[QUOTE=yacht_sailor;131549]Good luck with that.
I can’t even imagine what the results would be if the USCG tried to turn everything that floats into commercial inspected vessels with licensed crews.[/QUOTE]
Careful reading of the Triumphs story tells you that the bulkheads that the chain plate was bolted to was rotted out. There is a reason that these 30, 40 year old boats (quite similar to the bounty) don’t have an indefinite life at sea. They become harbor drinking platforms, and across the bay drifters. Unfortunately they also ‘catch the eye’ of dreamers and uninformed (although they certainly THINK they are informed) who make bad judgments, not having the professional competence to make the decisions of whether the boat is fit to make a transatlantic trip.
Personally, I think this is akin to the guys who try to row across the atlantic in an 8’ (or 7’) dinghy. They are nuts. But, it’s their life. Let them go empty the ‘pool’ a little quicker. This has always been the ‘free thinking’ part of going to sea, making do with your own resources, making your own way through life. But, the catch side is: If you screw up, you’re DONE! It seems, some people expect to ‘make their decisions’, opt for their own choices, then, when the shit hit’s the fan they expect others to do the ‘professional rescuing’ for them.
This reminds me of the recent attempts by rescue organizations to ‘bill’ the rescued for help helicopter fees, air time, search and rescue costs and fines for rescues needed when they determine that the people were either incompetent, or so inexperienced they should have known better than to do something as stupid as they got caught doing. Maybe the issue is, if you expect rescue, you need to have a HEFTY insurance plan to cover such contingencies? Sea Tow has a 75 mile limit that they can come out and rescue you. Maybe, as quoted, the $250,000 dollar towing fee wasn’t so far off the mark? If people like SV Triumph want/ expect to get professionally rescued, and have their little ‘bundle of dreams and hope’ saved, they need to purchase insurance to cover these incidents?
This guy is lucky he got help. He’s lucky he didn’t get dismasted. Once he got dismasted he would have lost all communications. Then, it’s game over charlie. This seems less and less like a ‘good samaritan rescue’ gone wrong, Than an owner who doesn’t understand the differences between salvage and life saving.
There is a phrase for what the Sabbahs expect. It’s Lloyds Open form, Salvage, no cure, no pay. It costs money. Ain’t nuttin’ for free!