft who are potentially a danger to themselves and others. In the circumstances it may be appropriate that drivers of PWC have mandatory training and certification and the purchaser of any craft must provide evidence of insurance when requested to do so.

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[qsiv]

Re: 16yr old Jet Skier killed in Cork

<<anyone on the water must have a licence>>

Uh oh - just see the list of exempted categories. How about boating lakes, or people hiring rowing boats on rivers. I learnt to row when I was three - I can just see the look on the examiners face when I rocked up to sit my Day Skipper!

Anyway, what constitutes a boat, and to what extent do they have to be on the water? What about the person being towed on a ringo - if that constitutes a user on the water, how do you legally separate them from someone riding a ringo down a flume at a leisure pool? Does a water skier count? What about my sprogs when they row ashore or go sialing in the tender? Do the same rules apply for Oppies on Inland water as on the sea (and as for the cadets that sail oppies on the boating lake in Guernsey, who knows).

I'm all in favour of education and training (my parents started the first sailing school in the UK), but licensing and regulation dont make the socially irresponsible behave sensibly - if that were so we wouldnt have teenagers being silly on bikes, in cars, or people driving after any alcohol at all. I firmly believe that it is not the duty of the state to attempt to legislate common sense into people who have none.

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