Boats of Shame

[Skipper519]

How did those seals get aboard in the first place? The freeboard looks substantial.

[JungleJim]

This is a typical sight up and down the coast in SoCal - typically moored boats that sit for a while. The seals will take over a boat and have the ability to leap much higher (than depicted in this photo) out of the water. The protection laws don't allow much recourse - boat owners need to let the seals leave on their own.

[Spiritman]

Question:

Would the owner be violating any law by shooing these beasts off his boat?

[smackdaddy]

That's exactly why I keep a Polar Bear chained to my steering pedestal.

[sailingdog]

Yes, AFAIK, harrasing the creatures in any way, including prompting them to move off the said resting area, is a violation of federal law.

Now, preventing them from coming aboard in the first place by putting up barriers is probably legal, provided the barriers deter but do not injure the big beasties.

Originally Posted by Spiritman

Question:

Would the owner be violating any law by shooing these beasts off his boat?

[JungleJim]

Hey dog, good to see some of the sailnet vets (not me I'm a sailnet young-un)

As for keeping the seals away - I'd say Smack Daddy's profile picture - great picture by the way - oughta do the trick. The caption below: Hey Seals, come here!

[canadianseamonkey]

Just looking at the disaster boats in this thread once again and just can't believe some people. I get pissed when I see a shoe print on my deck.

[TQA]

How about this one spotted in the Virgin Islands

From Hoot Mon

[smackdaddy]

Here's a very sad Hunter in our marina. We had a 50 knot storm come through on Christamas day - and our slips had been pushed so far out into the lake due to the drought that we had no breakwater. My boat is 4 slips down so we had the same waves. But I had been out before the holidays tightening lines, adding spring lines, bumpers, etc. So we got off easy.

Anyway, this thing is now 6" lower in the water (with the same amount inside the now open cabin (the hatch was blown out). And look at the dockrash on the nose from the concrete...ouch. And yes, that's lichen on the vang sheets. And a parted forestay, and....

Sad.

[merc2dogs]

Originally Posted by TAK

Sad to see, looks like the owner put some effort into keeping them off the boat.
One of the things I found so frustrating when I lived out there is that you were pretty much expected to sit back and take it.

In situations like that though, I think the best option is to get rid of the lifelines and anything else that could be damaged so they have easy on/off access.
Of course, the -best- option would be to make the preservation groups responsible for damages, but that is extremely unlikely.

Ken.