Can I borrow Your Boat?

[MacPointMan]

Already I am getting the "Can I borrow your boat?" requests and I haven't even owned her for a month.

Topping it off I am back in Afghanistan and come home next month.

My Answer was Ummmm sorry I'm not comfortable with someone else taking my boat out other than me especially if your family is going to be on board and my insurance only covers me as an operator. There are a couple of minor issues that need to be addressed when I get home as well.

Anyone else have this problem?

MacPointMan

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Thanks again for being there for those of us that are not.

Ummmm, no, is a good response . There was a post like this some time ago, and as always opinions vary in topics like this.

I , for one, do not know the boating capacity of all my friends or family, do you? I know I trust my dad to take mine out, and my blood brother. That is about it.

Hope your issues get worked out when you get back, and you are at the helm.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Just say no. You don't have to explain anything.

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I am kind of nervous because it is parked at My Mothers house. I have a perfect spot to park it but I can't get it up my driveway without grounding the drive on the concrete. Though I don't think she will just let someone take it.

You are right I shouldn't have to explain myself But I never like to sound like an a-hole. Boating skills are a must so is safety. I would trust my Dad but I am not sure about my Brother or my friend. They would have to demonstrate the extent of their boating skills and knowledge before they even thought about sitting at the helm much less borrowing her.

The issues most certainly will be worked out and I WILL BE at the helm just in time to end the season sometime late next month. The issues fortunately don't keep her out of the water and are easily fixed but have the potential to strand someone on it. She may need a new Alternator though it seems the battery is receiving enough of a charge to keep it from going dead. As a result I always carry a spare battery in the boat though everyone should anyhow.

Still the idea of letting someone else take her out is just unsettling to me. Especially since I just bought her and I haven't even gotten a full season out of her yet.

MacPointMan

 

[woosterken]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

sure you can, just give me a $20,000 CASH DEPOSIT and sign this form that releives me from any and all insurance claims YEAH RIGHT!!!

thank you for your service

 

[tuffshot]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Mac,

Thanks for your service, 1st

2nd: If they borrow it they will run it like they stole it!

Fair and balanced answers above, you decide.

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

lol Yea. I know that if my boat gets totaled I am not even going to get what the Used Motor and drive is worth.

To buy a new one will be much more expensive.

MacPointMan

 

[jonesg]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Just say no. You don't have to explain anything.

Ditto that, NO is a complete sentence.

 

[Cruzomatic]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I was once asked the same thing.

My answer:

"Nope, sorry. I'm the only Captain of my ship."

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Thanks for your service, Mac.

One wag at a dockside party asked if she and her husband could borrow our 32-footer. I said, "Sure, if we can borrow your house."

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

thats a good one. I came up with a smart alec reply of "Can I borrow your Wife / Girlfriend?"

"No? ahhh, ok then, sorry you can't borrow my Boat." would be the response.

MacPointMan

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I've been asked that in the past - I think the fact that I started laughing hysterically was enough to answer their question! Not no but NO!!!!!

 

[badkins50]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I believe the correct response would be "OH HE!! NO!!!"

Thanks for your service Mac.

 

[convergent]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Thanks for your service!

Anyone asking a question that dumb I don't think you need to worrying about being an a-hole back. Its a big whopping no. I'm very particular about even letting people drive my boat while I'm in the boat with them. Borrowing it? Heck no. You can easily do a lot of damage to a boat, its passengers, or others and their property, if you don't know what you are doing. If its a real friend that is asking, then its even easier to say no for me. I don't want something to happen to the boat that would ruin the friendship... thats more important to me than the boat. Even if they did everything correctly and something broke that was expensive while they were out, who pays for it? If they are a good friend then they are going to feel responsible, and it gets real awkward. The other way to look at it is if they really know anything about boats, they wouldn't ask to borrow it... so that makes it more of a risk to actually let them.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

For me, nobody has asked yet, but the answer would be no. We invite close friends and family out from time to time, but nobody has asked me yet to use the boat.

If your boat is on a trailer, and you're worried about someone "borrowing" it while your away, just park the trailer somewhere out of the way and lock it down. There are all kinds of things you can do to trailers to immobilize them.
Can't use the boat if you can't tow it anywhere.

You could also secure the keys.

But it's your boat and you have every right not to let anyone else use it. Or you can lend it out all you like. But nothing will trash a friendship or cause a family squabble faster than someone ruining your property.

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Males a lot of sense. Especially the friendship issue. Cars are one thing but boats are something completely different. Besides all the safety issues there are a lot of things that go into using a boat.

Just towing a boat takes some practice and caution. I don't even want to get in to the launching and retrieving it. My best friend would stand between the trailer and the truck when I was trying to put the boat on the trailer.

I would have hated to see what could have happened if the Truck let loose. I normally coast the boat onto the trailer but sometimes give it a bit of throttle about 20 feet out to make sure I can get her up and onto it if I coasting too slow.

The safest answer is a resounding NO.

MacPointMan

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Thanks Mac for you service and for protecting us.

With regards to the boat. I say absolutley not. There are so many variables, people just do not know. Even a brad new boat is going to have quirks that only her owners know. And if something does happen it is just a stresser. You have enough of that.

Just tell them no and that is that.

Thanks again.

 

[Tig]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Thanks for your service.
I live on the edge of a lake. The most serious accidents around here seem to involved borrowed boats and snowmobiles. (alcohol often in the mix).
I don't lend my boat upon request but I would offer it to one or two of my boating family.

 

[Ryan50]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

My family is welcome to borrow mine at any time. My brother, sister, father and father in law have all owned boats in the past and we always have shared our boats as if they belonged to all of us evenly. Other than these 4 close family members, the answer would be no.

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

about the only person that I would allow to Borrow my boat with me not being there would be My father. I learned from him as he grew up boating. If there is a question mark then the answer is no and everyone else has a question mark.

MacPointMan

It is a job. Someone has to do it. Thank you for being thoughtful.