Call your insurance company and ask them how much you will save by being licensed. I saved $150 a year by having a captains license. If your company offers discounts for licenses, which they should, you will save more by passing the dang thing.

Just be glad that they are not requiring a six pac license. Thats harder then heck to pass.


Mike

Bouy lines at the dunes and Lind Coulee.....that would be the biggest punch in the face to a bass angler in this state.

Yeah!!! That's how we better a fishery....make it harder for anglers to catch them!   

Thas right!  Just $10.00 to pass a test that allows you to run a boat in the state for the rest of your life.  How many of you really believe that such a test is going to do anything positive to ensure safe boating?  The results of this $10.00 test will be negligible, while over the course of time, the fee will continue to rise.
This is just another thinnly veiled excuse to raise money for a state government system that continues to waste & squander it!  Remember all the things that were going to be done with our increased fishing license money?  Remember the improvements to the warmwater fisheries program that were going to happen? 
What have we got now?  A suspension of the angling for LM bass at  Banks with the suggestion that the state might place a no wake zone bouy at the entrance to several areas and bays.  Very recently an idea has surfaced that the state will impose this no wake zone over the entire area north and west of 1st line of dunes in the Potholes Reservoir, and throughout the Lind Coulee arm.  Did the state happen to mention any effort to provide extra enforcement in these areas?
Currently there is a large effort underway at the Potholes to provide for stucture enhancement for the LM Bass poulation.  That noteworthy project was under taken by the Meeseburg family.  It appears to have quite a bit of merit and just makes good sense to anyone who has researched it.  The last time I checked, the Meeseburgs didn't have the power to levy fees or taxes upon the general boating or fishing public.
Thats my rant, and I'll continue to voice it!

Smitty

The rest of the article continues...

"Some people fear this (test) is going to be onerous, and that is just not the case," Campbell said. "It is just a basic understanding of boating. The test has 75 questions and if you can answer 75 percent of them then you pass."

Those who have completed the class or passed the test online would only need to show their certificate and a $10 fee to receive their lifetime card under the proposed bill.

Washington has now become the 37th state to pass such a law. For more details on the new law, go to www.wambe.org."

I have a Coast Guard Auxillary buddy that said he would be interested in speaking with us about this issue as well as other safety issues that are being discussed about homeland security on the waters we fish.
Russ

Guys

The new boating test is not a bad thing, it's just another thing. I think when or if this comes in effect we might be able to get someone from the state to come in and administer the test to the club at one of our monthly meetings. I beleive this would be a feather in the states cap and ours for taking initiative at the onset of the new law.

My 2 cents or 2 small bags

Before everyone stresses out about giving each other a bad time, get your rig in a parking lot somewhere and PRACTICE!!!!!

Kirk

I'm a newb when it comes to trailering, but I've done OK so far    Just don't put me on the spot.

Who...me??

The jackknifes may not be the issue, but the running the trailers into objects while parking is still appearant....hence my jacked-up fender............Dipsnort   Kirk maybe you can stand over by the parking lot with that cup of Joe in the morning and rid of that issue..

Chris, taunting is such a strong word....consider that I just enjoy stretching my entertainment dollar.  I must say that, unfortunately, there does not appear to be anyone uncomfortable with launching or loading boats.  I do miss your rookie days, but even you are no fun anymore, you have gotten so good.....I miss the jackknife's on the ramp, it went so well with the morning coffee..

kh

I have a failsafe method for new club members to learn the proper boating and trailering methods: Invite Scott Ramirez back to the club!!!

Some of my fondest club memories include Scott and Kirk (Gotfive, himself) sitting next to the boat ramp on tournament morning taunting every backer-upper and offering smart suggestions on how to improve their crappy boating techniques.  I know it helped me improve fast!

Chris

Not sure if this is a poor idea or not.  Ultimately, as the discussion shows, common sense is becoming a lost art, and it is certainly not something that can be legislated.  From that aspect, it is a poor idea, but from a pure safety perspective, it is good.  I think our club would be miles ahead to have a veteran boater volunteer put together a program to offer at a general meeting that prepares us all for the testing.  It could be a good time to discuss past experiences and hard lessons.  I know I have a few to offer the new boater, like maintenance, backing principles, etc.  This would put our club another step forward and seperate us from the rest, yet again.  Speaking of common sense, I lost some again this week-end...do not excitedly lip a smallie with a lucky craft in it's mouth from the net.  I ended up with four of six hooks in the side of my hand.  Can you cay "never learn"???
Kirk

I personnaly think that they should have a "common sense" course required long before a boating safety coarse. That would take care of half the yahoo's out there. Is there a way to teach someone common sense? I am sure a safety course will not change anything. Look at how many bad drivers there are out there. They don't teach you how not to back over your friend coming out of the driveway. And they probably will not teach you how not to run over your skier after they have fallen.

One good thing is that you will get a discount on your your boat insurance.

Smitty,

While I don't like the fact that we are given yet another thing to do to enjoy our hobbies, I think it will be a pretty minimal commitment. If our state is modeled after Oregon's boater education system, which a Sheriff from Oregon told myself and Terry Steffensen it should be, than we will only be required to sit down in front of an internet class for about an hour after studying a small training book. In fact, I think Terry S. completed the whole Oregon process in less than two hours... Why did you have to do that again, Terry? Hehehe.

Chris