I need your take on this.
 

Read this thread and tell me if I ripped this guy off. Keep in mind I don't know this guy from Adam and this mayday came in on my base station and USCG was at least 30 miles away and couldn't get communication with any assisting vessels.
I am totally pissed off at the moment for being accused as a pirate and a rip-off, and would appreciate your take on this.



http://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...ad.php?t=90536

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Chris, I read it , but cannot bring up the pics.
See ya, Ken

Re: I need your take on this.
 

I read the whole thread. Only thing I can figure is, some folks think you should provide towing services for free. In 1983, I was the tow-boat Captain for Waterway Marina in Palm Beach Gardens. 22 years ago we charged $150 just to come give someone's boat a jumpstart. If you were not a storage customer at the marina, towing your vessel would cost you $300 per hour in quarter-hour increments. And the time charged began when I left the dock to come get you. And that was 1983! I remember towing a 28 Allmand in from 17 miles offshore in the Gulfstream with, yes, you guessed it, a '77 23 SeaCraft with twin 115 'rudes. SeaTow didn't come along in Palm Beach until later that year. If you weren't a SeaTow member, Capt Will charged exactly the same thing we did at Waterway.
$500 is INCREDIBLY cheap. With that kind of damage, you could have easily made a case for salvage to the tune of $6K to $8K.
But I noticed that Chuck isn't complaining. It's the people who weren't there who are complaining. Figures.

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Thanks for that Fr.Frank. No Chuck isn't complaining, but there is a close friend of his that's local and when I passed him in the lagoon the other day he made a remark that got my suspicion up. At first I thought he was kidding.

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Chris,

I read the entire thread. I think you may have over reacted to some of the comments. Those folks were not there. I would say you did a good job on the salvage work for Chuck. I'm surprised the Boat U.S. agency didn't MAKE YOU BILL FOR SALVAGE. Given the circumstances, your price was fair. Thank God no one was hurt and an experienced tow person was on site to help out.

Keep up the good work.

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Finster - I read thru that also, and my take is that chuck is all right with it all, got his head screwed on straight that his wife and the other couple are allright - but that others are - well....

they weren't there - they don't count.

also, as mentioned, alot of people still think it's like 25 years ago, and when you call, the USCG comes and saves you for free.

Don't sweat it - you're fine, the involved boaters are fine, and the rest don't have a say, though they may have big mouths.


Bill

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Otto, as a matter of fact my boss asked me if I wanted to take a salvage claim to the hull. I declind, feeling sorry for the guy having no insurance what so ever.
I'll tell you what, that will be the last time I do that.

Re: I need your take on this.
 

That guy should be kissing your feet.

It cost money to be towed in, that's a fact, the alternative is lying at the bottom of the bay. What will cost you more?

I think at100plus better call seatow not boatus when he's sinking. I know, you Chris you would still tow that guy in even after his stupid remarks.

Don't sweat it, can't make everyone happy all the time.

Take Care,
Pat

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Hi Pat, I went past your house a few times this weekend on my way to Monroes, I should have stopped by.
Whats going on? Anything good?

BTW, next time their gonna sink. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] I think as a good rule of thumb, you should never piss-off your local tow guy. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Screw him Finny.. let him sink in the dark next time...

Re: I need your take on this.
 

$500 sounds pretty fine, especially considering the price of fuel these days and the situation he was in. Although this guy seems fine with the $$ a day after the shock settles.

I am sure if you told him up front $500 during the crisis they would pay that or more!!! When everone is back safe, then $500 seems like alot of dough ... how quickly people forget the bad situation they were in [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

I assume if they had a BoatUS card for free unlimited towing for $99(i have one) they would have been covered for free?

If so, $99 is cheap for this guy and others that complain over a $500 tow!

BTW; does this BoatUS unlimited towing cover me if i get stuck at Block Canyon?

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Chris,
I didn't make it down for the holiday, not sure about this weekend either. But if you are around stop in for a cold one [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Finster,You were ok there,Way back I worked for Ocean Services(Before TowBoat / SeaTow) . I'm sure You would have helped the people in the water for Nuth'n, He had a choice with His boat.Sink or Save , His call & He's not complaining. remember the Whinners' & get their pay upfront. If the $ was too High then deny the service & deal with the salvage cost & Coast Guard & Pollution problems later! Hope He wasn't drink'n, Whew! You were OK.Tow Insurance, NeVer leave Home without it !He'll get it next time!

Re: I need your take on this.
 

I agree too- about everyone i know has either sea-tow or boat-us and if they dont they sure learn the hard way. Its sure not like the old days and unless its a personal friend or they are in danger then I am more than happy to call one of the services for them. It is the norm here- either pay now or pay later [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Nick, He was so shocked-out he would have said yes to anything at that time.

Unlimited covers $1000 towing or grounding, which for our area is usually ample for most customers. If your running far offshore they do have policy's for that as well, I don't know too much about them.
We have 2 41 PT's and a trip to the canyon ain't cheap...

It basically works like this. We charge for members $135 per hr during daylight and $160 at night, from when we leave the dock to when we get back to the dock. None members $150 per hr. and $185.

Even I carry the insurance. I've never had to use it, but [censored] happens.

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Ah...f$@k Tow boat. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] Just carry a couple of nerf footballs in your boat and use them to plug the holes [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Better yet...fill up the gunwales with pool noodles. I heard that NMMA is now rerating boats based on the number of pool noodles the owner has added. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Your choice ... sink or float. My choice float ... "pool noodles" baby!! My backup is bag of assorted colored balloons stuffed into my pants pocket ..... go ahead laugh [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img], but if you ever see a $hit load on pool noodles/balloons on the water(and your not at a kids pool party [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]) .... look for "csicknick"!

Obviously Mancini can not get "footballs" out of his head! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

BTW: thanks Finster for clearing up the unlimited towing, and good luck with future rescue operations. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Epirbs, balloons, pool noodles, etc. won't due you much good if you get bonked in the head and fall in. Try wearing a lifejacket. If Poseidon knew what his fellow Greek was doing, he was put a fishing hex on you.

Regarding nerf footballs, I can't remember who told me but supposedly the USCG keeps them on board for just that purpose.

Re: I need your take on this.
 

If i get bonked in the head and fall in, i chose to sink and meet/do shots of OUZO with Poseidon. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Ed, your point is well taken. My point is to have backups. With or without my life jacket on, balloons, mirror, strobe light in my pockets will help to locate or help float me.

Fire with need to abandon ship when water temp are low is my concern. Water temps is the real killer, time to look at rafts and survival suits next ....

- Nick

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Nick, why don't you just make a one piece suit out of bubble wrap? It will give you plenty of insulation value too. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Re: I need your take on this.
 

Finster...that is sooo funny!!

I have a winter wet suit for surfing that I can stay in 35 degree water with for about 2 maybe 3 hours. The only problem is that it is pain in the arse to put on..I would probably die before I got it on!!

Re: I need your take on this.
 

See .... another great backup idea to a survival suit or one that you can not get into in time [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

BTW; my body insulation factor is increasing every year ....