Mark Bergman asked:
The Gemoro on 79b says that when hiring a non-specific boat to carry non-specific wine (Sefina Stam v'Yayin Stam) neither side must carry the full responsibility. I am not clear on the case - if a boat sinking is like being lost (aveida), I would have thought the hirer is responsible, whether he specified the load or not, and if like Oness or Meisa Machmas Melocho I would have thought the hirer is not responsible, just like any hirer's responsibilities.
Why is it different here?
Kol Tuv
Mark Bergman
Manchester UK
The Kollel replies:
The Gemara is not speaking about the responsibility for the boat itself. It is discussing the responsibility to pay the fare.
D. Zupnik