Go for a boat ride, it’s a Law
Written by Michael Vass
So there is good news out among all boaters today. Something which most did not think was going to happen if you asked them on July 2nd. In fact I was among those with a bleak outlook on the future of recreational boating in the U.S.
But on July 22nd Congress got it’s act together and passed the Clean Boating Act of 2008. To refresh the memories of some, without this the Environmental Protection Agency was set to penalize recreational boaters. The EPA would have required boaters to purchase new permits and the cost to have a boat would have skyrocketed as regulations meant for sewage treatment plants would have been applied to anglers and recreational boaters alike. Effectively it would have taken the ability of 17 million Americans to have fun out of the realm of reality.
President Bush today ensured that the Clean Boating Act would remain in force by signing the Act and making it a law today. Effectively I imagine that both Congress and the President both received a boost to their low approval ratings with this passage.
As slow as Congress is, when the Act lost approval by 1 vote on Jully 2nd, many believed that the EPA would be in charge. I have to admit that I am surprised by the non-partisan commaradrie that took place to pass this Act. It shows us that when Americans rally together Congress wakes up and does what the people want. Now if only they could do something about domestic drilling and/or reparations and I’d be even happier.
Until then at least we can all enjoy a nice ride on the lake, river, or other body of water.
Congress takes the wind out of boating
Written by Michael Vass
Why does Congress have such low approval ratings? Well if you own a boat there may be one more reason now. It’s the Clean Boating Act of 2008 and it’s currently sitting around and potentially dying on the shelf as Congress enjoys its July 4th vacation before taking a month long vacation in August.
Why is it important? Well because in September new EPA regulations will increase costs to recreational boaters due to deck runoff, engine cooling, water and other non-polluting emission. And why would boaters be angry with Congress? Because the Act was prevented from passing the Senate by one vote.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the vote that stopped everything in its tracks. She tried to slip in an amendment that targets commercial vessels, which obviously has nothing to do with the boaters the Act was meant to affect.
So again Congress has shown why it has the lowest approval rating ever. Inaction, long delays, and bickering among political parties leading to higher costs to the average American. So get your boat on the water and enjoy the 4th of July, because you very soon may not be able to afford to take it out again.
Profile of Environmentally Friendly Boats
The Charleston City Newspaper did itself proud in a profile of Jamison and Ryan Witbeck, two transplanted Vermont natives who for the past 2 years have spent their days building a 77 passenger wooden catamaran made out of plywood instead of age-old oak trees.
” A conventional fiberglass boat will end up in a landfill after 50 years, whereas a wooden boat, properly sealed with epoxy, could last anywhere from 150 to 200 years,” said Ryan.
Boat building isn’t the most environmentally sensitive industry where as old growth trees are the desired wood source for hulls and decks. On the boat that the Whitbecks built, 85% of the wood was sourced from young trees.
Driver’s Education for Boaters
I was just reading a story in which the successful completion of a mandatory boater education course is required in the State of West Virginia for anyone born after December 31, 1986. I think it’s a great idea.
Just search Google News for boating accidents and you’ll find a list of daily boating accidents which could have been avoided through a simple Boater’s Education Course. Boater’s education saves lives.
Boating Businesses Closing Due to Rising Gas Prices and Plummeting Consumer Confidence
With rising gas prices and plummeting consumer confidence and housing prices, the boating industry is in ruin and and many businesses which have been around for decades are closing their doors as business has come to a screeching halt.
From the lower end of the market to the high end yacht buyers, sales are down significantly across all demographics.
Here’s an article in BusinessWeek which points out that sales of new boats have been slipping virtually every month since mid-2004.
