Homemade Boats

[drewpster]

We just got back from our yearly vacation to Key West Florida and to the Dry Torgtugas. While we were there we took a trip out to Garden Key to visit Fort Jefferson about 70 miles off the coast of Key West.
While at the Fort I took this picture of three rather tattered looking homemade boats from the roof of the Fort. A park Ranger stationed there explained to me that these three boats were made, by hand, by Cuban refugees fleeing Cuba that had come ashore at Garden Key. The rubber boat in the right of the picture had arrived earlier that week and had eleven people on it. Amazing! That's 90 miles across open ocean with no engine using a paddle! You can get an idea of how small that thing is by the size of the man standing in the picture. Apparently these crossings are very common.
If a refugee boat is spotted the Coast Guard must be notified. If they catch the boat in the water, the refugees are returned to Cuba. If the boat makes it to land they are given Visas and allowed to stay. The mate that explained this to me would not elaborate on the international laws governing private citizens offering aid to these boats while at sea. Personally, I would have a hard time not going out to help them. Especially after such a dangerous crossing.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Homemade Boats

Much better than I would have thought. I always picture a raft like in the movie, castaway.

 

[fixb52s]

Re: Homemade Boats

I alway think of this photo when I think of how determined the Cubans are in their trip to the states. If they can get a truck to float, they could make anything float. Too bad the Coast Guard sank it with some machine gun rounds.​

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: Homemade Boats

I wonder if and when we will ever restore and normalize relations with Cuba now that Fidel Castro is gone.

 

[Marcq]

Re: Homemade Boats

That's what it looks like with people in it
Not worth water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tsYCPf-FYA

Marc..

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Homemade Boats

Completely aside from the political situation with Cuba, how do you tell the good guys from the bad guys. Terrorists come from all etnicities and know how to tug on the heartstrings of good people.

I'm not saying these were bad guys, just how do you tell?

Turning away people without water is nothing new. We did it to a cruise ship filled full of Jews in 1939. It was a publicity stunt by Hitler. He had made the statement that no nation wanted them. The ship cruised around the whole Atlantic trying to find a country that would take them and had to return to Germany. We refused them food and water also. At least other countries gave them supplies.

Hard times require hard decisions.

We are all making ythem in one way or another.