I've seen plenty of scoff laws, drunks and pot heads. Seen em high, seen em passed out and seen 'em dead. It isn't my serious attitude, it's just common sense that bothers me now. This new breed likes to argue the loosing end cause they are so unhappy with what is.
Pot heads argue alcoholics don't care -and they're correct in a lot of cases but thats no logic to then get high on something else. Just because people get away with being drunk or stoned at the
helm is no argument that the margins favoring a safe
passage has been effected.
Like a pirate the logic is flawed because ultimately the scoff law wants the outcome that allows him what he wants. In private, take whatever drugs you like and as much and for as long as you like but being on the
helm with a hang-over is a rip off of everyone else if you ask me.
Just recently in Charleston
Oregon skipper was always drinking drove his vessel right into the break coming in. In perfect conditions mind you. He and the crew managed to escape leaving his wife below who perished.
Astoria, which has perhaps the most dangerous bar I've ever crossed there were many skippers who drank all the time. They hired young boys who knew nothing of the dangers.
The fact is, manning ocean going (fishing) vessels is the
single most dangerous job there is. Policemen rank way down on there at 10th. Anyone think a cop should go to and be at
work drinking?
A scoff law pirate might respond with an affirmative and even laugh in your face. Many times I heard first hand how skippers passed out and left anyone aboard to bring his vessel in. Sometimes that was crew
member, other times a kid totally incompetent.
Many people die out at sea. There is no
record of how it happened. Lots of people who drink, smoke dope or suffer absent minded hang-overs haven't sank a vessel too, yet. For some idiots, that's proof enough nothing happens.
Well let me inform you who think sobriety is just for the serious. You may be killed by another stoner on another vessel or one of your own crew.
Yes even you Jimmy Buffet fans who romanticize drinking by whining in your tequila while thinking yourselves a real
salt.
The fact is anyone found to have drown from any vessel and found to have alcohol or drugs,
legal or illicit, it will point the finger strait at the captain. He or she alone is responsible for what occurs on their vessel.
An autopsy, (if performed) is all the proof needed, who brought it is not a defense. Criminal and or civil courts and their respective attorneys love cases involving a wrongful death while drinking or whatever on a boat supervised by an owner or the captain (who is acting as agent on their behalf).
As owner you have all the exposure needed to maybe loose vessel,
money and yes lock you up. There's even precedence in law that alcohol confuses a swimmer into thinking they are swimming up when in fact they are actually swimming down.
Divorces, suicides, murder and more, often are rooted in drinking. The prisons are filled with those who regret drinking that one time…
Women have been raped,
children abused, fights broke out and people drown by mistake. They likely had a little pirate voice in their
head telling them, "people who don't drink are uptight and too serious."
As if there's not already a bundle to worry about, now you need wonder if the other pilot is not intoxicated or spaced out. There is a bond of trust between skippers to be a 100% at the
wheel. That is to say, they are on their honor to be self disciplined enough to avoid impairing their judgement.
There's nothing to laugh about when a person is so cowardly they sneak a drink or smoke a joint at the
wheel. Nothing more boring than a guy so drunk he repeats over and over how sorry he is he just killed a relative of yours.
If a stoner or drunk is so bored he needs a hit to be
funny or happy maybe I do prefer a serious sort to share the water with.
May be the pirate flag is exactly what should fly over a semi conscience vessel since it's
skipper is like a pirate who sneaks off the table a portion of the 100% it takes to navigate in an
environment that nature never meant for us to transit.
Personally, "I can't trust or laugh with a person I can't think with..." Is this serious enough for you son?