Florida Anchoring Law - HB481 update

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Whose satellite(s) will provide this intel?

I sure as heck don't know but can guess the satellites the US Govt controls have bigger fish to fry and commercial ones probably would cost a pretty penny for regular service. It might be around the corner, but someone has got to show the numbers before I think it could happen soon.

A drone flying over targeted areas might be the better option. Still probably not in anyone's budget any more than funding dedicated boat patrols to do the same.

But the suggested numbering is a method that many commercial fisherman are required to do Someone would probably have to do a quick study of what out of all the options are even viable. Not sure my buddy is still doing them, he is in Washington, DC (retired USCG) that does those kinds of studies for the Govt as a retirement side gig. Not cheap but his reports get serious attention there so Florida should be easy too.

The bottom line is always money and the squeaky wheel theory. This is an important topic with many of us... but in the big scheme of things?

Maybe a program like neighborhood watch should be set up.... anchorage watch. Certified members could produce evidence to a point person in one or several agencies that could start the enforcement/legal process. It's usually field work that costs (like satellite use and it's intel logging), so maybe something like deputized volunteers could pick up the slack.

The USCG swears by the USCGAUX, maybe local/state governments could mimic. The system always isn't perfect, but overall some good is done.
A quick search finds this:
  • Google Earth / Google Maps (Satellite View)
    • You can view high-resolution satellite images of anchorages in Monroe County, Florida.
    • Use the historical imagery feature in Google Earth to see past views.
  • NOAA Marine Charts & Satellite Imagery
    • NOAA’s CoastWatch provides near-real-time satellite images of coastal areas.
  • Sentinel Hub (European Space Agency)
    • Offers free satellite imagery, but resolution may not be high enough for individual boats.

2. Paid High-Resolution Satellite Services:


  • Maxar (formerly DigitalGlobe) – Provides commercial, high-resolution satellite images.
  • Airbus OneAtlas – Offers satellite imagery on demand.
  • Planet Labs – Delivers daily high-resolution images of specific locations.
 
Net searches are easy these days. May try an AI tool see if the satellite enforcement idea is practical.... then post that.

or

Soon as you post a cost for effective enforcement by satellite and some resolution photos capable of seeing numbers on some cluttered deck boat I will be impressed. I looked up a few and didn't seem user friendly enough to waste my Saturday. Plus if it were easy, everyone would be doing it (basic rule of thumb in life).
 
Net searches are easy these days. May try an AI tool see if the satellite enforcement idea is practical.... then post that.

or

Soon as you post a cost for effective enforcement by satellite and some resolution photos capable of seeing numbers on some cluttered deck boat I will be impressed. I looked up a few and didn't seem user friendly enough to waste my Saturday. Plus if it were easy, everyone would be doing it (basic rule of thumb in life).
This was an AI search. Is there anything else worthwhile?
 
This was an AI search. Is there anything else worthwhile?
I was hoping to see if AI could find a similar program or do a rough cost analysis.

But a list of maybes doesn't really answer my question in para #2 in post #60. The probable reasons why nothing really gets done or hasn't slowed the progression of the issue for decades is no one funds it or dedicates the manpower. So adding money and manpower requirements is like adding new laws that just give it all a newer twist.

When I was active, for certain programs to be considered, someone had to offer up what was called an "offsetting resource". Otherwise the program had to become a new budget item or hiring concern. The inertia usually had to come from top down, not the bottom up like we all would like to see.

The biggest way around manpower, if legal, is to use volunteers and private donations. One year my old assistance tow boss decided to use a small grant to clean up some derelicts in Cape May, NJ Harbor. The end cost was way more than the grant money but he figured if the company didn't take a profit and nothing to expensive happen to any equipment, the offsetting good publicity would be worth it. I can't swear to all, but it's the best I recollect.
 
Southern Boating Podcast on HB481. The two guys are repetitive but they make a good point (albeit in 30-mins vs 10).

BTW - they mention running an article recently "explaining how bad HB481 is") Was written by Wally Moran, the fellow highlighted in recent Loose Cannon articles about his unsavory background.


Peter
 
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Is there pumpout stations, are they free? The liveaboard, flush overboard got me thinking why not mandatory pumpout proof within 30 days. The boat would have to travel to/from (proves it can move), a paid receipt with date for verifcation. Like the old days get the ticket punched on random inspection so it cannot be used by more than one person.
Never mind, I already found a way around that.
 
Is there pumpout stations, are they free? The liveaboard, flush overboard got me thinking why not mandatory pumpout proof within 30 days. The boat would have to travel to/from (proves it can move), a paid receipt with date for verifcation. Like the old days get the ticket punched on random inspection so it cannot be used by more than one person.
Never mind, I already found a way around that.
Ft Pierce Florida City Government had something in the press not too long ago about the pumpout section of a new law that had many of the aspects you mention. Have not heard more if it ever went into effect or not.

One issue with the law and using some time frames is that it is not fair all around. Some vessels have extra large holding tanks and limited use f onboard facilities. Others have MSD for on board treatment and can dump overboard except in no discharge or other regulated zones. Though your 30 day timeframe sounds more reasonable than many I have heard before.

Then there's the somewhat true statement that unless a reservation system in place, getting to a pump out facility in working order is not as easy as it sounds so meeting some deadlines could be argued without a reasonable extra time allowance.

Most pump outs I have experienced are not free.
 
Personally as one who read of this problem back when they lived elsewhere and who now has been in Florida for pretty much 8 years:

Most of you really don't get it.
 
Does anyone?

Yeah, I agree many don't get it including people who live in Florida.

If one gets the actual on the water problem, do they get the enforcement problem?
If they get both of those, do they get the legal/legislative problem?

Do boaters get non-boater viewpoints? Do non-long term cruisers get the snowbird viewpoint?

Heck these two anchoring laws threads already have some having a hard time seeing how complex a single law is to cover the separate groups of boats that are creating issues with other boaters. Even then there are 2 sides to see from.

One issue with derelicts was a newsworthy subject probably long before I started experiencing it back in the late '70s. Home steading by local workers living on almost wrecks was there too. But that has progressed and now there are seasonal boaters who come and anchor up in prime anchorages for months. It really only became an issue as the population of all groups exploded in addition to the growth of full time cruisers and locals using or trying to use the same anchorages.

Pick any time frame and any perspective of anything above and it's only one of many ways to look at the issues. Tough to get a law that all can agree on, legislate and enforce.
 
Florida has 8436 miles of tidal coastline and 11,000 miles of canals. It has a 12 month a year boating season. Nothing else compares.
 
HERE is a local problem.

Plans to use a renovated cruise ship to house more than 600 workers as they build a liquefied natural gas facility near Squamish, B.C., have been voted down by the local council.
NIMBY everywhere. No opposition to the LNG plant but hey, park a big boat and block our view, NO WAY. Yet there is no accomodations on land.
 
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