Booze underway

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by dannc

In the US a Blood Alcohol Content of .08 is legally drunk. Used to be .10. How much one can drink before being over the limit is based on weight. The less one weighs, the fewer drinks one needs to hit .08.




Later,
Dan

Unless you have a USCG captain’s license or other merchant mariner certificate. If you as a licensed mariner are on the boat, and there is an accident of ANY kind, the CG is required to give you a test for BAC with 2 hours. A level of 0.04% will result in you losing your license. You don’t have to be the Captain of the day, or even on watch at the time, just part of the crew.

In many US state having a beer in your hand while driving the boat is a crime, just as it would be if you were driving on the road and it treated the same way. If you think it is hard getting insurance now, try it with a BUI on your record. You might think such a rule is stupid, but it’s still the law.

If you must drink every day, you can’t sail with me. It’s not a character judgement, is just me being safe and keeping my crew safe. I have a drink almost every day at anchor. But never underway.

[nextis12]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

if you can not self control your drinking, which is not the same as not drinking, while underway on a boat should you be allowed to boat? or drive? or do anything?

This… drink responsibly or don’t drink.

A beer while fishing or relaxing off watch and wine during dinner, absolutely allowed.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Unless you have a USCG captain’s license or other merchant mariner certificate. If you as a licensed mariner are on the boat, and there is an accident of ANY kind, the CG is required to give you a test for BAC with 2 hours. A level of 0.04% will result in you losing your license. You don’t have to be the Captain of the day, or even on watch at the time, just part of the crew.

In many US state having a beer in your hand while driving the boat is a crime, just as it would be if you were driving on the road and it treated the same way. If you think it is hard getting insurance now, try it with a BUI on your record. You might think such a rule is stupid, but it’s still the law.

If you must drink every day, you can’t sail with me. It’s not a character judgement, is just me being safe and keeping my crew safe. I have a drink almost every day at anchor. But never underway.

You is a dangerous word. Nowhere in my post did I say that I drink underway or on a boat. Kinda rude to quote someone and imply something that was not said.

Getting a citation for an open container is vastly different than having a BUI/DUI charge in my state, and I suspect, most states.

Later,
Dan

[DirtPete]

Seems all the boats we consistently beat have all the silly crew rules. We drink, we are responsible and we have legitimate chemistry and trust. I think that is the largest margin of safety that can be built in.

If you can't trust a crew members to act like adults, then maybe sail with children.

I do agree moderation is key.

[nextis12]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

Unless you have a USCG captain’s license or other merchant mariner certificate. If you as a licensed mariner are on the boat, and there is an accident of ANY kind, the CG is required to give you a test for BAC with 2 hours. A level of 0.04% will result in you losing your license. You don’t have to be the Captain of the day, or even on watch at the time, just part of the crew.



In many US state having a beer in your hand while driving the boat is a crime, just as it would be if you were driving on the road and it treated the same way. If you think it is hard getting insurance now, try it with a BUI on your record. You might think such a rule is stupid, but it’s still the law.



If you must drink every day, you can’t sail with me. It’s not a character judgement, is just me being safe and keeping my crew safe. I have a drink almost every day at anchor. But never underway.

How about if I would like (rather than must) to drink everyday. What if a drink at sunset is something I really enjoy. What if there is a good cook (or bad) on board and that meal calls for a glass of wine. What if it’s hot day, pulling in a fish and cold beer just hits the spot.

I would not hit .04 level and I would not have a drink in my hand while driving.

I guess I should be thankful you hardcore folks won’t let me sail with you.

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by nextis12

How about if I would like (rather than must) to drink everyday. What if a drink at sunset is something I really enjoy. What if there is a good cook (or bad) on board and that meal calls for a glass of wine. What if it’s hot day, pulling in a fish and cold beer just hits the spot.

I would not hit .04 level and I would not have a drink in my hand while driving.

I guess I should be thankful you hardcore folks won’t let me sail with you.

There are boats to accommodate all tastes and levels of risk tolerance. Mine is different than yours. That’s ok, I’m not trying to change you. You shouldn’t take my boat’s rules so personally.

[brazenarticle]

Originally Posted by Benz

I was shocked to discover recently that some sailors of not insignificant experience have a habit of drinking while on passage, even in snotty weather and shorthanded.

This seems a lot like Captain Renault is "Casablanca" being shocked that gambling was going on in a casino.
If the concept of some sailor drinking on passage shocks anyone on this forum I dare not bring up the fact some yacht clubs no longer insist on wearing "whites" on weekends and there is a guy somewhere in the North Atlantic still peeing over the rail instead of bottling it for proper disposal in a licensed facility onshore.

[wholybee]

I suspect those that don't keep a boat dry under passage have either never had to deal with a serious alcoholic, or they themselves might be one.

I have had friends die of alcohol abuse. I have had to fight with drunk friends to keep them alive. I have taken friends to the hospital drunk and almost dead. I have had to endure living with a friend that day after day was a real hazard to themselves and everyone around them. And all of that happened on land.

It is too easy to say, "Just don't drink too much, a beer or glass of wine with dinner is fine." I know for me I can handle that. But if you have an alcoholic on board, and you might not know they are an alcoholic until it's too late, you just gave them permission to hide alcohol in their bag or berth. You gave them permission to have a bottle of rum instead of a beer.

And when you find out this is happening days away from the nearest port, there isn't anything you can do about it. You have a serious dangerous issue that was easy to prevent by just not allowing alcohol.

I know that most people are not that level of alcoholic. I know most people can safely drink a beer or glass of wine with dinner. I also know that most people have no problem with a rule that says no alcohol for a couple weeks. And some people are secretly alcoholics. So that is why I keep a dry boat under passage.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by dannc

I love beer. Unfortunately beer has calories and makes weight loss more difficult. I have worked around this for decades but I don't drink sodas, which I find disgusting, and one can only drink so much water before wanting something else.

Talking to a family member and they suggested alcohol free beer. I have tried alcohol free Heineken, Sam Adams, and even Guinness Stout! It was all surprisingly good, though the Sam Adams does have a bit of alcohol. There is a bit of a different taste in the Heineken and Guinness, but if they were not trying to replicate a known beer, I don't think one would notice.

Funny thing is, the alcohol free beers are coded so that I am still carded for drinking age...

Later,
Dan

Alcohol free beers are the worst.......

they should take them off the market.

[thomm225]

So as 16-19 year olds before we went out fishing, we'd loaded up with beer and bait and maybe a jug of water.

Then we'd cruised out into the Chesapeake Bay and fished sometimes water skiing after.

Sometimes we fished as far out as Tangier which is about 15 miles offshore.

We were on 14' boats most of the time.

No phone. No radio. Not enough PFD's but plenty of beer!!!!

If we ran out of beer and weren't catching any fish, sometimes we'd come back in, put the boat on the trailer and go over to the Seaside (Atlantic Ocean side) getting more beer on the way and then fish that side

On top of that, we were self taught. Our parents didn't own boats, care about fishing, skiing, and exploring the Barrier Islands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Barrier_Islands

https://virginiawatertrails.org/ceda...sitation-tips/

This must be the teetotaler and no sex until after marriage website which I should have known from all the posts on here I have read

Maybe your great- grandmothers were involved in the Temperance Movement back in the day.

Also as a 6-7 year old, I remember being allowed to drive the boat (just above idle) , a 16' Whirlwind, about 10 miles to the beach as the parents sat in back, drank Ballentine beer, laughed a lot and enjoyed the ride.

This on Bay Side

[AKA-None]

Wow
So don’t go looking at old photos of the trans superior race

You’ll be scarred for life

[brazenarticle]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Alcohol free beers are the worst.......
they should take them off the market.

This is the same issue I have with the original "poll" - I don't care for "they" (whoever they are) making any rules for me.
In the last couple years many of the N/A beers are pretty good. The brewers ain't stupid, there is a huge market and they are trying to satisfy that.
If you want a kosher boat, halal boat, vegan boat, SPF free boat, nudist boat, AA boat or whatever it matters not to me.
Please don't be shocked when I ignore internet rules or polls whatever they might be.

[Bowdrie]

Originally Posted by brazenarticle

This seems a lot like Captain Renault is "Casablanca" being shocked that gambling was going on in a casino.

"Round up the usual suspects".
That would probably those who sail cutters, for they can get "Three sheets to the wind", whilst those with sloops can only get two sheets to the wind.
The poor unfortunates with multi-mast rigs are probably beyond redemption.

Which reminds me to get my white linen suit pressed for opening day and also get the Panama hat cleaned.

[nextis12]

Originally Posted by nextis12

How about if I would like (rather than must) to drink everyday. What if a drink at sunset is something I really enjoy. What if there is a good cook (or bad) on board and that meal calls for a glass of wine. What if it’s hot day, pulling in a fish and cold beer just hits the spot.

I would not hit .04 level and I would not have a drink in my hand while driving.

I guess I should be thankful you hardcore folks won’t let me sail with you.

Nothing personal taken, your boat your rules. I was attempting to illustrate, in response to the positions that alcohol is never acceptable on a passage and the referencing of coast guard rules to support that position, that in fact a few drinks can add to the trip and not jeopardize safety or result in one putting their license at risk.

Do you know if there are coast guard rules about marijuana?

[desodave]

There's no drinking or smoking on our boat while it is underway. In BC it's in the same category as drinking while driving a car... illegal. At anchor or on the dock a beer or two's ok or we often split a bottle of wine with dinner. But the captain (me) has to remember I'm responsible for the boat so moderation is important, especially at anchor. One beer on a hot day can produce enough brain fog to be dangerous imo.