STRONGLY disagree. isn't good enough. WHY do you disagree?
May recommend the base of the mast because it is sturdier than cleats that
often are not strong enough or don't have backing blocks to distribute the
stress.


wrote in message
...
On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:07:49 -0500, DSK wrote:

BTW- for a sailboat under 30 feet, the best place to secure a towline is
to the base of the mast.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

STRONGLY disagree.

BB

Towing a Boat? Your line or his?
 

Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?
Paul

Paul Schilter wrote:
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?


An expert answer: it depends.

It's often said that accepting a line from a tower makes your vessel
salvage. OTOH it's often the case that the towee has no suitable lines
aboard.

When I've towed people in, I've always used my own line because
1- my crew had it ready
2- it was both long & stout enough, to my certain knowledge
3- that gives me more control over how it's paid out and the strain taken up

OTOH my experience being towed is rather limited- once in somebody
else's keelboat, and a bunch of times in a fleet of racing dinghies with
no wind. In the keelboat, comditions were extremely rough and the boat
was in disarray, we accepted a line from a USCG 30-footer.

BTW- for a sailboat under 30 feet, the best place to secure a towline is
to the base of the mast.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

Paul Schilter wrote:

Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're
going to tow or take his line?
Paul



Are you concerned about the quality of the other guy's line or lawsuits?

I used to have a 5/8" towline with a bridle when I fished in
Florida...you'd frequently encounter someone who needed a tow into the
marina or the ramp, and the made-up towline made it easy. Actually, I
made it up after the first stator failure on my outboard, in case ^I^
needed a tow...

Harry,
Thinking more of lawsuits.
Paul

Harry Krause wrote:
I wouldn't want a towline attached to the base of a cabintop stepped mast.

That depends on what else is available to attach it to. On 99% of
production boats, the mast step is going to be *MUCH* stronger
structurally the the bow cleats, whether it's deck or keel stepped. On
an old gaffer with heel bitts or a samson post, then that would
obviously be the way to go.

A point to bear in mind though, the eye around the mast should be
secured in such a way that it stays securely at the base of hte mast...
it must be prevented from riding up with the boat's motion. If the tow
line slides up towards the middle of the mast, all kinds of bad things
can happen from capsizing the boat to buckling the mast (or both).

OTOH if you're only towing a short way at low speed in calm water, then
the bow cleats (both) are probably OK.

I've heard of bow eyes being snatched out of boats, and a heck of a lot
of cleats ripped clean off, but I've never heard of a mast coming out
from being towed.

As always, YMMV

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 19:56:16 -0500, " Tuuuk"
wrote:

PLONK

Another one hits the bozo bin.

==================================

Once again krause

you prove to be a liar,,,

apparently you took some courses recently with the coast guard,, trying for
a captains license for some license,,,lol,,, haven't received that license
yet huh krause?? Not smart enough to pass the test?? lol,,, apparently
krause isn't smart enough to pass the test,,, krause you can always get one
of those certificates online,,, make it look like you have the license.
After all,, a 76 year old senile old fool like you wont be operating any
boating business anytime soon,, lol,,,

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 20:13:40 -0500, DSK wrote:

I've never heard of a mast coming out
from being towed.

================================

Absolutely right.

I've never heard of a mast coming out from being towed

Harry Krause wrote:
I've seen it happen. On a Pearson, maybe 15 years ago, while being towed
into St. Augustine Inlet. I have no idea of the cirumstances, because I
was anchored there, fishing. But the mast gave way.

OK, now I've heard of it ;)

I bet the skipper was really pleased, too... first whatever problem led
to being towed in the first place, then suddenly CRASH! And problems
usually come in groups of three...

It can happen, sure. But if the mast step, which has to support a LOT of
force just under normal sailing loads, is not strong enough, then what
are the bow cleats going to be like?

BTW another reason to not use the bow cleats is that they are usually
seriously undersized for the kind of rope almost any tow boat is going
to pass over. That USCG boat which towed us in (back when dinosaurs
roamed the Earth) tossed over a 3/8" line... a messenger for the actual
tow line, which looked to be about a foot around but was probably in the
neighborhood of 1 1/2"!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

I usually rig a bridle with my line that has a clip on the bitter end. I get a
line from the towee, attacherd to something he wants towed, snap it on my clip
and give him the bitter end of his line to secure in an accessible position on
his boat. Then when he decides we have towed long enough, has an emergency or
otherwise needs to break the tow he can just release his end of the line, it
pulls through my clip and he is free. With a very small amont of coaching I
can usually pull them up to a dock, release the tow and be on my way without
any further exchanging of line.
The only trick for me is keeping my line out of my prop but that is really my
problem.

BTW- for a sailboat under 30 feet, the best place to secure a towline is
to the base of the mast.


Steven Shelikoff wrote:
Not on a hobie cat, or any other boat with that type of mast.


Agreed... a boat with a rotating mast on a bearing at the step would be
a poor attachment point. But you could always put it around the forw'd
crossbeam!

DSK

On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:07:49 -0500, DSK wrote:

Paul Schilter wrote:
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?


An expert answer: it depends.

It's often said that accepting a line from a tower makes your vessel
salvage. OTOH it's often the case that the towee has no suitable lines
aboard.

When I've towed people in, I've always used my own line because
1- my crew had it ready
2- it was both long & stout enough, to my certain knowledge
3- that gives me more control over how it's paid out and the strain taken up


Another factor to keep in mind in this increasingly litigious and
responsibility deflecting society, is that if you use your line and
it breaks and results in further damage, there may be some urge to
hold you responsible. If you use his line and it breaks, then it's on
him.

Dave

"DSK" wrote in message
...
Paul Schilter wrote:
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?


An expert answer: it depends.

It's often said that accepting a line from a tower makes your vessel
salvage. OTOH it's often the case that the towee has no suitable lines
aboard.

Just trying to follow this conversation - what's the significance of your
boat being considered salvage in a case like this?

I never had the patience to follow a thread this long before. I'll probably
never do it again.
Only two posters attempted to answer the question:
BB pointed out that who handed who a line may be a point in salvage
questions and liability issues;
DSK pointed out that it depends.
Thanks to both of them for their answers.



"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?
Paul

Around 1/12/2005 7:14 PM, DSK wrote:

BTW another reason to not use the bow cleats is that they are usually
seriously undersized for the kind of rope almost any tow boat is going
to pass over.

That's why I carry my own tow line. As is understandable on a 14'
runabout, my deck cleats are *way* too small for anything above 3/8", so
my 5/8" tow line has a nice big carabiner professionally spliced on one end.

In the rare occasion when I'm being towed (by my parents, when it gets
too rough for an open 14') I just snap the line onto my bow eye.

When I'm doing the towing, I snap it onto one of my stern eyes. I've
towed a 32' Bayliner almost 2 miles against a mild river current that
way, and it worked fine... if a little slow. :)


--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

wgander wrote:
I never had the patience to follow a thread this long before. I'll probably
never do it again.
Only two posters attempted to answer the question:
BB pointed out that who handed who a line may be a point in salvage
questions and liability issues;
DSK pointed out that it depends.
Thanks to both of them for their answers.



"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...

Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?
Paul




Just to add a thought.
I'd know the condition of the line (size, age, past usage, wear,
construction, etc.) of the line I would be passing and considering for
usage, so I'd know what I could expect from it.
Whereas, the line from the other boat would be an unknown quantity and
quality.

otn

Harry,
I've heard that England's system is where if I sue you and loose then I
pay you attorney fees. I think that would stop a lot of frivolous
lawsuits. Perhaps also having a ceiling on how much the attorney's make
would help.
Paul


Harry Krause wrote:
Paul Schilter wrote:

Paul Schilter wrote:

Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're
going to tow or take his line?
Paul





Are you concerned about the quality of the other guy's line or lawsuits?

I used to have a 5/8" towline with a bridle when I fished in
Florida...you'd frequently encounter someone who needed a tow into
the marina or the ramp, and the made-up towline made it easy.
Actually, I made it up after the first stator failure on my outboard,
in case ^I^ needed a tow...



Harry,
Thinking more of lawsuits.
Paul



Yeah, well, that's always a problem, and a telling note about our society.

BB,
It was just those rules I was curious about. It's not impossible if you
are the one being towed to find yourself in a salvage situation. Yes the
rules are different, they can be not what you would logically expect
based on common land rules. But it's still telling on our society!
Paul


Yeah, well, that's always a problem, and a telling note about our society.


You are confusing life on land with life at sea. The rules are different, and
for good reason.

BB

Harry,
You never know, the distressed boater COULD be a lurking terrorist
waiting to hijack your boat. It's a hell of a world we live in.
Paul


Harry Krause wrote:
snipped


Not necessarily. HE could sue you for tying a bad knot.

Gee, are we devolving to the point where no one is willing to help out
someone in distress? Next time I see some boater on the bay needing
help, should I consider whether he'll sue me before I go to his aid?

"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...
BB,
It was just those rules I was curious about. It's not impossible if you
are the one being towed to find yourself in a salvage situation. Yes the
rules are different, they can be not what you would logically expect based
on common land rules. But it's still telling on our society!
Paul

Paul, what exactly does this mean - "find yourself in a salvage
situation"???

Yes; lots of responses, a lot of discussion but only two posters actually
attempted to answer the question.


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
wgander wrote:
I never had the patience to follow a thread this long before. I'll
probably
never do it again.
Only two posters attempted to answer the question:
BB pointed out that who handed who a line may be a point in salvage
questions and liability issues;
DSK pointed out that it depends.
Thanks to both of them for their answers.



"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...

Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?
Paul




There were more than two responses.

Subject: Towing a Boat? Your line or his?
From: "Doug Kanter"

Paul, what exactly does this mean - "find yourself in a salvage
situation"???



A claim could be made against your boat and your insurance company.


Capt. Bill

Can you elaborate? Does this mean that (in your country ;) if I tow you
to the boat launch because you ran out of gas I own your boat? And it
depends on if I gave you my line vs. you gave me your line?
Matt (planing a summer holiday on US waters .. hehehehe)

wrote in message
oups.com...
Can you elaborate? Does this mean that (in your country ;) if I tow you
to the boat launch because you ran out of gas I own your boat? And it
depends on if I gave you my line vs. you gave me your line?
Matt (planing a summer holiday on US waters .. hehehehe)

Hi Matt:
Yes, they do things a little differently in the USA. In the Canadian
Waters of the Great Lakes, it is not "salvage" also under our Canadian law,
if you give help to someone stranded, and you do your best to help, they
cannot sue you.

Jim Carter
"The Boat"
Bayfield

"Dave Hall" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:07:49 -0500, DSK wrote:

Paul Schilter wrote:
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?


An expert answer: it depends.

It's often said that accepting a line from a tower makes your vessel
salvage. OTOH it's often the case that the towee has no suitable lines
aboard.

When I've towed people in, I've always used my own line because
1- my crew had it ready
2- it was both long & stout enough, to my certain knowledge
3- that gives me more control over how it's paid out and the strain taken
up


Another factor to keep in mind in this increasingly litigious and
responsibility deflecting society, is that if you use your line and
it breaks and results in further damage, there may be some urge to
hold you responsible. If you use his line and it breaks, then it's on
him.

Dave


Towing & The Law

If you decide to tow another vessel, you become a "Good Samaritan" in the
eyes of the law and are thus protected from liability as long as you "act as
any prudent person would". A lot of well-meaning skippers have been sued
over that nebulous phrase so, if you have any qualms about your own
abilities, don't attempt to tow another boat. Good seamanship will always be
a defense but you may find yourself up against an "old salt" in court who
will swear that you were inept in your actions. In addition, your insurance
policy probably has a clause that frees them of liability if you don't
exhibit what they consider to be good seamanship.

Don't be hesitant to refuse to tow someone if the weather is bad, if you
think your boat is too small, or if you're unsure of your abilities. You
have a legal (and moral) obligation to save lives, but the saving of
property is not your problem. Stand by the disabled vessel until an
acceptable tow boat arrives on the scene, but don't jeopardize yourself or
your boat by attempting a rescue beyond your abilities.

If you're at the other end of the tow line, bear in mind that the laws of
salvage entitle a rescuer to "fair compensation" for his services. In the
pleasure boat world, most towing is done out of courtesy, and a thank-you
(or a bottle of wine) is satisfactory payment.

If you find yourself needing a commercial tow, be sure to agree on a price
before the towboat leaves the harbor. At the same time, find out how they
expect you to pay the bill, since some companies will impound your boat
until you pay in cash. Towing services have various ways of charging: some
use a flat rate while others charge by the hour. If the charges are hourly,
be sure to find out if the meter starts when they leave their dock, or when
they actually have you under tow. Don't forget that admiralty law is on the
side of the towing company and, if you try to evade the cost, most courts
will penalize you heavily.



http://www.boats.com/boat-articles/S...ater/2843.html

"wgander" wrote in message
news:MUyFd.37$ru.11@fed1read07...
I never had the patience to follow a thread this long before. I'll probably
never do it again.
Only two posters attempted to answer the question:
BB pointed out that who handed who a line may be a point in salvage
questions and liability issues;
DSK pointed out that it depends.
Thanks to both of them for their answers.



"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?
Paul



According to LaMontagne, to help in most situations, you should do the
following if you encounter a vessel in trouble, hear a radio distress call
or respond to a visual-distress signal:

.. help the boater contact assistance via VHF radio or cellular phone and
provide authorities with a description of the vessel, number of people
aboard and location;

.. if they haven't already done so, remind the other boaters to follow basic
emergency safety procedures such as setting their anchor and having
everybody onboard don lifejackets, and

.. stand by the vessel until help arrives; if the other vessel has a VHF
radio, standing a radio watch - remaining in regular radio contact with the
stranded vessel - usually fulfills this part of your obligation.

Limiting your involvement to these three courses of action is the prudent
thing to do in most "routine" encounters - breakdowns, out of gas,
entanglements with trap lines, etc.

"Of course, there will be times when the situation dictates doing more, such
as during true on-water emergencies," added LaMontagne.

While every situation is unique, VAAA offers these examples of things in
which you generally don't want to get involved when assisting another
boater:

.. taking another vessel under tow - without the proper knowledge and
equipment, this is dangerous to people and property;

.. siphoning fuel from your vessel into another - due to the personal health
risk and the risk of fire and explosion,

.. jump-starting another vessel with dead batteries - improper use by either
party carries a risk of fire or damage, or

.. boarding another vessel to perform mechanical repairs - this is both
dangerous and a liability minefield.

Experienced mariners recognize that the Good Samaritan defense is just
that - a defense. It doesn't prevent boaters from being sued or eliminate
the cost and hassles of defending yourself.

"At the same time, it's important for mariners to maintain a helpful spirit,
and provide a safety net out there on the water. The best way to do that for
both parties (in the majority of non-emergency cases) is to help get trained
professionals on scene as soon as possible," said LaMontagne



http://www.ritzinteractive.com/messa...mID11/136.html

http://www.seatowpdx.com/documents/2...thecaptain.pdf

"LaBomba182" wrote in message
...
Subject: Towing a Boat? Your line or his?
From: "Doug Kanter"

Paul, what exactly does this mean - "find yourself in a salvage
situation"???



A claim could be made against your boat and your insurance company.


Capt. Bill


Based on that one line response, I come to this conclusion: If someone tows
you back to the dock because your ignition module failed, you should tie
that person up, but not too roughly, haul your boat out of the water, and
leave town.

Something's missing here.

So in the US when your motor fails you may as well just sink the boat
before you hand it over to the guy who offers to tow you?

The laws in the US cant be THAT stupid?

If they are I will be cruising US waters for some salvaging next
summer! hahaha

Matt

Harry Krause wrote:

Perhaps if you are about to tow someone, you should ask if they are a
lawyer...or a Republican. If so, let 'em flounder, eh?

I'd be more concerned about accepting a tow from either.

-rick-

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary trains its members to use their own line for
several reasons:
- It's part of a complete towing package including the critical towing
bridle
- You know it's strong enough and long enough
- You always want to keep control so you can:
- lengthen or shorten the tow line when needed to ride well
- cast loose if necessary in an emergency
- The towed boat (possibly untrained) has only a loop to deal with, no
knots.

Everett

"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?
Paul

Paul Schilter wrote:
Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?
Paul

I'd suggest you as the towor, give your line to the towed vessel, that
way you know what it is, strength & hopefully stretch (nylon) & can pre
set it up (bridle or forward fastening) as "you" wish in your own time.

Unless the load can be brought well forward of the rubber post or
OB/sterndrive(s) you'll have trouble with steerage, particularly in the
sort of conditions that others might absolutely "require" a tow.

Don't want 2 boats in trouble just because one tried to assist the other.

K

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 08:25:50 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Dave Hall wrote:
On Wed, 12 Jan 2005 18:07:49 -0500, DSK wrote:


Paul Schilter wrote:

Is it more prudent for you to give your line over to a boat you're going
to tow or take his line?


An expert answer: it depends.

It's often said that accepting a line from a tower makes your vessel
salvage. OTOH it's often the case that the towee has no suitable lines
aboard.

When I've towed people in, I've always used my own line because
1- my crew had it ready
2- it was both long & stout enough, to my certain knowledge
3- that gives me more control over how it's paid out and the strain taken up



Another factor to keep in mind in this increasingly litigious and
responsibility deflecting society, is that if you use your line and
it breaks and results in further damage, there may be some urge to
hold you responsible. If you use his line and it breaks, then it's on
him.

Dave


Not necessarily. HE could sue you for tying a bad knot.

Gee, are we devolving to the point where no one is willing to help out
someone in distress? Next time I see some boater on the bay needing
help, should I consider whether he'll sue me before I go to his aid?


Well, that's what happens when you live with liberal standards of
deflecting responsibility. When someone crashes their car, they want
to sue the car maker. When someone spills hot coffee in their lap,
they want to sue the server. When someone gets shot by another person,
they want to sue the gun dealer and the gun manufacturer. It would
seem that people just want to sue anyone they can to turn their pain
into a windfall. The heck with personal responsibility and with it,
the idea of being a good samaritan.

It's a shame that it's come down to this, as I am the type of person
who will lend a helping hand at the drop of a hat. But lately I have
to keep the possibility of a lawsuit in the back of my mind when these
situations arise. Fortunately there are some good samaritan laws
written to address this problem, but I believe they apply mostly to
health related issues. Property damage may not be covered.

You can blame your left wing democratic buddies for this
"de-evolution".

Dave

Doug,
There have been cases of tow boat operators making a salvage claim on a
boat when the distressed boater thought he was only getting a tow. It
might be something you want to establish before accepting the tow.
Paul


Doug Kanter wrote:
"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...

BB,
It was just those rules I was curious about. It's not impossible if you
are the one being towed to find yourself in a salvage situation. Yes the
rules are different, they can be not what you would logically expect based
on common land rules. But it's still telling on our society!
Paul


Paul, what exactly does this mean - "find yourself in a salvage
situation"???

Paul:
A salvage claim - what's the meaning? As if the disabled boat was found
abandoned?

"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...
Doug,
There have been cases of tow boat operators making a salvage claim on a
boat when the distressed boater thought he was only getting a tow. It
might be something you want to establish before accepting the tow.
Paul


Doug Kanter wrote:
"Paul Schilter" wrote in message
...

BB,
It was just those rules I was curious about. It's not impossible if you
are the one being towed to find yourself in a salvage situation. Yes the
rules are different, they can be not what you would logically expect
based on common land rules. But it's still telling on our society!
Paul


Paul, what exactly does this mean - "find yourself in a salvage
situation"???

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 19:43:25 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

Paul:
A salvage claim - what's the meaning? As if the disabled boat was found
abandoned?


In order to encourage all sailors to offer rescue to other sailors,
Maritime laws created "salvage" as an incentive. If you risk your own
boat, crew and equipment to help someone else, you can then claim
salvage. A hearing will determine, based on a number of factors, how
much of the salvaged boat you now own. Sometimes you get the entire
boat and it's contents. It is always a lot more expensive than what a
tow boat operator charges for simply towing you a few miles back to
your dock on a sunny day when you can't get back by yourself.

Even if you have an unlimited towing contract with an outfit such as
SeaTow, they can claim salvage if the situation is more than a simple
towing. In that case, your towing contract is meaningless. NEVER
accept assistance from ANYBODY without first clarifying whether or not
they intend to claim salvage. This includes commercial as well as
private parties. They are not required to automatically tell you -
it's up to you to ask. If they want to claim salvage and you are in no
immediate danger, you would be wise to stay on the radio and explore
other options. You might want to try and contact your insurance
company as well, if at all possible.

BB

That's nuts! It's like a tow truck driver claiming salvage because the roads
were icier than normal.

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 19:43:25 +0000, Doug Kanter wrote:

Paul:
A salvage claim - what's the meaning? As if the disabled boat was found
abandoned?

A little "pocket guide":

http://www.boatingsafety.com/salvage2.htm

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 20:01:21 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

That's nuts! It's like a tow truck driver claiming salvage because the
roads
were icier than normal.


Here's some homework for you!

http://www.vesselassist.com/SWhite_tow_salv.html

BB

Thanks.

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 20:01:21 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

wrote in message
. ..
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 19:43:25 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

Paul:
A salvage claim - what's the meaning? As if the disabled boat was found
abandoned?


In order to encourage all sailors to offer rescue to other sailors,
Maritime laws created "salvage" as an incentive. If you risk your own
boat, crew and equipment to help someone else, you can then claim
salvage. A hearing will determine, based on a number of factors, how
much of the salvaged boat you now own. Sometimes you get the entire
boat and it's contents. It is always a lot more expensive than what a
tow boat operator charges for simply towing you a few miles back to
your dock on a sunny day when you can't get back by yourself.

Even if you have an unlimited towing contract with an outfit such as
SeaTow, they can claim salvage if the situation is more than a simple
towing. In that case, your towing contract is meaningless. NEVER
accept assistance from ANYBODY without first clarifying whether or not
they intend to claim salvage. This includes commercial as well as
private parties. They are not required to automatically tell you -
it's up to you to ask. If they want to claim salvage and you are in no
immediate danger, you would be wise to stay on the radio and explore
other options. You might want to try and contact your insurance
company as well, if at all possible.

BB

That's nuts! It's like a tow truck driver claiming salvage because the
roads
were icier than normal.


You had better stay on land then. This is nothing new or secret. It's
been done this way for eons.

BB

Every now and then, when the oars get in the way, I think about getting rid
of them. Maybe not. :-)

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 20:01:21 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

wrote in message
.. .
On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 19:43:25 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:

Paul:
A salvage claim - what's the meaning? As if the disabled boat was found
abandoned?


In order to encourage all sailors to offer rescue to other sailors,
Maritime laws created "salvage" as an incentive. If you risk your own
boat, crew and equipment to help someone else, you can then claim
salvage. A hearing will determine, based on a number of factors, how
much of the salvaged boat you now own. Sometimes you get the entire
boat and it's contents. It is always a lot more expensive than what a
tow boat operator charges for simply towing you a few miles back to
your dock on a sunny day when you can't get back by yourself.

Even if you have an unlimited towing contract with an outfit such as
SeaTow, they can claim salvage if the situation is more than a simple
towing. In that case, your towing contract is meaningless. NEVER
accept assistance from ANYBODY without first clarifying whether or not
they intend to claim salvage. This includes commercial as well as
private parties. They are not required to automatically tell you -
it's up to you to ask. If they want to claim salvage and you are in no
immediate danger, you would be wise to stay on the radio and explore
other options. You might want to try and contact your insurance
company as well, if at all possible.

BB

That's nuts! It's like a tow truck driver claiming salvage because the roads
were icier than normal.

Yes, it is "nuts" but that's the way it can be. Check out this link:

http://www.boatus.com/towing/guide/salvage/

There are some general guidelines to determine what should be
considered a simple tow, and what crosses the line into "salvage".
What determines the line usually depends on degree of immanent peril,
or difficulty in moving the boat, but nothing is cast in stone.

Dave