Re: Responsibility to MAY DAY call?
Guys, I hear you. On an average day I would not have been so upset. I have been on active duty for over 20 years and have been fishing the Gulf for the last 15-16 years. As such, I have had my share of issues on the water from loss of an engine to taking on water faster than the bilge system could recover. I have assisted many others over the years from pulling goofballs off of reefs to towing stranded vessels to safety. On this day, I had an electrical fire below the main deck which caused me to have to disconnect all electrical power and pray that the fire went out. It was in a place that did not allow me to try to put it out with any other method. I managed to reach help with a hand held VHF. I would have certainly paid the 2k to get to shore. I was in a 31 foot fountain and the knucklehead who left me for dead was in a 40-48 sport fisher of some kind, Bertram I think. I was eventually towed in by a very nice older man and his two sons in a 36 Luhrs. I gave the guy the 750 dollars I had in my pocket even though he didn't ask.
In the end I discovered that the main power from the battery to the ignition had worn a small whole in the insulator and was shorting out on the aluminum fuel tank. I didn't put that wire in the boat and neither did the manufacturer. It was put there by a previous owner, I assume.
I knew the fuel cell was in the area where the fire was and I relayed the fact that I had smoke below deck in the compartment containing the fuel cell to both boats. I assume a large fire ball and cloud of black smoke would have gotten his attention. The point is, he didn't even bother to come along side and investigate!
Unclewille, you could not be more wrong "you wanted a convenience tow 35 miles back in." I was truly in fear for my life and those who I was responsible for on my vessel. I would have mortgaged the house again to get some help.
My words may have been a little strong (from behind bars) but when something like this happens and you fear for yours and your son's life along with a few friends, there aren't words that are strong enough to describe the rage that comes over you when you think safety is on the horizon only to be told MONEY will keep you from being rescued. I personally couldn’t live with myself if I left another human being in that situation, friend or enemy. I'm no pushover, like I said, 20+ years of service and far too many of them in combat. I can usually take care of it myself and I fully understand the financial implications of having to rescue another boat. I also know how precious a single life is, and UncleWillie, I assure you I’m no drama queen! The possibility of being blown up or burned to death was real.
In the end, if you get a call for help and you can't take the time to, at a minimum, investigate or take on a few passengers, you should stay away from mirrors because you won’t like the selfish man you see in it!
.....these threads are held in the archives, so lets be accurate.
