400: Live aboard at anchor drinking?

[CaptJPMcGuire]

Originally Posted by fxykty

Same, we drink alcohol contains beverages before, during, after and between times of being underway. Generally not too excess, though I remember making and drinking a bunch of Pina Coladas while at anchor that meant I was just about sleeping when we retrieved our anchor and started an 900 mile passage.

Depending on where you are, the road-based drinking while driving rules may apply to boating - they do where we are now. Despite that I’ve never seen any enforcement.

There should be at least one person who is not (legally) impaired. It doesn’t have to be the skipper, as long as the (sober?) person is competent to handle the boat. Legally is there the same concept of a “driver” on boats as there is for cars? Hopefully not.

But let’s be real, especially when you are live aboard - having a drink while underway or at anchor is not a practical problem.

All quite true, live, love, drink and be merry. Just be aware of the consequences of being inebriated and unable to perform the necessary activities to safely operate the vessel. At the funeral of your (insert loved ones names here) cry an extra tear. Also cry a tear for you and your families financial future.
Wether your on a boat, in a car or flying a plane--if your the responsible person --YOU BETTER BE!

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Rivatar

The master of any vessel must be sober. Irrespective of whether the vessel is underway, anchored or moored. Failing that, if moored the vessel’s agent ust be sober.

If you’re talking legally, then this is not true everywhere.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Smokeys Kitchen

???

I am a little confused on this one Mike. Don't understand what having a head has to do with drinking while on a boat?

Maybe its a Canadian thing ..or I am missing the punch line ...

Yeah… it’s a Canadian quirk. I’m going from memory, but it’s part of the regs. Rationale is probably as suggested by others; that it makes your boat more like a house.

[Brian Renwick]

It’s much simpler in New Zealand. You are not allowed to operate a recreational vessel in a reckless manner, or without sufficient buoyancy aids for every person on board. Some additional commonsense rules for waterskiing, speed restrictions (which are routinely ignored) while passing vessels with a diver down/proximity to swimmers in the water/passing other vessels/shoreline, and children not operating fast motor boats. That’s it, period. You are not required to have any kind of certificate or licence to skipper your 100m LOA recreational superyacht, nor is it required to be registered. However, if you are sailing a non-foreign-registered craft to another country, New Zealand has the world’s most stringent requirements to be met before a customs clearance is issued. Your vessel, skipper and all crew are assessed by a YNZ registered inspector, and if all satisfy the requirements, the inspector will issue a certificate for presentation to Customs. The bar is set high. Ironically, you could complete an Antarctic circumnavigation without a customs clearance, provided you don’t enter another country’s waters.

Examples of reckless behaviour at anchor would include crew on board being drunk and incapable of recovering someone who HAD fallen overboard and died. Charges would be brought after the fact of it happening and the circumstances being discovered during an investigation. No one goes around inspecting boats and crew unless a complaint is made to the police.

Personally, while freedom from bureaucracy is highly valued by Kiwis, I think these regulations need tidying up, in particular not being required to be certificated.

[Oeanda]

Originally Posted by Smokeys Kitchen

???

I am a little confused on this one Mike. Don't understand what having a head has to do with drinking while on a boat?

Maybe its a Canadian thing ..or I am missing the punch line ...

As I posted earlier, more than just a head is needed on the list for Canadian boat-drinking to be legal. But basically yes it shows that you are in a residence of sorts, have a place to stay for the night instead of having to travel later, and aren’t (quite) just drinking in the open in public.
Seems fairly common sense, for a law.

[Davo666]

See my sig.

[NaClyDog]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

You may need to read up on the case. Several of your details are wrong.

Don't let facts get in the way of a "good" story.

[fnees]

Originally Posted by Anders

No idea what the laws are in the Med but the prisons would very full if they started to enforce any no drinking at anchor laws.
I've never been boarded at anchor or underway and I don't expect that to happen.

I have been boarded while drinking at anchor. At a secluded anchorage somewhere in the Caribbean. The coastguard asked for a beer and we had a terrific chat!

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by merrydolphin

Alcohol and boating seem to go hand and hand. Alcohol abuse and boating seem to go hand and hand.
I remember being anchored in a “Safe” anchorage in the Bahamas. (A fairly remote area). When I woke up in the morning I was shocked to see that my stern was only a few feet from a jagged reef. I said to my wife “WOW! We must have dragged last night.” She said, “ I tried and tried to wake you up. A severe thunderstorm hit us during the night. You couldn’t wake up. Fortunately the anchor caught before we hit the reef”. That was one of my final clues that I needed to quit drinking. Haven’t had one for 35 yrs now. If you drink more than a drink or 2 normal drinks. While at anchor. (Or daily). You may want to look closer at you life’s habits.

Maybe you could have simply stumped up the coin for a better anchor , set an alarm and improved your anchoring skills.

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Maybe you could have simply stumped up the coin for a better anchor , set an alarm and improved your anchoring skills.

If his wife couldn't wake him up, what point would there be in setting an alarm?

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by Brioche

A quick look says Florida statute 327.35 says boating under the influence is charged against anyone "operating" a boat. Sitting at anchor does not sound like "operating". But to test that you would either have to get arrested and go to court or get solid advice from a Florida attorney.

This is the best advise.
You don't want to have us give you that kind of advise.
It's serious business BUI.
Get an attorney's advise.
There may also be a presumption of Guilt because your touching Florida ground when anchoring.
Kinda like in your car drunk or passed out.
But not operating it.
Boatyarddog

[chrisr]

gota say nobody out here in the islands gives a toss about drinking at anchor, but perhaps we take more personal responsibility for our actions...

cheers,

[LargeMarge]

I am the perpetual 'designated driver'.
(I do not care for the flavor of alcohol.)
As such, I tend to be the responsible party, encouraging 'vivid' participants to:
* tone it down because stupit is not fun after-the-fact
* keep it clean -- hork in the bowl or down-wind over the rail
* keep track of your hands -- avoid touching anything you do not own.

[mike mck]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

For the OP: https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/...l2000_0014.pdf



The definition of operate, is rather vague. Personally, I'd keep my BAC below 0.08, but enjoy some drinks - but I think that's sensible whether it's required by law, or not.

I tend to agree with the intent of your thought but "I'd keep my BAC below 0.08, but enjoy some drinks" says "Drinks". I'll define a drink as having 1 ounce of alchohol so drinks will be 2 or more ounces. I can assure you if I am making the drinks there is more than 1 ounce in them. Either way 2 drinks will take you over .08 BAC.
Be cautious my friend.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by mike mck

I tend to agree with the intent of your thought but "I'd keep my BAC below 0.08, but enjoy some drinks" says "Drinks". I'll define a drink as having 1 ounce of alchohol so drinks will be 2 or more ounces. I can assure you if I am making the drinks there is more than 1 ounce in them. Either way 2 drinks will take you over .08 BAC.
Be cautious my friend.

Possibly, but it depends on what period of time you're talking about. If it's 2 or 3 drinks over the course of 4+ hours that's very different than 2 drinks in the first hour.