To Help or Not

[kmacdonald]

Not going to put in writing what I'll do but if necessary it will be after dark.

[Mike OReilly]

Wow, what a sad question to have to ask. I would hope most mariners would do what they could to assist, without putting themselves at undue risk of course. The boaters I've hung around with over my two decades as a sailor certainly would -- and have (including me at times).

[kmacdonald]

Yes Mike it is. It's the way things are going down here. Very sad. I can say his boat is fine now even without the help of 20 other boats here but I can't really blame them. I'm guessing the owner of the boat hasn't been able to get back to his boat for some reason. The boat is old but nice and well cared for so it's not abandoned.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Should you secure an unattended boat dragging repeatedly in an anchorage? Any liability in helping? Potential trespassing?

It's the way of sailors to save each other's boats, and not just stand by and watch them be damaged or destroyed. I can't think of anything more unseamanlike.

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Notify the harbormaster, coast guard, local police. There are liability issues associated with “helping”. Good Samaritans are often disrespected…….no good deed goes unpunished….

True, but we still do it.

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

If it were your boat dragging what would you want the answer to be?

I would secure it, and keep it to myself.

Kind of like taking care of banging halyards.

Exactly


I've done it more than once myself, and been the beneficiary of such good deeds, not always anonymous.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by JebLostInSpace

. . . The idea that I would not pay that kindness forward now that I have learned a few lessons is just unacceptable to me. So I'll always help out in that situation if I safely can. And if they try to hold me liable for some kind of damages afterwards, then I'll just have to deal with that as best I can. . .

Yep.

And what kind of "willingness to help" is it, if one is only willing to help if there is zero risk to oneself? If one is willing to help only if gratitude of the person helped is guaranteed? What kind of moral compass is that? That's not how I was brought up.

We help because that's what we do, and we are willing to take reasonable risks to do it, nor does the potential ingratitude of the beneficiary of our help, make us regret helping or hesitate to help. We don't do it for gratitude, we do it because it's the right thing to do.

[kmacdonald]

Like "going down with the ship"?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Like "going down with the ship"?

Yes. The person responsible, i.e. the skipper, leaves the sinking ship last, and doesn't leave at all if he can't get everyone off. But this is purely logical -- what kind of ultimate responsibility is it, if you run off leaving others in trouble?

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ca..._with_the_ship

[sailorboy1]

this is a sad thread showing a sad state of society

[bdgWesternMass]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

That's what I thought. I was told the CG was notified but refused to help since loss of life was not imminent.

Since there are witnesses to it dragging and the coast guard has been notified I would think that gives one some cover to do a good deed.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

what kind of ultimate responsibility is it, if you run off leaving others in trouble?

Italian..???

[keepondancin]

In Guadaloupe a boat drifted through the anchorage, bounced off a couple boats. Ran over with the dinghy, got on board. The mooring pennant had chafed through. It was clear of other boats, I dropped the anchor and set it. Returned to my boat. Hour or so later I saw someone dinghying around the anchorage looking confused. Waved to him, got his attention, pointed to the anchored boat. He went over, got on board, checked his boat and saw the chafed line. Got in his dingy came over and asked if it was me who anchored his boat. I said yes, he said "American"? " Thank you". "No Frenchman would ever go help someone".

[goboatingnow]

I would always try and help , its in my nature, most countries have good Samaritan laws anyway.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Italian..???

or english , anyone really, dumbasses are international

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

this is a sad thread showing a sad state of society

in reality is on the ground , there is always help , In the marina we always " man each others " bows as the charter boats return on friday , if the owner is away and people will regularly board and redo a line if its needed.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by kmacdonald

Yes Mike it is. It's the way things are going down here. Very sad. I can say his boat is fine now even without the help of 20 other boats here but I can't really blame them. I'm guessing the owner of the boat hasn't been able to get back to his boat for some reason. The boat is old but nice and well cared for so it's not abandoned.

I know that some jurisdictions where this is an issue have invoked so-called "good Samaritan" laws to protect people the helpers. Would this kind of law not apply here? And does it exist in this jurisdiction?

It's sad a sad statement that one even needs these laws, but luckily it is a non-issue in most places.