Would you board another boat without permission?

Presentation

Presentation

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
4,404
Wisconsin - Winnebago Pool chain of lakes
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280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
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twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Well I did and I got told I was in the wrong, not from anyone official, but by another boater.

The boat was in a slip. No one from the boat was around from what I could tell. It was a windy day.

A boater was coming in started backing up and was trying to trun around and it was obvious the bow was going to hit the back corner of the boat in the slip. The boat was about a 24’ ish express cruiser.

I stepped on the boat tied in the slip on the swim platform, stepped across to the other side and pushed off the other boat then I got back off the boat.

I never did get to tell the boat’s owner what I did. I never saw them.

Was I wrong? What would you do?
 
This is a different situation than just boarding a boat. You were preventing an accident. I would appreciate someone protecting my boat while I was not avaiable.

I have done the same thing and would do it again in hopes that someone would do the same for me.

You were not just roaming aboard someones boat you were helping. It seems as though the guy that said you were in the wrong would have just stood by and watched the crash offering no help. That stinks.
 
Presentation said:
Well I did and I got told I was in the wrong, not from anyone official, but by another boater.

The boat was in a slip. No one from the boat was around from what I could tell. It was a windy day.

A boater was coming in started backing up and was trying to trun around and it was obvious the bow was going to hit the back corner of the boat in the slip. The boat was about a 24’ ish express cruiser.

I stepped on the boat tied in the slip on the swim platform, stepped across to the other side and pushed off the other boat then I got back off the boat.

I never did get to tell the boat’s owner what I did. I never saw them.

Was I wrong? What would you do?
Click to expand...

You can step on my swim platform anytime to avoid someone hitting my boat.... GOOD JOB !!
 
You should be applauded...Too many people in the world today just turn thier heads.
I would do the same would hope others would as well.
 
You can be in my foxhole anytime! Good job. Did the driver of the boat slipping give you a thanks?

The only reason someone might be PO'd is if they were looking for a reason to re-gel their transom and swim platform.
 
I would have done the same thing, in fact I have already, tell your boating “buddy” that you will not board his boat to safe it!
 
Just once a couple of weekends ago when the high water alarm went off for about 2 hours between 5:30AM and 7:30AM. It woke everyone sleeping in the marina up and prvented any of us from getting back to sleep. Another boater and I finally had enough and boarded her.

The only other option was to just get it over with and sink her. I think the owner probably appreciated the fact that we chose option "A".
 
Boarded a boat last week to fend off a towed 32' Sailboat being pushed back it in, at night, in the wind, at low tide with not much room to work.

Saw the owner a few days later. 'Splained that if he saw foot prints, they were mine and why. Last night, he came back with HUGE Red Snapper as I was grillin' for my family at the dock. I grilled some for him, and some for me. It was a good evening.

If someone gives you crap for boarding to stop an accident or a sinking, they are an insurance risk. We have a boat in our marina that most of us are convinced is an insurance claim waiting to happen. We won't let it sink!
 
Been there, done that, would do it again, every time. It is what we do, help other boaters in times of need. Two needs this time. The guy not around and the guy backing in.
 
Done it many times without much hesitation, adjusted lines, hung loaner fenders, used my SeaRay master key to close some hatches when the owner was gone for the week. So far it has netted me many thanks and a few bottles! On the flipside I have a friend who would not set foot on a boat unless it was a very good friend or life-threatening.
 
I wouldn't board someone's boat to fish off of it, but if your trying to help your fine.

I boarded a few boats in my marina this year. Once to assist Sea-Tow get a dead boat into a slip, once to pull the loose end of a dock line out of the water and another time to put someone's chairs in the back of their boat that were going to get blown off the dock. I hope someone would do the same for me.
 
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Your fine. I have and will board another boat to retie a line or to save it from damage by another vessel. I would hope someone would do the same for me!
 
I think you did an admirable thing, and I hope someone would do the same for me.

Now... with that said... would you open a car door and turn the lights off if the owner left their lights on??? I always thought it was a touchy thing. :huh:
 
This happens all the time in marinas that have slips that are not protected by fender pilings. It's the norm.
 
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