CTFishTalk.com: Cabelas all day - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

Just got back from cabelas ,sitting there all day taking a personal water craft class and safe boating..Up until now i guess you could say i was illegal , But I have redeemed myself anyway 8hrs only one decent break and a hard chair to sit in all day,,and then a nice closed book test but it wasnt bad,but its nice to get it over with in one shot Laughing

. I was really shocked there were 87 people crammed into a room upstairs near the food court..

Bluegill Terminator · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 538 Location: Plainville

I took a 2 week course at Tunxis to get mine. To he honest I've only been checked once on the water and it was at Bantam lake by the permanent lake patrol man, and I hade my boaters license for 3 years now...

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

I hear ya im 28 and been doing it for a long time with kinda no care ,Its not like im reckless or anything but Ive have also never been asked or check ,but I got to little ones now that will be comming aboard and and i dont need the hassle.......playin by the rules Laughing

Bluegill Terminator · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 538 Location: Plainville

Smart thinking

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi Guys!

Now this particular subject/topic sets my blood to BOIL!!!!!

1st of all NO state of these US issues a Marine License Exclamation

The sole and only authority that issues a Marine License is the US Coast Guard Exclamation

States can only issue a Boaters Safety Certificate Exclamation

The states do conduct courses in boating safety.
Trouble is they really don't teach you anything about becoming a well educated and responsible boater.
Over the last decade, with the increase and popularity of recreational boating, gathered incident statistic from all 50 states by the US Coast Guard has proven that recreational boaters are the poorest, illtrained, illeducated, least responsible, and worst navigators on US waters in these 50 states.

Not my words, BUT the consensus of many maritime professionals over many many years.

Recreational boaters have caused a great many deaths and injuries due to their not knowing how to navigate, excessive speed, No marine courtesy toward fellow boaters, causing wash and wakes that effect other boaters, and without any doubt -> Drinking when in command of a vessel.
AND TOPS -> IS NOT KNOWING "THE RULES OF THE ROAD" and SPECIAL RULES THAT APPLY TO CERTAIN WATERS Exclamation

Now if this particular posting of mine upsets some of you -> TOO DAM BAD Exclamation

I'm a Professional Mariner -> I spent 4 years at a Maritime academy to learn everything there is about boating and shipping, Took the most gruling 3 day - 6 hours per day examination to pass and recevie my USCG 3rd Mates License then 10 years to attain the position of "Master Mariner, Unlimited Tonnage, Any Waters".

If you took a state 1 day safety course to get your certificate -> Ha! You Learned ABSOLUTELY NOTHING Exclamation

That 1 day state safety course is the biggest Joke ever perpetrated on state recreational boaters to suck money out of them.
Oh! And the state instructors all know this Exclamation

I know because I've sat in at 4 of these 1 day courses and then had private conversations with the instructors.
Should have seem their faces when I showed then a copy of my USCG MASTERS Lic. and what they finally admitted to.

If you took a US Coast Guard Aux. course or went to a USCG authorized boating school then you really did learn about boating and about your duties on how to operate a boat responsibly.
Also all the up-to-date changes in the "Rules of the Road".

Now this is not a challenge -> But if I hear from anyone saying " Oh! But I've been boating all my life and I am a safe boater" then that's total B$ Exclamation

There is "NO End" to learning about boating safety and the continuous changes in boating rules and regulations.

Now if anyone wants to challenge me -> Let me forwarn you that back in Oct. 1991, I was MASTER of a 193 ft. Oceanographic vessel 600 miles east of Cape Cod with 38 men aboard.
Got caught up in the "REAL PERFECT STORM" with 80 to 100 ft. seas and on one engine.
Due to my training and seamanship abilities I brought ship and crew (Battered and Bruised) safetly home to Norfolk, Va.

Now Exclamation

-> Any takers Question

If so

send me a PM Exclamation

Now

Anyone who really wants to improve their boating, navigational, and seamanship abilities -> I am at your disposal and will do the best to teach you what I've learned over the pass 30 years at sea without any charge or fee.

Best regards,
SeaDog1
Master Mariner US Merchant Marine

Born to Hunt, and Fish · Joined: 02 Jan 2010 Posts: 32

Wasn't Joseph Hazelwood A master mariner too?

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi BHF!

YES! Joe is still a MASTER MARINER.

"IF" you know your history -> It wasn't Joe who got the Exxon Valdez off course but the Mate on duty and by the time he got on the phone and called Capt. Hazelwood to the bridge, the ship had grounded on Bligh Reef.
Everyone in the Maritime Industry knows it wasn't Joe's fault but as Master he had to take ALL the HEAT and RESPONSIBILITY for the INCIDENT.

AND HE DID! With all the grace and dignity of a TRUE MASTER MARINER!
He got crucified by the media and they tried to hang him on a trumped up drinking charge which later was reveled to be totally false.

And finally -> YES Exclamation

I personally know "Captain Joe Hazelwood", he is a friend, and is very much respected by all his fellow Master Mariners.

SeaDog1

Bluegill Terminator · Joined: 03 May 2007 Posts: 538 Location: Plainville

Ya Seadog I still haven't tested my skills in a river with current let alone the ocean. Once I can get my hands on a 14ft tin can or bigger then I will conquer the CT river

flippy · Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 1150

Seadog, you are absolutely correct, I have a boating license, whoopie doopie,and so does everybody else, you were trained and we were just briefed, Go on the Ct River in the summer and watch all these people with boating licenses breakin the rules left and right, they dont blow horns when passing, they dont know what a marker bouy stands for, and best of all some guys with these overpowered boats dont even know how to drive them, You were trained in boating and we paid the state, on how to tie knots. I was in a tourny and a 40fter was passing us, the boater asked me what the hell is he blowing his horn at and I told him that we were being past on the port side, you should have seen the look on his face.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

!st of all I wasnt tryin to wind u up seadog,all i as stateing is that i go to a lot of private ponds some lakes all in a jon boat with a trolling moter and fish for bass ,pike,and the other freshwater fish out there, I dont think I could break 5 mph if I wanted,,,No body said nothing about unsafeness ,or being unknowlegable,,all most every thing I had to listen to was more about the ocean gig and being 500 miles out and what would u do,,its really not my type of fishing,,I like to see land and know were i am and know the water im on and in order to do it legally you need to take the class.I know you are a captian and a knowlegeable one at that but i think u no what i mean.funny how if i loose the trolling moter and oar every were i go and stay under 14ft boat i need nothing ,no reg ,no saftey certificate,no personal water craft certificate,,,I understand if u have a 18ft boat with a 225 hp moter and are reckless then there is a problem, but as far as trolling around fishing I really dont see a problem......I pretty sure there is a couple people outthere that agree..no hard feeling fellas...

SeaDog1 · Joined: 21 Dec 2009 Posts: 2629

Hi BB!

YES! I do know exactly what you mean.

BUT! It makes no difference if your on a small mill pond in a jonboat or on a ship on the ocean.
What you have to realize is that when your on the water "YOUR SITTING ON A KILLER Exclamation

".
Sure it can be flat and calm as a mirror and then within moments rise up to try and take your life.

..........Wind and Water are the 2 most powerful forces on earth Exclamation

..........

When I teach -> The first thing I do is to get everyone to "TOTALLY RESPECT THE WATER - WITH NO EXCEPTION - EVER Exclamation

".

Once I get that " UNDENIABLE FACT DRILLED INTO THEIR HEADS" then and only then is it time to enjoy all that being on the water has to offer.

I LOVE BEING ON THE WATER! -> BUT! -> I NEVER NEVER EVER FORGET ITS POWER Exclamation

BEEN THERE Exclamation

-> DONE THAT Exclamation

Best regards,
SeaDog1

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

Thanks Sea Dog,
I do understand your teaching and your skill level,and i respect that,
water is very powerful, u are right, but much more powerful and unpredictable in the big sea ,but i do understand...thanks Laughing

basswacka19 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 217

Yea seadogs right,even on a small lake things can get crazy. I was out this past year on the west thompson dam, its just a small 200 acre lake. It was the end of november or maybe even the beginning of december,wind gusts of 40mph and it started down pouring on me. I was at the other end of the lake and had to try to get back to the launch, i could hardly see a thing and had water splashing in my boat like a mad man. I managed to make it back to the launch. It was about 40deg out and i was soaked. I need to save my pennies and get some good rain gear for next year. That is only one of my crazy fishing storys. There are many more, and a few involve severe lightning and hail but i won't go there Laughing

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

I understand that it can rain and down pour and there can be thunder storms at any time but thats nature,,,
This went a little off topic just throwin it out there for those that didnt have one yet that u can do it in one day at cabelas.....
I just didnt step into a boat yesterday.. I understand the saftey issues..
Thanks guys Laughing

basswacka19 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 217

sorry, i wasn't saying it to crack down on you i actually just got mine last year and went out in my little jon boat all the time before i got it. I actually think it's a little bit stupid that you have to have a boaters license to go out with a trolling motor and a little boat on a small lake or pond but rules are rules even if they suck.