The Opening Day of boating season is officially two months from today. On May 1, 2010, hundreds of boats will make their way through the Ship Canal to the 90th annual Opening Day parade that goes through the Montlake Cut.
Before operating a boat (with 15 horsepower or greater) the Seattle Police Department wants to remind you to take the boater safety education course. The Boater Education Card is required for everyone born after January 1, 1955. Members of the SPD Harbor Patrol Unit will be conducting free classes at the Training Center (2203 Airport Way S, Building C, classroom 1) on the following dates:
* March 13, 2010 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
* April 3, 2010 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
* April 17, 2010 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
* May 8, 2010 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
* May 22, 2010 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
To sign up for the course, contact Katie Davis at the Seattle Police Harbor Patrol. Phone: 206-684-4071 Email: Katie.Davis@seattle.gov
Opening day is for the wussies of Seattle. The REAL Seattle boaters know that the season never closes. Any day without snow on the docks and some breeze is fine with me. You can see a lot more wild life in the off season and it's pretty awesome having Puget Sound to yourself. :)
Honestly, considering that “Seattle has more boats per capita than any other major city in the US.”, I'm surprised that we don't have a Marine Drivers License requirement like other states. Seems like there are a lot of basic rules that they would want to discuss, Fishing and Crabbing rules, Locks, State Wildlife rules, Cold water safety rules. Shipping and Ferry traffic safety rules. etc etc…
Capitalist Pigs!!!
Don't you know there are homeless in the streets and people are struggling with no health care and the world is warming up like an english muffin in a toaster and all you can do is play on your boat! A boat no doubt made by child labor in the middle of some shrinking rain forest in some third world hell hole for pennies a year just so you can bob around the Puget Sound and flaunt your wealth. Oh the humanity! Wait till Dear Leader Obama hears about this! He'll tax you to within an inch of your life and show you that the days of BushHitler are gone and the era of HopeandChange and TaxandTax and Depression are hear! The One will deal with this.
In the meantime check out the babe on the bayliner to port!
Opening day simply a tradition. Rest assured, many of the people you see participating in opening day activities have been boating all winter. Feel free to stay home that day, but just don't call the UW Men's Varsity 8 a bunch of wussies – you may regret that!
Hey Swedes,
Everyone should have a boater education card. But to clarify, only boaters under 30 “must” have the card this year. Next year it's 35, then 40….etc. Leaders in Olympia didn't have the political spine to just force it on all us “older boaters” in one year. Wimps. I'm 51, and already have the card.
I'm not finished read this yet, but it's so fabulous 'n I'll back again when I was finished my job :D