Sounds like they want to introduce maritime licencing to NZ... http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6926694 ... saved-teen Most of the time we are within 200m of the shore and usually doing more than 5knots near each other - would suck if they could remove your licence and stop you from jetskiing if you break those rule, let alone the associated costs with licencing. Wonder how it works in Aussie & the states?
yo dax and anbody else we break the maritime laws evry time we ride and luckly we dont get policed for it this concept been circulating for a while when you do a day skippers course you find all this out aussie is an arse thats why they all wear red vests lets just hoe it takes a while to implement as we are already supposed to be regestered same thing as usual bunch of retards that have no idea what they are doing giving us a bad name
Just ban the sit down and shoot all the fags that ride them except the blasters. Like to see the water police at Port waikato. The locals would steal all there gear for a start.
and except sodd on his seaspew/subaru (only 800cc) but yeah wot norm said, let show some proactiveness and get in their ear before they make any stupid decisions that ruin it for all of us.
I think that in the main we will be OK because we usually ride at remote places like Port Waikato. Where we will definitely get in trouble is popular beaches like Orewa. It might pay to completely avoid this kind of beach in the hight of summer.
Registration isn't a new thing. Auckland, Waikato, Taupo all now require PWC to be registered. Registration in AKL is a $35 per ski once only fee. Really not a major. Does this mean you're going to be more susceptible to being pulled over, fined, or have your PWC confiscated. No - definitely not. Registration is probably a good thing, however, it must be extended to boaties, yachties etc as well. I don't agree that PWC owners should face a different set of requirements when boaties etc are often worse in breaking maratime law with craft that "don't turn and accelerate on a dime". What does make us, and by us I mean PWC owners, more susceptible to attracting the authorities attention is acting like fucking idiots at public beaches where there are swimmers/families, at ramps, within 5 knot zones etc. Sure we all like to act up and have some fun but often we don't realise the impact that it has when a member of the public sees us doing that. Often it's just a case of "there's another fucking idiot jetskier" but over time and multiple incidents it often festers into people reporting you / just jumping on the bandwagon when a Jetski is involved in an incident. Would a licence help with this - well probably. Awareness off the rules of the water is one of the major problems. Regarding us breaking the rules when we go out in terms of the 5 knot / 50m law - well we're often lucky. Most of the time there is no authority figure near by. However, when there is, as long as we're all in a group, not endangering other outside the group, and riding in a relatively orderly fashion then they won't worry. I have had this explained by a harbour master himself. However, there are harbour masters out there that have it in for us. As for those that throw their kids on 300hp couches and turn a blind eye. Well... What can you do? You can't fix stupid. But sometimes it's just a case of saying "Bro, don't fuck it for the rest of us with your dumb-ass shit". So what does it mean in the end - well we can have our fun but don't push the limit. Don't fuck round round roosting each other at ramps. When it's a 5 knot zone, actually ride at near enough 5 knots (or at least make an effort). Just holding back a little, especially when in the public eye, can often do wonders. Oh, it also helps to be polite to the authorities. Sometimes they're a bunch of c*#ts but often fairly reasonable (if you're reasonable in return)
All good points, and the reality is the remote places we go jetskiing usually wont attract attention. The rules seem focussed on sit down skis, in particular requirement for vhf/cell phone - wtf? On a pole ski better rules would be don't go out by yourself in the surf and always wear a helmet. Doesn't sound like they have taken our sport into consideration when making the rules, I hope it doesn't come back to bite one of us.
Interesting report on Maritime NZ's site: http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Publicati ... er1999.pdf When the report was done there were: Vessel Type % of Fatal Accidents Trailer Power Boat 28.0 Dinghy 43.3 Trailer Yacht 3.2 Motor Launch 1.7 Personal Water Craft 0 Keel Yacht 10.0 Other 13.3 So at a whopping 43% fatalities dinghy's should be registered way before jetski's!!!
I think maybe the statistics have changed a little over 13 years !!! Over here in Las vegas, Nevada we have to be registered (very visable numbers on the ski ),buy a lake pass,carry a fire extinguisher at all time,render assistance to a vessel in distress(this is a ticketable offense),carry a copy of our registration certificate,and don't fuck with the rangers cause they got gun's !!!!! Big gun's !!!!
My thoughts exactly!! and imo licences can get fucked aswell!! HOWEVER, I do feel there needs to be some form of regulation for couch riders (2+ seater skis??) or that they need to fall under the same line as boats due to size and power etc. The kid that died wasnt wearing a life jacket, which makes him a moron, and I doubt any laws or licence would have changed that (just like wearing a seatbelt in a car really) As a motorcyle stuntrider I regularly deal with the dramas of police and public, and the difference between a professional sport and "being a hooligan" and would be gutted if jetskiing went the same way..
I get the feeling that even if they had all the regulations in place muppets would still find ways of killing themselves. A fire extinguisher, right so when you remove the hood to get it the engine bay floods and puts the fire out while sending the ski to the bottom! Great idea :? Having the same rules for pole skis and couches is stupid! Found some more recent stats on fatalities, the dinghy is still the most lethal recreational vessel!!! http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Publicati ... -20-13.asp
To be honest Icould be as dangerous on a poleski as on a sitdown.. But.. The main issue lies with novices on a 300hp kawi for example you know the drill! Sit down! Pull trigger! count to ten and voia!! 120kph 50 meters from where you started... This is comparable to learning to drive in a Lambo!! There has to be some kind of control of this sort of situation.. A licence would at least make somewhat sure the muppet in control has at least half a clue.. I dont really like it either more money more hastle for all of us not really fair but lets be real when is life fair! Ask swampy if he likes novices on sitdowns he probably still has a sore head and back..
hey Jetworks, do they pull you over and breath test you in the big country if you are racing side by side ?
If they pull you over and suspect alcohol, then you will be breath tested. In most states, a BUI (Boating under the influence) is treated no differently than a DUI. As for surf riding, we were threatened numorous times by the cops that jumping ANY waves was considering dangerous operation of a vessel and punishable by jail. It looks like NZ is going that way also...
f#$%^^k my messages keep getting sent to hell cant type fast enough if you are intoxicated and the authorites nab you under maritime law you can be prosucuted common sence and a basic understanding of local law and rules on the water goes a long way when coast gaurd or harbour master nabs you for a chat If your ski is registered Small numbers under the rail or a big RACING number most of the time you will probably be ok People like the coastgaurd dont like ingnorance to the rules. dick webbs post sums it up best
