Future for Boating

[C2 RIBS]

I have been at a meeting today with coding authorities from the MCA today looking at a standard for commercial operators.

During the course of this we discussed legislation and from those present at the meeting we gained the impression that the future of boating as seen from a Government prospective will be legislation as they see the industry in the leisure marker as unregulated. i.e Anyone can buy a boat and do what they want within Navigation and anti collision regs.

Due to the incidents resulting in deaths/injuries there is clearly a long term discussion occuring about how to reduce said incidents. This is not likely to happen overnight or the short term but I would be surprised if this did not occur.

[Starovich]

oooh legislation again...

[kerny]

Just another way of squeezing money out of people enjoying themselves.

Maybe they should look at regulating DIY'ers..... plenty accidents and deaths each year with that hobby

[Dan Gurney]

Originally Posted by kerny

Just another way of squeezing money out of people enjoying themselves.

Maybe they should look at regulating DIY'ers..... plenty accidents and deaths each year with that hobby

Yeah, but nobody with chums in government/the meeja.

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by kerny

Just another way of squeezing money out of people enjoying themselves.

Its called fuel Tax

[slate1234]

It's called fun tax, anything to do with fun is taxed,

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by slate1234

It's called fun tax, anything to do with fun is taxed,

't all depends on what you do for fun

[steco1958]

Would happen sooner or later, however, if you insure your boat, and do a reasonable course i.e. PB2, and VHF, and get your boat serviced, you have probably achieved more than the government would put in place.

At this time, I certainly do not intend to worry about it !!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Due to the incidents resulting in deaths/injuries there is clearly a long term discussion occuring about how to reduce said incidents. This is not likely to happen overnight or the short term but I would be surprised if this did not occur.

You'd be surprised if what did not occur? Predicting the future is easy when you don't say what or when!

I'll flip it on its head and say I'd be amazed if there was any new UK legislation requiring licensing or registration of leisure boats or their operators in the next ten years. Bear in mind that not only do you need the civil servants to desire it you need it to be a political priority (vote winner, revenue generator or cost saver). I think mandatory insurance and possibly mandatory life jackets might come, but probably even that is not in the next decade.

And I believe that so strongly that if someone "from government" was telling me otherwise without a credible case or an explanation of what and when, then I'd be sceptical about anything else they presented as they clearly aren't in a position of real influence!

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by steco1958

Would happen sooner or later, however, if you insure your boat, and do a reasonable course i.e. PB2, and VHF, and get your boat serviced, you have probably achieved more than the government would put in place.

At this time, I certainly do not intend to worry about it !!

I doubt those things would be top of any legislation priority, it would more likely come in the guise of compulsory registration & annual taxation. The registration would be justified on security/immigration/borders grounds & the taxation would ostensibly be to pay for it. Eventually the taxation would be ramped up until it turned a profit a la road tax. All the other bits & bobs, qualifications, insurance, lifejackets etc. would be bolted on just to dress it up as 'elf 'n safety so Joe Public nodded it through.

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by Poly

You'd be surprised if what did not occur? Predicting the future is easy when you don't say what or when!

I'll flip it on its head and say I'd be amazed if there was any new UK legislation requiring licensing or registration of leisure boats or their operators in the next ten years. Bear in mind that not only do you need the civil servants to desire it you need it to be a political priority (vote winner, revenue generator or cost saver). I think mandatory insurance and possibly mandatory life jackets might come, but probably even that is not in the next decade.

And I believe that so strongly that if someone "from government" was telling me otherwise without a credible case or an explanation of what and when, then I'd be sceptical about anything else they presented as they clearly aren't in a position of real influence!

always expected similar responses. I only reported what I heard during a meeting we had covering commercial coding issues and their staff (seniors) stated this and was not driven by me or my colleagues as I am already regulated very strongly..

You ask "You'd be surprised if what did not occur?"-
Regulation of some sort, as you say, lifejackets, kill cords, training ? There is clearly a drive from the authority to push an agenda through and that was one reason we had our meeting to discuss a standard operating procedure for our industry which was met with considerable support instead of regulating us further

If I hear more I am happy to inform but if the negativity is strong I will leave it to someone else to update from the regulatory bodies

[Poly]

Well there is a big difference between say having to carry a life jacket, and having to be qualified if the person you are quoting wasn't able to define or differentiate those then it sounds like he is just making noise (either because it's what he wants to do or what his audience want to hear).

Why don't you invite the person who said it's coming to post on here so I can tell him he's talking pish directly?

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I doubt those things would be top of any legislation priority, it would more likely come in the guise of compulsory registration & annual taxation. The registration would be justified on security/immigration/borders grounds & the taxation would ostensibly be to pay for it. Eventually the taxation would be ramped up until it turned a profit a la road tax. All the other bits & bobs, qualifications, insurance, lifejackets etc. would be bolted on just to dress it up as 'elf 'n safety so Joe Public nodded it through.

A right thinking person may well belive they'd be happy thier 20% 1/5! VAT of EVERYTHING! related however tenuously to Boating!!... pluss considerably more in Fuel Duty!
At the moment it's one of the few places the working man can still get his fill of The Wilder side...without breaking the Breaking the bank!
Further Taxation/expence in whatever guise would not only be very unwelcome to the Boating community as whole (you'll always have a few pinko nanny state more legislation lental eaters!)...but also probably counter productive!
I was talking about Right thinking people though!

[whisper]

I thought the future for boating was hover boats

[C2 RIBS]

Originally Posted by Poly

Well there is a big difference between say having to carry a life jacket, and having to be qualified if the person you are quoting wasn't able to define or differentiate those then it sounds like he is just making noise (either because it's what he wants to do or what his audience want to hear).

Why don't you invite the person who said it's coming to post on here so I can tell him he's talking pish directly?

Safe to say, thats the last post well done.

[CJL]

Seriously Poly??

Chris

[willk]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Safe to say, thats the last post well done.

I'm confused - why would you post about what you must have known would be an emotive subject on RIBnet and then walk away when you get some contrary comment?

FYI, if you think that you're very strongly regulated, that's only because you must not have operated commercially outside the UK. It's MUCH worse here in the Republic and I'd dread to imagine what it must be like in France....

That said, I think that the whole regulation issue is a red herring. You all have a driving licence for the car that brings you to the water. You all wear a safety belt in that car. Say hello to the 21st Century and get on with it

[willk]

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Due to the incidents resulting in deaths/injuries there is clearly a long term discussion occuring about how to reduce said incidents. This is not likely to happen overnight or the short term but I would be surprised if this did not occur.

In the interests of healthy debate, I'm going to ask if they will be considering limiting access to hills by hillwalkers? It is patently true that many unprepared walkers venture into the high ground in the UK annually without adequate training or equipment. Of those who get into difficulty, many cause a huge drain on the Search & Rescue and Emergency Services, and every year many are injured and quite a few die.

I'm sure that this angle could be applied to most outdoor "adventure" type activities with as much validity as boating. I'm not sure that there is going to be a rush to legislate, but I do expect an increasing amount of regulation at slips, harbours and marinas (and in insurance).

I concur with Poly in (what I think is his thesis) that there is always a government jobsworth preaching doom and gloom at industry confermercials. It's the only time someone is going to actually take them seriously. Granted - I wasn't there, but I'm happy to hear more about it and be proved wrong :-)

[willk]

Originally Posted by CJL

Seriously Poly??

Chris

As debate goes, "srsly" fails to get my juices flowing

[CJL]

Originally Posted by willk

As debate goes, "srsly" fails to get my juices flowing

Willk,

I didn't actually put "srsly" I typed "Seriously", please see above.

Chris