"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