Regulating common sense and self preservation by gov. mandate is never a good idea. There is little doubt that, eventually, there will be required boat operators permit that will be obtained by paying for a Gov. approved or taught "safety course".
Like most things the gov requires in the name of safety, it will be a revenue generator, and branch into regs that resemble 49 CFR.

While it may seem like a good thing to "require" this or that, you just can't regulate stupid, and you can not mandate common sense.
Case in point, Drunk driving.
Every single person not in a coma knows it is illegal to drink and drive.
Who here is 100% not guilty? (I know there are a few)


I had a DUI. From arrest to end 3 years later it cost me about 20k. NOT ONCE in the process was safety or dangers with drunk driving mentioned.
Not from the LEO with his boot on my neck, the loser dyke intake officer, the judge who was running about 30 DUI cases through before noon, the court monkey who I gave $150.00 to so I could be analyzed for level of corrective counciling required to correct me, the MADD mother seminar I had to pay to attend, the 3 days of incarceration, the 3 years of SR22, etc.
The ONLY topic ever discussed or decided during this process was how much I would pay.

Having ranted on with that, I will say that my love of fast, loud, insane looking boats is in part a conscious decision to remove myself from doing that on the street.
Having a division 7 points earning super street Nova tended to cost me a lot in violations, so I trailered it and just raced.
Fun for 10 seconds at a time, at about 50 bucks a second minimum.
So I took a ride in a 5 rib Sanger one day and the light bulb came on!!!


Now we are discussing bringing the rules of commuting to the last vestige of affordable recreation and enjoyment?
I don't think so.

"Let's make a life vest law"? Seriously?
"Let's make a license law" Are you kidding me?

We wear our high dollar vests while under way 100% now.
Have I pegged it without the vest? Yes I have, and I always think how foolish it was later on.
NO ONE rides without a vest I approve of or supply.

A person that can afford a half million dollar, 150 MPH boat can do as they wish. Personally, I would have a few HP boat classes under my belt before I turned the key on such a machine. We are way past bobbers at that point.

So yeah, wear the vest or be an idiot.
But at least own a fucking boat before trying to dictate law and regs on me and my hobby.

God I love drunk posting!!!!