Well, no. You normally wouldn't. You'd either start towing one boat with the other, or call for assistance. But that apparently didn't happen.
The question is, why? And that begs the question of why they were off course and in Iranian waters at all. Folks can come up with all the conspiracy stuff they want, but I can't think of a conspiracy theory that could hold together at all.
As I said, my guess is a complete screw-up. Someone was not paying attention, they ended up where they shouldn't be, and panicked when approached by the Iranians. Perhaps there was a minor mechanical problem, or perhaps that was just the only lame-ass excuse the OIC could come up with on short notice when they got busted.
If our President was being blackmailed, he would still have to ask somebody to disburse US funds to the blackmailers.
This way, he has an explanation for giving money to his blackmailers.
“We can’t tell the people and the press that we paid ransom for these Sailors, so just keep this under your hat.”
Libya.