Boats don't run on thanks

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by seabass

This a good thread! I go out alot, and it gets EXPENSIVE to say the least. I enjoy fishing with my buddies rather than alone most of the time ( once in a while the solitude is needed ) and they always bring food, bait and beverages. They also always help clean the boat and take their turn at the wheel, but lets face it, gas, insurance, tackle.... it adds up quik!I don't think they realize that 150 yds of wire and flouro leader costs $25. Fuel was $3.15 last year, and no wallets came out. I know I'd go if they weren't there, but guys, a little help. Marina fees, storage costs,up keep, electronics, etc. My wife goes nuts, she thinks they should buy all the gas! We do alot as a family on the boat so it's not just me and the guys, otherwise she'd want it gone. I don't want to ask themforcash because I think that's akward, I'm nota charter, but I think you free loaders should offer!

Tell you freeloading friends to book some trips with us,
We will be glad to take their money!
I started out years ago fishing with my younger brother, he had the boat and every time I insisted of filling the tank.
Then I bought my 1st boat and he started coming out on my MUCH better (and FAR more expensive to run) boat.
He would come out all the time and would allways bring one of his buddies allong, and neither would offer 1 cent for gas, bait,ect...
and as soon as we would pull into my slip, their cell phones would start ringing, and it would be their wives yelling at them to get home,
and of course they never hung around to help clean up the boat.
Then I bought my brand new Parker and I took them out 1 time,
Same story !!!
That was the last time my brother got on my boat.
Now when we talk about fishing & going out, I tell him what our charter rates are !!!

[BigFish]

I get out with a couple of the guys from here on the site....always offer money for fuel....if they don't take it I bring food, sodas, ice, bait....whatever. This year I will be paying my way with wood...any takers?

[Raider Ronnie]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I get out with a couple of the guys from here on the site....always offer money for fuel....if they don't take it I bring food, sodas, ice, bait....whatever. This year I will be paying my way with wood...any takers?

You can be the 1st to try to hook up a fish with my Raider plugs !!!

[Van]

Originally Posted by BigFish

I get out with a couple of the guys from here on the site....always offer money for fuel....if they don't take it I bring food, sodas, ice, bait....whatever. This year I will be paying my way with wood...any takers?

I'd never take $$ from you buddy...

What's this WOOD of which you speak ?????

But,,,,, I want dibs on the trophy you will get for a fish caught on my boat !!!!!!! Still think we shoulda chased those TUNA !!!

[Mr. Sandman]

I have never taken money for taking someone fishing. (even as a lic'ed Capt) That said I only invite friends and family and do a few favors. Most of the people I fish with invite me on their boat too so I think in the end it all works out. If there was an exceptional trip (big day offshore) I would offer $$$, that is only being polite.

If I was entering something like a shark tourney with a group of guys I would lay out in advace what the costs are. You can spend a ton of cash on these things and if you don't have deep pockets it can hurt. But for a day of fluke fishing in the sound with a few friends, I will absorb it.

That said, the cost of fuel and dockage and boat ownership in general is getting absurdly high. I try not to think about it when filling up esp when I really fish hard on the boat everyday. I keep telling myself that a good day on the water is worth it but I can tell you it is keeping me from buying a big sportsfishermen. A canyon run on even a somewhat efficient boat can exceed $1000 in fuel alone. That is a lot of coin for fuel a fishing trip. One has to think that this fuel cost has to be impacting boat sales. I can only imagine that big boats with gas engines are considered dino's in the re-sale market. My wife is pushing for a tralwler style with live aboard space and I tell you @3-4 gal/hour compared to 40+ for a sportsfishermen, I may go with the trawler and tow my little seacraft around for fishing fun.

There will be no quick fix either. fuel cells, electric or hybrids will not cut it for boats or even SUV's that are really used as SUV's in the deep sand.

I would like a nice big sportfishermen with a small reactor(s) that produce about 3000hp each. Clean, no exhaust and you only replace the fuel every 30 years or so. This may sound like a pipe dream (today it sort of is) but in the longer term the next generation of atomic power is the worlds solution to energy. No question in my mind. I doubt I will be alive to see it though. Until then, I will have to live with outboards and diesels and pay the price.

[Mike P]

Not sure how the Coasties currently view things, but there was a time when their interpretation of the law was that accepting any compensation for taking people out on your boat made you a "for hire" operator.

Certainly, if you demanded being paid in any way by your passengers, you ran the risk of running afoul of the law. Much better to let your passengers "offer" to share expenses.

This strict view of what makes one a "for hire" operator may have been eased a bit, but you might want to look into it anyway

[PNG]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Not sure how the Coasties currently view things, but there was a time when their interpretation of the law was that accepting any compensation for taking people out on your boat made you a "for hire" operator.

Certainly, if you demanded being paid in any way by your passengers, you ran the risk of running afoul of the law. Much better to let your passengers "offer" to share expenses.

This strict view of what makes one a "for hire" operator may have been eased a bit, but you might want to look into it anyway

I dont see any reason why this may have changed. You interpretation is correct. Any consideration given by guests makes the vessel and owner a professional, no longer recreational. New rules come into play. The now "Captain" has to be licensed and the vessel inspected and approved for taking persons for hire. Same thing if a person operates someone elses vsl which is inspected to carry for hire the person needs to have a license.

Make it clear with your friend that if boarded say nothing about helping out with gas or anything, ever. However the spirit of the law is targeting unlicensed operators acting as a commercial entity w/out licensing and inspection. Safety.
I think last year there was an unlicensed charter from RI that went down. Anyone know more - what happened?

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by PNG

I dont see any reason why this may have changed. You interpretation is correct. Any consideration given by guests makes the vessel and owner a professional, no longer recreational. New rules come into play. The now "Captain" has to be licensed and the vessel inspected and approved for taking persons for hire. Same thing if a person operates someone elses vsl which is inspected to carry for hire the person needs to have a license.

Make it clear with your friend that if boarded say nothing about helping out with gas or anything, ever. However the spirit of the law is targeting unlicensed operators acting as a commercial entity w/out licensing and inspection. Safety.
I think last year there was an unlicensed charter from RI that went down. Anyone know more - what happened?

It definately did change a couple of years ago. The C.G. came out with a notice that you not be considered as a "for Hire" vessel if the passengers agreed to pick up some of the costs of the trip.

[Raider Ronnie]

When I invite a friend out for the day I will NOT accept anything !!!
But I have a group of friends that we either go out on my boat or theirs and It's kind of an unspoken thing that I fill my tank and they fill theirs!
But we allways help to clean up each others boat !