Is it possible that a beer or two with lunch clouded this guy's decision making ability?
From the quoted article no! Ron and I doubt the police would ticket only, if booze was suspected in this case.
This type of "accident" is a weekly if not a daily event over any weekend here rite beside me.
For what ever reason folk seem to be ever so comfortable with electronic control , including professional mariners here on the coast from what I actually see, witness, and deal with. Not that electronics are the issue IMO but contribute to a false scents of control or something.
Even BC ferries seems to have been caught up in that forgetting to actually look out the window deal. Queen of the north .
Even if the guy had a glass of wine at lunch it be just part of the contribution to this.
My point is its just not that simple , its not just one answer fits all like must have bin booze.
I pulled a boat out from under the bridge beside me a couple of weeks ago after they had made very hard contact with a couple of supports. Third time I have done so with this guy. However this time there was six kids on the bow of the 30 something bubble boat, and zero PFDs on any of the kids. 5 years of age to 12 maybe. Or I would have just sat back and taken f'n pictures. The 12 or so year old boy had more of a skill set than any of the "grown" ups on the vessel.
I was not a happy camper , not that I am perfect.
Lack of knowledge along with an unwilling attitude to learn and or listen IMO is the largest single contributor to these events. I mean god forbid ya listen to the grumpyoldfishboatguy that's running his boat around savin your ass. Please when I get ya out from under don't run me down !
Sorry for the rant but this year has been a very long "boating season" and I aint feeling all that warm and fuzzy with regards to many of my fellow users of our shared water ways. Commercial , pleasure , enforcement and CCG.
Man am I getting grumpy. Safety check ? really WTF ! Talk about a bit late.