Capt. Frank,

I hear what you're saying. These guys should have been fined big time.
But in this case it was the passenger that got hurt, who probably wasn't
responsible for the operation of the vessel. Should the pilot of the vessel
be charged for negligent operation? Sounds like it. On the other hand I
wouldn't want every Coast Guard rescue operation to become a trial to
determine guilt. I guess sometimes each of us can get in over our heads and
need help and I hate to get to the point to where we get into deeper trouble
asking for that help. On the other hand, the truly stupid or arrogant who
totally ignore common sense should be held accountable. Now, if only the
wisdom to know the difference between the two.

Paul

P.S. I checked out your web site, very nice. You seem to have outfitted your
boat like the proverbial brick outhouse, nice job. Only thing I didn't see
was a windless.

"Capt. Frank Hopkins" wrote in message
link.net...
And then there is the incident during the "poor boy's fishin'
tournament" where the pack of go-fast bass boats blew through 2
anchorage's "no wake zone", 1 manatee zone, and a fuel dock area, and an
"idle speed only" while tossing impressive rooster tails. Once they
cleared the bridge, the lead boat encountered the wake of a large
vessel, went airborne, and ejected the passenger, whom was then run over
by the following boat. He lost his arm to a prop.
USCG to the rescue with a chopper and boat. And, all of it un-necessary.
Now, who should pay the bill on that one? The boater, the tournament, or
you and I?

Capt. Frank

DaveH wrote:

You should hear some of the incompotent nonsense that happens here on
the
Chesapeake. Recently I heard an exchange between a tow-boat operator,
and
some guy who'd piloted his boat up onto some rocks, about 2AM. The
tow-boat
guy told the boater to attach the tow-hook to the D-ring on his transom.
The boater asked for help locating his transom. Then the tow-dude told
Mr.
Stranded to shine his light where the tow-hook was attached to the boat.
Then, he said "Don't shine the light on me, shine it where the line is
attached to YOUR boat." I kid you not.

Dave

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

Well, sometimes it's justified. In the case of hikers, I recall at least

two

news stories which mentioned that the searches had cost a couple of
small
town police departments a few hundred grand for helicopter time, etc.
In
both cases, the hikers were woefully unprepared and inexperienced, for
the
terrain and weather they were trying to tackle. That's wrong.

"Keith" wrote in message
...

Yep. Your tax dollars are no longer enough... they'll charge you by the

hour

if they possibly can.

--


Keith
__
If you must pick between two evils, pick the one you've never tried

before.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...

I'm curious: The park service and other agencies say that if they have

to

rescue people incompetent backpackers who think their first practice

run

should be in January in North Dakota, they will charge them for the

expenses

incurred. Has anyone heard of the Coast Guard saying similar things?