I have helped move a lot of boats "just for the experience", when I was a
newbie with newbie experience.

Somewhat after the original poster, someone came along and insisted *I* (as in
me personally) were a cretin because I was unwilling to fly cross country at my
expense to a boat, then spend several days moving it, then fly back home, again
at my expense.

Anyone who I don't know who wants that help from me has to pay me for my time,
and that is fair, in the same manner that a stranger wants me to fix his engine
or repair his sails. If someone wants free help they get help that is not
worth enough to be purchased.

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
Okay, next week you come and polish my boat for me, for I am indeed "part
of
the sailing community". After that change the oil, make me some
weathercloths,
run to West Marine and get me a new bbq, then take my aluminum propane
tank and
get it inspected, a OPD installed and then fill it. After that, go me a
couple
weeks provisions (only four star Cognac please) and shop for a new SSB

Geesh dude/ette, you REALLY believe you are a slave for any and everyone
who
shows up because he is "part of the sailing community".

I think you misunderstand the concept JAXA.

If you asked me to do any of the above, which is obvious that no one likes
doing, then you would have to be a very good friend for me to do it for
nothing. After all you don't want to do it because it is one of those jobs
that everyone dislikes doing, so you either pay someone to do it, or you
grin and bare it and get stuck into it.

But when it comes to helping a fellow sailor sail their boat from point A to
point b, which is an enjoyable experience (depending on weather and boat of
course) then why not help if you can?
The same goes for helping another motorist in need, or giving the next door
neighbour a lift to the garage to pick up their car.

Just because someone is part of the sailing community doesn't mean we are
all slaves to that person, but it does say to me "Hey we are like distant
brothers. If I can help you in any way I will, as long as it doesn't cost me
anything to help."

It's just like a lot of the advice we all get from other people on this
newsgroup. I can ask a technical question and get some very good advice from
fellow sailors and it cost's me nothing, or I could go to a boating
specialist and pay them $60 per hour for the same advice.

I have done heaps in the past to help out my sailing friends, including
flying a Cesna 172 to a friends house 200 miles away to pick up his son who
was sailing in a regatta that weekend (along with my son) and his dad could
not get him there. (Sure this actually cost me money to do, but I was going
for a practice navigation excercise anyway so I just included their town in
the navigation excercise.)

I have helped friends repair their boats many times and I have also helped
another fellow sailor sail his 50 foot catamaran from Vanuatu back to
Australia.

I never asked for any payment in return for any of this, I was happy to help
out. Yet if a total stranger, who also owned a sailing boat, came up and
asked me if I could scrape the bottom of his hulls clean for him, my first
question would be "what is it worth?"

The $$ figure is comparable to the enjoyment factor I would get from
helping.

To help sail your boat: FREE
To scrape the bottom of the same boat: $50 per hour.

Regards
--
Garry Beattie
Ocean Spirit Trailer Sailer &
Small Yacht Cruising Emagazine
www.ocean-spirit.com