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It was asked today if i would use my mac as a "wedding boat" the groom enquired as to if i would be prepared to deck my mac out in bunting and pink stuff in order to transport his new bride and himself from the service to the reception as both the church and the restaurant straddle the Great Ouze river at Cambridge.


so would you do it?

As a gift, yes.

Have them pay me for it (i.e. for hire), NO.

Insurance will not cover the boat if it is being used 'for hire', and if something happened - God forbid - you'd be on the hook for the lot. They could take your boat, you house, your car... basically everything.

So... do it for free and you're good to go. Take even a single ha'penny and you're crazy.

I would. Particularly if this is your buddy asking.

Bunting on the forestay and backstay would look pretty cool if they were sized properly, ie. the fully dressed. The pink stuff is inviting future ridicule me thunks for all of us. What am I saying, we own Macs, we don't care what other people think - go for it!

Absolutely - so long as the groom and best man come over the day before and clean up the boat - don't want that white gown and train dragging across some fishy remains. The only problem I see is that after it is over and they have gone off to do whatever whereever, you could end up the only sober one taking down the decorations, you do intend to be sober for the trip back? As for charging - he is already getting married - why add insult to injury. And if you are taking many of the bridal party along, you might run a few safety lines and secure the boom well for them to hold on to - or position the photographer in your dingie so he gets great MOB shots

Rice and bird seeds everywhere so remove the carpet.

I supopose that I'd do it, and if i was to take any money for it, Id make sure to give a receipt for decorationg services, or photography, or the like, and not for boating related things. you could also have them sign liabilty waivers if you wanted to be really sure to not get scewed over.

no worries about the boozing,its been 13.5 years since i last had an alcoholic beverage.Iam going to look into the cost of the bunting and stuff,if its a lot i will pass on the request,the guy is not a close friend.thanks for mentioning not charging for the trip,i guess its pretty much the same in the USA,you need a masters certificate and special river licence and insurance before you can earn from the river and they will take the shirt off your back if anything goes wrong.The distance from my mooring to the church is about 30 miles and three locks away,the river nene where my boat is and the Great Ouze are quite beautifull and ive been meaning to do the trip to the City of Cambridge,the part inbetween the rivers is refferre to as the "middle level" and is made up of very straight man made dykes with high banks,so a bit od throttle may be required to get through that.

On the rivers its life in the slow lane,chugging along at 1000-1500 rpm feels about right,ill have to take some pictures of the nene,its full of picture postcard type places.

Wedding cake and champagne wash off pretty easily, don't they

ou could also have them sign liabilty waivers if you wanted to be really sure to not get scewed ove

They can contribute gas money (a recent change in regs) here in the States, but once you accept money for 'hire' you are flirting with a whole new cup of tea, and better have a Masters license or like before you do this. Waivers wont mean much in this area of maritime law.

I know nothing about the rules in Cambridge, other than the one on our side of the pond you named yours after...

Can you be sure that no one will still not be hung-over from the party the night before !!! one slip MOB or one slip & somebody goes on their A$$ gets hurt & its your A$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$ you'd be amazed how fast the favor will be forgoten & all of a sudden your the Big Bad Wolf
I ran my Fishing Charter Business for 15yrs never had a claim against me but thought I was constantly running a Kindergarden school people just seem to loose all common sense when on the water

J

what are all this objections about? What time are we living in that we ask for rules/laws and insurances for each trivial action. It could be so simple: If this are people You like do it, if not than not .

Rainer

As a gift to the couple, I would do it in a New York second

in order to transport his new bride and himself from the service to the reception

, but only in the one direction Only "from the service to the reception". What has been pointed out by Kevin and John is unfortunately too true

Ray

P.S. Bastonjock, if you do it, POST PICTURES

What time are we living in that we ask for rules/laws and insurances for each trivial action.

Respectfully disagree. Maritime law is not new, and taking people on a boat for hire is a serious business.

Respectfully disagree. Maritime law is not new, and taking people on a boat for hire is a serious business.

Yup. What he said. Anytime you take someone off shore for money, you are ultimately responsible for returning them to shore in the approximate state of health they were in upon departure. Very serious!