Should Power boat or RIB users have a license?
There have been rumours that powerboat and RIB drivers are going to have to be licensed and yet nobody seems to know if this is true. I’m on the fence about whether it’s a good idea, as I don’t think it can be efficiently policed. After all there are enough enforceable laws around at the moment but little seems to be done.
I have heard that some dealers will sell their highest powered , biggest, fastest powerboat or RIB, to the first numpty that has the cash and no idea.
At JBT Marine (specialist rigid inflatable boat dealers), we do our best to persuade novices to take a minimum course, but there is the case of it being the last free thing around. Perhaps the answer is to make a practical and shore based course compulsory with the purchase of a powerboat, or have speed or power related restrictions. What do you think?
JBT Marine specialists in RIBs and Zodiac boats www.ribsforsale.com Royal Yachting association RYA – www.rya.org.uk RIBs are somtimes refered to as Zodiacs or inflatables
This entry was posted on Monday, March 26th, 2007 at 12:22 pm and is filed under Ribs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I could see where a license would be a good idea. What stops a complete novice from investing in some raw power and running amock in RIB or Power Boat apart from a savvy dealer who would spot this.
Many non-sailors do not realise their are speed limits and rules to abide by.
As for the course, I think that is a great idea, at the same time it could incorporate ways and means of RIB care.
Absoluteley, from a certain speed or possible speed a license should be mandatory. I’ve seen many accidents and during our trainings, we hear from accidents too! 99% of them are from not knowing what you are busy with at high speed!
No, a law will not be effective. The question here is not whether it is particularly smart to buy the biggest most powerful boat, and then just bring it to the water. The question is whether the law should interfere with something like this.
We do not need more laws. What has happened to the land of the free?
I think that this may upset a few people but all boaters should at least have a minimum standard of training i have seen many accidents on many different types of boats people may have money to buy a large boat & can then go out endanger not only there life but the people that may have to go & rescue them. That is not fair on anyone one!!
It can be policed effectively as it is here in Spain so why not in England??
Safe boating