Boater in trouble, what do you do?

Brian N

Brian N

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I ran into a situation this past summer that reminded me of several discussions we have had here in the past. Figured it might make for an interesting discussion.

My wife and I were out exploring around Portsmouth Harbor, heading back up the river when we passed another boat drifting. It was a 22 foot bowrider with the engine hatch up in the back and a couple on board. She looked distraught and he had his head in the engine compartment. I pulled alongside and asked if they were okay, he explained that the engine had died along with a strong electrical burning smell, there was no fire but nothing happened when he turned the key.

We were on an outgoing tide and they were drifting back toward the bridge we had just passed under, at the rate the current was running they would have been going out the inlet with nothing to stop them in short time. I recall several conversations we have had in the past about amateur's towing and what a bad idea it was, but there was no way my conscience would let me leave them to drift into an active inlet and possibly onto the surrounding rocks.

I tossed him a spare anchor line I have on board, had him tie it off to his bow hook, then tied it off centered across my two rear cleats with him about 4 boat lengths behind me. Wet a towel I had on board and hung it about halfway along the length of line to weigh down the line just in case it broke. We slowly towed him upstream just far enough to find an empty dock he could tie off to, waited until he was tied off and headed out. He offered payment which I declined and wished him good luck.

So, right idea or bad idea? What else could/should we have done?
 
I ve done it a few times over the years. As long as you take precautions and don’t get yourself backed up in a corner, it s the right thing to do.
 
There have always been a couple of "rules" on my boats: First, "Have FUN!" Second, on my bow rider: "Keep your GD hands off the GD windshield!" and on every boat: "Always wave...you never know when you'll need a tow!"

I'm an inland lake boater, so tides aren't an issue. I've towed a Donzi that I spotted adrift at dusk and "it just didn't look right." Turns out he was a slip neighbor at my marina. Another time I towed a rental patio boat into phone range and then waited for the marina operator to come get his boat. They (the marina) didn't even offer me some gas for my trouble. So far, I've not needed to be towed. I need to look into that, now, because towing a houseboat is a bigger deal than towing someone's ski boat. Beaching locations may be dictated by cell phone coverage.
 
Agreed. Did they have a cell phone to call someone? If not, I would have called someone for them.
 
He had a phone and was calling to arrange help as we towed him to the dock. By the time we left he had help on the way.
 
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Life jackets on every one! Then do just what you did. If you tow slowly and carefully or should be safe. If unable to tow I would standby until help arrived
 
We pretty much always stop and try to lend assistance or give a tow. Paying it forward, ya know...
 
That's the way I saw it, if we were in that position I'd hope someone else would lend a hand...
 
The first thing you do is zip around him a few times to create a good wake, no? :)

I think you did the boat friendly thing to do. Towing is captains discretion. Seen some you tube videos in the inlets where it should be pros only. But on a reasonably calm lake, river, etc. nice to help.
 
Two summers back The Admiral and I were returning to the bay from Toronto in the dark after the fireworks display.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a flashing light where there are no markers about a mile off. I watched it for a second or two
and it was an SOS from their anchor light. Turned out to be a small bowrider with a dead engine three guys, two ladies and two kids. I got the admiral to take the helm and we backed down on them. Took the ladies and kids aboard as it was cold and towed it to the nearest launch ramp.
Another hour or so and they would have been drifting to Rochester and no cel service in mid lake.
The Admiral made coffee for the Ladies and got juice for the kids in the cabin, where I had the heat on and Genny running, while I towed
from the upper helm. The guys I left on their boat, which they had just bought and had no idea if it had good filters or how to fix a problem.
Newbies are mostly all the same.
 
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I've been taught that if at all possible call for Tow Boat or Sea Tow and stand by till they come. If not possible lend assistance, but that is the second choice.
 
Roy said:
I've been taught that if at all possible call for Tow Boat or Sea Tow and stand by till they come. If not possible lend assistance, but that is the second choice.
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Problem with this is that it will often take an hour or more for a tower to show up... faster to tow the dissolved vessel to a safe spot. Now it obviously depends on the type and size of boats
 
It's always wise to size up the situation through some observation of their behavior. Fortunately yours was a great deed appropriately performed. We had one of those on the Rondout Creek as well.

Now this;

We were on our first trip down the Hudson to L.I. Sound with out new boat. We came down the East River and were rounding Hell Gate when we saw a maybe 16 footer with 3 or 4 men in it. They were waving at us looking for help. The wife said pass them by. I slowly passed closely by so as not to wake them and get a good look. As soon as we were aside they gassed their boat and aimed for our transom. Initially I thought they were dead in the water based on what we saw.

The twin small blocks in our boat opened up and we left them behind. We have no doubt they were going to jump on board based on their postures and actions. They were in no imminent danger and their boat was completely maneuverable.

Keep your guard up.
 
Roy said:
I've been taught that if at all possible call for Tow Boat or Sea Tow and stand by till they come. If not possible lend assistance, but that is the second choice.
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In the river near my house, you'll be waiting for years. No such service. It's all basically good samaritans or the occasional water cop.
 
Towing service on Lake Champlain is sparse. We always check on boats that look like they might be having trouble.
 
I have towed or at least offered assistance to many boaters with no issues. All are very appreciative and would likely return the favor if needed. Boaters are what makes boating enjoyable.
Jim
 
I agree plan A is many times not appropriate. Still if rendering assistance be alert to the possibility that they may be bad guys. Don't let them close enough to board you.
 
Roy said:
I agree plan A is many times not appropriate. Still if rendering assistance be alert to the possibility that they may be bad guys. Don't let them close enough to board you.
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The odds of that happening are very different depending where you boat. We live on a small lake where everybody knows somebody and the risk Is very low. Not many places to hide and Pirates are dealt with accordingly
Jim
 
Rendering assistance is required, assuming the Capt can keep his vessel and crew safe! Towing can be extremely dangerous if you've never discussed it / done it before: from using the wrong line to tying off to the wrong place (hint: NEVER use a ski rope for towing!) Also strongly suggessed - always call it in to your local LEO/USCG Sector BEFORE you do anything - let someone know where you are, what your intentions are.
FWIW - In Brian's situation, this doesn't sound like a MAYDAY (imminent danger to life), but a PAN-PAN (pronounced Pahn - pahn) call (threat to safety of persons or vessel).

I'm a big believer on VHF on navigable waters over cellphone, as Coast Guard's RESCUE-21 system provides direction-finding by USCG. YMMV.
 
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