I thought I'd heard it all for incompetence in the public sector but today takes the cake!

Apparently - under the new boat licensing laws, if you have owned a boat for the last 5 years - you are considered exempt from the compulsory license "practical boat handling test"...

Apparenty all you need do, is sit the written test to pass and be issued a boating license!

So - you can imagine the surprise, of someone whose been a professional in the boating industry, all his life, holds a university degree in naval architecture, has sailed a few Sydney Hobart races, and owned a host of boats all his life, designed and build a few of Greg Normans luxury yachts, you know - boats in excess of $5 or $6 Million

Because he's owned all his boats in his companys name - he doesn't get any exemption and has to sit a test administered by some public service peon who isn't as qualified or experienced as the person he's testing! :Rollseyes:

This is bullshit!

All rec boaters should bouycott the new Rec Boating license until they fix the system!

Can you imagine how many company execs have bought $Million+ floating Gin Palace boats in their companys names, who will end up not being qualified to drive them?

Rec Boaters should bouycott this new license til they fix the bastard!

If we cop this shit now, we will be stuck with it forever, they cannot prosecute everyone in the state - just tell em to shove it where the sun don't shine, till they fix it!!

I have absolutely No Faith left in this Labor Govt and it's public service instrumentalities to administer a sausage sizzle and free beer at a brewery!

It's time Boaters said enoughs enough - and bouycott everything to do with Fisheries / Marine Safety Branch - until we get the competence we deserve and the launch facilities our license fees have already paid for 10 times over - not to mention the GST on boats and boat fuel etc etc!

We are being screwed and haven't the collective gonads to do anything about it!

Don't know if anyones interested, but I've pulled the boat today (onto it's trailer) and am going to do a couple 500 hrs services on a pair of Honda 115Hp 4 Strokes in comming days!

These will include replacing the old impellers with new impellers!

If anyones interested I could probably photograph the essential stages and post up a step by step 'how to' thread - for anyone wants to do their own servicing / maintenance on their 4 strokes OB's?

I shudder to think what this would cost in a boat shop - but just the parts (filters etc) and oil alone for 2 x 115 Honda's was about $550.00

Add in the numbers of hours for each engine @ $60 or $70 / hours and I'm guessing the bill would probably get no change from $1200 or so!

So - anyone wants to save emselves a quid (and waiting in line without your boat till your yard can find time to get around to it) then maybe watch this space! ;o)

I don't claim to be any sorta mechanic, but I have me a ball pein hammer and a monkey wrench so I'm good to go, right? ;o)

Hey - maybe you'll get to see some one screw up $40k's worth a perfectly good engines - that alone should be worth the price of admission! ;o)

Cheers!

gday, guys i am looking for a hatch for my deck, the cut out size is 435mm x 445mm it has to open 90degs to stick your body through to access the anchor well. any information would be appreciated bolts

Does anyone know if it is possible to convert (and if so how) co-ordinates that read 31 xx xx 115 xx xx to that which a Garmin handheld uses ie 31 xx xxx 115 xx xxx. Is there a way of converting the seconds. Is it a matter of multiplying the seconds by 60 or is it simply a matter of adding a 0 to the end/before the seconds co-ordinates ie 31 xx xx0 or 31 xx 0xx.

I'm sure there is a name for both styles but I am not aware of either

Cheers

So what does everyone have for brekky/snack before they hit the seas? Usually im in a rush to get to the water so its either a quick sandwich for the drive or toast with cheese. This morning i went for something different - a banana and a sustagen shake, went down well but i think the banana jynxed me

So whats yours?

After a great idea from Flywest I have created a new forum section for any boating related questions you may have. Feel free to ask as you never know who may have had a similar experience or may be able to help you out with the information you require. Ask away.

Happy boating,
Adam