Offshoreonly.com - What is the deal with Sea Tow? Jerks!

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Very simple solution. At the OPA Races we pay the towing company a set fee to be out on our sanctioned coarse. All towing, savage or not is free. Smitty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Sunkin (Post 2603880)

I believe their argument would be that the boat was involved in a significant mishap. The boat was "recovered" in an inverted condition and presumably had suffered damage. Further to that, I believe they would assert that a significant possibility existed that the boat's condition could have worsened, potentially resulting in the total loss of the craft.

I don't know how they would have justified "abandoning" the boat prior to it being positioned for removal by the crane.

Be careful not to diminish the fact that there exists the possibility for things to go very wrong, very quickly. There are no shortages of stories about rescuers needing rescued. Had the boat decided to go down while tied to the Geico boat and had it been tied off improperly or inattentively, this could have been worse.

I was watching TruTV last night for a moment and on came one of those "things gone wrong" shows. It showed a emergency service rescue boat being pulled over by a boat they were attempting to stop. These were trained safety professionals that found themselves in the water with a flipped rescue boat and another boat circling them operator-less.

I'm not saying these ST guys weren't SOB's. But as a whole, these people do provide a necessary service.

Wrong on all counts. The raceboat was not in peril, in fact an argument can be made that it was in better hands when being towed by the Geico RIB, an actual rescue boat, piloted by an experienced race driver whose opinion about the stability of the inverted raceboat is every bit as valid as those of these pirates. If ScottB and the Geico crew felt towing the raceboat imperiled the RIB and tossing the tow rope to these pirates was tantamount to transferring the risk,then salvage rules apply. This was a choice of convenience, since the crew of Geico were fully capable of towing the raceboat to the crane.Furthermore, the owners of the raceboat had every reasonable expectation that their boat would return to the crane without any further intervention to mitigate additional damage to the boat. This is a raceboat after all, not some heavily loaded Sunday cruiser.

Peril did not exist as a precondition to declaring this a salvage.

This was a race environment.Sea conditions were favorable, and there was no risk of the raceboat becoming a menace to others, either in the water or on land.It did not involve a couple of weekend warriors in over their heads. The fact that these pirates released the raceboat in the intercoastal prior to its being secured to the crane (in other words, the exact condition it was in when the tow rope was transferred from the Geico RIB meant they didn't improve or secure the status of the raceboat)

This was extortion.

I just received an email back from Inside edition. The say they want to know more about the story. I'm going to get them in touch with Larry Goldman and Richie to give them all the facts. If they are interested in doing something, I will direct them to this thread and encourage them to contact OSO members with stories.
We may get some satisfaction out of this!!

Quote:

The raceboat was not in peril, in fact an argument can be made that it was in better hands when being towed by the Geico RIB, an actual rescue boat, piloted by an experienced race driver whose opinion about the stability of the inverted raceboat is every bit as valid as those of these pirates. If ScottB and the Geico crew felt towing the raceboat imperiled the RIB and tossing the tow rope to these pirates was tantamount to transferring the risk,then salvage rules apply. This was a choice of convenience, since the crew of Geico were fully capable of towing the raceboat to the crane.Furthermore, the owners of the raceboat had every reasonable expectation that their boat would return to the crane without any further intervention to mitigate additional damage to the boat. This is a raceboat after all, not some heavily loaded Sunday cruiser.

Peril did not exist as a precondition to declaring this a salvage.

This was a race environment.Sea conditions were favorable, and there was no risk of the raceboat becoming a menace to others, either in the water or on land.It did not involve a couple of weekend warriors in over their heads. The fact that these pirates released the raceboat in the intercoastal prior to its being secured to the crane (in other words, the exact condition it was in when the tow rope was transferred from the Geico RIB meant they didn't improve or secure the status of the raceboat)

This was extortion.

Exactly, I am also a fully licensed Captain.

PS Your highness Gino, you can address me as Captain Scotty:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottB (Post 2604738)

Exactly, I am also a fully liscenced Captain.

In that case you are entitled to demand the pirates remit the $8k to you as the salvor, since you had the initial contact (it was voluntary) and you were the party responsible for the success (ie took the raceboat to the crane), they merely acted as your agent.

You here that Sea Tow, you owe me 8k.
Please remit payment in form of check to Richie Prince.
Thank You

Quote:

Originally Posted by LubeJobs42 (Post 2604727)

Thats good news Gino.

Oh, when I went to get the boat from Sea Tow, I took a photographer with me and she took pics. I believe OSS has all of her contact info

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apathetic (Post 2603846)

Awesome information. Definitely everyone should check with their insurance. I did read, however, that AETNA tried to deny covering a salvage tow but ended up forced to in court.

Do you mind posting up your doc when you create it? I'd like to take a look and create one, too.

Thanks again.

Sample.. I needed something for this weekend. I willl fine tune it next week, with some legal help..
P

<<<< Peter XXXXXX / CCS, Inc.
8112 CXXXXX XXXXX
FL. 34653
(561) xxx-xxxx

This document is to serve as notice to any and all entities, vessels, person and companies rendering any and all types of marine related assistance to any and all boat operated owned , leased or otherwise used by PXXXXX and/or XXXX Inc. that under no circumstances any “”SALVAGE” operations are permitted and authorized.
Any assistance requiring any and all “SALVAGE” related activities are strictly prohibited unless, signed by PXXXXxx or his representative.

Any and all safety related activities to be supervised and conducted by Government Agencies or Government agencies authorized licensee.

Assistance rendering entity. ____________________________ Date ____________

Towing and misc. assistance only. (no SALVAGE) xxxx xxxxx__________Date _____

Salvage related activates authorized by: xxxx xxxxx________________ Date_______