There is a need for boaters education but with mature adults who have been on the water for numbers of years....I don't think so. As filet mentioned the amount of car deaths compared to boating deaths is substantial. Hopefully they don't make us old farts have to take written driver ed course again. I think boating classes are important for young boaters and new boaters....the rest is common sense.
"Zero tolerance for wasted time at dock"? So you're one of those guys....
Being an out-of-stater, I don't have any skin in this particular case though I've read this thread with interest. It seems there could be some fine tuning to the execution but I would love to see Maine enact a similar requirement in the spirit of it for all powerboat operators. I've seen it far too many times where boats are going fast enough to pull a skier within 50 yards of shore - forget the environmental consequences and just think of potential for swimmers. Had one bearing down on us with every single member of that crew watching the skier, including the operator. Been left in wakes in our canoe too many times to recall. They'll always be jerks but due to frequency I'm inclined to believe it's just people who don't know better.The long term operator situation seems to be a sticky one - I was out on the water in a friend's boat who'd been boating since the 60's. I rarely had at the time, stuck to paddle propelled craft - we're en route to our spot and I had to tell him to kill the motor as I could see boulders about 3' below water line. All were marked appropriately, it had just been some time since he operated and he's no where near unintelligent or senile. Most may be fine but if not properly trained, a lot of bad habits can creep in or things are forgotten as had happened in this case.These days the various costs, legal fees and settlement of a single fatality could approach that of total revenue from this course. This is exclusive of the emotional impact on a family who no longer has the affected person(s) in their life. There are plenty of other things I think all would rather spend $30 on as well but this is likely 1/3 - 1/2 the cost of filling one's boat. If only driver education was that inexpensive.
It was just an unforgiving statement is all. We've all seen newbies struggle, and also seen launch bullies. I tend to sit back and enjoy the show, or maybe offer some help. I have no problem with taking the course. And the money grab doesn't surprise me at all. I would like to know their plans for the cash though.