I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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 played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

Isn't a sad commentary on our times when we have to worry about our
"obligations and legal liabilities", when we decide to stop and lend a
hand?


"D-unit" cof42_AT_embarqmail.com wrote in message
...
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 played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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.

You're obligated to help people, not boats. If he was at risk of loss of
life you'd be obligated to help him. But not to drag his unprepared boat
anywhere. Had anything gone wrong during that towing it's likely you'd get
stuck financially. Your insurance policy would probably not cover it *at
all*.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Sep 4, 9:27?am, "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.

Check your individual state law.

In most jurisdictions, offering rescue services or other assistance is
legally optional. Might be morally or ethically compelled, but seldom
legally required. In fact, some people are reluctant to lend
assistance due to well-founded fear of lawsuits. There have been many
well publicized cases where a passer-by performs CPR on somebody
having a heart attack, the victim dies anyway, and the person who
offered the assistance is then sued by the deceased's heirs for an
enormous amount of money.

States now typically have "Good Samaritan" laws in place to protect
volunteer rescuers from such lawsuits, but some states have a variety
of standards that appply and in many the voluntary rescue must be
performed with a certain level of competence for the legal protection
to be fully effective.

The USCG actually refers to boaters who stop and render assistance as
"good Sams" or "good Samaritans". In the original parable of the Good
Samaritan, a foreigner from Samaria stopped to assist a person injured
on the side of the road when the person's actual neighbors were
pretending not to notice him. Being a good Samaritan is a voluntary
action.

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 played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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)

If it starts *you* up, that's all you need.
For all you know, he was out of gas, or flooded, or had other problems
with the engine, which is why he ran his battery down.
Can't tell you how much time I wasted trying to jump somebody's
car in the winter before I learned to recognize that it just wasn't
going to start with my jump, and to tell them flat out to call a truck
with the amps to start it or the cable to tow it.

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.

That's a little tricky. I would have tried to convince you to buy a
case of beer on me or buy one of your kids a model boat or something
on me. If you refused twice, a heartfelt thanks would do.

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.

Don't know the legalities, but you did right if you feel right.
I've done such acts (not boats) and sometimes felt like a sucker
afterwards, but suspect I would have felt worse if I hadn't done it.
Might check with your insurance company and see what they say.
That could give you an out if you're not entirely comfortable with the
circumstances.


--Vic

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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

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.

It's a judgement call in my opinion, with a lot depending on
circumstances. In this particular instance with no ones safety at
stake I think you would have been well within your obligationss to
just call SeaTow or TowBoatUS on the radio or cell phone. On the
other hand if you did not put yourself at risk, and were not overly
inconvenienced, you did the right thing by helping him out. A boat in
that situation is unprepared in some way, almost by definition.

We rescued a boat several weeks ago under much different
circumstances. I put my own boat at some risk to rescue folks that
were drifting into the rocks and breaking surf, but in my judgement
there was much greater risk if I did nothing, and there was no time to
wait for USCG or anyone else. It could easily be argued that they
were totally unprepared but that's how they got into trouble to begin
with. If we had done nothing however, the memory of watching these
two families getting capsized in the surf would have stayed with us
for a long time.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"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

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"D-unit" 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've towed in a few boaters with dead engines over the years. I don't
believe there is any legal obligation to do so. If the boat is otherwise
sound and its captain sober enough to handle his end of the tow line, I
don't see any serious problem.

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.

Incidentally, on a small boat such as I have, the odds are just as
likely the battery wire has come loose and that's why there's no juice
and why a jumper won't help. It's happened to me.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"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

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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 played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"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

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"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

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"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 played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"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.


--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

Jim wrote:

"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.



Ol' Chuck has his dukes up and is ready, willing and able to fight
everyone over everything.

I think we need our own Homeland Security warning system to accommodate
Chuck's dark-sided moods:


http://tinyurl.com/38zfcm

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Sep 4, 2:23?pm, HK wrote:
Jim wrote:

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

news:IIOdnT69_fhHOUDbnZ2dnUVZ_j2dnZ2d@giganews. com...

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.

Ol' Chuck has his dukes up and is ready, willing and able to fight
everyone over everything.

I think we need our own Homeland Security warning system to accommodate
Chuck's dark-sided moods:

http://tinyurl.com/38zfcm- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

???????????????

Eisboch and I were comparing the verbiage used in marine assistance
request broadcasts from two different USCG districts. How is that a
fight?

I fail to see where either one of us told the other "You're wrong...."

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Sep 4, 12:34?pm, HK wrote:


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

- Show quoted text -

How many tows did you provide in your 115 hours underway in the last
several years? Or, maybe you do your towing with the lobsta boat?

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Sep 4, 2:13?pm, "Jim" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

oups.com...



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

om...

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.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Why?

Whatever verbiage your particular USCG district chooses to use is
perdectly fine. I wasn't aware that there were differences, but as
Eisboch is remarking that he has never heard some of the terms I am
quoting and I have never heard some of the terms he is quoting
apparently there are different procedures.

A script is used because each time a broadcast goes out the wording is
exactly the same, regardless of the radio operator on duty.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

Chuck Gould wrote:
On Sep 4, 12:34?pm, HK wrote:

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

- Show quoted text -

How many tows did you provide in your 115 hours underway in the last
several years? Or, maybe you do your towing with the lobsta boat?



More times than you dove off your boat for a swim, I am sure.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

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

Checking with the USCG Radio Watchstander's guide confirms that
a MARB (Marine Assistance Request Broadcast) shall be worded in a
manner that "invites" fellow mariners to respond with aid.

http://www.uscg.mil/d1/units/gruport...M_16120_7A.pdf


And of course you are right that there is a difference between a
MAYDAY and a MARB. No question whatsoever there.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

D-unit 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 am sure someone will chime in with the "obligations stuff". Anyway I
have never left anyone stranded. And have never accepted any money in
return. We have have a few outings interrupted. But not that many. I
think I have towed maybe three boats in the last ten years.

There was one guy I was about ready to cut lose after he told me his
starter had been going out of over a year. It was going to be a long tow
as well. Apparently the starter cooled enought to fire it up just after
this little fact was presented to me :-)

Capt Jack R..

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

"Jack Redington" wrote in message
...
D-unit 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 am sure someone will chime in with the "obligations stuff". Anyway I
have never left anyone stranded. And have never accepted any money in
return. We have have a few outings interrupted. But not that many. I
think I have towed maybe three boats in the last ten years.

There was one guy I was about ready to cut lose after he told me his
starter had been going out of over a year. It was going to be a long tow
as well. Apparently the starter cooled enought to fire it up just after
this little fact was presented to me :-)

Capt Jack R..


Years ago, I was in my 14' skiff, and a guy grounds on the dredging spoils
for San Leandro harbor channel. I manage to get this about 30' boat off the
mud. Left him after he again runs out of the well marked channel, pilings
all along the channel, and grounds again. He needed a lesson and could
contemplate where he screwed up while waiting for high tide.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 12:27:23 -0400, D-unit penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

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.

A few thoughts:

1) You lend assistance to the crew and passengers, not the vessel....
so, just waiting at the scene until "assistance" comes is a legal
option.

2) Those advising against any further help may actually be putting
caution and common sense ahead of being a good Samaritan. In a
litigious society, that may not be an all bad idea. (What would the
outcome have been had you been accused of damaging the towed boat in
some way?)

3) It isn't really legal to accept any sort of compensation for this
sort of tow unless you have a Captain's License with a Commercial Tow
Assist endorsement.

Personally, I, too, would have given him a careful tow to Wildlife and
accepted no pay.... but recognize that there could be some liability
incurred, especially if the towee is the sort of person disinclined
to offer appreciation for the voluntary assist.

YMMV.

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
http://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguide
http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
-----------------
www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com - *Completion*Retention*Speed*
Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road
-----------------

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Sep 5, 11:27 am, Gene Kearns
wrote:
On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 12:27:23 -0400, D-unit penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:





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.

A few thoughts:

1) You lend assistance to the crew and passengers, not the vessel....
so, just waiting at the scene until "assistance" comes is a legal
option.

2) Those advising against any further help may actually be putting
caution and common sense ahead of being a good Samaritan. In a
litigious society, that may not be an all bad idea. (What would the
outcome have been had you been accused of damaging the towed boat in
some way?)

3) It isn't really legal to accept any sort of compensation for this
sort of tow unless you have a Captain's License with a Commercial Tow
Assist endorsement.

Personally, I, too, would have given him a careful tow to Wildlife and
accepted no pay.... but recognize that there could be some liability
incurred, especially if the towee is the sort of person disinclined
to offer appreciation for the voluntary assist.

YMMV.

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepagehttp://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguidehttp://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
-----------------www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com- *Completion*Retention*Speed*
Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road
------------------ Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

We found a guy in a big boat sitting on it's side in low tide behind
Seldon Island in Deep River CT, on the CT river. Of course, no one
told him the tide was going out so he was stuck until morning. My
Sears Jon, was not going to get him out, so we gave him the food and
drinks from the cooler to keep him for the night. High tide was going
to be about 6 am iirc.. His "buddies" had hiked out and left him
there for the night, yuppies, geeze... It was the 80's then, my jeep
bumper sticker read "die yuppie scum" ;) But he was a boater after all.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Sep 5, 8:48?am, wrote:
On Sep 5, 11:27 am, Gene Kearns
wrote:





On Tue, 4 Sep 2007 12:27:23 -0400, D-unit penned the following well
considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

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.

A few thoughts:

1) You lend assistance to the crew and passengers, not the vessel....
so, just waiting at the scene until "assistance" comes is a legal
option.

2) Those advising against any further help may actually be putting
caution and common sense ahead of being a good Samaritan. In a
litigious society, that may not be an all bad idea. (What would the
outcome have been had you been accused of damaging the towed boat in
some way?)

3) It isn't really legal to accept any sort of compensation for this
sort of tow unless you have a Captain's License with a Commercial Tow
Assist endorsement.

Personally, I, too, would have given him a careful tow to Wildlife and
accepted no pay.... but recognize that there could be some liability
incurred, especially if the towee is the sort of person disinclined
to offer appreciation for the voluntary assist.

YMMV.

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepagehttp://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguidehttp://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats
-----------------www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com-*Completion*Retention*Speed*
Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road
------------------ Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

We found a guy in a big boat sitting on it's side in low tide behind
Seldon Island in Deep River CT, on the CT river. Of course, no one
told him the tide was going out so he was stuck until morning. My
Sears Jon, was not going to get him out, so we gave him the food and
drinks from the cooler to keep him for the night. High tide was going
to be about 6 am iirc.. His "buddies" had hiked out and left him
there for the night, yuppies, geeze... It was the 80's then, my jeep
bumper sticker read "die yuppie scum" ;) But he was a boater after all.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

My favorite rescue:

We were westbound across Puget Sound one summer afternoon.
Somewhere near the middle of the stretch between Shilshole and
Bainbridge Island, or at least two miles from land in any direction,
we came across a guy in a very weird looking vessel.

Upon closer inspection, it proved to be a plastic sandbox shaped like
a boat. It was 6-7 feet long, was floating with no more than a couple
of inches of freeboard, and a "hippie" looking individual was paddling
it with a plastic oar. No life jacket or anything else, of course. I
was concerned for the guy, as there was a light chop building and it
wasn't hard to visualize the sandbox filling up with water. I slowed
to a crawl to avoid swamping him with my wake and came to a stop about
15 feet or so from him.

"Are you OK?" I aksed.

"Fine! Why would you ask?"

"We don't see a lot of people out here in sandboxes."

"It floats, doesn't it?" he retorted indignantly.

"Yes, it does that. At least for now. Where are you trying to go?
Maybe we could give you a lift?"

"Nah, I'm fine. Thanks."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely."

We started off, and I was wondering whether or not to report this
idiot to the Coast Guard. He was obviously endangering himself. We
were still nearby when the wooden shaft jammed into the plastic blade
of his paddle broke, and he was reduced to grabbing the plastic blade
with both hands and "scooping" his way along.

"Sure you don't want some help?" I asked again.

"Well, maybe, since the paddle broke. I'm trying to go over to
Charlie's at Shilshole for a beer."

Despite second thoughts about the advisability of taking this apparent
nut on board with us, we hooked a line to the sandbox and set the
paddler on the aft deck. We turned around and headed back for
Shilshole, even though that was 180-degrees from where we intended to
go.

"Do you often go paddling around in that sandbox?" I asked.

"No, not at all. But I saw this Viking movie on TV this afternoon, got
to thinking about how good a cold beer would taste, and decided I'd go
by boat. I don't really have a boat, but I thought that sandbox would
probably do and it did get me halfway across the sound. I would have
made it all the way if the paddle hadn't snapped."

We let him out at the guest dock, where he tied up his sandbox and
headed up to the bar. I implored him to call a buddy to drive over and
pick him up when he was ready to go home again and not try to paddle
back across the sound when it was probably going to be dark. (On top
of all of his other challenges). Don't know if he did or not. I might
be my brother's keeper, but I'll be darned if I'm his babysitter. He
was safe ashore when we left him, and I thought that was sufficient.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:51:19 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

"Do you often go paddling around in that sandbox?" I asked.

"No, not at all. But I saw this Viking movie on TV this afternoon, got
to thinking about how good a cold beer would taste, and decided I'd go
by boat. I don't really have a boat, but I thought that sandbox would
probably do and it did get me halfway across the sound. I would have
made it all the way if the paddle hadn't snapped."

Did you ask what movie it was? I'd like to see it.

We let him out at the guest dock, where he tied up his sandbox and
headed up to the bar. I implored him to call a buddy to drive over and
pick him up when he was ready to go home again and not try to paddle
back across the sound when it was probably going to be dark. (On top
of all of his other challenges). Don't know if he did or not. I might
be my brother's keeper, but I'll be darned if I'm his babysitter. He
was safe ashore when we left him, and I thought that was sufficient.

LOL
Chuck, I've got a real strong feeling nobody is going to top this one.

--Vic

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

I have towed people quite often, usually campers or other cottage neighbors
with crappy boats. Never more than a mile or so, mind you. I will always
render assistance. I often see them with the motor cover off from my own
shore and I'll jump in the boat to use the excuse to go for a little zoom.
When they off payment or thanks, I always tell them to just do the same for
someone else someday and we'll be even. Hopefully there will be someone
around when I myself need assistance.

There is of course, a limit to how prepared you can be out in the water. In
a 17 ft boat I don't carry a spare stator or spare battery but I do make
sure to have a really decent oversized battery.

--
Denis Roy
D. Roy Woodcraft
www.ideasinwood.com
"D-unit" cof42_AT_embarqmail.com wrote in message
...
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 played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:03:23 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Would you have allowed George Bush, Sr. to tow you out?
http://tinyurl.com/3yzp8n

I have it on good authority that it wasn't G.H.W.B but a Secret
Service agent that did that.

Second hand info, etc... :)

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:51:19 -0700, Chuck Gould
wrote:

"Do you often go paddling around in that sandbox?" I asked.

"No, not at all. But I saw this Viking movie on TV this afternoon, got
to thinking about how good a cold beer would taste, and decided I'd go
by boat. I don't really have a boat, but I thought that sandbox would
probably do and it did get me halfway across the sound. I would have
made it all the way if the paddle hadn't snapped."


Did you ask what movie it was? I'd like to see it.


We let him out at the guest dock, where he tied up his sandbox and
headed up to the bar. I implored him to call a buddy to drive over and
pick him up when he was ready to go home again and not try to paddle
back across the sound when it was probably going to be dark. (On top
of all of his other challenges). Don't know if he did or not. I might
be my brother's keeper, but I'll be darned if I'm his babysitter. He
was safe ashore when we left him, and I thought that was sufficient.


LOL
Chuck, I've got a real strong feeling nobody is going to top this one.

--Vic

I can't even come close.

Capt Jack R..

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:57:04 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:

It is said that the spooky kinda guys were in the black boat aft the
boat seeking friends on the boardwalk......

They are easy to spot in real life, all wearing a little diamond shape
lapel pin and an unobtrusive device that looks like a hearing aid.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

On Sep 5, 10:57 pm, Gene Kearns
wrote:
On Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:54:59 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing penned the
following well considered thoughts to the readers of rec.boats:

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:03:23 -0400, Gene Kearns
wrote:

Would you have allowed George Bush, Sr. to tow you out?
http://tinyurl.com/3yzp8n

I have it on good authority that it wasn't G.H.W.B but a Secret
Service agent that did that.

Second hand info, etc... :)

It is said that the spooky kinda guys were in the black boat aft the
boat seeking friends on the boardwalk......

--

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepagehttp://pamandgene.idleplay.net/

Rec.boats at Lee Yeaton's Bayguidehttp://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats

I seriously wonder if the agent who jumped off the bow to avoid being
crushed go diciplined for leaving his post and being out of control
for almost 4 seconds or so before he jumped back on and got "back to
work"...

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

From the Navigation Rules, COMDTINST M16672.2D, page 202:

§2304 Duty to provide assistance at sea
(a) A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render
assistance
to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as
the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger
to the master's or individual's vessel or individuals on board.
(b) A master or individual violating this section shall be fined not
more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.

I played *Mr. Sea Tow* last week
 

BeenWetter wrote:
From the Navigation Rules, COMDTINST M16672.2D, page 202:

§2304 Duty to provide assistance at sea
(a) A master or individual in charge of a vessel shall render
assistance
to any individual found at sea in danger of being lost, so far as
the master or individual in charge can do so without serious danger
to the master's or individual's vessel or individuals on board.
(b) A master or individual violating this section shall be fined not
more than $1,000, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both.



Hmmm. We have a few jerks here who think they are master "baiters," but
the reality is that they already are lost at sea.