Potential liability if I let friends dive from my boat?

[Jupiter31]

At one point in time, you were correct - if a passenger on a private boat chipped in for gas, food, etc - and the unthinkable happend - the boat owner could be held liable in the same way a commercial boat could.

The law has been modified in the sense that chipping in for gas for example does not mean you have become a commercial "vessel for hire"

Has nothing to do with the fact that the opperator/boat owner can still be sued for negligence in the event of an accident or death.

Thats why you need a big umbrella policy (I carry 3M) to protect you.

 

[Scott L]

The receiving of money has nothing to do with the determination of the boatowner's liability. It only comes into play with regard to the information offered to secure the boat/yacht insurance policy. If you purposely represent your vessel as pleasure use but are in fact a commercial operation and an accident occurs coverage may be denied as a result of a material misrepresentaion. The flip side offers no issues with coverage. Jupiter31 gives sound advise with regard to the low cost and high benefit of securing a umbrella or excess liability policy....

 

[CaptEsteban]

I stand corrected in my statement. Thanks !

 

[Chuck Tribolet]

At one point in time, you were correct - if a passenger on a private boat chipped in for gas, food, etc - and the unthinkable happend - the boat owner could be held liable in the same way a commercial boat could.

The law has been modified in the sense that chipping in for gas for example does not mean you have become a commercial "vessel for hire"

.

The regulation says that a "voluntary sharing of the expenses of the
voyage" is not "for hire". If you insist that your passengers chip
in, it would be "for hire".

I make a point of not taking any gas money until we get back.
Usually my buddy will get my fills afterwards.

 

[Jupiter31]

Chuckie, methinks you are splitting hairs a tad

Where in the post did it say INSIST hmmmmmm?????

It does not matter when, or if you take gas money - before the trip, 20 miles out, or later or never - so long as its "voluntary" you are OK - the law is written so that a true charter cannot get around the insurance and other regulations and say thay are a private boat.

Still in a sense does not matter - I've beaten the insurance issue to death and that to me is the key if you are going to invite friends to dive from your own (private) boat.