Mark Laurnen
Senior Member
Hello all. Having followed the recent thread regarding liability in the event owner unauthorized service performed by Tow Boat, another long-standing concern comes to my mind. What thoughts should go into the decision to render towing assistance if requested to do so? In the PNW, commercial assistance (ie. Tow Boat USA) may not be immediately available. In the absence of threat to life, the CG also seems to deprioritize requests for assistance. Typically, calls to the CG result in the CG broadcasting a plea for any boaters in the area to respond if they are willing, and able, to render assistance. In one instance the CG reported a boat with two aboard, without power and taking on water. After listening for over an hour to repeated CG requests, we pulled up our fishing lines and informed the CG that we were proceeding to the location 15 miles away as quickly as we could. We were 3 miles from the boat in distress when the CG waved us off as a local sheriff’s department had responded. I can only imagine the consternation of the unfortunate boaters. Now, several people have written that the most prudent (legally) response may be to standby until commercial, or governmental , assistance arrives, only intervening if there is true threat to life (eg. Fire or sinking). These authors cite the liability one could assume if not properly trained in towing and damage ensued while towing a disabled vessel. Personally, if I were 15 miles offshore and a Good Samaritan offered me a tow, I can’t imagine ever being anything but eternally grateful. Am I old fashioned and foolish in this litigious modern world? Ironically, as a physician I am out on my boat to escape this everyday shadow hanging over me at work.