Protocol of When to Board Another Boat?

[zeehag]

if a boat is in a marina and rent is being paid there is an emergency contact phone number on record. ther eneed be NO public display of fone number under any circumstance.
why would you place a fone number on outtside of boat when ye dont know who is gonna abuse it., get real, folks. marinas have that info and is no tnneeded in public.

[jr_spyder]

I certainly agree with that in a marina. But everywhere else I go, especially at anchor, no one knows how to contact me.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by jr_spyder

I certainly agree with that in a marina. But everywhere else I go, especially at anchor, no one knows how to contact me.

ou there where there is no fone, life is a lot better.
i will never place a fone number on my boat for all to see whether i am at anchor or in a marina. i prefer not to be harrasses mercilessly by creeps and jerks. when you are in an anchorage and something goes awry, like dragging anchor, folks get together and help despite your iggurunce and inabilities. it is a looking out for each other thing.
usually affter the boat is saved from shoals or whatever is in the way of the dragging boat, a lil appreciation is shared with the savers and life goes on.
but for something as inane as a freeking useless beeping--let the batteries die. the owner will or will not learn as he sees fit, not as you do.

[tbodine88]

Go below, turn on a fan, stay cool.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by jr_spyder

have an emergency phone number posted in an obvious place on the outside.
Does anyone here do this? Opinions?

JR

Yes, I have my mobile phone number suck to the helm under, but showing up through the nav instrument panel glass.
In ohter words you cant even see the instruments without seeing my number.

[JPA Cate]

Here's a time a boat was boarded without permission. This was in the Golfo de California in 1986. There were a reasonable number of boats at anchor in Caleta Partida. A singlehander came in, and dropped the hook. Fine.

Days passed, and we didn't see him. More days passed, and we became concerned. Everybody gets out sometime to check the anchor, or get in the dinghy, right? Finally, after a few more days, there was a cruiser meeting, and this issue was discussed. What to do? What if he was dead? Well, "the community" decided that 3 men would go over and check out the situation. And when they did, the found the man was okay, but he'd had a bad case of the flu, and was holed up in his cave, basically. And he thanked everyone for their concern.

So that was a case where someone was willing to board without an invitation.

Some people who leave their boats post an emergency contact number. If you do, it might be wise to say, "can't say when I'll get there, but it'll be as fast as I can." Not, "I'll be there in 2 hrs."

Ann

[goboatingnow]

If my boat needed attention , I would always appreciate someone trying to board and help resolve it , in my absence. I wouldn't shoot them , more likely thank then with a cup of tea.

Dave

[markpierce]

I'm old and incompetent, in general. I wouldn't trust myself to fool with anyone else's boat except to protect my own, if I could. Perhaps I could sound an alarm with my boat's horn to alert those who could help.

[Coops]

Originally Posted by markpierce

I'm old and incompetent, in general. I wouldn't trust myself to fool with anyone else's boat except to protect my own, if I could. Perhaps I could sound an alarm with my boat's horn to alert those who could help.

Much Better than being old and incontinent though. I am old as well, but I was just as incompetent when I was younger.

Coops.

[rwidman]

Did anybody take a vote? What were the results?

[atoll]

i think the best when faced with this kind of situation is to involve other boats anchored nearby,then as a group deal with the situation,rather than take on the risk and responsibility by yourself.

[Capt Phil]

A real life experience about boarding someone's boat uninvited... I was working aboard a fish packer in the PNW that was a cash buyer of salmon moving around with the seine boat fleet. The skipper was a grizzly old SOB and always slept in the wheelhouse that opens out onto the aft deck. I was below in my bunk one night when a couple of ? Came aboard and slid the doorway to the wheelhouse open. Ernie let loose with 00 buckshot from his scattergun killing one guy and wounding the other.
I would strongly recommend NOT going aboard any vessel uninvited! Phil

[Capt Phil]

In case any of you are wondering, the skipper was never charged with anything... Phil

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by atoll

i think the best when faced with this kind of situation is to involve other boats anchored nearby,then as a group deal with the situation,rather than take on the risk and responsibility by yourself.

I agree with the "team response". Also, including a harbormaster notice or some shore authority and it would also be wise to knock on the hull and announce your arrival.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Hudson Force

I agree with the "team response". Also, including a harbormaster notice or some shore authority and it would also be wise to knock on the hull and announce your arrival.

I suppose it depends on where you are but I've never run across a "harbormaster" in my travels. Usually people just anchor somewhere out of the channel or up a side creek.

Calling the local police would be fine if you suspect a medical emergency or a crime but not just because a chart plotter is sounding.