true, but they are an iq quotient tolerant rescue organization.
They have saved some people who the day before the rescue, had some pretty impressive credentials....
I think all the advancements we've had in boating are both a blessing and a curse.... The last 25 years has seen such tremendous advancement in electronics, engine reliability and communication that boating has become much more accessible and less intimidating to people.
Just to own a boat you had to be willing to sand, scrape, caulk and paint it. Then to use it, you had to know how to actually plot a course on a paper chart and calculate distance based on your RPM and a stopwatch. (If you were really lucky you might have a radio direction finder to help you out.) You wouldn't dare go past the breakwater without having a spare set of plugs, points and condenser and knowing how to change them all. A barometer, weathervane and "Pink Skies at night....." were the extent of weather information. If you wanted anyting cold to drink you had to buy 10 pound blocks of ice and lug them down to the boat, and a marine head from back in the day makes a port-a-potty seem like a palace. The average Joe just wasn't willing to go through all that.
Now boat manufacturers sell us unsinkable boats with auto pilots, stabilizers and life rafts, We can take a 3 hour boating safety course, electronics tell as where we are at all times, ePirbs will call for help and Sea-Tow will come drag us home if we need it. If it all goes bad, a lawyer will tell you ( or your next of kin) that it wasn't your fault and will sue the responsible party.
I'm not bemoaning the advancements like some sort of troglodite, but there are unintended consequences to everything, and making boating safer has opened the sport up to more people.
I can't belive this forum is having a discussion about how stupid OTHER people are. Or did I miss something? And it appears the act of posting on this thread is declaration of being smart.
People do things that look or appear to be stupid because they lack information. Not because they are stupid .. as in lack brains. Some people immerse themselves in an activity (like boating) that requires knowledge and experience so others appear to be stupid that lack this knowledge.
And the stupidest thing one can do is call them out as stupid. That's very stupid indeed. Looking back I see there is at least one good post and I enjoyed Art's comment about "sportive" lifestyle. There's is nothing stupid about Ben's very good post or Gordon J's fake news comment either.
It's hard to belive public servants would make some of the comments in the article linked. Perhaps it was fake news. I can only hope.
Is it me or does it seem to other loopers or NE snowbirders....when you get to Florida...everyone thinks the center of the channel is reserved for them?
I don't condone or encourage stupidity...but I'm perfectly willing to appreciate the entertainment value provided by those that do.
If you really wanted to see stupid, go to a boat ramp on a holiday weekend.
Don't forget to cgrab a beer.
Wifey B: It is, so get out of our way.
Wifey B: It is, so get out of our way.
Let's both move a bit to starboard for our meet, please.