Pleasure Craft Operator Card - PCOP

[TAM]

Maryland has the same law. I wonder how many of the powerboaters know about it. I would guess the more money than brains guys probably don't. I really like this. The test is fairly easy, but requires some very good knowledge. I think I can remember New Jersey requiring this for under 16 more than 25 years ago. State police ask for it at random checks. Yearly retest is probably good too. I think there needs to be some sort real license between 'Captains' and the edu cert. Perhaps for any boat over 20' .


Terry

[delevi]

I doubt anything would cut down on the jackasses on the water. On San Francisco Bay, the commercial operators are some of the worst. I'm talking tug boats and dredge boats. We were out yesterday with a few friends watching the Blue Angels (fleet week show.) We sailed in the light air throughout the show and when it was over, we dropped the hook a few hundred yards behind Alcatraz Island and fired up the BBQ. Minutes later, a dredge boat was coming right at our beam. He got closer and closer showing no intention of changing course. Then he starts blowing his horn at us. I'm standing in the cockpit waiving my arms with bbq utensil in one hand pointing at the bow of my boat, hoping that he realize I was on the hook. Fortunately, he got it. So he changed his course just enough to buz us within 2 feet (literally,) then cut in front of my bow at the very last second. I was sweating bullets. Amazingly, his props didn't catch our anchor rode. Getting hammered by his wake was almost a relief, just from the knowledge that he passed and we weren't going to die. I thought he needed to get near the island, but no. After buzzing us, he changed course by 45 degrees and sailed on. We were not in a shipping lane. Completely intentional. BTW, an unbalasted boat may have capsized from his wake. The worst thing about all this is there absolutely nothing I could have done. I'm not likely to anchor on the bay again.

Be safe out there.

Leon

[puggsy]

Here in Western Australia we have a similar system in place...the Recreational Skippers ticket...Everyone was given a two year period in which to acquire one, but now its costing about AU$200 for the lessons needed to get it...those with previously held commercial qualifications were granted one automatically [ e.g. grade five fishing and trading [ passengers].
But when this [ gratis] RST was issued, there was no mention on the ticket of those comercial qualifications.
Going by the behaviour of some "skippers" [ ???] it was too easy to get but is a finanbcial boon to the authorities.
I think that ...that is what it was all about...just an extra tax.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Leon - it might be worth considering displaying the black anchor day shape in this situation. Did you consider calling in to the CG with his reg numbers?

a couple of feet from another boat is really poor seamanship, indeed.

[delevi]

I did consider calling the the coast guard, but didn't for a couple reasons. Two of the people I had on board have never been on a sailboat before. In fact, I just met them that day. Srdj asked me if his co-worker and his girlfriend can come along and there they were. I just didn't want to freak these folks out and maintained my calm, as I figure a good skipper shold, even though I was truly shocked; darn right frightened at what just transpired. I had 300 feet of rode in the water (50 feet of it chain) so it was a feeling of utter helplessness, being a sitting duck. I was considering uncleating the rode and abandoning it seconds before he altered course, but as he came in to buzz us, there just wasn't any time to do anything. It all happened so fast. I wish I could ID the guy somehow to notify the coastguard or even email Latitudes 38, a local mariner magazine. There are many of these working boats all over the bay, especially with the rebuilding of the Bay Bridge, so I guess he got away with it.

Leon - it might be worth considering displaying the black anchor day shape in this situation. Did you consider calling in to the CG with his reg numbers?

Stephen, Is that what I think it is? If you're being funny, I think I get it. OTOH, If there is actually a way to notify other boaters that you're under anchor, I would love to know what that is.

a couple of feet from another boat is really poor seamanship, indeed.

I think this goes beyond poor seaminship. This was outright malice, to the point of endangering life. The guy knew exactly what he was doing and he did it on purpose. Makes my blood boil.

Cheers,
Leon

[Kelly Hanson East]

I missed my own joke Leon ....

Seriously, COLREGS 30 says you are supposed to put up a ball when on anchor at daytime. I have probably seen this done three times in my boating life, however. Ive seen it posted many times that you are exempt from displaying either the light or shape at a 'designated anchorage' - to be absolutely correct, the COLREGS do NOT allow such an exemption but Inland Rules do. This is really nitpicking.

COLREGS excerpt follows

Rule 30

(a) A vessel at anchor shall exhibit where it can best be seen:

(i) in the fore part, an all-round white light or one ball;

(ii) at or near the stern and at a lower level than the light prescribed in subparagraph (i), an all-round white light.

and

Likewise for the inverted cone when motor-sailing,

Rule 25

(e) A vessel proceeding under sail when also being propelled by machinery shall exhibit forward where it can best be seen a conical shape, apex downwards.