Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Sub Operation at the Discretion of the U.S Coast Guard

[Ray Keefer <psubs2001@yahoo.com>]

A paying customer doesn't have to pay in cash. If he buys fuel, buys you lunch or buys any thing of value that can be construed as trade for a sub ride, you are operating for hire. In which case not only you better have insurance, you need to be certified, your vessel will have to have passed applicable Coast Guard inspections and requirments for passenger submersibles.

--- On Wed, 8/19/09, ShellyDalg@aol.com <ShellyDalg@aol.com> wrote:

> From: ShellyDalg@aol.com <ShellyDalg@aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Sub Operation at the Discretion of the U.S Coast Guard
> To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
> Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2009, 8:45 PM
> 
> 
>  
>  
> 
> 
> As far as paying customers, we know we can't do
> that. I was surprised at 
> Jon's comment about buying a bunch of the Questor boats
> and renting them to 
> tourists. Not sure if that would fly. My guess is that
> definitely wouldn't be 
> able to get insurance, but who knows. It seems to me that
> an "experimental" boat 
> could be considered in the same way an experimental plane.
> Think I heard 
> somewhere that if you built your own plane you didn't
> need a pilot's license to 
> fly it. This was in connection to those little planes with
> the propeller behind 
> the fuselage. Not an ultralight but still pretty small.
> They are pretty nice 
> little planes and go like hell. Several years ago a guy
> near here had one and I 
> would see him buzzing around. Looked like lots of fun. I
> never got the chance to 
> talk to him though.
> Anyway, as it relates to subs, if you design and build
> your own, and have 
> the minimum requirements for any boat like life preservers,
> flares, CF numbers 
> or reg. #'s for your area, there shouldn't really
> be any 
> special restrictions on where you can go. This of
> course is always going to 
> be at the discretion of who's in charge, be it the
> harbor master, park ranger, 
> coast guard, or sheriff.
> Now back to paying customers........the main thing
> here is probably 
> insurance. Even if you get a signed release form, the law
> is pretty clear here. 
> It seems the law was more intended for ferries or something
> and subs may 
> have been added as an after thought. I wonder if
> there's any restriction on 
> using it ( the builder ) for things like hiring yourself
> and the sub out for 
> inspections, retrievals, filming, or other
> "commercial" ventures without taking 
> paying customers along.
> Probably take a lawyer to figure that one out.
> Me....I'm gonna go chase 
> KRAKEN and get some pictures.
> Frank D.  
> 


      



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