Stood up?

[5user5]

Okay...so I have been trying to get on a boat for a long time now. I found a person on the "crew wanted" part of this site who needs someone to help out. He seems like a nice guy and a bit younger like me. The thing is that he does not have a firm date. He says late April early May. Thats fine and all but I had to buy a plane ticket before they got way over priced. So I have a plane ticket and no firm date. I am flying out May third to Ft Lauderdale. I hope I don't spend all of my time and money in Florida. I guess the question is..Have you ever been stood up by a skipper or is that unheard of? Any other advice would be greatly appreciated as well.

[artbyjody]

I hate being one to state the obvious - but if the gent in question did not give you dates and you bought tickets anyways in anticipation...

Its probably not going to happen. The fact you have to ask, means you did so hoping it would but not knowing that it will. Any reasonable skipper will tell you hard set dates or tell you they will be in contact around when they can solidify the dates.

None the less - enjoy your vacation in Florida - you might want to post in the Crew wanted forum to meet others in the areas in case it actually doesn't pan out...

[5user5]

Ouch...do you think I should just eat the hundred bucks on the one way plane ticket and not go to Florida?

[artbyjody]

Originally Posted by 5user5

Ouch...do you think I should just eat the hundred bucks on the one way plane ticket and not go to Florida?

Thats kinda up to you... I like FL myself. Maybe you should get in contact with the skipper and hone things in.

[xort]

Bying a plane ticket on a 'maybe' is rather wishful to me.

[Faster]

Unfortunately I am anecdotally aware of more of these type of situations becoming "disasters" than really working out.

Some of us here will remember Kacper's experience, and I have known two others who travelled some distance to join an "Ocean ready" boat only to find a boat still on the hard with "just a few weeks work now that you're here" left to do.

In all three situations the "crew" wised up and bailed out, but not necessarily after wasting a lot of time providing free labour.

It may be reasonable to be expected to pitch in for some of the preparation, but if so that should be apparent and disclosed up front.

In the end, one young lady who ran into this situation did find an alternate ride once she was there.. but even that trip, though ultimately successful, had its issues.

Remember, if you put to sea with your new "friend", it's not like you can call a cab if things go astray......

[Giulietta]

I invited many people to sail with me, 2 of them for a small ride of 180 miles, and all was planned and done accordingly..they flew in from the US, and we went as scheduled...

It all depends on the people you are dealing with...if they are serious people or no good no lige jerks with a hint of opportunism...

Me?? if the person can't give me a right schedule and plan (which obviously can have a few days delay, s**t happens), with a decent accuracy...I don't even get on a boat with him...what else he he going to lie about more???

Its just that we are all human beings...but some are still in the primitive stage

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by Giulietta

Its just that we are all human beings...but some are still in the primitive stage

Another one...Whats up ?.. are you going for one a day now?..

[merlin2375]

What kind of sailing were you planning on doing? Do you have the person's phone number? Have you tried calling or have you just been conversing by email?

If you're going to go out with them some part of your safety lies in their hands and being upfront and honest speaks a lot for integrity. I think that's an important characteristic.

It sounds shady to me, personally, I would eat the $100 and find some local people to sail with.

[Valiente]

If you are having free crew fly in, there is no excuse for not having the boat 99% ready (there is always a little "surprise" with boats, however!).

The weather, however, is beyond the skipper's control: Sometimes it is merely good seamanship to wait a day or two, particularly when the crew or the skipper or the boat are not experienced in heavy weather.

But it does seem to me that a lot of people show up as crew not to a situation where the skipper says "we have to buy groceries: do you have any special food needs?", but rather "we have to paint the bottom...here's your roller, get to work!"

Now, if that is the explicit understanding: "a week's hard work buys you a passage to destination X", that's fine. But it seems that a lot of skippers are looking for free labour and time in return for more free labour while they get to go offshore. Not fine.