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Andrew is referring to the opening line of an article entitled
'Hooked!' on the Surgeon's Mate page in the Lay Days section of the first issue
of MarineZine.
With one notable exception, our experiences in this respect
have been so dreadful that we would not, in fact, consider taking a hitch-hiker
or other unexpected guest aboard again in a hurry.
Lessons we have learned the hard way included the following: 1)
Unless you have some means of discovering whether the person requesting a 'lift'
is known to the authorities, or other boat owners, as a thief, remember that you
have no way of knowing whether your belongings are safe whilst that person is on
board, unless he or she can provide references that can be
checked out. A cunning person may have that end of
things arranged too, if the references are shore-based. A skipper who has
previously had the intended passenger aboard may be the best reference, if you
can get hold of him, or her, to check it out. On the other hand, if that skipper
still has the person on board and is trying to get rid of him or
her, scruples may be temporarily suspended...
2) People who are unused to being aboard boats can cause an
unbelievable amount of damage and inconvenience, quite without meaning to,
through ignorance, clumsiness and/or lack of common sense. It is wisdom to
establish whether his or her previous life-experiences would suggest the
likelihood of an easy adaptation to life at sea.
3) Always ensure that, BEFORE you take the person onto your crew list at
immigration check-out, you have obtained from them a sufficient quantity of cash
in £'s, €s or US$ to cover the cost of an air ticket from your destination
BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/LEGAL RESIDENCE.
In the event of a problem, immigration authorities in pretty well every country,
barring none we have ever heard of, will insist upon YOUR paying for them to be
sent HOME and nowhere else.
4) People should be able to pay for their own food and drink. Declaration of an inability to do so would indicate that they are not capable of
looking after themselves and therefore highly unlikely to help look after the
boat and the welfare of others aboard. Unless you would be willing to take
in destitute beggars ashore, there is no earthly reason why you should do so on
your boat.
Declaration of ability to pay but unwillingness to do so would indicate
meanness. You need a sponger on board like you need a container in your seaway.
No-one would suggest that you seek to make a profit from these people but you
are already providing transport and accommodation in exchange for their helping
with watches or domestic chores. Enough is enough.
If they show reluctance to go with you on that basis, they will doubtless show
reluctance to help when things get hairy and you'd be better off dealing with an
emergency alone than having to look after a boatload of idiots and manage a
crisis to boot. Best leave them on the beach.
5) Before taking them on, be sure to engage people in conversations about other
people they have known and take stock of their attitudes to others with whom
they have sailed, or worked, travelled or been involved in any way.
A person who has little good to say about those he has known
may have a personality problem or a problem relating to others. In the confines
of a boat this can be a major problem. If they appear to be saying all the right
things a few leading questions will usually provoke sincerity of response
eventually.
Not that one expects all the world to be Pollyanna or St.
Francis of Assisi, but a certain level of tolerance and a positive mental
attitude should be considered a minimum.
6) If someone has a medical condition that could become a problem, it would be
very unwise to take them on. Apart from the potential nightmare scenario at sea,
there is also, these days, a risk of being sued that is simply not worth taking.
7) The matter of drugs is one of paramount concern. We would
suggest that you take
a look at Part 4 of our Crew Manual, in the Sailing section in this
issue, which deals specifically with this topic. The link provided here will
bring the relevant material up in a separate window. Part 4, if read in full,
should make matters quite clear.
8) Anyone who tries to use emotional blackmail should be
swiftly reminded that their situation was not of your making and their embassy
has the means to help citizens abroad with their difficulties.
To the decent hitchhikers out there whom I have
enraged by my suggestion that hikers, in the main, should be regarded with
suspicion, I have to say that I am sorry. Not for warning my fellow sailor about
the potential hazards in picking up hikers - I believe in looking after one's
own - but sorry for you because the low-life have made it harder for you
to get lifts aboard some yachts these days, ours included. That's modern life,
I'm afraid,
Linnet Woods for MarineZine
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