THE HARBOR COLUMN:Watch where you’re sailing

Ahoy.

This week, I attended the boating safety education law public meeting, which is the first of two initial outreach meetings being held in Northern and Southern California. Unfortunately, the meeting would not be finished until after the deadline for my column, so, I will tell you more in an upcoming column, especially since this potentially affects every recreational boater in Newport Harbor. I am differentiating between commercial and recreational boat operators because commercial operators with a few exceptions have to have a United States Coast Guard Master license.

These meetings are being held by the California Department of Boating and Waterways for boaters and others to provide their opinions about initiating mandatory education for recreational boaters in the State. The department is beginning a process to gather ideas from the public and boating organizations about mandatory requirements, plus, explore any other options.

Forty-four states already have some form of recreational boater education or licensing requirements to operate a boat on their waterways, but, not in California. Annually, our state is ranked No. 1, 2 or 3 in the number of registered boats in the nation, and we are still experiencing an annual increase of boats in California. The time is here to look seriously at educational requirements for boaters before one can operate a vessel. I find it interesting that the marine insurance companies actually began this for larger boats a few years ago. Insurance companies would not insure inexperienced new boat owners until they were trained on their vessels. I have given numerous private lessons for new boat owners in the 40-foot-plus range so that they could be insured and know how to operate the vessel. However, most accidents involve smaller boats and PWCs, and accidents have been in the decline since the national trend to boat smart.

The digest from the department for this meeting lists a recent study commissioned by the National Assn. of State Boating Law Administrators Education Committee acknowledged that: “Nationally, a general consensus exists among boating safety educators and organizations that a reduction of recreational boating facilities, injuries, and property damage might best be accomplished by mandating boat operators to participate in a boating safety course.”

California law does not require most boaters to be trained in safe and legal boat operation, and there is a national movement on the state and federal forefronts to create a national standard to operate a vessel. The department does issue the “For-Hire Vessel Operator’s License” for commercial operations. I hold the department’s license, the Coast Guard’s Master license along with an endorsement, and the FCC’s marine radio operator’s permit. Also, I serve on the advisory board for the Maritime Institute that just was nationally accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.

So, yes, I do know about licensing and the importance for education on our waterways. One summer Sunday afternoon you should stroll down to Balboa by the Fun Zone and just watch the chaos in the harbor caused by the inexperienced boaters, especially when they encounter the Balboa Island auto ferries. Immediately, you will be able to point out the four types of skippers; the professional captain, the seasoned recreational boater, the inexperienced or renting boater, and the ever-present Goofy goes Sailing Sunday Sailor.

The department is neither supporting nor opposing a boating safety education law, but is facilitating a comprehensive discussion and gathering ideas. At the two meetings, information will be presented on boating education requirements in other states and the impact these requirements have had on boating safety. You can read the digest online at www.dbw.ca.gov/ PDF/060619_DBW_Digest.pdf.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Tip of the week is that my last week’s column about slip storages sparked a flurry of e-mails and media inquiries, but I am wondering where the response is from Newport Harbor’s marine businesses. The marine businesses better get on the forefront of marine issues, especially like the one above to promote and protect safe recreational boating in our harbor.

Remember to tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation every Saturday at noon. “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” is on KCBQ-AM (1170) and can be heard online at www.boathouseradio.com.

Safe Voyages.