Quote:
Originally Posted by RIJIMMY
I was out Sunday with my family fishing for some scup, we anchored up along an island. Across the bay, I saw a sailboat and saw some some smoke, i wasnt sure if the smoke was from the boat or on land. A little while later, I see a red flare and smoke from the sailboat. I get my binoculars and see if I can see if there is any trouble. I decide to head over and see if they need help, As I pull in lines, I see another flair and also see another boat heading over there. As we approach, I see them talking to the other boat and see a man and about 10 kids on deck. The other boat pulled away. I turned off my engine so I could talk to the man. I ask politely if they need help. He starts berating me - telling me the coast guard has been announcing continuously that they are conducting some sort of test and that I should be monitoring channel 16. He was being a real arse. I respond by telling him that I dont always monitor ch 16 and dont believe I am required to while on the water (am I wrong?) also that there is no requirement to have a radio and a flare is a distress signal, many small boats may feel obligated to help and head over here to help you, they dont HAVE to have a radio. He continued to be a priCk. My wife snapped back and said YOU"RE WELCOME and we left. It left a bad taste in my mouth and seemed like a reckless test. A flare is a distress signal and conducting that test on a nice weekend day seemed dumb. Im no expert but you guys may have a different view.
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You did the right thing..Boats should always give aid to the best of their ability and without endangering their own vessel or crew. Also keep this in mind.
"The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 contains a "Good Samaritan" clause stating: "Any person ....who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of a vessel collision, accident, or other casualty without objection of any person assisted, shall not be held liable for any act or omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment, or other assistance where the assisting person acts as an ordinary, reasonably prudent man or woman would have acted under the same or similar circumstances."
If you have a VHF you are "required" to monitor ch 16. No coastie is going to haggle you about it unless you are being an ass, he is trying to hail you and you don't respond. Then the most you'll probably get is a good scolding. However.. if you have a powerboat over 16ft you are REQUIRED to have 3 day signals AND 3 night signals. Most people have the combo (smoke/flare) flares that fulfill both requirements. These "signals" don't have to be pyrotechnics but they are the most common and best overall (Orange distress flag & Electric distress light) Maybe this will help a little
