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From: (no name) (no email)
Date: Fri Jul 25 2003 - 10:48:43 EDT
In a message dated 7/24/03 11:43:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
<< all around me I see
enterprising individuals who have ideas about making a living on the water,
and
helping other boaters doing so, and then see their invested money disappear
due
to competition from well intentioned dilettante auxiliarists, local
volunteer
fire departments who also get to boat for free with the taxpayers money, or
harbormasters who get to charge money without any licensing or insurance
requirements whatsoever, or the local sheriff who got a homeland security
grant and
now has to justify his (very expensive) boats and crews. >>
The USCG Auxiliary has been towing boaters since 1939 when it was authorized
by the US Congress. The 'recreational' towing business sprang up a few years
ago when government cutbacks caused the USCG to discontinue non-emergency
responses and towing. The 'recreational' towing organizations then lobbied the US
Congress to prohibit organizations such as the USCG and Auxiliary from
responding to boaters in distress. They were partially successful.
What developed is a complex set of conditions, rules and procedures that the
Auxiliary and USCG must follow to determine when to handle a non-emergency tow
and when to leave it to commercial jobbers. If this isn't being followed in
your area, or you feel you cannot compete under the current rules, you should
take the particulars to your local USCG District Commander.
Since 9/11 a lot of money has been talked about and promised but none has
materialized. Volunteer rescue organizations have had to put in many more
operational hours at their own expense.
Al Johnson
34' Marine Trader "Angelina"
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