ACBS Keeps a Watchful Eye

By Gene Porter, ACBS Board of Directors
 

The ACBS Government Affairs Committee is seeking information on local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and other activities that may uniquely impact our members.
From time to time government officials in various locales initiate actions that could adversely affect the owners of antique and classic boats. The best known example perhaps is the movement in various locales to prohibit the use of two-cycle boat engines of any vintage as an environmental protection measure. Other examples include requirements to affix registration placards or special safety devices in a fashion that would compromise the boat’s historical authenticity.
 

ACBS generally takes the position that the antique and classic boats of our members are unique cultural treasures and constitute such a small fraction of the boats in use today so as to warrant a “grandfather” exemption from onerous new restrictions. To this end, ACBS is prepared to “weigh in” on behalf of its members in any jurisdiction that is considering the imposition of new restrictions - principally by writing an appropriate letter. But for this to be effective, ACBS needs to be informed as early as possible of such emerging issues.
 

It is unlikely that an ACBS letter alone will swing the outcome of most such issues. It is also important that ACBS members get personally involved in educating (lobbying} the key officials in their area when such issues arise. The ACBS Government Affairs Committee would endeavor to help members that are pursuing such educational efforts by providing talking points tailored to the issue at hand. In this regard, it is important to remember that all legislation dealing with old boats need not be onerous. For example, it would certainly be helpful to the pocketbooks of our members if each state could be convinced to establish an “historic” category for boat registration fee purposes.
 

This effort is intentionally focused on those issues that are unique to antique and classic boating. The issues of more general interest to boaters, such as operator licensing and PWC restrictions, are much better handled by the large boating organizations, rather than by diluting the limited efforts available from the ACBS.
 

ACBS members are encouraged to get personally involved in these issues on a local level and to also identify emerging government issues that you think should be of interest to the ACBS to the committee Chairman, Gene Porter: gporter@erols.com, or 77 Concord St, Nashua, NH 03064.