do boaters help boaters?

[marlboro180]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

Thats the farther south you go in Illinois, or the farther north you go in Wisconsin.

100 miles either side of that state line is no fun for boating.

Hey thats my turf!

 

[j_martin]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I like to help if I can. I've been known to throw a line to someone having trouble starting and drifting into shallow water. I've towed a few, been towed myself once, and often helped with minor technical or operational needs at the landing.

More than once I've given a little bait to an unsuccessful fisherman, or woefully under equipped kids fishing from the dock.

Life on the water is enjoyable. It's even more enjoyable if you can help someone else have fun and be safe.

 

[mikastorm]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I hope to beleive most or halve the boaters are good people.

I,ve seen the good,bad, and the ugly.
Seen that with bikers too.
Its in their genes.lol
Having skiers with no regard for the guy fishing, fishermen with no regard for the family boater,ect. The good will help, the bad will ignore you, the ugly will run ya over. As in anything you do, you will find those that go beyond nice.
Our only hope is if you are having trouble, you meet one of those nice people.

By large though , I feel boaters are good people.
On Lake Erie a few years back a fellow got on the radio and was taking on water bad. His boot developed a leak and was running to the ramp.
I heard him needing someone to put a trailer in so that he could run up onto it at full speed.
His key was under his wheel well in a magnet key holder.
Being close to the ramp, I ran as fast as I could and found his key and backed it in just as he came thru the channel plowing water. Made it half way up his trailer, sweating bullets. Any farther and he would have been rescued from the water. I hope if that ever happened to me that another good person would do the same.

 

[rbh]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I would like to get some feedback on what Capt Harv posted about the seatow vs THE US Federal gov/CG.
Unlike triple AAA or a vehicle tow company that will remove you and your vehicle from the side of the road if you break down (I am not talking major accidents here, or inclement weather senarios)
If the closest vessel to the distrest boater is the CG or you, and they are taking on water, or a storm is coming in, and there is apparent danger to the craft and occupants. If you or the CG do provide assistance, under the good samaritin act by pulling them in, is sea tow going to attemt to sue your butt?
Your automobile can be pulled of the road, but boats sink and planes drop out of the sky, so seatows lawsuit doesnt make sense.
rob

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

Thats the farther south you go in Illinois, or the farther north you go in Wisconsin.

100 miles either side of that state line is no fun for boating.

You've obviously never been to Peoria.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

Does that make me bad...

Nope! Just smart

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

Your automobile can be pulled of the road, but boats sink and planes drop out of the sky, so seatows lawsuit doesnt make sense.
rob

SeaTow was mad because the CG was towing disabled boats, not ones truly in peril. So in other words, they were taking away customers.

My wife and I purposely make eye contact and slow down to check on boats that are just outside the channel here on the Illinois River, especially in the early season. If they look like they are adrift, or worse, have the engine cover open, they definately get a courtesy, "everything okay?"


To the original poster, if you are meeting people that are demanding money for towing you, then you are meeting total idiots and a******s. And they are actually breaking the law by asking for payment. Ask them for their salvors license the next time they ask for money. If they don't have one, and still demand money, call the Coatsies, and they will educate them on the LAW. I have to explain almost everytime that I tow someone in, that I am not allowed to accept compensation. They seem genuinely surprised, but it's the LAW. I have accepted a soda on a particulary hot day, though. Not as payment, but as a refreshment from a new friend.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I did make sure that no one was hurt. I did confirm that he had a working VHF (Harbor Police were 10 min.s away). But when the clown asked me if I could swim under and free him (I had no flag or gear advertising 'diver', i was just fishin') I just laughed and motored away. He wasn't willing to free himself, but wanted me to.

Does that make me bad...

For the most part, you satisfied your duty and obligations under the Coast Guard rules. Freeing him would have been above and beyond the requirements.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I have helped a few people out over the years and would gladly do it again. I told the story on here about removing my bilge pump to save a boat from sinking. I also sold my spare tire to a family last year for half of what they offered to pay for it, just so they could launch and finish their family outing. If i didnt need to replace the spare i would have given it away. Anyways, there are good people out there and there are people that only care about themselves and how much fun they are having. the latter are the ones im not friends with.

 

[rbh]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

SeaTow was mad because the CG was towing disabled boats, not ones truly in peril. So in other words, they were taking away customers.

My wife and I purposely make eye contact and slow down to check on boats that are just outside the channel here on the Illinois River, especially in the early season. If they look like they are adrift, or worse, have the engine cover open, they definately get a courtesy, "everything okay?"


To the original poster, if you are meeting people that are demanding money for towing you, then you are meeting total idiots and a******s. And they are actually breaking the law by asking for payment. Ask them for their salvors license the next time they ask for money. If they don't have one, and still demand money, call the Coatsies, and they will educate them on the LAW. I have to explain almost everytime that I tow someone in, that I am not allowed to accept compensation. They seem genuinely surprised, but it's the LAW. I have accepted a soda on a particulary hot day, though. Not as payment, but as a refreshment from a new friend.

(I really have to figure out how to do the minny quotes)
I think the point I was pressing apoun, was that if a boat is on terra firma, IE trailered, thats a big difference than being out on a body of water.
Whether you have ran out of fuel and bobbing around or you are taking on water, no private company should have the "right of ownership to render assistance" and collect a fee from disabled boats/boaters if the tax funded CG and good samaritins "will" step up to the situation.
Towing a vessel under contract is different, you use sea tow because you want to not because you have to.

 

[Bart Sr.]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I have helped and been helped.As far as I am concerned it's that simple.

rbh---when you have the reply box with the quote in it place your cursor in front of what you want to erase and press/hold backspace.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

If you or the CG do provide assistance, under the good samaritin act by pulling them in, is sea tow going to attemt to sue your butt? rob

I think a couple of clarifications are in order ...

First, most "good samaritan protections," which are based in state laws, cover attempts to render first aid only. They don't cover things like towing someone's boat.

Second, while anyone can sue anyone, I doubt Seatow, or one of its franchisees, would be dumb enough to try to sue anyone for helping another boater out. The simple fact of the matter is that they would have no basis to do so.

Where the lawsuits tend to come, is from jerk boaters who receive aid and then decide that they have been harmed by the private individual who renders that aid. On the surface, this is just another annoying fact of life, but in the context of this thread, you have at least one answer as to why some people will not render aid.



???

 

[waju]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I've helped more people than have helped me. Then again I've only needed help once. The end of this past summer I towed a 40 ft brand new sailboat to his dock when he lost power. It took over an hour to tow him in with my 28 ft Bayliner and he offered me some money. I refused the money but had a beer with him and told him that hopefully someone would do the same for me when needed.
I found that the most helpful boaters are the smaller boats, usually under 35ft. I've seen some large power yachts leaving a six foot wake that are actually damaging other boats in no wake zones. Try to hail them to slow them down and they flip you off and tell ya to go to hell. A friend of mine had over $10000 damage done to his sailboat this past summer due to one of these idiots.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I found that the most helpful boaters are the smaller boats, usually under 35ft.

Wow, smaller boats to me are around 12 ft !!!!
What is a big one ???
Welcome to iboats.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

Around here you have to help as it could mean the difference between life or death. Our weather can change way to fast.

 

[j_martin]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

(I really have to figure out how to do the minny quotes)

It's easy. Just hit quote, then edit out what you don't want. Be sure to leave the quote statements inside brackets at either end of the finished piece.

An alternative way is to click and copy, then hilight (click-drag) the text you want presented as a quote and then click the "wrap in quotes" icon at the top of the editor. Of course it doesn't note who made the quote that way.

hope it helps
John

 

[Genonbamagirl]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I usually go loaded for bear - spare parts, tools, extra everything (you NEED a backup, you also very much want to have a backup to the backup......for EVERYTHING) so I haven't had to ask for help in two decades. That may change tomorrow so take that for what it's worth.

We have towed several craft back to the launch they left even though it took half or more of our day to do so at a safe speed and in a safe manner. We are the word on our craft and if our passengers don't like the fact that we will help any and every person in need, then we will be happy to let them off at any convenient point on our journey. We have never once met a person in need that was rude to us even though we have helped out with tweaks on a half dozen craft, real wrenching on a dozen or so and a tow on at least ten occasions.

I don't know where the majority of our membership boats but the people in the Caribbean where I grew up boating with my dad.....who was the Captain and half owner of a very large seagoing dredge...........are very polite and very thankful for help. I am now stuck in central Alabama and we have met no one here who was rude either - we do encounter the usual "won't wave" crowd every time we go out (and they should be spanked) but every person that we have offered help to accepted it and was glad to have it. If we run into a rude boater we will probably attempt to teach them manners and if that fails, laugh as we motor away, but it hasn't happened yet.

The state of AL requires that any captain of any vessel must assist in every way possible any vessel in distress. That is defined as drifting at the least and on fire or immenent danger at the most. I like that law. There are a ton of laws I think are just stupid up here un uptightville but the boaters seem to be a special bunch. They seem to be more freindly and more accomodating than the general population.

I dropped out of school to join the Navy when I was 16. I learned a lot - already knew most. That is concerning handling, maintaining and dealing with watercraft. I could care less about "whether I am required to tow someone in real need to the nearest place they can spend a ton of money on their current problem" or "whether liability issues come into play". I do what I feel is the right thing to do. The Navy does not have chain link behind their helmsmen. They do what I do - spend five minutes speaking to a trusted person and then places them on watch for thirty minutes (no more - they may get bored) to sing out if the line snaps loose for whatever reason. Gives the people on board the tow craft time to hit the deck. Safety comes in many forms. The brain is the best form. A piece of kevlar should be used for taowing with a very short piece of nylon at the tag end for some shock absorption. If either snaps loose under tension, it all falls safely down. If you don't have proper gear, a tow can still be affected without risking much if the speed is reduced to a crawl. I've been hit many times by a ski rope and never injured..........wait.........it weighs nothing......oh wow!

The answer is yes with no caveats. Except maybe for rude people. I'll let you know when we meet one.

 

[waju]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

Wow, smaller boats to me are around 12 ft !!!!
What is a big one ???
Welcome to iboats.

I guess I've been boating in salt water too long where there seems to be a lot more larger boats (I started boating in a canoe in the Detroit River). Last July, we spent a couple of days in one of our areas most popular anchorages (Prideaux Haven, Desolation Sound). It was quite crowded, and at 30 ft overall length we were the smallest boat there (not including yacht tenders). There are a lot of 40ft and larger yachts that come up from the USA. I do see quite a few over 100ft.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

I do see quite a few over 100ft.

That would be the "Microsoft Fleet."



???

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: do boaters help boaters?

Sounds like Avenger just hasn't met the right people yet, I always help and the only money I have ever taken is for spare parts I had on hand.