Tad bit harsh don't you think?
ANYONE can get to the point that they have should get off.. I have been there and practically prayed for an alien abduction to happen so I could get off the damn boat. Needless to say I'm still here so that didn't happen. So would you rather have a crew aboard that got to the point they were putting YOUR life in danger? .. I've been there and sleeping off watch in the pilothouse to keep a eye on a deficient crew for days on end started to degrade my performance also.
There are so many reasons the author may have got to that point.. many may have had nothing to do with being a wimp.. loss in confidence in the vessel might of been just one part.. I would rather be a wimp and alive than a statistic.
The guy may have been a great crew member... just not in the gulf of Alaska in the winter.. on that boat.. with that skipper.
Unless you were there, on that boat its really not fair to judge the guy.
I know there is no way in hell I would be on a 90' tug with those kind of tows that time of year.. I'm way smarter than that.
HOLLYWOOD