Pipe Smoking Boat Operator

[anantaandroscoggin]

Though I never worked on small-boat SAR, I've heard plenty of stories from those who have, and the gross idiocy of some boaters is truly worthy of winning them their very own Darwin Award.

But one night when I was off-duty, two couples were heading north on the Willamette River in Portland OR while very, very drunk, at a very, very high rate of speed, and collided bow-on with a Tow Boat, which obviously won the contest (even with no barges in tow). The driver of the speedboat managed to impale the woman in his lap on the boat's steering wheel, ending her.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"To show a man smoking a pipe anywhere is a rarity these days."

Indeed it is Mike, I just find it hilarious how some folk make so much of this rare phenomenon.

I recall someone once compiled a list of films that had at least one of the actors smoking a pipe. I thought at the time that was one serious pipe anorak.

Anyway, pleased you are now allowed to sail and fish (whilst smoking a pipe of course) to your heart's content ?

Regards,

Jay.?

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I'm currently slogging through the online test to get a boating license, and what little tidbit do I spy in silhouette?

View attachment 69207

One of the biggest restrictions I face is fire hazard. I would have ample opportunity to smoke a pipe at work, except Smoking a pipe while working around a million dollar machine covered in chaff is just a no-go.
Winter on the other hand provides almost total relief from any concern of fire, one of the reasons I am enthusiastic about only smoking outdoors.

 

[Old School 3319]

Please do not give the state of Illinois any ideas on another way to make money off the people. We do not require a boating license, they probably should but my state would just charge you for the privilege of applying

 

[instymp]

You need no brains, knowledge or experience to buy & operate a boat, only money.

 

[Old School 3319]

You need no brains, knowledge or experience to buy & operate a boat, only money.

Boat does stand for Break Out Another Thousand

 

[boatme99]

I'm currently slogging through the online test to get a boating license, and what little tidbit do I spy in silhouette?

View attachment 69207

What class? I'm a retired yacht skipper.

 

[kcghost]

Boats and beer can lead to disaster and frequently do.

 

[smknron]

Alaska loses 20 people a year to boating deaths, most of them entirely preventable. People take it for granted because it seems so safe. It's usually not high speed, I can swim, it doesn't hurt to fall in the water, etc. But between weather, shockingly cold water temps even in the summer, wild currents, reckless boating, lack of life vests, underwater obstructions, wearing hip or chest waders while in a boat, and more......things can go bad fast, and when they do, many people are not prepared.

I couldn't agree more. Just a quick story to tell. I've witnessed so many things on the water that could have easily been prevented. I was a commercial fisherman, and safety was the most important part of our jobs out there. In the middle of the night, and I'll never forget this, one of my helpers was working on the back deck with another guy, and there was a light up in the rigging that would flicker once in a while. He climbed up there to fix it but lost his footing and fell probably 20' into the water. Thank God he didn't hit any steel on the way down. He was in full gear, slickers, boots, hat hood etc, it was cold out. When your nets are on the bottom and your dragging, fishing, you just can't just stop like a car to get the poor guy. We didn't even realize he fell. I was in the wheel house checking on things and Robert and Ricky were working the deck. I just happened to walk back there to check on them and saw that Robert was not there. We were all very busy and immediately Ricky knew when he saw me looking towards the stern. When your on a work boat in the middle of the sea at night, all you can really see is the lighting from your own vessel. When you look out and away it's literally black unless your looking with your spot lights or flood lights. Anyways, when I did look towards the stern, out in the water I immediately didn't see anything but I heard a distant yell and that was over the diesel engine running in the boat. So after hearing him we reacted as fast as we could. Just that light flickering bothered him. If I would have noticed it or if one of them would have mentioned it, I would have left it until we anchored up in the morning and we could have fixed it. I can go on and on about that night but we got our buddy back,, and I can't say enough how fast things can turn bad on you on a boat, any boat. You are at the mercy of mother nature too. Mother nature... And if she's not in a good mood ?. I love talking about my fishing & shrimping days don't even get me started but wanted to share that with you.

 

[boatme99]

When in Newport, RI, my cleaning ladys son, a commercial lobsterman, was soloing on Christmas day when he went overboard. His last contact was "putting on my survival suit". Never heard from again.

 

[smknron]

When in Newport, RI, my cleaning ladys son, a commercial lobsterman, was soloing on Christmas day when he went overboard. His last contact was "putting on my survival suit". Never heard from again.

Yeah that's really sad. I hate to hear stuff like that, but it's really a part of the life for anyone that spends any time out there. I fished with my father off of Long Island NY. and knew some of the lobster fisherman. There was a six man crew way off shore working and were due back in about ten days. They would stay in contact every morning with the owner of the boat. One morning the owner said that they were going to stay out a couple of more days to put on a record catch and a storm came up so they tried to out run it but never heard from them again.

 

[alaskanpiper]

I couldn't agree more. Just a quick story to tell. I've witnessed so many things on the water that could have easily been prevented. I was a commercial fisherman, and safety was the most important part of our jobs out there. In the middle of the night, and I'll never forget this, one of my helpers was working on the back deck with another guy, and there was a light up in the rigging that would flicker once in a while. He climbed up there to fix it but lost his footing and fell probably 20' into the water. Thank God he didn't hit any steel on the way down. He was in full gear, slickers, boots, hat hood etc, it was cold out. When your nets are on the bottom and your dragging, fishing, you just can't just stop like a car to get the poor guy. We didn't even realize he fell. I was in the wheel house checking on things and Robert and Ricky were working the deck. I just happened to walk back there to check on them and saw that Robert was not there. We were all very busy and immediately Ricky knew when he saw me looking towards the stern. When your on a work boat in the middle of the sea at night, all you can really see is the lighting from your own vessel. When you look out and away it's literally black unless your looking with your spot lights or flood lights. Anyways, when I did look towards the stern, out in the water I immediately didn't see anything but I heard a distant yell and that was over the diesel engine running in the boat. So after hearing him we reacted as fast as we could. Just that light flickering bothered him. If I would have noticed it or if one of them would have mentioned it, I would have left it until we anchored up in the morning and we could have fixed it. I can go on and on about that night but we got our buddy back,, and I can't say enough how fast things can turn bad on you on a boat, any boat. You are at the mercy of mother nature too. Mother nature... And if she's not in a good mood ?. I love talking about my fishing & shrimping days don't even get me started but wanted to share that with you.

Yep. Things can happen extremely fast. Your buddy is incredibly lucky. Probably literally seconds from being dead.

 

[boatme99]

Only smoked cigars on the boat. Me and one of girls on the flybridge. Newport in the background

 

[BROBS]

I'm currently slogging through the online test to get a boating license, and what little tidbit do I spy in silhouette?

View attachment 69207

He’s also quite excited about the prospect