Tidal Chaos
Active Member
I am going to share a couple experiences I have had with the RCMP on and off the water regarding operating and owning a boat in regards to this thread; it may or may not lighten the mood; I have been boarded a few times on the east coast of the island and the west coast by the marine division looking for paperwork and safety items; each time I have been asked if I have been drinking; I do own a boat with everything I need to be able to consume alcohol when on anchor or tied to a dock; myself; I may have one or 2 beer after a day of fishing on the east side; west side I do not drink when I am offshore; banks or tuna; my crew can have as much as they want; but I tend not to par-take do to past experiences with wind and anomalies that can happen offshore; now back to the topic; on the water every time I have been boarded I have been asked the question and each time I have told the officers no; and each officer has been a different person; and each time there reply was "you don't have any fun when your fishing"; we have a laugh and on there way they go. But I have been checked pulling my boat back from Tofino by a road check near Kennedy lake in the off season; actually picking my boat up from RPM in March; and the officer asked me the question "have you been drinking"; I replied with no and that I just drove up to pick up my boat and turned around and am heading home; well he proceeded to climb through my window and get right in my face and proceeded to tell me that I am a fisherman and all fisherman in his experience drink and boat and then drive home; and he was certain that I had been drinking in his mind. That being said; he climbed back out of my window and took my license and regi and went back to his car; came back gave me my papers back and said have a nice day. So I think it can be said that in some officers minds; they know that drinking takes place on boats; but like on land; if you are acting drunk and irresponsible you will get different treatment by how you act when confronted; some people drink and some don't; that is their preference; how you view them is your choice; but I don't think if someone has one or 2 beer on the water they are going to be a hazard; no different than having one or 2 at a restaurant and driving home; it is their choice and as long as they are within there limits; I don't have a problem with it; if they are drunk; then they need to be dealt with. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion; but they shouldn't label anybody they know nothing about. I am 6'4, 250 pds; if you think 2 beer are going to make me drunk in the first hour; you should maybe sit down with an officer and ask him his opinion on weight to consumption and see what he says; every body processes alcohol thru their system differently and some people can consume more than others; your entitled to your opinion and I would leave it at that and leave the decision making to those with the power to make that decision on who can and can't operate a boat while consuming small amounts of alcohol.
To label everyone that consumes alcohol on a boat as impaired to some extent is wrong; I would worry more about fisherman that have been up since the crack of dawn; day after day; and are returning to the dock at dusk; they are more impaired from sleep deprivation than someone that may of had one or 2 beer but left the dock at 8 and returned at 2. This is just my opinion and experiences, take it as you will; not trying to be a dick! Don't label people you know nothing about!
To label everyone that consumes alcohol on a boat as impaired to some extent is wrong; I would worry more about fisherman that have been up since the crack of dawn; day after day; and are returning to the dock at dusk; they are more impaired from sleep deprivation than someone that may of had one or 2 beer but left the dock at 8 and returned at 2. This is just my opinion and experiences, take it as you will; not trying to be a dick! Don't label people you know nothing about!