by W. S. Kals
Half a gale was building a tough sea the night the motor quit.
The 18-foot boat was only 400 yards from the safety of a breakwater. But wind and current were against the skipper. He was being blown out toward the middle of a turbulent sound. A larger cabin cruiser nosed out of the harbor and spotted the distressed boat. The captain tried desperately to throw a line to the smaller boat. But the seas were running high, and it was impossible to get close enough. Whether you boat in heavy seas or in calm water, at some time you’ll either need a tow or be asked to tow a boat in distress. Everyone should know the basic towing practices, and how to get a line between the boats. But who throws the line to whom has always worried some boatmen. Some say that if the rescue boat throws a line to the distressed boat, the rescuer becomes liable for anything that happens to the boat in tow. This is not so, according to marine insurance experts. Liability generally rests with the distressed boat. The only time there’s a question of change in liability is when a boat captain attempts to tow another boat without a request for assistance. A request for help can be given verbally—-”I need a hand”—or by signal. As a matter of courtesy, though, the distressed boat should provide the tow line. Should the line fray or break it’s not a loss for the skipper who’s helping. Towing a boat and getting a tow line rigged can be tricky. How to do it in different situations is explained in the next three pages.
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