Can I borrow Your Boat?

[JZammetti]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Hi Mac, thank you for serving and protecting us.

I've never been asked to borrow my boat but I have thought about my response. For me I would like to say "Sure after you show me you successfully completed a Boater's Education course, proof of boat renters insurance and post a $15,000.00 security deposit". But in reality I would just say "No, I don't lend out my boat to anyone".

-Joe

 

[winddriven1]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Remeber, "NO" constitutes a complete sentence. There is no requirement to expand nor explain it further!

Thank you for your service. God bless!!!

 

[andgott]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

NO.

I am a Merchant Marine officer, and like you, am gone a lot. I had my boat 'parked' in a storage rack while I was gone. I got a call from a friend of mine (well, a FORMER friend of mine at this point) asking if there was any way he could use the boat this upcoming weekend... His girlfriend was going to be in town, and they REALLY wanted to go boating. Yeah, I SHOULD have suggested the rental place down the street, But- Being the nice guy that I am, and THINKING that I knew him well, I said 'Sure. Just fill it back up'.

Now- I knew him well. He had been boating all his life, and he knew the waters in the area (Clearwater, FL) well. I also THOUGHT he was a responsible person- He was an attorney, and had been my room mate for several months. And, I knew that he was covered under the insurance policy I had if anything major happened.

He took the boat out, and managed to break the gear on the starter motor. Stranded, he called my marina for a tow. They brought him back, fixed the boat, and he used it a few more times that weekend.

At the end of the month, I get a bill from my marina for my storage fees. AND the tow. AND the repair. Of course, I called him about it- His answer?

"I thought you had insurance to cover the tow?" - Yeah, If you'd have called BoatUS...

"I don't think I was responsible for the starter breaking- It must have been damaged before. I'll pay half"

And, on top of that, he didn't fill the gas up....

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I'm always slightly amazed at the frequency this issue seems to come up for people. I've been boating for about 35 years, am comfortable handling anything from a canoe to a 30 foot cruiser, yet I can't imagine actually asking to borrow someone's boat. If it were offered, sure, but to put someone in that awkward position by asking seems very inconsiderate. Probably as much down to me being an introvert than anything else....

Anyway, I don't think you should feel bad in the slightest by saying no. You hit it on the head a few posts back. Lending a car is one thing. They are all pretty much the same and 90 percent of the population has spent a lot of time on the road behind the wheel. The world of boating is another kettle of fish altogether.

There are probably three people on the planet I could imagine throwing the keys to. And that was if it was already in the water. If it needed to be trailered to a lake first? Reduce that list to one - the guy who taught me all about boating in the the first place - my dad.

What's interesting is I know none of them would dream to ask anyway.

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I was just asked that a month ago from a friend and his buddy, I just said no and they had a confused look on them, I said look if I hit the rocks with it I can only be mad at my self, if you hit the rocks I'm going to be mad at you and I don't have a boat . My boat has to be trailered so loaning the boat would be turned into loaning my truck to haul it. Then as mentioned above is the whole launching issue, my boat is old and a bit finiky I know how to load it. Thats it for me my boat is old not worth much money but its worth a lot to me to go fishing with, if it gets broken is it worth the money to fix it can I get the parts who pays for them, NO is a good answer. I know they left talking **** about me but too bad.

 

[JimKW]

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

What if they say YES?

 

[korygrandy]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

What if they say YES?

If they said yes then I would handle there wife/girlfriend with care....just like they would handle my boat...YEAH RIGHT! The person borrowing doesn't have the emoitonal attachment and financial responsibility of the boat like the owner does and one can assume they would treat it like a rental car.

Too much liability if you ask me. I don't even let anyone drive my boat when I'm on it (unless it is my dad).

 

[Thad]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I was asked ONCE to let someone borrow my boat. My answer was less than nice and I am pretty sure I would be banned for life if I posted it.

I have offered my boat to one person, and he has a standing offer to take it any time he wishes. He never has taken it and I am 100% sure he never will. But I would not think twice about it if I came home from work and it were gone.

I myself have a set of keys to another buddies pontoon boat that is always on the water ready to go. I have taken it quite a few time when I did not want to get mine out for just a couple hours. It is always returned with two full gas tanks and is cleaner than when I took it out.

Now, my take on your situation. I think it is greedy and selfish of someone to ask to borrow YOUR boat while YOU are thousands of mile away risking YOUR life because THEY want to go play. They can wait until you get home and enjoy spending time with you on your boat and being thankful that you're home safe. That's just my take on it.

Come home safe.

 

[outdoorsman10]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Keep up the good work Mac, and thanxs from the Canucks.


A friend (female and not very responsible) found out I bought another boat and told my girlfriend that she was going to get her boating licence (yes, were Canadian) and that she wanted pointers from me. Any idiot can see that she is going to try and snivel her way into borrowing my boat, so my response will be, "If you got the cash to replace it, you got the cash to buy your own" which she does not!!!! Doesn't even have the truck to pull it.

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Thanks Mac,

NO! Is a reasonable response No you can't borrow my Boat, Wife, tools or truck,and no I won't help you move

Although I have never had anyone ask if they could borrow my wife before, I would surely say no to that like everything else. Call me selfish but these are things I have invested time and money into and have an emotional attachment to.

I'm sure the people you say no to don't understand your attachment to or the liabillity you have when you own something.

And the asking"Can I borrow your wife/girlfriend?" Isn't such a hot idea if your in a relationship already. My wife overheard one of my smart a** remarks like that and it was a sore spot for quite sometime in our relationship

Stay safe

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Great point Thad!!

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

My answer would be no. Secondly, for what you're doing overseas, the only thing the guy should be asking is if he can polish the boat and fill both tanks so it's ready to go for you when you get home. Thank you for your service!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Like all boating rules there are exceptions (except the plug rule). Anyone can borrow my canoe. If I had a basic sailboat, maybe so. Jon boat with a 9? probably if you were the right guy.

But if there were circumstances where you might loan your boat, you need to consider in advance, what would you do if something broke/broke down that could have just as easily happened when you were running the boat? From a minor ding to a major engine failure, stuff always happens when you use the boat, often just by fate when it happens.
Likewise if you borrow one, think how you will handle it if the oil pump fails and fries the motor on your watch.
I share a number of boats between family members and also in a hunt club. You have to be "dent tolerant" as the 4 wheelers say.
You may find a super skilled and responsible person who would take better care of the boat, bring it back in better condition, and give your motor that needed use, but it's unusual. You might help a friend out in a real jam--he has a boat just like yours, is loaded up for a major excursion, and his has one of those issues.
But generally it's not a good idea. And if you take any money or "thing of value" for it you may have voided your insurance--never make arrangements in advance, or routinely. Accept the "tokens of appreciation" only after an uneventful trip.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Uhhhhh.....NO! That simple.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

First, thnaks Mac for your service and for your courage and thanks to you and the other fine men and women keeping us safe and protecting our freedom. Keep your head down, get some bad guys and come home SAFE!.

Now... to the question.....my friends are smart enough and know me well enough NOT to even ask if they could take my boat out. And, they are smart enough and know me well enough to know I would never ask them a similar question. Sure, they are all good guys and no doubt could handle it but it is the principle. Of course, when we are out on it together they can drive it AFTER I go over the systems, safety procedures and my (captain's) do's and dont's.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Like all boating rules there are exceptions (except the plug rule). Anyone can borrow my canoe. If I had a basic sailboat, maybe so. Jon boat with a 9? probably if you were the right guy....

Yep - agree with your graduated system. We rent out the cabin up north sometimes to cover costs and it comes with a bulletproof aluminum canoe, no questions asked. For renters we know a bit better, my wife's kayak is included as will be a small sailboat when it's redone.

The Scout, however, stays high and dry on the lift, covered and with an extra shackle around the carriage and track in case someone actually tried to launch it, and a note not to let kids play around or in it.

 

[poni302]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Nobody touches my boat or my bike ( they're my toys and I don't share LOL )
Stay safe and come back

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

All great posts. Enjoying reading them. Thank you again. Like I said at the bottom of my last post It is a job someone has to do it.

One of the would be borrowers is my younger brother whom lives in Florida with his Girlfriend and Daughter. His Girlfriends Father is an avid boater and from what I understand he restores boats. Now I am not sure about his experience level but he like me has been out with our father. I just told him that I wasn't really comfortable with him taking it out especially if his family were aboard in case something were to happen especially with the few unresolved issues. Lake Jackson is not a very big lake but it still would suck to get stuck out on it.

Instead I think I'll tell him We will bring the boat to you as we are planning a family trip to Florida as soon as I get back from Afghanistan next month (man it feels good to say I'll be back home next month). Disney World for 4 days then down to my Brothers to do some boating and checking out the Inter-coastal. I think that is a nice consolation.

MacPointMan

 

[SeanT]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

Can I borrow Your Boat?

Absolutely not. If that's not the end of the discussion I'll walk away. It's not that I don't care if people like me or not, it's just that if the person is really a friend, answering "No" to that question isn't going to cause a problem. If it does, then they're not a friend I want.

 

[109jb]

Re: Can I borrow Your Boat?

I personally would say yes to certain people. Many of my family members have boating experience and I would let them use it. Likewise I have freinds with lots of boating experience and would say yes to them as well. That said, they would have to be family or a very close friend to say yes to and some family would get a no response too. I have let some family members use my boat already, but none of my friends that I would say yes to have asked. On top of that, all of the people I would consider lending my boat to know and accept that any damage is their responsibility. With this said, you should consider that my boat is 22 years old but still in good condition.