Salvage Reward

Many yachtsmen who have been towed by powerful motor boats have been alarmed at the speed in which the rescue boat intend to travel. The factors relating to a heavy displacement vessel means that the vessel becomes trapped between a forward and stern wave when hull speed is attained and does not want to go any faster. That's why many tow ropes snap or rigs gets damaged due to the tension applied. I can understand the need for umph to get a boat off a bank or mud etc but once moving, such as tows for breakdowns etc there is not neccessarally the need for 100's of HP. The two tows that I have received were very calm and easy and didn't mean we arrived to much later than we would have done anyway.

Regards.

Peter.
 
Yes, I have actually been the salvor of a vessel on rocks - the subject of a previous post. My boat was damaged in the act of rescue but was successful nonetheless.

I hadn't actually thought of salvage, but when I came to claim, my insurance adviser told me that I should put in a claim for the rescued vessel - about 60% of its value plus the £1200 of damage to mine. The vessel was a 23 foot Chapperal and worth about £30k. Trouble was, I hadn't got the vessel or skippers name and he had vanished in a mysterious smokescreen, even though he was local. Basically, the yard where he was stored covered for him. The yard is full of 23ft turquiose Chapperals /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif so no luck there.

It really does not matter whose rope is used. Under maritime law, you are a) duty bound to assist someone in distress (or get help for them) and b) if you rescue them (even off a shore line) then you are entitled to a claim.
 
It is a hugly complex issue and not really covered in a page of a 'glossy'. IMHO

LoF Lloyds Open Form is still very much the contract to use commercially. Interesting you can make a claim even if you are the stand-by vessel.


As said above for smallish 'recreational ' jobs surely its all done as a favour for a fellow boater who's got a problem. If you suffer a loss in the process then fair enough you should be made whole.
 
Apart from incidents where major damage is done, or where an insurance company is involved, has anyone ever heard of a salvage claim being made?

I seem to end up helping someone out once a season but I wouldn't dream of claiming salvage; it doesn't seem to be what messing about on boats is all about.

(Having said that there is one boat owner who damaged my boat last year then tried to deny it. Eventually his insurance company paid up, but I would be so happy if I had the slightest excuse to claim salvage from him! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif)
 
Yes you're right about doing a fellow boater a favour - and as I was hauling this hapless family's boat off rocks, it never occured to me to claim salvage. In fact I didn't realise the extent to which my boat was damaged until later. By then this guy and his family and boat had made good his escape and disappearance.
 
Thats disgraceful! There probably the type of people the RNLI contantly have to rescue with kids on board and no safety equipment. All they do is give the responsible sailors a bad name. Have you noticed the press love to talk to the RNLI about these prats but little is said about the majorityof sensible boaters.
You just hope that he get's what he deserves some day.

Regards.

peter.
 
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