Block Island Anchor Drag/Tow $$$

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by psneeld

For everyone that thinks it's a ripoff...let's have a little fun...

I'm on call 24/7 from April 15th to December 15th. No Fri-Sun off (no exceptions including funerals/weddings/etc) from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I can ask for time off in the summer during the week and it's denied about 50% of the time if it's a full day or more. I have to be 15 minutes away from the boat at all times. I have to be ready to man that boat legally at all times. No such things as 8 hr days or 5 day weeks.... Most of the time it's fun but it includes diving as a salvor, walking hundreds of feet through muddy marsh at night, swimming lines in the surf at times, doing minor maintenance on the boat as needed, keeping up with and paying for your USCG license, physicals and TWIC card.

Granted I can do whatever I want when not on a tow as long as I can make the commitments.

Lets assume the average...the company gives you no benefits except for a weeks paid vacation.

Let's see who even comes close.

So how much would you charge your boss to work that schedule?

ok, i have to start with a big LOL on the TWIC card. hardly an expense.
same with the physicals, $100 every two years.

what would i charge for 24/7 standby? the same i get now. i own my own company.

however, i see most of your rates as fair. i know what it costs to fuel a boat.
your corp spend a sh-ton on advertizing... i couldnt name another tow company.... assuming your with hellboatus
i have heard you guys doing some shady stuff.... and at the same time i have heard of things done for free. so its kindof a meh.

the moral of the story is pay the $158 a year and be done with it.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by tanksalot

Wrong. I left the boat AFTER sitting on it for 5 hours, and all during that time it appeared securely anchored. I anchored on the cusp of a rising tide, and maximum high tide was +3 ft.

We were gone approximately 2 1/2 hours.

Still a question, securely anchored in what conditions? 5 kt wind and no current? Then you had no evidence that the boat was anchored at all. I've seen plenty of boats sit perfectly still in a calm harbor that drifted away as soon as any wind or current popped up.

If you're going to claim the boat was securely anchored you need to give specifics. Also, did you set the anchor and how?

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by tanksalot

Wrong. I left the boat AFTER sitting on it for 5 hours, and all during that time it appeared securely anchored. I anchored on the cusp of a rising tide, and maximum high tide was +3 ft.

We were gone approximately 2 1/2 hours.

i was on our yacht all day on the 4th. at about the 4-5 hour mark my stern anchor broke free. held fine until then. they can let go anytime. the reason mine let go is because i had about 2' of chain on it.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by scoobert

ok, i have to start with a big LOL on the TWIC card. hardly an expense.
same with the physicals, $100 every two years. They are big expenses if you are getting minimum wage or nearly so...ask most minimum wage earners.

what would i charge for 24/7 standby? the same i get now. i own my own company. An REALLY bad comment...being a worker and being an owner aren't even close...don't go there I have more than enough ammo on that one.

however, i see most of your rates as fair. i know what it costs to fuel a boat. Thanks...a reasonable answer
your corp spend a sh-ton on advertizing... i couldnt name another tow company.... assuming your with hellboatus All the companies do and it's amaxzing that so many boaters are clueless to WHY the assistance towing business is even around.
i have heard you guys doing some shady stuff.... and at the same time i have heard of things done for free. so its kindof a meh.All types of businesses have shady participants....so calling everyone on the planet crooks is just as bad as calling all assistance towers pirates.

the moral of the story is pay the $158 a year and be done with it. and that's exactly what most boaters who are in the know do ...and funny enough many boat manufactures get a package deal that gives free memberships with a new boat purchas and smart brokers give it as a purchase gift if the new owner doesn't already have it

What no guess???? That's no fun....

[Sandero]

Originally Posted by JK n Smitty

Out of curiosity what is your business background that allows you to dismiss costs to provide you a service without a second thought? Can you give me an example of a cost I have estimated that is so egregiously high? What do you do for a living?

Smitty,
I have been an architect since 1970... I've owned an operated a custom wood shop for 15 yrs... and have consulted to the stone industry. I've also done several offshore deliveries.
I am not dismissing the costs.. I said you can make up the numbers out of whole clothe to show whatever you want... the power of excel!

[Teknav]

...can we...can we all...can we all just get along...

Mauritz
Pay him the $675 and move on with your life...life's too short...CF will soon run out of pages because of this thread!

[tanksalot]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Still a question, securely anchored in what conditions? 5 kt wind and no current? Then you had no evidence that the boat was anchored at all. I've seen plenty of boats sit perfectly still in a calm harbor that drifted away as soon as any wind or current popped up.

If you're going to claim the boat was securely anchored you need to give specifics. Also, did you set the anchor and how?

Wind was 15 - 18 knots, blowing strong and steady from the SW. I let the boat's drift set the hook, and after 5 hours in the same position believed we were secure. You might agree that 5 hours without dragging in those winds is a good indication of anchor stability. But, maybe you won't. If not, I'd appreciate to learn of your technique(s).

I believe my major error was too short of a scope, possibly/probably as low as 2:1. With that short scope and a rising tide, I got in trouble.

I do resent the perception from some people that I'm some yahoo that sailed in, threw out a chunk of steel off the bow and left to party. I believed we were secure, had evidence to indicate such, and was wrong.

My key question is do my actions and misjudgment justify a $675 penalty. The majority of posters seem to say yes, unfortunately.

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by psneeld

What no guess???? That's no fun....

are you attempting to tell me they pay you,
first: hourly
second: poorly
now if you figure your pay on a 24hr basis..... LOL
seriously, if it really pays $400 a week, go to McD and get $500 a week.

[JPA Cate]

Tanks,

Letting the "drift" of the boat, in a 15 knot breeze would not be adequate on our boat to really set the hook. We use all chain rode, and never less than 3:1 scope if we plan to leave the boat unattended. Sometimes we use more scope. Our 46 footer which has fairly high free board probably weighs in the neighborhood of 12-13 tons. When I set the hook, I back down on it for at least 1 minute at quite high rpms after we have stopped moving aft.

From how you described the anchoring technique you used, you really didn't give the boat the opportunity to stay hooked, and I think your first post openly owned up to that fact.

The way the law is in the US, as I understand it, is that you HAVE TO pay the bill because the work was performed, regardless of whether it is named "tow" or "salvage" on the bill. It is illegal to withhold payment, I believe. Afterwards, you may be able to challenge it; but honestly, I think that given the area, the normal fees charged, and it being a holiday weekend, you're lucky they didn't charge you triple time!

Just my two cents.

Ann

[scoobert]

and for the record i would drive a tow boat for no less then $5,000 a week.

[Teknav]

Scoob, would you accept $4,999?

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by Teknav

Scoob, would you accept $4,999?

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

split the diff, $4,999.50

[Teknav]

Scoob, you're a goof!

Mauritz
Going to behave now!

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by tanksalot

...I let the boat's drift set the hook...
...short scope... 2:1...
...a rising tide..

Sometimes lessons cost money, sometimes lives.
Seems IMHO this is a cash for learning experience.

Now, how do I unsubscribe from this thread.....

James

[scoobert]

Originally Posted by svmariane

Now, how do I unsubscribe from this thread.....

James

you shall not.






cuz the original topic was meh.