Using your boat

I see that alot if not most of you only use your boat occainaly, I have the opertunity to use mine all the time, this is due to retiring at a farilly young age because of a brilliant mother and wife, they both knew how to make money from money. Me personally am good at turning a $100 dollar bill into a buck and owing the tip. My fuel never gets old. Hmmm Thats a good one. NEVER LET YOUR FUEL GET OLD! Just talking,sorry. BB

Pour me another one too!

belizebill wrote:
a brilliant mother and wife, they both knew how to make money from money.

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*Do you mind if I borrow them for a while?

Wives and mothers aside over the last 18 months or so I have been offering 'Sarawana' as a prize at various fundraising events I am involved with.This started with our own foundation, formed to help my godson who suffered a horrible football injury and is now quadraplegic, through to other groups who have helped Ben, and as a quid pro quo we offer the boat for their own fundraisers.

The format is a prize is for 10 people consisting on a day out on the boat, with a picnic lunch/BBQ on board, drinks etc, swim off the boat, use of the dingy etc.It has been great fun, the groups we get just love the boat(which is what we owners LOVE to hear) each auction usually raises about $2,000, so far we have managed about five trips with more planned.

I give them free range of the boat, having a go at taking the helm etc, the only formalities is a quick talk about the do's and dont's regarding the marine toilets.

So the old boat so far has raised about $10,000 for some people who really do need a helping hand.

For anyonme interested in knowing a bit more about Ben have a look at the 5 minute video, there are lots of stories like his out there.Sorry Belizebill I don't mean to hijack your thread.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx059bzvE7I


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-- Edited by Andy G on Sunday 11th of March 2012 06:08:58 PM

I only use my boat (live aboard cruising) in the warm months. June - mid Sept. I like cruising the PNW so that's where the boat lives. The 7 winter months I spend in the south where it's warm, in the motorhome. The 2 other months are spent catching up with friends while living at the stick and brick house. I didn't retire until I was 53, lots of others on here retired earlier than that. Like many of them, I do all my own stunts. Life is good, live it to the limit.

Ken

All I do is work on mine. No crusing yet, maybe one day.

I've been working on Mahalo nonstop for 9 months now, loving almost every moment of it. Taken a lot of day trips for lunch and one weekend in Santa Cruz. Planning on spending most of the spring and summer in southern California. But honestly, I'm a bit concerned about how much I will use her when all the projects are done. And unlike BB, I'm pretty sure Mahalo is moving retirement farther away!

"The format is a prize is for 10 people consisting on a day out on the boat, with a picnic lunch/BBQ on board, drinks etc, swim off the boat, use of the dingy etc"

And of course you have your USCG license for the area , and the boat has its COI inspection sticker and is license3d to carry the compliment of guests and crew aboard?

And you carry commercial insurance?

That can is certainly full of worms but only inspected vessels need a Certificate of Inspection, and you don't have to be "inspected" in order to be an "Uninspected Passenger Vessel."

Insurance is most likely the big issue. Considering the CFRs require a special permit for a legitimate charter operator to perform that type of activity, there is the chance a CG investigator might get curious.

46 CFR 26.03-6 - Special permit

RickB wrote:
That can is certainly full of worms but only inspected vessels need a Certificate of Inspection, and you don't have to be "inspected" in order to be an "Uninspected Passenger Vessel."

Insurance is most likely the big issue. Considering the CFRs require a special permit for a legitimate charter operator to perform that type of activity, there is the chance a CG investigator might get curious.

46 CFR 26.03-6 - Special permit

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*Good find....never came across this one...here it is for the curious or interested..
<h5>§ 26.03-6 Special permit.</h5>
*

(a) If the owner, operator, or agent donates the use of an uninspected passenger vessel to a charity for fundraising activities, and the vessel's activity would subject it to Coast Guard inspection, the OCMI may issue a special permit to the owner, operator, or agent for this purpose if, in the opinion of the OCMI, the vessel can be safely operated. Each special permit is valid for only one voyage of a donated vessel, which is used for a charitable purpose. Applications are considered and approved on a case-by-case basis.

*

(b) The criteria of §176.204 of this chapter will apply to the issuance of a special permit. In addition, the owner, operator, or agent must meet each of these conditions

*

(1) Any charity using a donated vessel must be a bona fide charity or a non-profit organization qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

*

(2) All donations received from the fundraising must go to the named charity;

*

(3) The owner, operator, or agent may obtain a special permit for an individual vessel not more than four times in a 12-month period; and

*

(4) The owner, operator, or agent must apply to the local OCMI for a special permit prior to the intended voyage, allowing adequate time for processing and approval of the permit.

*

(c) Nothing in this part may be construed as limiting the OCMI from making such tests and inspections, both afloat and in dry-dock, that are reasonable and practicable to be assured of the vessel's seaworthiness and safety.

Just one small but important point, Andy G is in NSW Australia, not the US, and the 'unofficial' prize for winning the auction, the proceeds of which are going to a charity, is a day out on the boat like one might take any group of friends - they are not chartering or paying for the vessel in any formal way. However, as part of his insurance cover he would have several million dollars cover for any third party risks involved I would think. I know I have to here in Queensland.
No doubt Andy will clarify the issue when he returns to the thread.

Andy I will have to look at your video about your godson Ben.* My BIL does the same thing with donating boat trips to charity auctions for things his wife and daughters are involved with.**I don't think anyone involved thinks of it as a "charter."* Often times the winner never schedules the trip.*

We are on the boat most every weekend and actually go somewhere on it at least once a month.*

Peter is right, in 'Oz' I think we are not quite so regulated as the 'States' in regard to compliance issues.We have the standard third party insurance cover, about $10 million I think. As long as the vessel is not being used for hire the insurance company is quite happy with what we are doing. Obviously we have to comply with the passenger rating of the vessel, which is 14 people and have adequate lifejackets etc.

The monetry aspect of the venture is down to the individual organising committee. We supply the boat, food and some drinks.I don't provide alcohol as part of the prize, as that may be a grey area, but tell them to bring what they would like as we have plenty of refridgeration on board.

We don't use the boat as much as I would like so it is pleasing to see Sarawana out there being useful, so to speak.The only cloud on the horizon is that Sarawana and I might have to part company soon, which would be a pity.Still while I have her we will continue to do what we can.

Jennifer, do check out Ben's video, he's a great kid.

Pineapple Girl wrote:
Andy I will have to look at your video about your godson Ben.* My BIL does the same thing with donating boat trips to charity auctions for things his wife and daughters are involved with.**I don't think anyone involved thinks of it as a "charter."* Often times the winner never schedules the trip.*

We are on the boat most every weekend and actually go somewhere on it at least once a month.*

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*No one but the USCG maybe...would hate to lose my boat over it.... although I think it's a little harsh relating it to a charter.* The good news is the "special permit" seems to streamline the kind offer to charity.


-- Edited by psneeld on Monday 12th of March 2012 04:10:58 PM

We recenly spent 58 days on Polly P.* I spent a*lot of money on the boat and getting her ready, so I intend to spend as much time on board as possible!

I'm not even close to being retired.