"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 20:48:09 -0400, "Jim Carter"
wrote:


I guess that in US waters it must be different.
Jim


Well, I guess that truly qualifies as a cheap shot....

Gene. How does that qualify as a cheap shot? If you read my post again,
you will notice that I said that in Canadian waters of the Great Lakes, the
boat tows are free. If in US waters, you have to pay, then, of course, it
must be different. I did not intend it to be taken as a slur against
anyone in the US. I simply stated the truth. The Canadian Coast Guard
Aux. has assisted thousands of boaters that needed their boat's batteries
boosted, or they have delivered gas or diesel fuel to boat that had run out
of fuel. They have towed boats into the nearest harbor when needed. All
of this at "No Charge". At my marina in Bayfield, the local boat repair
shop, Bayfield Marine Service, has many times gone out into the lake to
assist boats that needed help. They only charged for the repairs and
never charged if a tow was needed. It is Canadian Law, under the Canadian
Boating Act, that "all vessels must render assistance to any boat in
distress".

Jim

... one recent time we
rescued somebody (a small capsized sailboat) the guy refused to
cooperate with my 'suggestions' and I just about left him in the
middle of the lake. My wife would not let me, though. So we went ahead
and his boat put many ugly scratches in ours. My wife didn't realize
this until later and then she was mad at *me* for it.



Don White wrote:
tow rope too short...or did you lash him alongside?

Neither. This particular rescue involved a small capsized sailboat that
did not have sufficient flotation. To right it and restore it to
floating status required pulling the mast upright & holding it that way
(fortunately we were on a boat big enough & stable enough to do that)
and then getting the people out of it while bailing enough water out to
get the top of the centerboard trunk above the water.

This guy was convinced that he knew exactly what to do (although the
evidence was already heavily against him before we came along) and not
only didn't accept suggestions but wanted to boss me around on my own
boat. He didn't even know why he had got into the trouble in the first
place.

Should have let the damn thing sink, it's an outdated deathtrap anyway.
One reason why sailing *used* to be a sport for the intelligent.

DSK