Is any sailor as cross as I am about having to complete the WA stinkboat licence course?

My parents owned a yacht, so I was sailing in my carrycot! I owned 2 yachts over 11 years in UK, and I've sailed them on inshore and blue water for 50odd years. But I have only owned one, and so had one registered in my name in WA, for the past 2 years, and you have to have had one registered in your name for 4 years by 2007 to get the licence without doing the course.

The licence is not necessary for boats with small outboards, presumably because of their limited speed. My current boat has a 10hp diesel auxilary that drives it at all of 6.2kn flat out, but I've got to do the basic handling course to get the ticket to keep it.

Surely we could get organised to get the same waiver for such ?

I don't agree with all the rules - But I am looking forward to the lunatics out there having no excuse for some of the stupid stuff you see on the water.

My biggest concern is that the rules seem to assume that stink boats are the only things that float - I hope they teach the full set of collision rules and don't expect me to alter course to pass them on the right.

I am not sure of the reason to impose the 6hp limit. Is it so the licenced operator isn't the only one able to operate the tender (with <6hp outboard) to get to shore and back? or so that by imposing a lower power limit that canoes, windsurfers, row boats, and surfboards don't get caught up in the mix? This is the loop hole I jump through that allows my SS22 to go anywhere without a licenced operator because the outboard is only 5hp.

Yes, it's really tough on younger sensible and well trained boaties. For me? Well, it's one more thing to find the time to do, but Scruffy's got a good point (if it works as he hopes), and what with Grumplestiltskin's way to view it, maybe I cd change my attitude and try to enjoy and get something out of it anyway. Thanks to you all.

the rst (rec skippers ticket ) is cheaper than that. around 150.
i have a friend who is a rst authorised assessor, if we get a few people together he will give a good price.
i did mine a few weeks ago and it was good fun, 30 multi choice questions , than a practical,
all in all good value, on a new 26' boat.

I got my boat licence in South Australia 1986 at 16 years of age before the car, and later completed my Masterclass 5 MED 2 STCW95 in freo .I could believe that in Wesstern Australia u didnt have to be licenced for any vessel , appart from the commercial stuff.

Considering your opperating ---with all these schoolies going to Rottness and on the river all pissed up, i couldnt believe WHAT I SAW.
May be thats why i refuse to get involved with skippering the so called party boats, you think being at the night club is dangerous try dealing with 200 plus pissed people totally oblivious to any boating dangers what so ever.


Any way at least the young crew learn the basics now. as for the revenue and anual fees thats what sux.

Came to WA 25 years ago.

At that time there was no Sunday pub trading, no petrol stations open on the weekend (or after 6), no cafes, no americas cup, a lot less people, and street lights were turned off at 11 - no need for lights as noone was out after 10.

But even back then my 16 yo brother in law had to have a boating licence to take the tinnie out on Copeton Dam.

A lot has changed in Perth since then .... there are lot more people for one thing. A licence is a small cost compared to cost of a boat.

There are too many people who lost there life on the water out of stupidity (I can quote 2 very sad occasions off the top of my head). The licence may give them a bit more knowledge or perhaps stop some of the stupid ones.