BoatBuddys. Anybody have any experiance of this scheme?

Bertramdriver

Bertramdriver

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www.williamsandsmithells.com
I fell across this website www.boatbuddys.co.uk by accident. However as I read my way through it the logic became more appealing. As a well knackered pensioner trying to keep pace with the maintainance of a 47 foot 1980's mobo, the thought of sharing the physical and financial :encouragement:load is appealing. Also having someone competent to crew on positioning trips rather than a sullen and bored SWMBO makes sense.
So if anyone is in this scheme or has experience please share.
 
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Similar schemes have been discussed on this and other forums. iirc, the usual consensus is that the approach is too close to chartering and therefore would need a coded boat and qualified skipper. If you take a friend out for the day or even lend your boat to a friend then that is OK. If your friend offers to cover some of the expenses for the trip, that should be OK too. But for a stranger to do that or for someone to pay above the odds in return for trips starts to cross a line.
 
Alas the description on the site of the distinction between hire and non hire is not in line with the distinction as stipulated in UK law. Boatbuddying a nice idea but it is unwittingly leading boat owners towards, possibly, criminal offences unless their boats are coded and manned correctly
 
jfm said:
Alas the description on the site of the distinction between hire and non hire is not in line with the distinction as stipulated in UK law. Boatbuddying a nice idea but it is unwittingly leading boat owners towards, possibly, criminal offences unless their boats are coded and manned correctly
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Hi John, that being the case who'd be held accountable? Boat Buddies and / or the boat owner? presume the buddy wouldn't be at risk in any way?
 
oGaryo said:
Hi John, that being the case who'd be held accountable? Boat Buddies and / or the boat owner? presume the buddy wouldn't be at risk in any way?
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The law is very clear that the boat owner and skipper can be held accountable, and not the buddy, so far as the offence of going to sea in an uncoded/manned boat is concerned. I suppose if the thing is planned then the buddy is potentially guilty of conspiracy, but it feels unlikely MCA would prosecute that one, though they are viewed by many as trigger happy so you never know...
 
seastoke said:
it would be nice to here from boat buddy direct
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That would be me.
From using that site I am a boat buddy on a 32ft raggie.
Owner has some mobility issues so my role is to crew for him allowing more time sailing in more challenging conditions. I also get involved in some maintenance work that he struggles to do.
Key element for me is no money changes hands either way except if we eat out or use a marina away from home for a night then its 50/50 split.
My limited experience of the scheme is both positive and negative. The trick is finding the right owner/buddy.
 
Difficult one to answer but first and foremost I have to get on with them which generally means they need to be confident and easy going.
Other key atributes (in no particular order)....
1) They must be competent in handling the boat
2) not take unreasonable risks with themselves or anyone else on board
3) take pride in the way the boat is kept
4) not treat me like the hired help (more a partnership) and appreciated what each person is putting in and gaining from the relationship.

Point 2 is why I am now looking for another owner to buddy.

I also feel the owner must be very clear about why they want a boatbuddy. Cost sharing is fine but to then expect them to act as crew and do significant amounts of maintenance on the boat may well be unreasonable.
I'm going the buddy route simply because I dont have the spare cash atm to own my own boat. I do have most weekends free and have reasonable skills in areas that are useful in maintaining a boat. So time and effort are the contibution I can make, not cash.
 
I'm interested in finding someone to help me. Boat is in Greece and needs lots of TLC and physical graft eg cleaning, polishing anti fouling, knowledge of electrics, joinery, grp work would be useful.
I'm happy to trade a couple of weeks help for a couple of weeks driving around the Saronikas and Peloponnese with helpers friends or family plus fuel costs @£3-400. Boat can accommodate me plus 4 others
Helper to pay own airfares but accommodation on boat in boatyard and food on shared basis.
Only interested in sane intelligent people.
 
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