ArthurWood
New member
I see many mentions or allusions on this forum to drinking whilst boating. Who does think it's safe to drink whilst driving/helming a boat?
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Safe alcohol level
- Thread starter ArthurWood
- Start date
tcm
...
I wouldn't like to set a level.
For coastal or inland dayboating, I think drinking is nowhere near as dangerous as it wopuld be in a car, for example - it is not the case that a momentary lapse flips you into high-speed oncoming traffic always only yards away, with a combined closing speed of over a hundred miles an hour, for example.
But for a serious voyage, I have been with many hereabouts on boats and nary a drop has passed our lips till close to harbour or after tying up.
I do hope that place isn't brainwashing you into the sort of puritanical nonsense that I saw last time I visited the USA. Waiters started quizzing why we would want a "whole bottle!" of wine on New Years eve and the place shut firmly at 10.30. Another time, whilst pregnant, swmbo abstained and asked for a coffee ee in a Florida restaurant : "Coffee!!" squawked the waitress "but what about your unborn child!!" We won't be back.
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For coastal or inland dayboating, I think drinking is nowhere near as dangerous as it wopuld be in a car, for example - it is not the case that a momentary lapse flips you into high-speed oncoming traffic always only yards away, with a combined closing speed of over a hundred miles an hour, for example.
But for a serious voyage, I have been with many hereabouts on boats and nary a drop has passed our lips till close to harbour or after tying up.
I do hope that place isn't brainwashing you into the sort of puritanical nonsense that I saw last time I visited the USA. Waiters started quizzing why we would want a "whole bottle!" of wine on New Years eve and the place shut firmly at 10.30. Another time, whilst pregnant, swmbo abstained and asked for a coffee ee in a Florida restaurant : "Coffee!!" squawked the waitress "but what about your unborn child!!" We won't be back.
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petem
Well-known member
Disney
Friends tell me that at Disney World hotels you can only buy beer in those crappy little cups (i.e. < 0.5 pint). And they won't let you buy more beers than the number of people in your party. How's a man gonna get legless at that rate?
Therefore to answer your question (what's safe?)....
US Drinker: 0.5l Bud Light
UK Drinker: 5 pints of Special Brew.
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Friends tell me that at Disney World hotels you can only buy beer in those crappy little cups (i.e. < 0.5 pint). And they won't let you buy more beers than the number of people in your party. How's a man gonna get legless at that rate?
Therefore to answer your question (what's safe?)....
US Drinker: 0.5l Bud Light
UK Drinker: 5 pints of Special Brew.
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LeytonC
New member
I will only have 2 pints whilst 'enroute' with a meal on the river, but none at all for seawork! I do know people who have a skin full at night, then at 0400 leave sharpness. I have to admit, i think thats a bit stupid.
All IMHO of course
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Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)
All IMHO of course
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Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)
jimi
Well-known member
US Drink & Drive
However US drink & driving witgh significant amounts of alchohol is much more common and socially acceptable there than here!
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However US drink & driving witgh significant amounts of alchohol is much more common and socially acceptable there than here!
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LeytonC
New member
US Drink & Drive ... Ah But
When i was in America, the level of driving was far better than here! people did the 25 mph speed limit, even the 65 speed limit on the freeway (I over took a porche 911 that was doing 65 mph) and people would let you out of busy junctions etc. So maybe if we slowed down and drove better maybe the limit could be higher?
I know this is very flame-worthy but its still IMHO
NB I was in Illinos (Spelling?)
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Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)
When i was in America, the level of driving was far better than here! people did the 25 mph speed limit, even the 65 speed limit on the freeway (I over took a porche 911 that was doing 65 mph) and people would let you out of busy junctions etc. So maybe if we slowed down and drove better maybe the limit could be higher?
I know this is very flame-worthy but its still IMHO
NB I was in Illinos (Spelling?)
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Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)
BarryH
Active member
Don't think there is any safe level for all. Being a teetotaler myself, Icould probably have half a glass of wine. Whereas, a person like Forbsie, for example, could possibly drink a bottle of malt and still be in charge of all his facalties.
I thought there was talk of breath tests for skippers of private lesuire boats. What was the outcome of that?
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I thought there was talk of breath tests for skippers of private lesuire boats. What was the outcome of that?
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tcm
...
Re: US Drink & Drive ... Ah But
yes -where did they get the idea of a "car chase" for films? They drive interminably slowly. Probly all pissed.
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yes -where did they get the idea of a "car chase" for films? They drive interminably slowly. Probly all pissed.
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LeytonC
New member
Re: US Drink & Drive ... Ah But
I passed the porche at 85 mph, chewing the steering wheel having a fit of road rage about the slow traffic, he saw me & gave me shuch a look
LOL
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Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)
I passed the porche at 85 mph, chewing the steering wheel having a fit of road rage about the slow traffic, he saw me & gave me shuch a look
LOL
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Leyton
(EXTAR Solutions - Software that works for you)
Robin
Well-known member
Re: US Drink & Drive ... Ah But
Then you were not in Chicago area of Illinois where the speed limit is exceeded by 20mph plus by all and at the same time as using every one of the available lanes over a 5 minute period. Also you will still find people doing 65mph in rain so hard you cannot see the front of the car. Have a look at the accident statistics too!
They have a strange attitude to booze, like selling you your gin bottle in a brown paper bag as per winos. On the golf course coolers full of beer in the buggie are par for the course, followed by a few more at the 19th.
On our boat we do not drink at sea though this is not a rigid rule, but wine with dinner and a glass or two of G&T when anchored, moored or in our berth is different, excesses prior to an early depature next morning are self policing from previous (regretted) experiences.
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Then you were not in Chicago area of Illinois where the speed limit is exceeded by 20mph plus by all and at the same time as using every one of the available lanes over a 5 minute period. Also you will still find people doing 65mph in rain so hard you cannot see the front of the car. Have a look at the accident statistics too!
They have a strange attitude to booze, like selling you your gin bottle in a brown paper bag as per winos. On the golf course coolers full of beer in the buggie are par for the course, followed by a few more at the 19th.
On our boat we do not drink at sea though this is not a rigid rule, but wine with dinner and a glass or two of G&T when anchored, moored or in our berth is different, excesses prior to an early depature next morning are self policing from previous (regretted) experiences.
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hlb
RIP
A bit complicated Aurther. It rather depends on who's drinking what and what there expected to do. Fer instance Tutts has done VHF course. But could not contact coast guard or marina. Pissed or not. On the other hand. I parked up three boats, all at once, only cos I was pissed at the time!! Would never have tried it without!!
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Haydn
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Haydn
Bejasus
New member
Re: US Drink & Drive
When the beer you can buy in the US only has an alcohol content of 3%, then it's always been a source of amusement to me how Texans can get ratarsed and lose control on 4-6 small cans.
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When the beer you can buy in the US only has an alcohol content of 3%, then it's always been a source of amusement to me how Texans can get ratarsed and lose control on 4-6 small cans.
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ArthurWood
New member
No, tcm, I have not become a Puritan, tho' one has to (eventually) accept that different nations have different customs. It's a pity you and your wife were put off by a couple of unfortunate incidents.
There are some weird (to us) drink laws and dining times. Many people start their day at 4.00am, get the kids off to school between 6.00 and 7.00 and then start work at 8.00. No wonder they don't want to be eating much after 8.00pm. We walked by our marina restaurant at about 9.30 last night and it was closed - it's an up-market place, too. We are off to GA tomorrow where, when I buy alcohol, I shall be asked for ID. It's pretty incredible, but that's the way it is. And in some counties they don't even sell alcohol! In other counties, you can't buy alcohol on Sundays, but you can buy a gun on any day anywhere! When you come to live here, you have to put your clock back 5 hr and 225 yr for some aspects of life
As for drinking and driving a boat, I don't, (I make up for it later!) and I disagree with you as to when it might be safer. I think it's safer to have one beer on a long, off-shore leg, than in coastal or inshore where there is more traffic.
I've read, and expcd the effect myself , that alcohol, even a small amount, plus sun, plus motion of the boat reduces one's concentration , reaction time and awarenesss. Two boats each weighing several tons colliding at a combined speed of 50mph can do lot of damage. In my case,a momentary lapse, cost me a propeller when I hit a clearly marked rock at 20+kt.
In Florida, if you have a boating accident and have been drinking you are deemed to be at fault even if, other things being equal, you would not be. In the case of a death, you may be charged w/manslaughter.
Drinking and boating is taken much more seriously than drinking and driving a car, the car being as necessary to everyday life as shoes!
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There are some weird (to us) drink laws and dining times. Many people start their day at 4.00am, get the kids off to school between 6.00 and 7.00 and then start work at 8.00. No wonder they don't want to be eating much after 8.00pm. We walked by our marina restaurant at about 9.30 last night and it was closed - it's an up-market place, too. We are off to GA tomorrow where, when I buy alcohol, I shall be asked for ID. It's pretty incredible, but that's the way it is. And in some counties they don't even sell alcohol! In other counties, you can't buy alcohol on Sundays, but you can buy a gun on any day anywhere! When you come to live here, you have to put your clock back 5 hr and 225 yr for some aspects of life
As for drinking and driving a boat, I don't, (I make up for it later!) and I disagree with you as to when it might be safer. I think it's safer to have one beer on a long, off-shore leg, than in coastal or inshore where there is more traffic.
I've read, and expcd the effect myself , that alcohol, even a small amount, plus sun, plus motion of the boat reduces one's concentration , reaction time and awarenesss. Two boats each weighing several tons colliding at a combined speed of 50mph can do lot of damage. In my case,a momentary lapse, cost me a propeller when I hit a clearly marked rock at 20+kt.
In Florida, if you have a boating accident and have been drinking you are deemed to be at fault even if, other things being equal, you would not be. In the case of a death, you may be charged w/manslaughter.
Drinking and boating is taken much more seriously than drinking and driving a car, the car being as necessary to everyday life as shoes!
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tcm
...
Good info, Arthur, and i don't disgaree very much. Thanks for explaing that they all go to bed early - but not sure i understand why? What do they do with all that time before work i wonder? Mind you, it would save a load of lecky and heating so I might try it sometime. Probly have to wait till the kids leave home else they will be crashing about till gone midnight.
Actually the worst drink related incident was when we went to a bar in California and they asked me to prove I was over 21. These days I would take this as a compliment but didn't when i was 27. Aboutto go and dig out passports, I asked if we would need to prove wife was over 21 too? The barman said not necesaary cos it was quite obvious that she was well over 21! We left.
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Actually the worst drink related incident was when we went to a bar in California and they asked me to prove I was over 21. These days I would take this as a compliment but didn't when i was 27. Aboutto go and dig out passports, I asked if we would need to prove wife was over 21 too? The barman said not necesaary cos it was quite obvious that she was well over 21! We left.
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MedDreamer
Active member
I don't drink at all when in command of the boat, but after watching my efforts at getting out of my berth my crew are usually hitting the bottle hard by the time we get to the end of the jetty - funny that
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ArthurWood
New member
Re: US Drink & Drive ... Ah But
Leyton - I wouldn't say the driving over here is better than in Europe, though, w/the exception of the NE, drivers are more courteous - I put this down to their not knowing who has a gun!
In general, drivers here are very inattentive, invariably drive with one hand (then wonder why the vehicle goes out of control if a tyre bursts) and are very frequently doing something or things else, like eating, drinking, phoning, doing hair, makeup, reading, reaching down on the floor or combinations of all simultaneously. On interstates, they change lanes for no apparent reason and rarely signal. What can you expect when the driving test consists of multiple choice questions and a drive around cones in a car park!!
In the 16+ yr we've been here, we've seen driving speeds increase markedly, poss due to the popularity of fast Euro cars vs the US land barges. On I-285 around Atlanta, the equiv of M25, the speed limit is 55mph, but the traffic is normally moving at 80-ish. On I-75 where we shall be tomorrow, the speed limit is 70, but traffic moves at 80+. If caught at over 100, you can spend a night in jail, followed by a hefty fine and perhaps have your insurance cancelled.
The hairiest experience when driving here is being in a line of traffice at 80 mph with a huge 18 wheeler's radiator all you can see in your mirror. My solution to that is to slow down, not brake(!), which results in blasts from the truck's air horn, but they do drop back. The fastest our boat has been is 85mph on a low loader which we were following!
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Leyton - I wouldn't say the driving over here is better than in Europe, though, w/the exception of the NE, drivers are more courteous - I put this down to their not knowing who has a gun!
In general, drivers here are very inattentive, invariably drive with one hand (then wonder why the vehicle goes out of control if a tyre bursts) and are very frequently doing something or things else, like eating, drinking, phoning, doing hair, makeup, reading, reaching down on the floor or combinations of all simultaneously. On interstates, they change lanes for no apparent reason and rarely signal. What can you expect when the driving test consists of multiple choice questions and a drive around cones in a car park!!
In the 16+ yr we've been here, we've seen driving speeds increase markedly, poss due to the popularity of fast Euro cars vs the US land barges. On I-285 around Atlanta, the equiv of M25, the speed limit is 55mph, but the traffic is normally moving at 80-ish. On I-75 where we shall be tomorrow, the speed limit is 70, but traffic moves at 80+. If caught at over 100, you can spend a night in jail, followed by a hefty fine and perhaps have your insurance cancelled.
The hairiest experience when driving here is being in a line of traffice at 80 mph with a huge 18 wheeler's radiator all you can see in your mirror. My solution to that is to slow down, not brake(!), which results in blasts from the truck's air horn, but they do drop back. The fastest our boat has been is 85mph on a low loader which we were following!
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ArthurWood
New member
Tcm - you really don't know what they do from 4.00am?
Haven't you heard of house cleaning, jogging, bible study, quality time w/kids, breakfast, getting kids ready for school - bus comes just after 6.00 in many places - making oneself look wonderful, which continues whilst driving to work (men too) and stopping off for coffee and doughnuts at the drive thru?
BTW, when I mentioned ID that meant proof of age - and you know how old I am!
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Haven't you heard of house cleaning, jogging, bible study, quality time w/kids, breakfast, getting kids ready for school - bus comes just after 6.00 in many places - making oneself look wonderful, which continues whilst driving to work (men too) and stopping off for coffee and doughnuts at the drive thru?
BTW, when I mentioned ID that meant proof of age - and you know how old I am!
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ArthurWood
New member
Re: Disney
petem-Ah, American beer, or is it iced horse p--s? I can assure you that at the better Disney hotels beer is served in cans, bottles or glasses unless at the pool where plastic is used. Drinking from a bottle is OK, and buying a jug of beer is OK, but lining up lots of glasses of drinks is not. Society here "cares" in so many odd ways.
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petem-Ah, American beer, or is it iced horse p--s? I can assure you that at the better Disney hotels beer is served in cans, bottles or glasses unless at the pool where plastic is used. Drinking from a bottle is OK, and buying a jug of beer is OK, but lining up lots of glasses of drinks is not. Society here "cares" in so many odd ways.
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Col
New member
>Don't think there is any safe level for all. Being a teetotaler myself<
When did that happen??
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/colspics> Cols Picture Album</A>
When did that happen??
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sailbadthesinner
New member
mm i have been on a boat at anchor a bit drunk. anchor dragged and wind piped up
soon sobered up i can tell you.
I think the prob is that as you say an accident will happen that may in fact be nothing to do with fact participants have been drinking and then somoene will try to do somehting about it.
Worst i can see is breathalysing after accident. This assumes
A it is reported and
b someone gets there with a breathalyser.
do they do everyone or just skipper and helm. what if it is a nav error???
and this will only really happen in the solent on bank holidays
really tho it takes it to become as socially unnacceptable as drink driving is now.
Our local bobby reckons they keep an eye out for the older drivers at xmas. the youngsters tend not to D and D. Normally only as one offs, say they get pissed and decide to borrow dad's car. they usually wind up crashing.
Honestly tho i have dropped anchor with more than a couple of beers in me.
<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>
soon sobered up i can tell you.
I think the prob is that as you say an accident will happen that may in fact be nothing to do with fact participants have been drinking and then somoene will try to do somehting about it.
Worst i can see is breathalysing after accident. This assumes
A it is reported and
b someone gets there with a breathalyser.
do they do everyone or just skipper and helm. what if it is a nav error???
and this will only really happen in the solent on bank holidays
really tho it takes it to become as socially unnacceptable as drink driving is now.
Our local bobby reckons they keep an eye out for the older drivers at xmas. the youngsters tend not to D and D. Normally only as one offs, say they get pissed and decide to borrow dad's car. they usually wind up crashing.
Honestly tho i have dropped anchor with more than a couple of beers in me.
<hr width=100% size=1><font color=red>if guinness is good for you. i must be very very good</font color=red>
