We recently returned from a terrific three week cruise up into British Columbia. While sailing out in the Strait of Georgia, we came upon a ten foot sailing dinghy adrift about three miles offshore. There was no mast or sail, tiller or rudder, but there was a pair of oars in the bottom of the boat. The dinghy was fiberglass, in ok shape but probably 20 years old. We took it in tow and reported it's finding to Victoria Coast Guard by VHF with a concern that someone had run into a problem. We spent the next two nights at anchor in a remote location and used the "foundling" for exploration. After that with a serious gale forecast we went into a marina to hunker down until the gale was past. As we were tying up, the owner of a neighboring boat said that there was a sign up in the marina office that someone was looking for the dinghy we were towing. What would you have done? Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
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Canadian Receiver of Wreck 
The Canadian Shipping Act Part V1, Wrecks, Salvage and Investigations into Shipping Casualties” covers the salvage rights in Canadian waters. The Canadian Coast Guard is the administrator for the Receiver of Wreck program for the Canadian Shipping Act. Once you notified the Canadian Coast Guard of the wreck as the salvor, the Canadian law required the Canadian Coast Guard to take possession of the wreck until the documented owner can be found. The salvor is required to complete a Notice to Salvors of Wreck form if you want to collect a salvage fee. When you found the wreck without the owner present and you called the Canadian Coast Guard, the receiver of wreck, you can not turn over the wreck to anyone else. I would have called the Canadian Coast Guard, as the Receiver of Wreck, to come and take possession of the wreck when I reached the marina. Fair Winds, Clyde
The Canadian Shipping Act Part V1, Wrecks, Salvage and Investigations into Shipping Casualties” covers the salvage rights in Canadian waters. The Canadian Coast Guard is the administrator for the Receiver of Wreck program for the Canadian Shipping Act. Once you notified the Canadian Coast Guard of the wreck as the salvor, the Canadian law required the Canadian Coast Guard to take possession of the wreck until the documented owner can be found. The salvor is required to complete a Notice to Salvors of Wreck form if you want to collect a salvage fee. When you found the wreck without the owner present and you called the Canadian Coast Guard, the receiver of wreck, you can not turn over the wreck to anyone else. I would have called the Canadian Coast Guard, as the Receiver of Wreck, to come and take possession of the wreck when I reached the marina. Fair Winds, Clyde
Geez...
If its the same dinghy, tell the owners where to come get it. They probably got stranded somewhere when the tide came up or something. If it was abandoned or sunk, something along those lines, that's a little different. But c'mon, let the owners know.
If its the same dinghy, tell the owners where to come get it. They probably got stranded somewhere when the tide came up or something. If it was abandoned or sunk, something along those lines, that's a little different. But c'mon, let the owners know.
The only right thing TO do: give it back!
Regardless of the mechanics required by the rightful to reclaim it once you'd turned it over to the CG, failure to let the rightful owners know you'd found it and where to claim it would be theft--morally, if not legally.
Regardless of the mechanics required by the rightful to reclaim it once you'd turned it over to the CG, failure to let the rightful owners know you'd found it and where to claim it would be theft--morally, if not legally.
OK, I'll tell
We called the owner who was overjoyed to get it back. It apparently floated off the beach on an unusually high tide. Our salvage position was limited to a bottle of chardonnay bought for us by the owner at the marina store, and our major reward was feeling good about having reunited them. Like a found puppy however we did sort of get attached to it after a couple of days... Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
We called the owner who was overjoyed to get it back. It apparently floated off the beach on an unusually high tide. Our salvage position was limited to a bottle of chardonnay bought for us by the owner at the marina store, and our major reward was feeling good about having reunited them. Like a found puppy however we did sort of get attached to it after a couple of days... Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
You did right! *5
In our not-so-little boating community, people are basically good samaritans. I would have held onto it until someone came along to claim it. Otherwise, I would have kept it. If I was in the other owner's position, I would have been ecstatic, as they were, to get their boat back. Good move! *5
In our not-so-little boating community, people are basically good samaritans. I would have held onto it until someone came along to claim it. Otherwise, I would have kept it. If I was in the other owner's position, I would have been ecstatic, as they were, to get their boat back. Good move! *5
Found Dingy
I would have done, what I hope someone else would do for me if I was in the same situation. I would return the dingy to its rightfull owner, salvage rights or not. Hope you did the right thing.
I would have done, what I hope someone else would do for me if I was in the same situation. I would return the dingy to its rightfull owner, salvage rights or not. Hope you did the right thing.
"Found puppy" is a good analogy
You fall in love with it, but in your heart you know you can't keep it if the owner is located.
You fall in love with it, but in your heart you know you can't keep it if the owner is located.
The right thing
Kudos to you for doing the right thing! Sometimes it seems like not enough people worry about whats right and wrong anymore. Obviously you had a proper upbringing. I told your story to my kids.
Kudos to you for doing the right thing! Sometimes it seems like not enough people worry about whats right and wrong anymore. Obviously you had a proper upbringing. I told your story to my kids.
Found Large High Speed Dink
Many years ago, a neighbor found a 16' Avon or like about 20 miles off the SoCal coast. It had something like a 90 HP Merc on it. Both looked new except for lots of growth.... and the numbers on both the dink and Merc obliterated. He turned it in to the USCG and got it some months later when it was unclaimed. Rick D.
Many years ago, a neighbor found a 16' Avon or like about 20 miles off the SoCal coast. It had something like a 90 HP Merc on it. Both looked new except for lots of growth.... and the numbers on both the dink and Merc obliterated. He turned it in to the USCG and got it some months later when it was unclaimed. Rick D.
great job
When we find ourselves in those situations. we do what you did. Return the guys property. and thank him for letting you use it for your trip!
When we find ourselves in those situations. we do what you did. Return the guys property. and thank him for letting you use it for your trip!
With these answers,
I like the people here. Gary, I am glad you gave it up, but.......... you could have played the "boy, that dink must be bad luck for you........ Maybe you just want someone to get rid of it for you...." I guess a nice bottle and satisfaction of the right thing is good! r.w.landau
I like the people here. Gary, I am glad you gave it up, but.......... you could have played the "boy, that dink must be bad luck for you........ Maybe you just want someone to get rid of it for you...." I guess a nice bottle and satisfaction of the right thing is good! r.w.landau
Give it back.
To me the answer is give it back. Didn't have to think for more than half a second on that one. It's the right thing to do. Years ago, in high school, I did the wrong thing. Found a nice inflatable rubber boat at the beach. Next day a couple of kids come and ask if it's mine because they had lost theirs and it sure looked like theirs. I lied and kept it. It was wrong and I feel bad about it 25 years later. Do the right thing, even if the law "allows" you to do otherwise. Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
To me the answer is give it back. Didn't have to think for more than half a second on that one. It's the right thing to do. Years ago, in high school, I did the wrong thing. Found a nice inflatable rubber boat at the beach. Next day a couple of kids come and ask if it's mine because they had lost theirs and it sure looked like theirs. I lied and kept it. It was wrong and I feel bad about it 25 years later. Do the right thing, even if the law "allows" you to do otherwise. Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
The choice is usually easy
if you reverse the roles of the people involved. If someone else found your dinghy you'd really appreciate his making an effort to find you. Thanks for adding to the good reputation of sailors.
if you reverse the roles of the people involved. If someone else found your dinghy you'd really appreciate his making an effort to find you. Thanks for adding to the good reputation of sailors.
We found
Coming home one Labor Day we came across a dinghy with the motor and 2 fishing poles in the water. The weather was getting pretty ruff so I called the Coast Guard. Someone else went and took the boat in tow. For once it only took a few minutes for the Coast Guard to get there. Never did hear if anyone was in the boat.
Coming home one Labor Day we came across a dinghy with the motor and 2 fishing poles in the water. The weather was getting pretty ruff so I called the Coast Guard. Someone else went and took the boat in tow. For once it only took a few minutes for the Coast Guard to get there. Never did hear if anyone was in the boat.
What would we teach our kids to do?
I always tell my kids that they need to put themselves in the other person's postition and do what they would want someone to do for them. I lost my wallet this summer in the showers at Friday Harbor, WA. I went to the Harbormaster when I realized it over a half hour later to see if it had been turned in.... someone had done that and all the cash (quite a bit!) and credit cards etc were in there.... my husband maintained that good Karma was there for me because he had just done the same thing in Bedwell Harbor, BC the week before! Remember that!
I always tell my kids that they need to put themselves in the other person's postition and do what they would want someone to do for them. I lost my wallet this summer in the showers at Friday Harbor, WA. I went to the Harbormaster when I realized it over a half hour later to see if it had been turned in.... someone had done that and all the cash (quite a bit!) and credit cards etc were in there.... my husband maintained that good Karma was there for me because he had just done the same thing in Bedwell Harbor, BC the week before! Remember that!
Mark it on the map!
I am Happy to know that there are good people in Orcas Island Washington. Maybe the Town welcome sign should read: "great place to lose your dingy". Good job mate, Brian
I am Happy to know that there are good people in Orcas Island Washington. Maybe the Town welcome sign should read: "great place to lose your dingy". Good job mate, Brian
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