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Boat Drivers Wanted

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13 ft hamant 520
IMG_7538
family_011
bigbuck2
Thrills & Kills Outdoors
COTTON SALE AT WALGREENS
No experience needed.................real safe operation. 2 Engines 20 passengers, and a guy with a valid drivers license!
 
I was not going to say something, but after thinking about it, I decided I would.

I would be really spooky about any outfit that would hire anyone that didn't have any airboating experience and only a driver's license to make him a charter captain of an airboat.

In fact, the first thing it brings to mind is the accident in Louisiana that killed those people several months ago.

Can you imagine, fishing the flats, giving a tour, whatever, and a thunderhead rolls up quickly. As the lightning starts popping the answer is to get in quickly, so the HIGHLY QUALIFIED captain is running just a little faster than normal. Come around the corner and there is a surprise, something in the channel you don't want to hit (a boat, a tree moved by tides, whatever) and he over reacts. Wham, at full throttle the boat takes out the trees in the swamp, in the mangroves, whereever.
 
marshmaster pat":1oixg08a said:
I was not going to say something, but after thinking about it, I decided I would.

I would be really spooky about any outfit that would hire anyone that didn't have any airboating experience and only a driver's license to make him a charter captain of an airboat.

In fact, the first thing it brings to mind is the accident in Louisiana that killed those people several months ago.

Can you imagine, fishing the flats, giving a tour, whatever, and a thunderhead rolls up quickly. As the lightning starts popping the answer is to get in quickly, so the HIGHLY QUALIFIED captain is running just a little faster than normal. Come around the corner and there is a surprise, something in the channel you don't want to hit (a boat, a tree moved by tides, whatever) and he over reacts. Wham, at full throttle the boat takes out the trees in the swamp, in the mangroves, whereever.
Click to expand...

See what youv'e done? Now I'm sceeeered to even drive my boat! But you are absolutely right 100% . Still scarey reading what you wrote. :shock: Later, Cajun
 
While we all have to learn & learning means making mistakes, is it really a good idea to learn with 20 plump, non buoyant tourists on an airboat? Is this a good thing for our sport? Wait till the office of Happy Tourist Safety sees this............
Just my opinion...............
 
After reading the whole article I get the impression that the message was intended for regular boat captains that might take an interests in airboats. If that is so, at least there is some experience there. Regardless, it is a bad choice of words and certainly does not positively promote Sawgrass Recreation.
 
The US Coast Guard would love to hear if these people dont have a captains license. Any vessel taking passengers for hire MUST have a current captains license.
The experience you gain on the water is helpful but after 20+ years as a licensed captain I sure was shocked at the differences it takes to run an airboat. It is a totally different animal and takes some serious training/experience.
 
FYI:

We have gone round & round with F&G on this. In Florida, G&F does not enforce the commercial OUPV (Captain's Lic) on non Federal navigable waters when you are doing a charter for hire.
Additionally, they are very lax (if they enforce at all or selectively enforce) charters on Federal fresh waters such as St. Johns, Lake O & the Kissimmee chain.
There is a number of charter activity in these areas & G&F is sleeping. They also offer links to non licensed folks on their outfitters list.
Just like the government..............
 
Maybe they have a government contract and have a government exemption. We all know the government doesn't have to follow the same laws and rules the rest of us do.
 
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