Are You Required to Help Another Boater Who Needs Help?

The answer to this question is complicated.

Regulations in the USA and Canada require boat operators to stop and render assistance to a vessel in distress unless: doing so would endanger their own vessel/passengers, or another vessel is already assisting the vessel in distress, or the persons on board the vessel in distress say that they no longer need assistance.

Do these exceptions make stopping to help discretionary?

If you have been boating for any length of time, you have undoubtedly encountered a situation where another boater needs help. Responding can be a dangerous situation where you increase both your potential physical and legal risk. But not stopping can also create risk, let alone the moral dilemma, so lets review step by step what I believe to be the best procedure to follow when you come across a boater needing help. Hopefully, this will help you to establish your own personal decision making process.

If you and your passengers are cruising along and see another boat stopped in the water, the first thing that you should do is determine if they are fishing or swimming and, if so, keep clear and slow down so as not to create an excessive wake when you pass. If they are signaling to you, or working on their motor, approach their vessel slowly, being mindful of your water depth (they may be on the bottom).

Establish communications, either by shouting, cell phone, or VHF. If you use a VHF to communicate, be sure to switch to a general channel. Ask the stopped boat what is the problem and what they are doing to fix it. You may find that they have accidentally pulled their kill switch or the shift lever is not in neutral, which would explain why the motor will not start. Does it have sufficient fuel? Depending on your skills, you may think of other simple checks, such as a plugged fuel line that might be resolved by squeezing the fuel line pump bulb. Other problems may be more technical and most boaters are unable to help unless uniquely qualified. Quite often, stopped boats are grounded. If it is, have him check for leaks and then suggest that he move his passengers to the bow, trim the motor up to the highest point still getting water, and try to power off very slowly.

Where a boat is lightly grounded, I would suggest that a couple of passengers get out of the boat and with the remaining folks in the bow, push the boat back along the track that got them into trouble. This usually works.

Remember that the problems mentioned to this point are not life threatening, which very much reduces your obligation to help. In a critical situation where a boat is sinking or smoking, remind them to put on life jackets (believe it or not, panicked people often forget to do this) and then take them into your boat. Maydays can follow.

What very often occurs when a boater stops to help another is a request for a tow. “Could you please give me a tow to that marina?” My recommendation for when a boater asks for a tow is simply one word: Don’t. Towing opens up a whole new series of dangers to your boat and crew. I usually politely decline but if I can’t help get them going, I offer to help them procure a commercial service and standby until it arrives. That’s right, I don’t recommend towing another boat. While waiting, consider where the wind or current is going to take the stricken boat and how long before a larger problem will arrive.

If the person in the stopped boat is your best friend or your banker, you may feel compelled to give them a short tow. If this is the case, follow these steps: attach 20 to 30 feet of the stricken vessel’s line, from their bow cleat to a makeshift bridal on the stern cleats of your boat. Do not use the boat side cleats that are designed for tying the boat to a dock. They will not take the stress of a tow. Use that quick release knot that you have been practising. Place a couple of boat fenders beside the tow observer, in case of an unexpected “fend-off” requirement. They work much better than fingers.

Once you are clear on a destination and any hand signs or radio channel you may want to use, begin the tow gradually and proceed at a dead slow speed. When you arrive at a dock, continue with your boat beyond the spot where you want to place the boat being towed, then release the towline and have the other boat pull it in.

When you think of professional on-the-water boating assistance, names like Sea Tow, Boat US and Tow Boat US are the recognized leaders. A one-time service call can be costly, but if you have a history of breaking stuff, or have trouble staying off the bottom, one of their annual plans can be a good investment. The cost of available plans vary dramatically with your location and plan inclusions. As always, the best plan is to stay safe and watch out for the other guy. #tips #quicktips