Re: Fellow boater wouldn't help tow me in
Law ( from the navrules manual) paraphrasing:
"You are required to assist another vessel in distress, or lost, or needing medical aid, unless doing so would endanger your vessel or crew"
read: distress. This is not an engine breakdown, out of gas, etc
Courtesy: help where you can.
Excuse me for being a bit blunt, but read the wole post before flaming me.
Most boaters can't PROPERLY display the hand/body signs of needing assistance, or recognize them.
Item the 1: about 90% of the recreational boaters do not know how to properly tow another vessel, and/or do not have the proper equipment to do so. This requires on the water and classroom training. The rig you use should be made for YOUR boat.
item the next: Would you tow another from a deck cleat?
The "book" says to ask if its backed. Most boat owners don't know waht you are asking or have the ability to know it if they see it.
Item the next: If you manage to get everything connected correctly, what speed do you tow at?
Item the next: how do you communicate with the towed boats people?
Item the next: if you have done everything else right, how do place and secure the other boat to the dock?
The above questions are NOT to be answered in this thread, but are for getting you to think.
Now, all that said, maybe can see wher the next comment comes from. Maybe, just maybe, those other boaters were just plain scared S*#t to tow someone, because they did not know how and have never done it before.
I was in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for 26 years, mostly operational. I taught and tested others on towing skills. I was the "C.G. rescue for the St. Johns river before there was a sea tow. Towed others 253 times that I documented.
Would I tow someone now? That depends on the circumstances. See, the good samaratin rule only goes so far. If a potential tow don't look right for whatever reason, I may refuse, but call on the radio and standby until relieved by competant help. ( Yes, I still carry all the equipment aboard). If someone is sinking, on fire, has a medical situation, or such, no question about it.
Due to potential libility reasons, I will NOT give towing instructions over the web to ANYONE.
Not only is this a me-first generation, its a sue-the-b*****d one also.
