Changes to Bar Crossing Rules

[Smithy]

Fair few new rules to come into effect but the big one is the requirement for vessels under 4.8m using the Seaway, Round Hill Ck and the Mooloolah river entrance to now have life jackets on.

http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/About-us/MSQ-headlines/Boating-safety-improvements.aspx

[fishing111]

Bloody hell does it ever stop, rules changing all the bloody time! Gives me the bloody shits! What these tossers should do is update every 3 years if they bloody must, but notify every boater by mail of what the bloody changes are so people know! This drib and drab approach of changinging rules when they feel like it is just BULLSHIT! I just stumbled on this because of Smithy, otherwise i wouldn't of had a clue, like many others i would assume.

[Midnight]

With Mooloolaba like it is currently, and like it was 2 years ago in Feb for the tournament, not a bad idea! I saw a couple of hairy ones, and I got caught out leaving on the Sunday and had to take a set on :o

In NSW, it is jackets on for all bars, all vessels. I initially thought it was a wank, but now I think it is good, as everyone on board knows where the life jackets are, and has actually fitted one to themselves. Who knows, it may be an advantage one day........

[finga]

Yes Paul....it's getting to the stage you have to research all boating rules and regulations before you start the engine/s and it seems you need to take a laptop to see what the current rules are in relation to fish captures.
Why do they change the rules so often?? Most of the time without any notification to the general public at all.

As for the jackets we too thought it was a bit of a pain wearing them at all bar crossings in NSW but, as mentioned, it allows everyone know where they are and how to put them on.
So why make the rules in QLD for certain bars and boats under the magic 4.8m mark??
Midnight had a hairy moment and his boat looks a bit bigger then 4.8m.
Why not take the confusion out and make it all bars and all boats.
But don't make it mandatory to wear jackets at all times. That'll suck big time.


What road rules are around now that nobody knows about??

[tunaticer]

I agree with Paul's comment, the government should make major releases that are fully broadcast to all holders of a marine licence via post and enact the rules after such notification has been made.
I think there is an obligation under law if the rules are changed they should made it openly clear to all users.

This day and age they shirk that responsibility citing that we should check to see online any changes that may affect us.
This line of thought is flawed because none of us know when the changes are going to be made or if there are changes about to be made.

It is their responsibility to make the laws known.

For what it is worth, I do not disagree with the new laws and feel that if you are entering open water from any river system or open water launch site you should wear a PFD, not just for your safety, but if things go badly wrong your body can be quickly found and recovered. I know just how stressful it is for a family to have lost a loved one in the seas and its taken a few days to find the body or what is left of it.

Those left behind feel the pain, not the guys heading out for a good day on that water that die.

[Richo1]

Thanks for the heads up Smithy.

We can all be happy there is more rules to keep as safe from our extremely dangerous recreational pastime! :/

[Grand_Marlin]

We always hear of and see near misses when we are out boating, especially at night.
After reading the new requirements, I dont have a problem with any of them.

The new licensing rules state there will be a separate advanced license for people driving boats over 12m
This will only apply to new license holders.

Night driving has been brought into the spotlight and with good reason.
Sadly, I think they have side stepped the night training by putting it in the too hard basket.
There is no practical assessment for night driving (I think there should be)
The test for new licenses will have a video that has to be watched and a few questions on the exam paper.

Whilst it would be a pain in the bum, I think existing license holders should have to do the upgrade tests in these areas.

Whilst they have changed the rules for new license holders, there are still 600,000+ existing license holders in Qld that do not get the benefit of upgraded training and knowledge.
Many (most) existing license holders are competent and experienced with bigger boats and with night work, but many are not.
The people that are not competent are the ones that will still feature in the statistics charts... the new legislation has not addressed this very important point.
In other words, the killer is still on the loose!

Cheers

Pete

[wirlybird]

Happy for this rule to come in BUT!

There are many other bars and channels more dangerous than the above mentioned solway pass in the Whitsundays comes to mind and there are no rules in place more people pass through this in a day than they would a month through the Mooloolah river entrance ??????????


WHY you ask there is no one to enforce them the same applies here in Brisbane. If you have a flat calm day and you don’t have so much as a ripple and the cops fine you for not wearing a life jacket. i don’t think it will hold up in court as many maritime rules state that the skipper or captain is responsible and should prepare for the appropriate conditions. Ill bet you don’t see the cops out there in crappy weather enforcing this rule it’s just silly

I second the vote for a 3 yearly rule change or review

[SnapHead101]

I think the 4.8 metre rule has some merit. I would certainly not wear a lifejacket in an enclosed cabin. Having to escape an upturned vessel with a lifejacket on would be very difficult. When the seas get big we lightly secure our life jackets near the door so if we do roll you then have a chance of getting one on the way out. We also leave an esky on the back deck to float free and provide something that floats to hold onto .

[Richo1]

My first comment was a poor attempt at sarcasm! Driving the family car is far more dangerous than taking the < 4.8m tinny out on the water! The new rules are only trying to protect the stupid, who will probably not know or follow the rules anyway!
A responsible skipper should be able to make will make their own decision as to whether or not to:
1. To cross the bar in the first place according to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.
2. Wear a life jacket when he/she deems necessary.
A skipper, recreational or commercial, should be responsible and made responsible for their actions!
These rules a just another example of the "Nanny State" our state and the country is turning into. Instead of using commonsense and being held accountable, society just plods along and blames someone else or the lack of rules as to why accidents happen! Educational campains teaching boaties about when and where lifejackets should be worn would be more worthwhile than just adding another rule to the ever growing list - starting but not ending at boat licence skool. Unfortunatly no amount of legislation will prevent tragedies on the water.

[Beatsworkin2]

My son always wears a life jacket calm offshore wot ever to valuable to lose

[Lancair]

My kids, almost 6 and 7, always wear a lifejacket while onboard.
I always wear one when crossing a bar.
As skipper, I require all on board to wear one while crossing a bar, regardless of what state I'm operating the boat in. Southport Seaway is an exception to adults having to have one on.

I agree we are totally over regulated in this country, but leaving it up to common sense to decide, leaves people open to lawsuits etc in the event of things going wrong, and they will. There needs to be a national standard with regards to lifejacket use, just as there is with regard to seatbelt use in vehicles.
IMHO, ALL children under say 10 and those who cannot swim, should wear lifejackets while on board any trailerable boat operating in open water, not req'd on boats over 4.5m in calm waters, anyboat under 4.5m and they wear them all the time. Lifejackets on for ALL bar crossings in ALL trailerable boats.

[Mrs Ronnie H]

hi
IMO I don't think it would be too much of a discomfort for everyone to wear a lifejacket while crossing a bar in any size vessel. Whether you a 4 metres or 40 metres, is irrelevant -- safety first imo. Better to be safe than sorry and better having one on than trying to grab one if you do come to grief. Think there would be so much happening if you did roll over a life jacket would not be in your immediate thoughts and would not be the first thing you would think of grabbing.

Ronnie

[Homer_Jay]

When are the people of this country going to just take responsibilty for themselves and not rely on everyone else to baby sit them through their whole bloody life!

If you want to cross a bar in a 10ft tinnie with no lifejacket and you die... well thats YOUR problem not mine. I will do what I think is right/safe/responsible for me and my life (and the people on board my boat) I am sick to death of the nanny state.

[wave dancer]

Good to see that people are up too date and comment on something that is 8 months old.

[dreemon]

I've known about it and have been wearing my life jacket when crossing the seaway but see so many going through that must not know.

Maybe a pop up on the chart plotter that reminds you or a sign on a marker when heading out. they really should warn you first before handing out fines,

[WalrusLike]

Sometimes I feel like Homer does.... Maybe the herd needs a bit of a cull.

Laws and rules are often an inefficient way to still not achieve the desired result. A law or regulation costs money and only affects the sensible folk while the others cheerfully ignore it anyway.

On my only overseas trip I went to a far away land where the roads and public spaces seem a bit less regulated. There are no crash barriers obscuring everything and no fences around dam spillways and other interesting, but potentially hazardous areas. It was very refreshing to actually be a part of the landscape instead of fenced off from it.

I managed my own safety, and took responsibility for my own children. It was like revisiting my youth when Australia was much the same.... sadly that was years ago. I really enjoyed driving around the South Island of New Zealand.