Boaters stranded or in distress

[Freedom]

I have read some posts lately about people that have been stranded on the water and other boaters just passing them by and not providing assistance.

This has bother me, not only because people would do something like that, but also because I have always thought there was some kind of an International Maritime Law that said you must provide assistance to another vessel in distress.

So I did a little reading about Canadian Maritime Law, and found that there are laws that stipulate that you are obligated to render assistance at sea, with fines of $1,000,000 and imprisonment of 18 months.

Does anyone know if there are similar laws in Canada and the US that apply to the Great Lakes or other fresh water lakes?

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

Thats why there are Marine radios, Orange seat cushion, orange flags, I have seen people stranded but didn't know they were stranded either, they weren't trying to hail any one either.

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

In true distress I will render aid but I am not into towing drunkards who have poorly kept equipment all over the place, they should get Sea Tow and/or Tow Boats US, cal them on their vhf (or cell if in range of a tower) and get a tow by a pro crew and not ruin my day or take my time.

But, in distress, possible danger, sickness, I will help, just plain dumb and broke, call the tow company. I came to this after towing the same person twice and then on the third time said no and called the tow company who charged something like 1200 dollars for the 6 mile tow. I never saw those people again, I think they decided boating was not their sport.

Keep your equipment up, have tow insurance and a vhf and proper signal equipment.

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

I surely would stop for someone in distress... (what comes around goes around), but I agree with highN'dry about towing people...

I will if its a short distance, and not a great inconvenience to myself.

I have even given a couple gallons of gas out to help some folks, but again, don't make it a regular habit...

If they don't have a radio or other means of obtaining help, I will make an effort to get a call in for them.

I think for the most part, people on the water in boats, are a different "community" than most, and in general are nice, and will offer help if they can.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

Been on both ends of that, guy died right beside my boat so I pulled him 2-3 miles up river, wasn't too bad once I stopped and told him he still had to steer the boat.

It was a pontoon and as soon as we I hooked him up he went about chatting with the other people on the boat and it was wondering all over the river.

Mine quit one night and we were trolling back to the launch 3 miles up river(UGH), it is 12:30 at night so I thought we were screwed but low and behold here comes a boat.

When he got close I yelled "Hey can you pull me to the hospital?", The launch is at a park by a hospital, he yalls back "you need to go to the hospital?'' I say ya, and he turns around and gasses it.

Couldn't believe it, I am glad I wasn't hurt or anything, we mad eit eventually but a pull would have been nice.

I believe in karma and I like to have a little bit in the karma bank all the time so if someone needs help I will do what I can.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

agree seatow is a nice item to have. but by law, you are required to render assistance, without endangering yourselves. if they are drunk. call the police, marine patrol, coast guard to assist them. but you need to stand by, until help gets there. atleast get them to throw out the anchor if the are drifting.

 

[wellsc1]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

I've been towed twice. ONe time, USCG Aux. was inspecting boats at the ramp. I passed, even thought the motor wouldn't run, but he person that towed me didn't. We both got a chuckle out of that.

I've pulled a boat off a shallow area around midnight just offshore and also rendered assistance jumping another's boat battery to get their engine started and back to shore about 12 miles.

Then there's the dummy that ran out of gas. He had a spare tank of gas but no oil. I pulled over to give him my spare bottle. ...no charge.

Yeah, "what goes around, comes around."

Oh, and there's the time I towed my brother in-law when his engine blew.

The same should be practiced for motorcyles broken down along side the road.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

absolutely need to help--but on the other hand they need to ask for help--have passed by a boat and throwed up a hand and received the same only to see them being towed shortly thereafter--no flags--no orange--no arm waving no horn--i felt bad for them but no way of knowing

 

[45Auto]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

Sounds like US law isn't quite as strict as Canadian law.

US Law concerning assistance at sea:

46 U.S.C. Sec. 2304. Duty to provide assistance at sea

(a) A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render assistance to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger to the master's or individual's vessel or individuals on board.

(b) A master or individual violating this section shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

46 U.S.C. Sec. 2304. Duty to provide assistance at sea

(a) A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render assistance to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger to the master's or individual's vessel or individuals on board.

The operative word in both the US and Canadian law is "in danger of being lost".

If you're "in danger of being lost" you?re also in danger of being ?salvaged?.

The admiralty law of the United States has long recognized that the law of salvage rewards the voluntary salvor for the successful rescue of life or property imperiled at sea. In order to have a valid claim for having rendered salvage services, the salvor must show that the property saved was imperiled, that his services were voluntarily rendered, and that he was successful in whole or in part to the saving of the property.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

A jet boat that had sucked their rope into the intake waved me down for a tow a few weeks back. I motored over. They wanted a tow to the ramp which was 3 miles away. I told them I'd call a tow boat for them. They were safely out of the way of boat traffic or other danger or I'd have helped them move.

I have no idea of the liabilities involved in towing. Also, if my prop is pitched for my 19 foot boat how strained will my outboard be with another 14 feet of hull? Too many questions for me.

-E

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

In true distress I will render aid but I am not into towing drunkards who have poorly kept equipment all over the place, they should get Sea Tow and/or Tow Boats US, cal them on their vhf (or cell if in range of a tower) and get a tow by a pro crew and not ruin my day or take my time.

But, in distress, possible danger, sickness, I will help, just plain dumb and broke, call the tow company. I came to this after towing the same person twice and then on the third time said no and called the tow company who charged something like 1200 dollars for the 6 mile tow. I never saw those people again, I think they decided boating was not their sport.

Keep your equipment up, have tow insurance and a vhf and proper signal equipment.

Feel the same and agree 100%, but I only boat on inland lakes. Think I might reevaluate if I was boating off shore.

If someone flagged me down, I'd head over to see if I could help. Once there, I'd be hard pressed to say no even if the guy was drunk and on a garbage scow... I'm probably too nice...

Haven't been flag down yet or had the opportunity to help or need help.

To make the OP feel better though about non assisting or selfish boaters; Last weekend I was anchored in a big cove and had my engine hatch open to get our table out and a fellow that was pulling his kid on a knee board stopped to see if we were alright. I said yes, we're ok and thanked him for checking on us. So there are people out there willing and wanting to help fellow boaters out...

 

[indy440]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

^ similar thing happened to us 3 weeks ago. We were on a friends boat and sometimes one of the solenoid wires pops off the trim pump. He knew what it was right away, opened the hatch, put the plug back on and was back at the helm in 20 seconds. In that amount of time someone saw the engine hatch open and came right over asking if we needed help. We said no, thanked him, and went on our way...

I HAVE been towed back to the dock before BTW, just once, about 2 miles...

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

Most of the laws pertain to boats at "SEA" considering most of us encounter distressed boats inshore or on lakes i dont know if the same laws apply? i help folks Needing help not ones who are idiots and easily prevented there mishap by using some common sense,I'm on the water about 40 hrs a week, I see all sorts of crazy crap,and get asked to help alot..but when i am working i am not able to render assistance due to my insurance regulations..That pisses people off, but,hey,if they want to pay the outrageous premiums i pay..then I'll help.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

Apparently the boaters that offered assistance to Tahoe and Indy are not the ones responding to this post.

I have offered and received assistance on the water and am grateful for the people that were considerate enough to be concerned about others. The attitudes reflected by a few of the posters are what is going wrong with boaters and boating today.

You need to get over yourselves. Not everyone is as fortunate as you, so I guess they should be excluded from enjoying the water.

Yes, I carry insurance, tow and liability, but my boats have not always been as reliable as my current boat is. One of the things that always comforted me was that I could count on assistance if I needed it, and I have always been willing to help others.

So, please, if you guys boat here in Florida, please fly a flag or something, so I know who you are, that way I can avoid accidently offending you by offering help if you need it.

Bob

PS. I am ashamed of you!!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Boaters stranded or in distress

If I can help a fellow boater in danger I would be there in a moment. Sick, injured, taking on water, etc. No problem.

If someone ran out of gas on a beautiful calm sunny day, and wanted a 3 mile tow, I would prefer to make a call to the coast guard, harbor master or Sea Tow for them. Not sure if my boat is up to towing anything as large or larger than my own boats size (16 ft).

It all depends on the severity of the situation and me and my boats capabilities.

There is a difference between giving assistance and being taken advantage of.