Reggie Smithers wrote:
The current situation in NYC with everyone pulling together made me think
about boaters and the Good Samaritan Rule. Everyone from pleasure boaters
on a small lake to tankers in the middle of the ocean will go out of their
way to help others.

Whenever I see someone who appears stalled, I will go over to see if I can
help. I have towed people to the marina and have had to be towed before.
What is it that brings people together on the water or together in an
emergency, such as the transit strike in NYC?

Wish I could say the same.

I have never left anyone stranded even when they deserved it. ie a guy
told me his started had been showing signs of failing for almost a year
and now it was cah-put and I towed him almost 5 miles on a inland lake.

I had my first failure in 30 plus years of boating last summer. It
happened at night and three boats went by less them 30 yards away,
Signaled with a spotlight (not directly at them as not to blind anyone)
and they had to see me considering the width of the channel but they
just kept going on their way. (shouted too)

I was only about half mile from our lake weekend place. We called the
guy that lives next door on the cell. He happened to be returning home
and gave us a tow a couple of hours later.


Capt Jack R..