Etiquette for a stern gear rescue dive

[Shuggy]

Hypothetical question ;-)... if one asks a fellow boater for help after one has wrapped a mooring pick-up around one's stern gear and the fellow boater dons a wetsuit, mask and snorkel to spend 20 minutes diving under your boat in a F5 to cut it free and ensure you can moor up properly, enjoy a full night's sleep and a pint or two in the local bar, what does the forum think might be a suitable 'thank you'? And if the diver, hypothetically, ended up with a bruised head and antifouling all over his hair and wetsuit?

Just curious...

Answers on a postcard.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I'm happy to help out fellow boaters and don't expect anything, other than thanks. Sometimes the offer of a little "thank you" gift is appreciated, but not expected, and sometimes it is quietly waved away.

 

[Croak]

I just got a thank you and was happy with that.

 

[DaveS]

I would have thought that a suitable bottle would be right, where suitability is a function of the amount of effort and hassle expended.

 

[Neil_Y]

Spanish police dived for our dropped prop blade and refused all offers of bottles, very nice guys in Ribadeo.

 

[Skylark]

I once helped out a fellow sailor by diving to clear his fouled prop. It was a pleasure for me to be in the position of being able to help and I'd hope that with roles reversed, a fellow sailor would willingly help me in times of difficulty. His gratitude was thanks enough.......but.........a week or so later I received a "thank you" card in the post and was delighted to find a fairly significant Swindlery voucher inside.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

I think you can tell if your efforts are appreciated, and that's what matters.

When a diver (hailed in a passing RIB) freed our anchor off Swanage it took him about a minute and we put a 6-pack of beers into the RIB, that seemed appropriate ...

If you're helping a total stranger who can afford it, especially if it took you 20 minutes in the water, they should give you a nice present.

 

[TQA]

If I help someone out I expect thanks and welcome anything extra.

I regard helping someone as a payment into the bank of good karma, maybe when I get it wrong and finish up stuck someone will come and help me out.

A bottle of something nice is about right. The 20 year old Aberlour Glenlivet was VERY nice. Out here in the Caribbean rum is good.

 

[[70521]]

I like Highland Park 18 year old... hint hint

 

[maby]

Of course we do everything we can to help each other out, but the hypothetical case seems to me to go beyond simple helping out and would merit a very substantial thank you! Something of the order of a large bottle of good champagne or good Scotch seems appropriate.

 

[tudorsailor]

If one was in a Spanish or Croatian marina and had to get a diver, I bet the cost would be many tens of Euros. I would be incredibly grateful to avoid this and would imagine a bottle of spirits or Champagne would be offered

Of course, since I have a rope cutter, this should not happen to me. On holiday a few weeks ago in Croatia , the marina man lifted the bow line under my yacht and wondered why he ended up looking at the end of the line! He told me off for using the engine. Of course, had I not not gone into forwards I would have hit the concrete quay!

TudorSailor

 

[Sailfree]

Snagged anchor in Bray (there is a heavy chain in anchor area) a bottle of wine.

Tow a becalmed 38' boat (could not start engine) into Port Royane (Bay of Biscay) 2 bottles of wine.

I think wine is nice but dependant on look of rescuer (small 24 run on a shoestring -yes , 60' sunseeker -no!) I would offer wine plus small amount of cash to cover cost of breathing bottle refil so not out of pocket.

 

[Pye_End]

A 'thank you' is good, but a bottle or something shows that your efforts are appreciated.

 

[Seven Spades]

Of course, since I have a rope cutter, this should not happen to me.
TudorSailor

Don't be complacent a rope cutter only reduces the risk of getting hooked up. I hit a crab pot in the dark and whilst the cutter did cut the line I ended up with a big birds nest requiring a diver. I was able to limp back to the marina with it

 

[longjohnsilver]

Of course we do everything we can to help each other out, but the hypothetical case seems to me to go beyond simple helping out and would merit a very substantial thank you! Something of the order of a large bottle of good champagne or good Scotch seems appropriate.

I'd agree with that. A commercial diver would have charged probably the best part of £100, so a good bottle (or 2) is well deserved.

 

[bikedaft]

Removed a rope from the prop of a boat in village bay st kilda three years ago

Got a thank you. Wasn't looking for anything else (tho others on board our boat were!)

Think he was just too embarassed, they legged it pdq

No point keeping the drysuit in the shed is there? Have had plenty of help from strangers over the years - nice to return it, thats what makes the world go round

 

[A1Sailor]

Probably an award for bravery (or foolhardiness?) for taking the risk of diving under the stern in a Force 5! Glad to hear the hypothetical diver survived unscathed...