Is the Cruising Lifestyle Dying ?

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

so I'm sitting in the hospital right after dodging the BIG ONE

so I a new view as of today!

SO.... didja see mabel???(sanford and son) ... are you gonna be ok?? are you repaired with a stent or some thing along that line??? get well fast..

[MarkJ]

The Doctor told him how much it would cost and Don said "I feel much better, I think I'll go now..."

[Kettlewell]

Don, I hope you are pulling all of our legs, but if not get well soon! (Might be a good idea to stay out of the anchoring threads for awhile--it isn't good for the blood pressure. )

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by AiniA

We were shoked when we got to Oz and found the ultimate nanny state. They have rules about abfsolutely everything and everyone agrees that they are over-regulated but all that happens is more rules get passed. All so unlike the average Aussie who is so easy-going.

The biggest pain with Oz is that each state has it's own rules. But the ultimate nanny state? No, I think that would be New Zealand.

Boats leaving OZ just need to clear out with customs. To leave NZ, NZ registered boats (and they did try to enforce this on foregn registered boats too) must be surveyed to Cat 1 standard.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

IME there were lots of rules in Thailand - they are just not always the same as those which are written down .

It's like the tree failing in the forest ... if the rule/regulation is NEVER enforced is it still a rule/regulation? Thailand has lots but they are never enforced. Where I live people drive with impunity. For example, I've never seen a highway policeman pull anybody over so people drive anyway they chose.

Of course it great if you're in a hurry.

[deckofficer]

I've driven in Thailand, and the only rule that is honored is "might makes right". The larger your vehicle, the less you have to give way. It is an efficient way, takes more energy to slow and then resume speed in a large and heavy vehicle.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

I've driven in Thailand, and the only rule that is honored is "might makes right". The larger your vehicle, the less you have to give way. It is an efficient way, takes more energy to slow and then resume speed in a large and heavy vehicle.

Probably no different in many areas of Asia/South America. dDiving in Colombia was unreal.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

so I'm sitting in the hospital right after dodging the BIG ONE
so I a new view as of today!

Don, hope you are OK. Best wishes for a speedy recovery

[Teknav]

Back to the thread... Is the Cruising Lifestyle Dying? Yes and No! As long as people can charter boats, cruising will never die. As people realize how much it costs to own a boat and maintain it, fewer people will want to go that road. For those die-hard who must visit a particular atoll to sample its coconuts or dive its walls, you have no choice but to go by boat. Luckily, there are plenty of live-aboard vessels to accommodate your wishes! Mauritz

[Ex-Calif]

Just to be "that guy" - This thread was started by Dudeman in Nov of 2010. Dudeman's last post ever on CF was in Nov 2010. I don't think he is receiving new inputs - LOL.

The thread died in Mar 2011 and Flink resurrected it in Jan 2013 - almost 2 years later.

However - it is always good to resurrect interesting topics. Is cruising dying?

Heck no. Based on CF membership, numbers of boats and the fact that pretty wealthy boomers are going to conitnue to retire in record nummbers for years to come makes all kinds of leisure industries a good investment.

Will they cruise like 1970? Heck no. Boomers are spoiled by their luxuries. They will take their toys and their comforts with them. The boats will be bigger and they will be more convenient.

Is that a bad thing? Depends how old you are.

As far as young cruisers? I think there will always be a percentage that go cheap and go now. There will be a percentage that strike it rich early or work it rich early and they will also go. The rest will go for a while in retirement or never go and if lucky end up coastal sailing as long as they can.

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

so I'm sitting in the hospital right after dodging the BIG ONE

so I a new view as of today!

Don,

What has happened? As someone noted, stay out of the anchor threads - helps keep the blood pressure down. Guns and Hunters too.

Get well

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by zeehag

SO.... didja see mabel???(sanford and son) ... are you gonna be ok?? are you repaired with a stent or some thing along that line??? get well fast..

I thought her name was "Liz'beth"? As in, <Redd Foxx clutching at chest, wobbling on one foot and rolling eyes heavenward> "I'm comin' ta join ya, Liz'beth!"

[jkleins]

Originally Posted by Weyalan

I can't speak for regulations in VA, USA Jim, but I can vouch for those in place in Tasmania, Australia. Herabouts, we can be fined if we do not have as a minimum, the following (assuming boat over 6m / 19')
Anchor, chain rode
Bilge pump & bailer
Approved lifer jacket
Fire extringuisher
Flares
Marine Radio
Lifebuoy
EPIRB
Radar reflector
First aid kit
Water
(source Marine & Safety Tasmania).

You also need to carry a motor boat license, which requires written and practical testing, and for which you must pay every few years. As has been mentioned, you must wear your lifejacket in your dinghy. Your boat must be registered and display its registration in prescribed location(s). If your dink has an outboard of more than, I think, 4hp, it must also be registered. There are, no doubt more, but the above spring immediately to mind

Now I'm not saying, necessarily, that any of those are necessarily silly, some are certainly what I would have thought ought to be discretionary, but they are a legal requirement and non compliance carries a penalty. I don't see why I should be forced to carry and EPIRB, if I don't want to.

Significant further legislation relating to OH&S is currently under discussion at government / bureaucratic level... ridiculously draconian OH&S legislation has just been implemented for the building trades (a builder may no longer wear short pants, for example)... I was recently informed, by a board member of the most influential yacht club in the state, that additional OH&S legislation was on the way.

And I wasn't saying that you couldn't go sailing without AIS, RADAR, etc. merely that the dominant paradigm seems to be shifting towards a belief that you shouldn't... and once it become a belief, becoming a law ain't so far behind.

Then I apologize. I didn't realize things were getting worse for you guys down under. We are usually the "poster children" for regulations here in the states so I am surprised that other countries have started taking our "claim to fame".

I think I am going to have to go campaign for more anchoring restrictions.

[yoda slayer]

I agree that it has gotten too expensive, and that most people prefer safety. In this economy most people are just hunkering down. I think that if someone has a job they would rather stay ashore and dream until one day when they won't work anymore. Then that day comes and they realize all the time they wasted.

[Jimbo485]

Originally Posted by yoda slayer

I agree that it has gotten too expensive, and that most people prefer safety. In this economy most people are just hunkering down. I think that if someone has a job they would rather stay ashore and dream until one day when they won't work anymore. Then that day comes and they realize all the time they wasted.

Oh, such cutting words, but oh so true.