Given recent disasters at sea, what are your thoughts on NZs safety-at-sea rules. In this poll, let's see what everyone thinks would be a reasonable level of preparedness for boaties to have when heading out to sea.
Option one...    No rules for boats at all.

Option two...    The only necessity should be to have some PFD for each person on the boat, stored aboard.

Option three.... PFDs for all on board, but for boats under 6m, these are to be worn at all times.

Option four....   All boats should have a VHF, Flares and EPIRB as well as the PFD rules above.

Option five... Licensing and WoF for all boats, means that all the above options, PFDs, Full flare kits, VHF and EPIRBs should be carried on all boats (along with usual expected items like anchors, paddles etc too), to be checked every year by some Boat Licensing Authority, with Day Skipper courses and VHF licenses to be mandatory for all boat owners to be funded by license fees on boats. (that doesn't all fit in the little box)

If you have any other suggestions or thoughts, feel free to express them here as well.

Great thread mate; I'm sure it will bring up a lot of debate.
Just my two cents - It's a fine line

On the one hand we own a 6m boat, and head out with everything; flares, vhf x2, PFD's, EPIRB.
On the other, my friends 12ft tinny, we go out with a cellphone, life jackets and a vhf.
Why? because we pick our days, and know our limitations of both ourselves and the boat itself.

If everyone just used some common sense it wouldn't be made "mandatory" to take these things out, but like most things there are both some "muppets" out there and some people who are just plain unlucky.

I'm not sure that an EPIRB would be much help if I'm close to shore within the limits of my 16 foot tinny, but I'm all for the other suggestions of VHF, PFD's, Flares and often overlooked, tell someone where your going, and update throughout the day.

Oh good. it's already been said. I was worried the replies would be all for tightening up regs and making more rules.. The very people the rules would be targeted at would be the first to ignore them unfortunately!   as Raging Bull says EDUCATION IS THE KEY!

Ah yes, but what EXACTLY are the rules as they are now? Are they not option 3? What are the rules in your area?

Making it compulsory for all boats to carry a VHF and EPIRB is going way over the top imo.

COMMON SENSE. Thats all any one needs. What about drinking on boats? 1 or 2 is fine, but how many go over the top? And its not just private boaties. Ive been on 2 charters were the Skip has  either been pissed or over hung to buggery from the night before

1Daz wrote: Making it compulsory for all boats to carry a VHF and EPIRB is going way over the top imo.

Yup I'm with you daz, I put my vote to option 2 I think, purely because I don't fish that far offshore to justify an epirb, but fully condone VHF and pfd's.

And yep, you can't remove stupid. It's sticks like baby crap to shag pile carpet

atis wrote: rule #1: Don't be an idiot! (and go out 7 of you in a dingy when blowing 20+ knots)

None, having stupid people live longer isn't good for the rest of us. I'm sure this country got stupider when the health & safety legislation got introduced.