What would you do?

Captmayhem · Oct 30, 2017

ssb my lawyer

capta · Oct 30, 2017

Brings to mind a movie called "Dead Calm".
Honestly though, it would have to be awfully calm for me to launch the dink deep sea and venture across to another boat. With any sea running, I'd probably not stop.
As for salvage, just how would you propose moving two vessels with only the crew from one? Sailboats do not tow well at sea, even under power, and the towed boat would require being hand steered full time. At sea, for any distance at all, wear and tear on the towing boat's engine and trans would be horrific.
If you did get both boats safely to port, you'd then need to contact the authorities, pay for dockage (they're probably going to want the boat docked during any investigation) and whatever fees the local authorities wish to charge to give you possession of the vessel. And that's providing the owner doesn't lay any claim at all.
Lots to balance against a possibly meager reward.

Will Gilmore · Oct 30, 2017

Wasn't that a scenario from a movie about the Devil's Triangle? I think the devil was the only one left aboard.
- Will (Dragonfly)

SG · Oct 30, 2017

It's a very different question with the boat being over a 1,000 miles from anywhere with the "what do we do now".
There's the issue of fear of approach -- if you mean that, it's a different bundle of issues that are situational.
There's the issues of e "Zorba the Greek" plunder -- that's both an emotional, legal, and personal issue?
There's the salvage and maritime rights of taking the abandoned vessel and "claiming" her, subject to various laws?

I think the first issues would be what duty do you have to i) inform the authorities by SSB, satellite phone, VHF DSC alarm, or using your message capability on your inReach (for example) tracker. I'd document the event let people know right away.

Approaching closely enough for contact or boarding would depend on

The seaway;
How the situation felt -- which is vibe thing having to do with the condition of the boat, the prior weather patterns, etc. ; and,
Who else was on "our" boat. There are groups of people I've sailed with that I'm comfortable can handle themselves -- and then there are groups that I wouldn't want to take to a bar fight ;^))).

If the boat was really in pristine shape, and we had crew, and we were inclined, I think I'd put a couple of the crew on the boat and sail it to port. Then I'd see what, I'd see.

I have a friend that faced this same situation, he elected not to put two of his four crew on a 40' boat about 600 miles from St. Marteen. Later, he lamented not "claiming the salvage" just to see what happened. As he said, he'd like to really understand the story, more than get anything out the act. Ultimately, he just didn't want to chance that the weather would change, or the boat would turn-out to have something that he didn't understand wrong with it. (Like a keel that was only apparently in attached to the hull, for example.) He never found-out what the story was with the vessel, it wasn't US documented.

From my standpoint, I'd not start expropriating items off the boat unless we needed them to survive. I'd be VERY cautious about water, food, because I'm just suspicious.

Those are my musings from the comfort of my desk chair ashore. ;^)))).

Will Gilmore · Oct 30, 2017

I tend towards recklessness when alone and would check out the boat of I could raft up beside her. Since we are talking about coming across an apparently abandoned boat that appears to be floating well. I would be concerned for the possibilities that someone was on board and possibly in need of help. I would be cautious that someone was aboard who might be laying in wait but I wouldn't likely consider it a serious possibility several hundred miles off shore.
Given a competent crew who could sail her to shore, I'd consider that option if supplies and communications worked for the convoy. Upcoming weather events and where the destination landfall was would certainly factor in. I would feel free to salvage anything that didn't look like it had personal value to someone who might like it returned. I would be interested in discovering her story and tracking down the owner if it didn't take too much of my life.
As far as towing, I would likely be in a boat that was better being the boat getting towed.
Lastly, I would be concerned for the hazard to others. Would it be possible to light her up or call her status and position in so she could be taken care of as a hazard to navigation or I might scuttle her. Just sailing past without action seems irresponsible and inconsiderate to other vessels.
-Will (Dragonfly)

capta · Oct 31, 2017

I don't believe I have ever seen a day at sea calm enough that I could raft up beside another boat. There is always a bit of swell.

Calif. Ted · Oct 31, 2017

capta said:
I don't believe I have ever seen a day at sea calm enough that I could raft up beside another boat. There is always a bit of swell.

Tried once on a windless glassy smooth day, only took about 30 seconds to figure out it was a bad idea.

Will Gilmore · Oct 31, 2017

It looked pretty calm when the navy picked up those two women.

I crossed from Bermuda to the Azores and it was very flat most of the way.
However, I admit that is not usually the case.
- Will (Dragonfly)

pateco · Oct 31, 2017

Send a prize crew across in the dinghy, and play it by ear.

NYSail · Oct 31, 2017

If put that far try and contact coast guard on satellite phone and inform/ inquire. They might be looking for the boat or know it was set adrift.

JimInPB · Oct 31, 2017

I'd call in to USCG & see if they had any news related to it. If the owner was out looking for it, I might throw a spot tracker on board. I'd avoid taking possession, just in case the owner had stashed some sort of "special" cargo on board somewhere.