Seven Seas Cruising Association Asks Your Support to Defeat Florida’s Anti-Anchoring Legislation
The Concerned Cruisers’ Committee (CCC) of Seven Seas Cruising Association (SSCA) has, for many years, supported the rights of cruisers to navigate, anchor and enjoy the “Seven Seas” both in the U.S. and abroad. We have had recent success in Annapolis and in Georgia, and we are engaged in South Carolina, Washington and California.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOTE: Ignore the “Log In to Donate” and go directly to name/address form.
1/23 A good news update from MTOA Public Advocate, Mike Bodin:
But as of now (1/23/2017), SSCA, AGLCA and MTOA have raised over half of the funds from their membership for the Lobbyists. Capital Assets has agreed to represent the boating community and their office is in Tallahassee.
And this from Mike Bodin:
Mates,
As you know Florida’s legislative session has started. The Environmental Preservation and Conservation committee heard the first presentation by The Fish and Wildlife Conversation commission (FWC) on the Anchoring and Mooring Pilot Program. [See /161714] Anti-anchoring representatives were present and offered presentations.
The window is closing for us to be effective with ongoing legislation. Capitol Access team did a great job representing our anchoring concerns in 2014,and 15. Without professional representation I fear legislation will be made and passed into law prohibiting anchoring by county designation with state approval. This Florida law can be the basis of others to follow along the ICW corridor. Like cancer, a small start than it spreads and very difficult to stop.
Time is against us to raise monies for a professions lobbyist. MTOA donation survey results are very promising, AGLCA is now surveying their members and results will be available shortly.
SSCA CCC has lead the boating community in the past. Anti-Anchoring is a pain in every boater’s thoughts. Future state laws to prevent anchoring along the ICW surely can be compared to the spread of cancer. We must unite and knock it out before it gains traction.
Enclosed is a boaters rights donation form to your GoFunfMe site. Due to the tremendous time limitation now in place we request SSCA blast email the form to your membership. Within a couple of days, we will have a good idea if a lobbyist can be added to our anti-anchoring efforts.
Thank you for consideration and hopefully participation.
Mike Bodin
MTOA Public Advocate
And from America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association:
Boater’s Rights Interest Survey
Florida’s 1,000-mile intracoastal waterway has often been called the boaters’ highway. Wealthy waterside residents in conjunction with several counties want to enact anti-anchoring laws. Last year Florida’s governor signed into law temporary nighttime anti-anchoring restrictions in several counties. Boaters must unite to stop the spread of anti-anchoring legislation.
CLICK HERE FOR AGLCA’s SURVEY ON BOATERS’ RIGHTS
CLICK HERE for more information on Seven Seas Cruising Association
Comments from Cruisers (5)
Signing in
Quoted Text: [from AGLCA Forum]
“Yes, Florida residents should care. Snowbirds should care. Loopers and long distance cruisers should care. Boaters who never leave their home waters in Rhode Island or California or Maryland should care. You should care, Phil. Suppose you can no longer anchor in Mattawoman Creek or down at Tim’s Rivershore?”
I agree with your points Dave, 100%. (Actually a better analogy might have been the creeks around Annapolis–hardly anyone lives at Mattawoman or Tims.) But the reality of the anchoring problem is that we need money and we need volunteers and you just ain’t getting them from Tennessee (no offense to those in Tenn.)
That everyone should care is a valid but weak argument. Those of us who made a donation whether large or small, did so partially because it was made easy, with a few mouse clicks and a credit card. Throwing stuff at the wall hoping some of it will stick is not an effective call-to-arms.
If I was a retiree boater living in FL I would more inclined to volunteer to drive to Miami or Tallahassee and foot the hotels bills at my expense. I’m neither of those and personally, we have our hands full up here in the Northern VA. That’s why we spread the loop out over 2 years instead of doing it all at once. Plus, with a take-no-prisoners style of doing things, anything I would do might be counter-productive! Some probably look at this as “someone else’s problem” but we certainly don’t.
Will it “spread to other east coast states”? Not in our lifetimes. Florida is a unique critical mass of anchorages, waterfront homeowners and boaters.. The few causing problems are the problem. Google “anchoring laws” or “anchoring restrictions” and Florida dominates. Number two California isn’t even close.
This debate has already attracted a healthy attention to the problem. Hey, Jim Healy has signed on. We owe him big time just for his informative contributions to the forum. Him volunteering for the anchoring work is above and beyond. Jim, we are buying you and Peg dinner if we ever meet up. Others should do the same. And thanks to the others who have volunteered!
There are over 4,400 AGLCA members. If every member contributed only $25 (some did more) you would have well over $100,000. Just like crowdfunding (yes, you can laugh). That’s a healthy start instead of the 20K collected so far which is only a 20% participation rate, roughly. Just a few mouse clicks and a credit card. But if you want volunteers, make it easier like the contributions and focus on Florida. That’s where the problem is. So is the solution.
Phil Barbalace
2009 Mainship 40 Seascape
Gold Loopers 2016
Vienna, Va.
The various boating groups have come together just in time to hire a capable lobbyist (Jerry Paul) who happens to be a boater who recently moved his boat north by Tallahassee. Yesterday the Trawlers & Trawlering list owner endorsed the effort and asked members to support it.
While there have been many people involved, Mike Bodin of MTOA should be commended for staying involved, taking the lead and keeping the boating community informed.
Jim Quince
Something to keep an eye on…..
It has been reported that the chair of the Senate committee that received jurisdiction to hear the FWC Anchoring Report (and the committee most likely to originate anti-anchoring legislation) is chaired by a newly elected Senator who happens to be the daughter of the lead lobbyist who has represented the anti-anchoring interests for the last several sessions. We do not know whether she has preconceived opinions or biases on our topics. She did not display a bias in this first hearing. We must give her the benefit of the doubt and commit ourselves to working with her in a professional manner throughout this process.
Jim Quince
In the current 2017 session of the Florida Senate and House there are no anchoring bills or committee discussions on anchoring.