Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

I think if you see a boat in distress (fire, sinking, man overboard, et
cetera) you are obligated as a fellow human being to render whatever
assistance you can. I rarely ask who the guy voted for in the last
presidential election.


Subject to certain conditions (inability, danger to you or your passengers,
and a couple of others) I believe you also have a legal obligation to
provide assistance if a bona fide distress call (Mayday) is received and/or
you are directed by appropriate authority such as the Coast Guard to assist.

It would obviously be hard to prove that you avoided this responsibility,
but IIRC, those are the rules.

Eisboch




Well, I'm not "corporate America" when I'm out boating, and only out to
make a profit. If I see someone having trouble or if I am directed to
help, I will. I made up a large loop spliced line with handhold knots to
help someone in the water climb aboard the old Yo Ho (the ladder was not
a permanent attachment), and I still have it on the new Yo Ho.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...

On Sep 4, 10:50?am, "Eisboch" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

oups.com...



When monitoring Channel 16, its normal to hear the Coast Guard "ask"
whether there are vessels in the vicinity of a situation that might be
willing to help...."any vessels in the vicinity willing to render
assistance or provide additional information......". If there were
some law requiring compliance, I think we would hear "all vessels in
the vicinity are directed to proceed to the scene....."

I've never heard such a thing.

I *have* heard, "boaters are requested to keep a sharp lookout and to
provide assistance ...".

Must be a different Coast Guard out on the west coast.

Eisboch

Over the years in this group we have observed that radio and
communications practices do vary tremendously from one USCG district
to another. Heck, the districts don't even all use the same frequency-
some are on 16 and others are on 9.

Our district's "script" for "marine assistance broadcasts" neither
states nor implies that boaters are obligated to assist. In fact,
there seems to be a great emphasis placed on getting stranded boats
hooked up with Sea Tow, etc. I suspect that's one reason that the USCG
tries to get stranded boaters (not those in a life threatening
situation) off the radio and onto a cell phone when possible- too many
cases of "good sams" showing up to provide a free tow 5 minutes before
Sea Tow finishes burning $40 in fuel to arrive at the scene.


I don't disagree with most of the above, except it would surprise me if, as
a Federal Government Agency, that the Coast Guard had different scripts in
the training programs.
I've never heard a Coast Guard Pan Pan call in your area, so I can't judge.

However, in some distress call circumstances, I believe you have a legal
obligation to assist if you can without endangering you or your passengers.
I will provide a cite when I get a chance to look it up.

Eisboch

"HK" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

I think if you see a boat in distress (fire, sinking, man overboard, et
cetera) you are obligated as a fellow human being to render whatever
assistance you can. I rarely ask who the guy voted for in the last
presidential election.


Subject to certain conditions (inability, danger to you or your
passengers, and a couple of others) I believe you also have a legal
obligation to provide assistance if a bona fide distress call (Mayday) is
received and/or you are directed by appropriate authority such as the
Coast Guard to assist.

It would obviously be hard to prove that you avoided this responsibility,
but IIRC, those are the rules.

Eisboch


Well, I'm not "corporate America" when I'm out boating, and only out to
make a profit. If I see someone having trouble or if I am directed to
help, I will. I made up a large loop spliced line with handhold knots to
help someone in the water climb aboard the old Yo Ho (the ladder was not a
permanent attachment), and I still have it on the new Yo Ho.

That went over my head. What does "corporate America" and "making a
profit" have to do with a legal obligation (as well as moral) to provide
assistance in a legitimate maritime emergency?

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...


I don't disagree with most of the above, except it would surprise me if,
as a Federal Government Agency, that the Coast Guard had different scripts
in the training programs.
I've never heard a Coast Guard Pan Pan call in your area, so I can't
judge.


BTW ... the "script" around here is close to .... "vessels in the area are
instructed to keep a sharp lookout and to provide assistance, if possible"

The wording may not be exact ... I'll check it when I get back to the boat
and look it up along with the "legal obligation" to assist reference I
alluded to. My "stuff" is on the boat.

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

I think if you see a boat in distress (fire, sinking, man overboard, et
cetera) you are obligated as a fellow human being to render whatever
assistance you can. I rarely ask who the guy voted for in the last
presidential election.

Subject to certain conditions (inability, danger to you or your
passengers, and a couple of others) I believe you also have a legal
obligation to provide assistance if a bona fide distress call (Mayday) is
received and/or you are directed by appropriate authority such as the
Coast Guard to assist.

It would obviously be hard to prove that you avoided this responsibility,
but IIRC, those are the rules.

Eisboch

Well, I'm not "corporate America" when I'm out boating, and only out to
make a profit. If I see someone having trouble or if I am directed to
help, I will. I made up a large loop spliced line with handhold knots to
help someone in the water climb aboard the old Yo Ho (the ladder was not a
permanent attachment), and I still have it on the new Yo Ho.

That went over my head. What does "corporate America" and "making a
profit" have to do with a legal obligation (as well as moral) to provide
assistance in a legitimate maritime emergency?

Eisboch



Precisely.

On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 12:27:23 -0400, "D-unit" cof42_AT_embarqmail.com
wrote:

After getting drenched in a heavy downpour last week and on my way
home, I notice a fellow off to the side of the ICW *walking* his boat
up the waterway. He waves and appears to be in distress so I turn
around to see what's up.

Turns out,

His battery is dead. I hand over my battery booster which doesn't help
much. (Im wondering if I shouldn't have bought a larger one) He then
asks me to tow him to the wildlife ramp. (approx. 3-4 miles)
to which I reluctantly replied ok. He said a couple other guys had stopped
but refused to give him a tow. I have never had to tow anyone but was
willing to help the guy out.

I did irk me that he had no back up of any kind. i.e. extra battery, paddle.
battery booster.

When we got to the ramp, he offered no *thank you* but a "what do I owe
you"?
A thank you would have sufficed, I guess that's what he meant.

Afterwards, I starting thinking about what my obligations are in similar
situations.

I think Im only legally obligated to lend assistance only if it is a dire
situation or
someone is hurt. Maybe someone could clear this up.



I now, after towing in a few people from the bay, offer to contact TowBoat
US and to stick around until help arrives. I carry jumper cables, and have
helped a guy get his boat started. But, I won't tow him. Once you take a
boat under tow, you've assumed a *lot* of responsibility.
--
John H

On Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:51:25 -0400, HK wrote:

Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

Eisboch wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..

I think if you see a boat in distress (fire, sinking, man overboard, et
cetera) you are obligated as a fellow human being to render whatever
assistance you can. I rarely ask who the guy voted for in the last
presidential election.

Subject to certain conditions (inability, danger to you or your
passengers, and a couple of others) I believe you also have a legal
obligation to provide assistance if a bona fide distress call (Mayday) is
received and/or you are directed by appropriate authority such as the
Coast Guard to assist.

It would obviously be hard to prove that you avoided this responsibility,
but IIRC, those are the rules.

Eisboch

Well, I'm not "corporate America" when I'm out boating, and only out to
make a profit. If I see someone having trouble or if I am directed to
help, I will. I made up a large loop spliced line with handhold knots to
help someone in the water climb aboard the old Yo Ho (the ladder was not a
permanent attachment), and I still have it on the new Yo Ho.

That went over my head. What does "corporate America" and "making a
profit" have to do with a legal obligation (as well as moral) to provide
assistance in a legitimate maritime emergency?

Eisboch



Precisely.

Excellent.

--Vic

wrote:
On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 12:27:23 -0400, "D-unit" cof42_AT_embarqmail.com
wrote:

When we got to the ramp, he offered no *thank you* but a "what do I owe
you"?
A thank you would have sufficed, I guess that's what he meant.


I tow people up the Estero River a lot. "What do I owe you" is the
normal response and they sometimes offer money before we even start
the tow.
They probably know the tow pirate will charge them a couple hundred,
if he will even try coming up the river. Those inboards they run
around here might have trouble in low water.
My answer is always "tow me if you see me broke down".
I do get a lot of smiles and waves when I see them again. Hopefully if
I ever do break down one of my "towees" will happen by.



Yeah, that's sort of the price I extract, except I usually tell them to
help the next guy who needs it.

On Sep 4, 11:48?am, "Eisboch" wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message

...



I don't disagree with most of the above, except it would surprise me if,
as a Federal Government Agency, that the Coast Guard had different scripts
in the training programs.
I've never heard a Coast Guard Pan Pan call in your area, so I can't
judge.

BTW ... the "script" around here is close to .... "vessels in the area are
instructed to keep a sharp lookout and to provide assistance, if possible"

The wording may not be exact ... I'll check it when I get back to the boat
and look it up along with the "legal obligation" to assist reference I
alluded to. My "stuff" is on the boat.

Eisboch

I don't recall hearing the term "sharp lookout" used in the standard
marine assistance broadcast in the NW.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Sep 4, 11:48?am, "Eisboch" wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message

...



I don't disagree with most of the above, except it would surprise me
if,
as a Federal Government Agency, that the Coast Guard had different
scripts
in the training programs.
I've never heard a Coast Guard Pan Pan call in your area, so I can't
judge.

BTW ... the "script" around here is close to .... "vessels in the area
are
instructed to keep a sharp lookout and to provide assistance, if
possible"

The wording may not be exact ... I'll check it when I get back to the
boat
and look it up along with the "legal obligation" to assist reference I
alluded to. My "stuff" is on the boat.

Eisboch

I don't recall hearing the term "sharp lookout" used in the standard
marine assistance broadcast in the NW.

Could you get the script and post it here? We must have accurate
information.


--
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