Same with driving.

I know nobody wants to think about it, ask or say if they know something but was last weekends accident alcohol related? If it wasn't then I think we need to remove that notion. If it was I think it needs to be brought out front and center. We have seen far to many die boating in the last few years and as the boats get faster this will always be an issue for us and our hobby. I think each accident leaves us with a lesson. Years ago I was guilty of drinking through out the day and running the boat. I am thankful I never hurt anyone or myself. I stopped doing it a long time ago for many reasons, faster boat, older & wiser, more mature, family, more law enforcement presence, but most of all watching these tragedies. All accidents have a cause, it could mechanical, alcohol related, bad driving, conditions or speed. By removing the heavy alcohol use it prevents many accidents. Let someone else drive the boat, they'll love it! Stay were you are and keep the party going and if you do head back after a few don't let the beer muscles take over and drive like an idiot. Be safe out there. No disrespect meant in this post to anyone!

So you guys pull up to a bar and order a water or coke. That`s just weird

Actually, yes. The beer is in the boat! Like I said, I won't get drunk but I will sure as hell enjoy a couple cold ones on the water. My favorite is Alaskan Icy Bay IPA. :)

Let me ask you this, are you disciplined enough not to order a beer or mixed drinks while taking lunch during your work day?
Is that weird b/c it's not to me!

Every waterfront establishment I've been to also serves food. I order food and enjoy my food no different than any day I go out for lunch during the week.
Its that simple.

Back when I worked a real job my boss would buy the beers at lunch. He'd also light up a joint afterward which I passed on ... I will not smoke weed on the boat. I will not allow it on the boat since I boat on international waters. A beer every two hours does not affect my ability to drive.

There will always be exceptions but that doesn't make it right just means they occur.
If you owned your own business (and maybe you do) would you promote and condone the drinking and smoking during the work day?

Not allowing weed on your own boat b/c you boat across Int'l waters is like saying "I don't steal b/c I might get caught" but ultimately you see no wrong with it.

I guess you are too young to understand the 3 martini lunch?!

No I don't see anything wrong with smoking weed and actually think it should be legal. Not while driving though. I have a medical pot card and can legally smoke it at home. Not on the boat. Never. That would definitely impair my ability to drive.

Unlikely but I assure you age has nothing to do with it, more like no real interest in a lunch like that.

Interesting so just b/c you don't smoke while boating means it's ok to smoke while on land then boat b/c once you are on water the effects of smoking mysteriously disappear?
I'll try that next time I get stopped at a DWI checkpoint after having had 3 shots at my house then argue I wasn't drinking and driving. You know "not while driving"

You are twisting my words. I never said anything remotely resembling that.

Some will say how do we know the boat did not have a mechanical failure. Others will say maybe they swerved to miss something in the water. In most cases they are right we will never know if those were contributing factors.

Maybe all the incidents involving boats when the captain had alcohol in his system would have the exact same result if the captain was stone sober. Maybe some cases the person was so drunk the actions were a direct result of the alcohol. Maybe others just had a few and some freak mechanical or other issue happened. For me I think alcohol is a contributing factor. Again I like to tie one on with the best of them, will do it again this long holiday weekend. Looking forward to Key West and putting several down having a good time, it just will not be when I am behind the wheel of my boat. Not smart but I will admit to driving a scooter after a couple :(

I respect the guys that come on here and say I have one or two and it does not affect me. I’m sure all the guys that were in incidents said to themselves yes I had a few but I can drive my boat home no problem.

Not sure why no one wants to talk about it and if the end result would be different if the person was sober. Maybe those of us that don’t drink and drive our boat are in the minority?

I think it's the "it will never happen to me" attitude.

Sweet tea for me.. :daz:

That is not what he said. Not even close.

It was a question in order to clarify, not a statement but thank you for pointing out the fact I failed to put a question mark at the end.
Edited and saved for future readers.

Ohhhhh, so you thought he may be saying that it's okay to smoke weed at home and then drive the boat? Now I understand.

And here I thought you were being a total smart azz and twisting his words to make him look inferior.

My mistake.

I didn't help him w/ his post, it says "not while driving"

If you are familiar w/ a device one that smokes marijuana would use in order to test themselves like a an alcohol breathalyzer then ask him yourself if he owns such a device and utilizes it to make sure his use doesn't affect others.

Maybe he never operates a boat or car within 72hrs of smoking how would I know b/c he's not really clarified his usage other than not while driving.

Otherwise he kind of falls into Interceptors category "never happen to me" and I'm wondering how one can know this.

To me the thread is about being a responsible boat operator in all aspects related to operating a boat and way less about how much can be consumed when.

As a manager a rule of thumb I preach to my teammates here when representing Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick, our drivers and our sponsors is if you even begin to think "will I get in trouble for doing this" you need not go any further b/c you already have your answer, NO. I also preach WWJD but instead of asking what Jesus would do I suggest they replace the J w/ Rick Hendrick, Jimmie Johnson or Dale Earnhardt so as to give them a little more realistic perspective about whether the decisions or actions they are about to take could be career changing for them.

Keep in mind this is a boating forum full of opinions, so the way I conduct myself in life may not work for you or someone else and I'm fine w/ that.

I think it was very clear what he was referring too, but you chose to look at the negative instead of the positive.
Don't confuse drinking with drunk. I think its possible to drink during the day while operating a boat and it hasn't been an issue for me, hope it never is, but I NEVER thought it couldn't happen to me. I choose not to get sloppy drunk and believe an adult can DRINK RESPONSIBLY.

I think age does have something to do with it though. When I grew up (still open for debate) we could drink in Texas at age 18. There was no open container law, you could drive around and pass a cop with a beer raised high, nothing. 90% of the time, if you were stopped by the police "buzzing", they would have someone else less drunk drive you home, or they would follow you home, if you didn't live too far.

There were no MADD mothers, no "no right of refusal" weekends, no large incomes for governments from the hefty fines.. It was all............different. You could drink and drive. It was accepted, almost mandatory, as most trip distances were premised by how many beers you needed to get there. "Yeah, it's kind of a haul out to Bob's farm, you're gonna need a 6-pack just to get there". In law school, there was Loop around Lubbock. I was poor and had nothing else to do.......I'd jump in my open top Jeep with no doors, ice down a 12-pack, go get some tamales, and drive the loop.....around and around.....until I couldn't safety do it anymore. Beer and drinking was not as demonized as it is now. It was all seen more as a sport than I stupidity.

Enter the Boat.......hell, that was considered a SAFE place to relax and drink, almost mandatory. Absolutely part of the culture when I was young. We wouldn't go out on Sunday until noon if we were out of beer the night before (can't sell beer until noon on Sunday in Texas)

The lakes have changed, boats have changed, perceptions have changed, and views on drinking and boating have adapted to that change. My dad owned the one of the fastest boats on the lake, a 15' Hollywood Trihull with a tower of power Merc 100hp......we smoked everyone at 46mph, and most were slower than that!!! So speed wasn't near the factor it is today. And there didn't seem to be so many boats on the lake at one time. People seemed more boat savvy back then.

I'll be honest, I still look down the beach at those 20-30 somethings partying away and think, you irresponsible crazy bastards..........you lucky, fun loving, no care in the world, irresponsible crazy bastards. ;)

Bartender, I'll have whatever NASCAT is having...

SPOT ON...thats what i was trying to say, only you did it perfectly.
Times sure have changed.
Good post.

Eric I don't know you , but agree with you 100% . I will not have a drink if I am behind the wheel .


Ed Walberg

Gentleman much like our presidential race there are going to be opposing views. Don't personalize the comments, I don't. It's a boating forum comprised of many members & everyone's entitled to their opinion.

I respect taxman for taking the time to post a thread and create awareness. How the rest of us choose to interpret it and or which side we choose to align ourselves with is our own business but don't kill the messenger especially if the shoe fits.

Have a safe and great Labor Day Boating Wknd!

If I was drunk enough to start disclosing my drinking habits on a forum there is no way I could use the little keys on this phone. At the very least I'd drive off the road while trying. I applaud you guys for your skills.

Drunk is drunk, regardless of times.

Or smoking! :)

Ummm, hah? You shouldn't drink and post. It impairs your ability to use commas.

72 hours? That's some good weed!!!

I'm out, everyone enjoy their weekend!

We know what some of you mean when you say just going to have one beer.

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Did a lot of stupid stuff in boats, on bikes, sleds, and cars when drinking. I was a "weekend" drinker and was brought up around everyone doing just as I did so I never gave it a thought. Not afraid to admit I had a couple dwai's and a bwai (all years and years ago, and all separated by years, sometimes 10 or more). I never got into any accidents and never wrecked anything, so I figured hey, I must be ok. I always thought I could drive and dock a boat better with a good buz on than most can sober. I quit drinking a year and 5 months ago. Since then I haven't gotten into a fight, wrecked or blown anything up, or woke up with an ugly chick. Not to mention no hangovers, and the great feeling knowing if I got pulled over I am good to go.

I only drink when I boat. I go to the gym 8am sat and sun morning. Wash, fuel, load and splash by 12. Run 100+ miles an outing at 80 mph+. I run 15 to 20 miles at 80+. Stop to let motors cool and have a Corona lite ( maybe 4 beers total). Spend the next 3 to 5 hours running and letting motors cool. Then do it again. Back at home by 6 at latest. Gym the next morning and repeat process again. Been following the same procedure for over 10 years and will carry on.

P.S. I do know a lot of alcoholics that use their boats as a floating platform to drink on. I run more miles in one day than they do in 3 months and we live on a lake.LOL

I've boated close to 40 years and owned 6 boats, most of it on LOTO and some in the Ft. Myers area and I've had a crazy amount of fun and met tons of great people who some are close friends now.

I used to have a beer or two and I mean one or two on my boat, but I haven't had a beer my boat or on anyone's boat in years, it's gotten too busy and crowded, the danger factor has increased in the last few years, even being on someone's boat who's had too much to drink or doesn't know what he's doing is life threatening.

My comments are just my opinions and aren't directed at anyone or anything specific, but I know it might be a good idea for every boat owner to look himself in the mirror before he takes his boat out and recite "get everybody home safe"........then go out and have fun.

I'm fairly librarian in my views. My upbringing, learned to weigh the consequences before doing something. We have a general idea of right and wrong, what's legal or not. As we the people don't have to be experts. Just some things you know you can't do. Some things are grey areas. On those research it, can't find an answer from government sources, ask a lawyer. Like here you need a separate stateroom and head, plus you need to be at anchor to drink on a boat. But we've checked with local law enforcement and they'll turn a blind eye, like fishing and having a few beers. Just don't get drunk. Don't do it where lots of other people can see. They more target kids partying VS responsible adults.

Interesting on the legal side, ".......you need a separate stateroom and head.........need to be at anchor......"
In Australia, the law makes no allowances for the boat nor the status (at anchor or underway). The law is the same as that for cars and as I understand, if the keys are in the ignition then somebody on board is deemed in control of the vessel. That means you could be sound asleep at midnight having had one beer too many and they could wake you up, breathalyzer you and charge you.

There is a touch of common sense and can't imagine been breatlysed in my sleep! They do however enforce the testing when a boat is at anchor. I've been breathalyzed at anchor (and passed) in Australia. I've also stashed the keys in a cupboard and when the police pull alongside I simply say my friend is the captain and he is swimming somewhere along the beach and the keys are round his neck. Ive also jumped overboard and had a nice long swim with all the 100's of beach goers when I see the police turn up!

That was some years ago, I'm quite happy to be tested now, knowing I won't have a problem. :)

RR

Eh, don't drink anyhow, so it's an easy pledge ha. Was stationed in Germany for 7 years, drank myself stupid over there. Even most of my passengers don't partake much. Pretty boring life I guess :)

This thread is stupid. Heading to Lake St. Clair now. Happy holiday everyone and be safe.