Boats and beers?
Discussion
I was just wondering. Is it legal to drive a boat after a couple of beers?
I'm sure that most people who go out fishing, or just basking in the sunshine on their boats like to have a few beers at the same time. Is this legal or would the old bill take a dim view of this and stick me in jail for it?
I'm not talking about getting paraletic, just a couple of beers, that said more than I would ever drive after having.
Anyone shed any light on the laws view of this. I looked at google and was pretty fuitless.
Mark
I'm sure that most people who go out fishing, or just basking in the sunshine on their boats like to have a few beers at the same time. Is this legal or would the old bill take a dim view of this and stick me in jail for it?
I'm not talking about getting paraletic, just a couple of beers, that said more than I would ever drive after having.
Anyone shed any light on the laws view of this. I looked at google and was pretty fuitless.
Mark
There are currently no specific rules regarding being under the influence of alcohol when aboard a leisure craft. It is a little different to being in charge of a car, where split second reactions are necessary, however it probably isn't the best idea to go to sea when drunk and if you do end up causing an accident then the consequences can be severe.
Commercial vessels are much more strictly controlled and it is most definately not allowed to be under the influence.
Personally, I don't tend to drink very little if at all if I am at sea (including at anchor), as there are too many ways to get yourself into trouble.
Commercial vessels are much more strictly controlled and it is most definately not allowed to be under the influence.
Personally, I don't tend to drink very little if at all if I am at sea (including at anchor), as there are too many ways to get yourself into trouble.
Whilst I wouldn't personally advocate drinking and boating (it's a dangerous place out there), there are much more silly things you can do out on the water.
About the most dangerous thing you can do is put to sea without lifejackets/flates/VHF/checking the weather/brains. If that's taken care of, a few beers are the last of your problems.
We sailed a couple of thousand miles three years ago whilst on an extended break, and there was seldom a time when a bottle of wine wasn't open (although we're not big drinkers), we're experienced, we're safe, it's no problem.
Saying that, the mcga newsroom is littered with incidents where alcohol is involved, the RIB that crashed in to Cowes breakwater at 2am a couple of years ago, and the sports boat that hit some rocks in Scotland (killing a couple of poor chaps), are just a couple of examples.
Boating is actually one of the last places that isn't taken over by the nanny state. You can go to sea, get plastered, stumble home, and there's no penalty to pay. If you do this, you're clearly nuts, but you can do it....
I would say take the beers, have fun, and come home safely having enjoyed yourself but not gone crazy. If there's a point where you think you'd enjoy a bit more, just make it back to land and sit in the pub telling tall tales about the one that got away. Much better than a story about a helicopter rescue.
Lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather.
Be safe!
About the most dangerous thing you can do is put to sea without lifejackets/flates/VHF/checking the weather/brains. If that's taken care of, a few beers are the last of your problems.
We sailed a couple of thousand miles three years ago whilst on an extended break, and there was seldom a time when a bottle of wine wasn't open (although we're not big drinkers), we're experienced, we're safe, it's no problem.
Saying that, the mcga newsroom is littered with incidents where alcohol is involved, the RIB that crashed in to Cowes breakwater at 2am a couple of years ago, and the sports boat that hit some rocks in Scotland (killing a couple of poor chaps), are just a couple of examples.
Boating is actually one of the last places that isn't taken over by the nanny state. You can go to sea, get plastered, stumble home, and there's no penalty to pay. If you do this, you're clearly nuts, but you can do it....
I would say take the beers, have fun, and come home safely having enjoyed yourself but not gone crazy. If there's a point where you think you'd enjoy a bit more, just make it back to land and sit in the pub telling tall tales about the one that got away. Much better than a story about a helicopter rescue.
Lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather, lifejackets, flares, VHF, weather.
Be safe!
Drinking laws coming to all pleasure craft (>7m or >7 knots service speed) soon.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/excepti...
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/excepti...
Legmaster said:
Drinking laws coming to all pleasure craft (>7m or >7 knots service speed) soon.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/excepti...
Yes, and totally unnecessary. Exactly how many incidents have arisen from people on leisure craft under the influence? Only a couple that I can think of, yet there are many thousands of leisure craft who manage to quite happily make their way around without crashing into each other or rocks while drunk. It is already an offence to be impaired by drink or drugs, so this doesn't really give a great deal of benefit.http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/excepti...
As usual for this government, the offence is fairly poorly defined. It talks about people involved with the navigation of the ship - what does that mean exactly? The helmsman, someone making plots on a chart, grinding a sheet winch? Enforcing it is going to be pretty difficult anyway, as there is no provision for random testing of non-professional mariners.
Legmaster said:
tank slapper said:
Yes, and totally unnecessary.
Completely agree. Most harbours have laws in place under existing byelaws. Pigeon said:
Highly amusing to see VHF VHF VHF VHF when it's not so long ago that nobody actually had a VHF...
Well Pigeon, if you're a boater, I hope you've got at least one onboard! They're been pretty much standard equipment for the last 15-20 years, which I appreciate isn't that long in the fullness of time, but in terms of technological advancement, they're archaic! Do the job though....maser_spyder said:
Pigeon said:
Highly amusing to see VHF VHF VHF VHF when it's not so long ago that nobody actually had a VHF...
Well Pigeon, if you're a boater, I hope you've got at least one onboard! They're been pretty much standard equipment for the last 15-20 years, which I appreciate isn't that long in the fullness of time, but in terms of technological advancement, they're archaic! Do the job though....
tank slapper said:
Commercial vessels are much more strictly controlled and it is most definately not allowed to be under the influence.
Getting stricter these days I think, but this reminds me of my time on 'exchange' onboard a cruise liner, about ten years ago. I was supposedly working, but all I really did was drink, drink, entertain and be entertained. One fine evening I was several sheets to the wind after being out on decks, in the crew bar, at a cabin party etc and had retired to the wardroom where the equally inebriated Navigating Officer and I enjoyed a nightcap at about 0130. After we'd had a couple, I stood up to get the next round in when the NO announced that he wouldn't have another as he had to go. "Lightweight!" says I.
"No, no," says he, "I'm on watch at four."
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