[seadogg]

listen man, there is no cut and dry rate when it comes to salvage. we certainly wouldnt charge the same bill for a boat on the rocks in a calm harbor as we would for that same boat on the rocks during a small craft advisory in an unsheltered body of water. the potential for destruction and/or loss is much greater for the latter, and i'm sure it would require a greater effort and risk on our part. to put it bluntly, it's not always as easy as just pulling up to someone, tying a line on and hauling them to safety, and that's a part i think you fail to understand. have i heard stories of people treated unfairly in salvage operations? yes, i have, but the company i'm a part of doesn't work that way. what i'm trying to convey to you is that we do not charge outlandish sums of money to perform the task, and even if we did the insurance companies wouldn't pay it! plain and simple. our industry rate is dependent upon a variety of situations, and is only paid out after an agreement is reached with a customer's insurance company. for those without insurance, we work with them and reach agreements that sometimes result in a loss on our part, but it's more important to us to uphold the reputation of our company and profession as a whole, so we take it in stride. also, i'm sure you know what it costs to run a boat, so consider that our primary salvage vessel is a 36-foot vessel with twin 200's (sometimes an operation requires more than one vessel on scene, though). do you think that thing's cheap to run when we're hauling ass full-throttle to help a customer who's twelve miles away?? or what about the crew of 3 or 4 that are typically needed to pull off a serious salvage operation?? cheap?? or what about possibly hiring a diver to spend what has sometimes been hours in the water to rig a sunken vessel with float bags to get it to the surface?? the list goes on, and whether you choose to believe it or not, there are many expenses and risks associated with salvage operations. risks to gear, crew and yes, human life. that being said, when it's gritty out there and i'm called on to help rescue a vessel in danger, i'm loving it. the crew is capable, the vessels are capable, and the gear is capable. we operate as professionals and do a job not everybody has the ability to pull off. the monetary reward is nice, sure, but seeing a relieved customer when we prevent their boat from sinking or being destroyed is what keeps our company growing year after year. i understand your concerns here, but i'm trying my best to give you the facts. i don't have any intentions of starting a feud or making enemies here but even if i can't change your mind, i'll defend this position with all i have. My integrity as a mariner is second only to my pride as a mariner, and im standing up for my profession.