Conference wahoo::fishing

 Consult the August issue of Saltwater Sportsman for more grisly details. They
tried for years to get this through but it was defeated due to heavy lobbying.
Last year they finally passed it during a closed door session in the middle of
the night.

 Call your congressmen and complain if you don't think it's fair that fishermen
are expected to pony up more money to put into the general fund. we won't see
a penny of this money; indeed, they will probably both cut the budget for
the Coast Guard etc AND raise the "fees" next year.

 We're getting completely hosed.

 the Doctah

    
    I just got off the phone with the USCG depot here on Lake Champlain
    and they tell me they are trying to get away from the "user fee" label
    as it incinuates (sp) the USCG is getting the money which, apparently
    they are not. They're trying to call it a FVRF (Federal Vehicle
    Registration Fee). The state of Vermont tried to dip into our pockets
    two years ago with the same thing and thanks to many of us who camped
    out at a meeting at our statehouse we managed to at least make them
    think about what they were doing. So far we've escaped that one for a
    while. We tried to petition against the Federal one also, but our
    illustrious elected officials seemed to forget who put them into
    office. Frankly, my pockets are about empty. Maybe I should have stayed
    with just my 14' aluminum duckboat instead of going to my current 22'
    Offshore. I really appreciate your sending out the message about this
    as I haven't seen anything about it in a while and the last time I
    talked with the CG, they said they hadn't heard one way or the other.
     
            Thanks again
    
              Silver King

    I noticed that the size of boats for the fee is 16 ' and up. Does this
    mean us little guys 14' with 50 horse mercury luck out? Also what about
    motorless boats like my canoe?

    	i called the first phone number and got a recording with most of
    the info. I could of waited and talked to a real person but I like
    getting bad news from recordings ( they don't get mad when you swear
    at them ). The recording state 16' with canoes and jon boats exempt.
    
    	My brother inlaw called and waited for a real person and he said his
    boat was exempt because his boat is 16' and they weren't really starting
    until 16'2". I'm wondering who is going to enforce this because I don't
    see why the CG would go around checking if their not getting anything
    from the fines.
    
    	I was cruising around Boston harbor between Deer Island and Hull
    Gut and there were a lot of boats out there which at an avreage of $30
    a decal must look pretty good to the politicians.
    
    
    	Dave C.
    

    
       I saw something in our local paper in Vermont that there is an
    attempt being made to get the bill repealed. Of course we'll all get
    our money back.......right? The whole whole thing stinks politician and
    they're the ones that are going to get a piece of my mind.
    
           John
    

    O.K., now let me get this straight:
    
       It's a new law which hasn't been widely advertised, has no way
       of being enforced, and ya gotta send away for the form to get
       the sticker????
    
       Whot the hell, who's going to contest THAT?  They've done such
       a nice JOB of it!
    
       I wonder what UNCLE SAM's going to do when people start turning
       over the keys to $150 junker's instead of paying the fines?  "Here
       take the BOAT you %^&$^%$&*^*)&^(&%$6 tax-man!"
    
       I checked with the local Mass. Marine Registration Dept. and was
       told "they'd seen nothing official about referring people, nor even
       INFORMING people of the requirement", but they were doing it any-w
       way.  
    
    
       HEY....ATABOY CONGRESS!  Gives 'em something to collect speech money
       about next year!@%^$%^$%^&
    
       Dick
    

    	I called the 800 numbers. The first was the recording. I thought
    I heard it say they aren't planning on enforcing it till Sept 1. I
    imagine they know virtually no one will have it paid in time. 
    	Anyway I called the second number and paid the tax with my Visa
    card. I was planning on avoiding the CG for the rest of the season but
    they got this one Whaler with twin 225 Yamahas on it. I don't think I
    could outrun that one.   ;^)

    The tile of this topic refers to a 'salt water use' but the lake
    champlain comments lead me to believe that this is proposed to cover 
    inland waters as well??
    
    I would make no plans of paying such a fee unless notified officially
    from the proper authorities.
    
    Additionally, before doing so, I'd measure my "16 foot" hull it be sure 
    it's 16' as documented - if wound up being 15'11.5", I'd pass on the tax.
    
    -donmac
    

    The recording from the fed's clearly stated "...boats used on any/all
    navigable waterways must pay this fee".
     
    Sorry bout that!
    
    Dick
    

    
    
    	Dick.......OK....now what is the definition of navigable.
    
    	Gitzit'

    
      DonMac,
    
           It is set up for everyone. The only reason I've kept a watchful
    eye on it is that we have a Coast guard depot here on Lake Champlain
    and although they say they don't get any money from it, they're the
    ones that will be enforcing it. Don't know who will enforce it on
    smaller bodies of water. Should be interesting to see what results from
    all of this. My first move is to see our my illustrious politicians
    voted on it.I plan on having my stickers on before I go over to Oak
    Orchard Creek on Lake Ontario August 18th.
    
         John
    
    

re: .8

I'm with you, DonMac, on being officially notified. I wouldn't know anything
about this fee if I didn't read notes.

JC

    Hi,
       this idea of screwing more cash out of the poor fisherman, is not
    heard of over here in the UK......YET?.
    
    May I suggest you registar your boats with me under the flag of
    convienience......???
    
    My sympathys
                Colin.

 The "user fee" applies to boats which operate on waterways under the 
jurisdiction  of the Coast guard. So even if there isn't a coast guard station
within miles, if it's in their jurisdiction, you've gotta pay.

 The Doctah

    
     	A friend of mine spoke to a Coast Gaurd station in Rhode Island and
    was told that you should have your sticker by 7-31 but that August
    would be a freebee and September would be a warning month ( no fines
    just written warnings ). So if you want to chance it you can probably
    get away without a fine until Oct 1st. he said with all the grumbling
    about this "fee" he was going to wait until the last minute to get his
    in case it got repealed. He didn't want to have to try and get his money
    back from Uncle Sam.
    
    	Would navigable waters be any water the has channel markers or
    bouys? I thought of salt water because most of the lakes and ponds I
    fish don't have any kind markers but I know some of the big ones do.
    
    	Don Mac. What do you consider offical notice?
    
    	Dave C.
    

I'm suprised everyone is just hearing about this! It's
been a strong topic of discussion here for some six
months. Sorry, I should have posted it here for all of
you to see.

As I understand it, "Navigable Waters of the U.S." means
any waterway within the territory of the U.S. that will
provide for interstate passage. Ie, the Ocean, Erie
Canal, Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Etc. This is where
the new law will be enforced.

On the other hand, there are "Sole State Waters" which
do NOT provide interstate passage, and are not 
considered subject to the new law. Places like Lake
Placid, Canandaigua Lake and Honeoye Lake here in NY
would be exempt.

However, if you go on ANY of the "Navigable Waters", 
you need the sticker.

The Officer in Charge of CG Station Rochester, tells
me he will issue warnings as of 1 September, and 
tickets as of 1 October. (1991)

There is one other exception to the law, "Operational
Facilities" of the USCG Auxiliary. These are the people
who, as volunteers, assist the CG with search and
rescue, as well as safety patrols on the water. (I'm 
one of them) (plus we teach safe boating, do courtesy
marine exams, and have a bunch of fun)

Soooooooooooo, you might want to consider joining !!!

Anyone need info, send me a note !!!!!!!!!

Regards,
Don

    
        Don,
    
         Well, Mr. Frasch, nice to know you're still alive. You could send
    me some of that info. if you wanted, not that I'm looking for an excuse
    to get out of the sticker. Just another excuse to be on the water doing
    what I like to do.
         So I probably won't get my sticker before I go over to Oak Orchard
    Aug. 18th for the kings.
         I've written letters to my congressmen here asking how they voted
    on this and also asking them to vote to repeal. Going to see if I can
    get to see any of them and stir it up even more.
    
           John

    I picked up a copy of the flyer called "U.S. recrwational Vessel Fee
    Explained" at the marina where I keep my boat in Maine. They put a copy
    on every boat the has a slip in their marina last week. It's for boats
    which are over 16 foot (16 footers are exempt). Manually power vessels
    such as canoes,kayaks and row boats are exempt as well as life boats
    and tenders which are power by less than 10 hp engines. Unpowered
    barges and house boat are also exempt. This tax is for the use of
    waters that are territorial seas, internal waters subject to tidal
    influence and internal waters which can be traveled via
    canals,locks,connecting waters and the like. John Phelps, it looks like
    Lake Champlain applies since you can get to the St. Lawrence River. The
    flyer also mentions Lake of the Woors (MN), Lake Roosevelt (WA), Lake
    Tahoe (CA,NV) and Lake Havasau (AZ,CA) as well as the Colorado River
    between Parker Dam and Davis Dam.
    
    I can make some copies if people want them. Send me mail on
    Pipper::Jdrew. I don't want to capy and send out 100's of these so if
    you can do some sort of site clearing house it would be helpful.
    Jim

In Mass a few months ago there was an article in the Worcester T&G.
It stated only the coast ways and the Conn River as CG controled waters,
and would require a sticker.  You can't get there from here on the CONN river.
Two dams block ocean access.  Do we still need a sticker?


Bob

Bob,

Jim Drew in .18 (?) has the right info/pamphlet. If you
can navigate to the Sea from where you are by locks,
canals, rivers, or any other means "during most of the
boating season" ---- you need the sticker!

I'm not familiar with the Conn. River, so I'd suggest
you call the C.G. resbonsible for that area to be sure.
If you screw up, it can cost you up to $5,000 in fines.

Don

P.S. The copy I have is from the Commander, 9th CG
District out of Cleveland. As Jim offered, anyone needs
it, send me your address (mail stop). It's quite long
to enter fully here.

    
      Yes, Lake Champlain is a prime target for this "fee" because of
    easy access to the St. Lawrence as well as the Hudson River on the
    southern end of the lake.
      One other note is that our U.S. Representative to the House,according
    to our local paper, voted in favor of repealing this "fee". Writing
    letters did help in this case.
    
           John

	The wars not over but we won the first battle.

	I just read in the Boston Globe that the senate repealed the water
	fee bill. The article was in the front page section ( not on the front
	page ) and also stated the senate voted to try and add the fee to a 
	coast guard bill they are trying to pass. It sounds like all the letters
	and protests were listened to but they want to get our money any way
	they can.

	I am waiting to hear from anyone who paid the fee and tries to get their
	money back. How long did it take, what was the procedure,etc.

	I haven't heard anything about the Coast Guard bill so if anyone has any 
	info on this bill maybe they can post it here.  

Good news on the repeal!!!! The original intent of the
bill was to provide funding to the C.G. for support of
recreational boaters by the boaters themselves. That
seems fair, but it ended up that the money went into the
US General Fund!

I'm sure we will end up paying something, but to whom,
and what does that mean as far as CG support goes? Does
this mean if we pay the fee we can insist on a CG or
Auxiliary tow if we need it? (they do it for free) Or,
will we still be subject to some commercial towing
outfit whacking us for $100 or more to get back to port?

I don't have a problem with a fee IF it results in a
service.

Any comments??????

Don