The Bay of Plenty Council's changes to boating rules came into effect July 1, but some boat owners are in the dark as to what they're required to do now.
SunLive asked a local boatie for a layman's translation.
'Yes, you do have to have a name on your boat. In clear letters, at least 90mm high.
'All sailing boats over six metres and power boats over four metres must display the boat name in letters, each one 90mm high. The boat name must be more than two letters and must be clear so it can be seen from 50 metres away.
People will have to wear a lifejacket on a boat six metres or less, unless the skipper has assessed that it is not necessary.
'You must always wear a lifejacket when leaving and entering harbours and crossing bars.”
Jet skis and ‘personal water craft' must be registered with the Auckland Council, whether it be in Auckland waters, Coromandel (Waikato regional area) or the Bay of Plenty.
'It's a one-off cost – once you've registered with Auckland Council you are good to go in any of those regions.”
To see the new rules for yourself, visit www.boprc.govt.nz/safeboating
8 comments
Lifejackets
Posted on 07-07-2017 10:02 | By Papamoaner
I hope a wetsuit qualifies as a likejacket under the new rules which admittedly I have yet to read. Wetsuits offer survival advantages that lifejackets do not have.
Papamoaner..... you are a fool
Posted on 07-07-2017 13:06 | By Smilarkie
Wetsuits may keep you warm but thay are not life jackets, nor are most water ski tpye vests. A proper life jacket is rated so and is designed to keep the head out of the water. Always check the label for the rating.
@Papamoaner
Posted on 07-07-2017 14:18 | By Minib
I can just see me in my wetsuit on a hot summers day fishing in the Harbour, a bit unpractical I would have thought.
Careful Minib...
Posted on 07-07-2017 22:53 | By GreertonBoy
You might start a new trend... lol. When the fish come up to laugh... grab them :) Papamoaner, I think some wetsuits have built in PFD which should be ok, however, a normal wetsuit might offer some floatation, but generally not 'this end up' (head out of water).... so, if someone is incapacitated, the wetsuit might be their demise. Any form of floatation that can keep an unconscious person floating in the water with their head out of water should pass?
Papamoaner
Posted on 08-07-2017 12:57 | By waiknot
Surprisingly I sort of agree with you. In some situations, such as kite and windsurfing a traditional life jacket can be a hazard in itself.
Advantages and disadvantages
Posted on 09-07-2017 09:24 | By Papamoaner
@Smilarkie;- Labelling commentors fools is hardly objective. I concede that points a couple of you made about head above water are valid. @Minib; I never said nor inferred that conventional fishermen would wear a wetsuit all day, or even at all. I was advocating it for free divers boating short distances between spots. As to buoyancy, wetsuits do not merely have "some buoyancy" as mentioned by one poster. From my own experience, I defy anyone in a 7mm suit to free dive without a weight belt more than a couple of metres without popping back up like a cork. Similarly, I defy anyone in a 5mm suit to free dive beyond about 3 metres without a weight belt, It is simply not possible, such is the displacement of open cell wetsuits.
@Waiknot
Posted on 09-07-2017 09:48 | By Papamoaner
I imagine that would be the case, not having had any experience myself in either of those activities. At my age I find it hard enough to climb back onto the boat. Taking the weight belt off in the water risks dropping it. For crays and pauas, I just use a car tube with a net in it, which is easy to haul aboard because it has its own painter. I've often noticed on threads, that there are individuals who will come on just to have a go at you. You can always pick the odd bullshit artist from their wording, that they have never been on a bloody boat. I don't accuse you of that by the way, but there has been one on this thread already. Now I must go dig my foxhole for incoming mortar fire, hehe.
@GreertonBoy
Posted on 09-07-2017 13:10 | By Papamoaner
Now there's a thought - you have given me an idea. I'll get a light vest with inflatable collar. That will do the trick. Still easy to don and remove, and won't inhibit movement on the boat. I have seen them somewhere at a chandler. Best of both worlds, high viz too which wetsuits aint.
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