[TSOJOURNER]

hello all,

i'm new to the board but not new to sailing...this is a serious request.

One my closest friends is now living in LA and is organizing photo shoots for modeling contracts. I have no idea on the companies or products. All i know is that he has indicated that he would like to do a photo shoot on a sailboat.

Probably out to see, maybe on catailina island.

I used to have a choey lee and i was thinking that a wooden type boat would be best.

Honestly not sure if there is any pay or not, i'm just trying to get some interest going and see if anybody would be interested in sailing with us while the models hang out on your boat for a few hours.

let me know if your interested

[email protected]

 

[Hesper]

My boat was featured on a program on German TV, so she's already an experienced model. But we're on the east coast, so that does you no good.

 

[rayncyn51]

Were I to volunteer, I suspect that the Admiral would require certain conditions to be met, and it's pretty hard to skipper a boat while blindfolded. :laugher

 

[imagine2frolic]

What's the pay?

 

[xort]

Anyone contemplating this should go in armed with knowledge. If you are receiving any compensation at all, you can be liable for any and all accidents of any kind.

First thing is to have a licensed captain in charge of the boat. Without a licensed captain, no insurance in the world is going to help you in any way.

Second, get yourself and/or your boat listed as a named insured on the photographers liability insurance. This does two things. One, it verifies that the photographer does indeed have liability insurance ($1 million minimum) and second, it gives you direct access to the insurance for claims purposes which is a very good thing. You might also consider requiring a deposit for the insurance deductable amount.

Models can be very flaky people, photographers can be very demanding people; who knows what might happen to them in the course of the shoot. Plenty of people with no experience hanging out on your boat at sea, distracted by the business at hand, can lead to injury and/or damage.

 

[quidam1947]

Anyone contemplating this should go in armed with knowledge. If you are receiving any compensation at all, you can be liable for any and all accidents of any kind.

First thing is to have a licensed captain in charge of the boat. Without a licensed captain, no insurance in the world is going to help you in any way.

Second, get yourself and/or your boat listed as a named insured on the photographers liability insurance. This does two things. One, it verifies that the photographer does indeed have liability insurance ($1 million minimum) and second, it gives you direct access to the insurance for claims purposes which is a very good thing. You might also consider requiring a deposit for the insurance deductable amount.

Models can be very flaky people, photographers can be very demanding people; who knows what might happen to them in the course of the shoot. Plenty of people with no experience hanging out on your boat at sea, distracted by the business at hand, can lead to injury and/or damage.

Very wise advise from Xtort and especially the liability concerns -- worthy of serious consideration! My first impression reading the request was that this sounded like someone trying to build their portfolio and not truly a professional shoot.

 

[sailingdog]

If you're going to do this, I'd also recommend making a list of rules for the photographer/models that needs to be followed. In a thread on another forum, they had photos of models in stiletto heels. I would never allow someone in stiletto heels aboard a fiberglass boat, as the loads caused by the stiletto heels can easily damage teak or fiberglass decks if they're not careful... Also, a lot of common shoes will leave nasty black streaks on fiberglass that are a PITA to remove.

One other point... if you're receiving compensation for the use of your boat, you may be considered that the boat is being chartered. Charter boats require commercial insurance generally, and also require a USCG licensed captain involved.

 

[bubb2]

One other point... if you're receiving compensation for the use of your boat, you may be considered that the boat is being chartered. Charter boats require commercial insurance generally, and also require a USCG licensed captain involved.

One thing that is always overlooked by many that think they can make a quick buck doing a charter is the boat it's self must documented as a commercial vessel and equipped as a commercial passenger vessel. Please see CFR 46 for the requirements. Under 6 passengers is a OUPV, over 6 passengers the vessel needs to be inspected and have a valid COI from the CG and the Capt. must have a Masters license.

 

[sailingdog]

Good point Bubb... and you have to have all the USCG required commercial gear aboard her too...

 

[blt2ski]

One would also probably be better off letting ones fingers do the walking thru the "boat charter" yellow pages in the LA and surrounding area to find a boat available with captain etc vs someone off an internet site. Then again, of course some of us might know folks locally...........which I do in seattle, but not LA!

marty

 

[imagine2frolic]

All good points, and the reason I asked was not for me. I am in Florida, and couldn't, but for all the reasons pointed out. Also I use to work in a muffler shop below a photo studio. This crew use to fly all over the world, and often used boats on S.F Bay. I know they paid well for the use of the boats.....i2f

 

[imagine2frolic]

Personal thought was they didn't want to pay. They were looking for someone all giddy about being around models, and jump at the chance for free.....IMHO......i2f

 

[bubb2]

Personal thought was they didn't want to pay. They were looking for someone all giddy about being around models, and jump at the chance for free.....IMHO......i2f

If thats the case, it gets into a real gray area in regards to is it a charter or is it not. A lot of skippers would say, I not taking money therefore it is not a charter. The Coast Guard could say the boat was being used for a commercial photo shoot and lack of payment does not have a bearing. I have read in the Professional Marine rags that cases like this going both ways in the past.

 

[JimMcGee]

You may or may not be required to have a commercial captain on board for a photo shoot. My guess is you would not.

"One time use" is often looked at differently than operating an ongoing commercial venture. I would guess that different insurance companies would look on this differently. I would doubt you'd get the same answer three times in three calls to the Coast Guard.

- If you're considering this I would first confirm that the photographer is real. If he is he should be able to point you to an online portfolio of his work.

- Confirm how many people will be present for the shoot. Non-sailors have an unrealistic view of how big a sailboat really is. At minimum you're going to have photo equipment, lights & reflectors, and assistant/makeup artist plus you and the models.

- Have a non-confrontational conversation with the photographer that you will be glad to do anything he requests as long as it does not compromise safety.

- Confirm what kind of shoot it is. What kind of product? How will the models be portrayed? Are all of the models over 18 (21 in some states)?

- A photographer doing this kind of work will likely have an unbrella policy covering general liability. You'll want a copy of the declaration page, and you'll want to call the company to confirm the policy is in force and would be the primary policy in the event of injury to anyone on your boat. If you run onto the rocks because you're checking out the girls that claim will be on your policy.

- I'd call my insurance company, fax or email them a copy of the photographer's policy and ask them to fax or email you confirmation as to the limits of your liability. God forbid something happens you know where you stand - in writing.

- Ask the photographer if he will include some background shots of your boat as part of any compensation. Usually this won't be a problem and it's a nice thing to have.

- A photo shoot will NOT be what you expect and is nothing like what you see in the movies. You can expect a long, boring day once the novelty wears off.

Jim