sea tow/ us boats?

[rsw21282]

hi am new to boating and just purchased my first one. Its a bit older so im thinking of getting sea tow or us tow or any others that might be recomended just wanted everyones opinion on the best one. Also do i need any type of insurance or licenses(im 27)under the impression only need license if under 18, if it is relevant my boat is 18'

 

[KurtG]

Re: sea tow/ us boats?

You need to find out which one has more service providers in your intended area. Otherwise, they are probably about par.

Where do you plan to do most of your boating?

 

[OldePharte]

Re: sea tow/ us boats?

I agree. You can get "tow" insurance with a BOAT/US membership.

 

[haskindm]

Re: sea tow/ us boats?

You will need to register the boat in your state (and pay the sales/title/excise tax if you have not done so). Most states require registered boats to have at least liability insurance. Your state may require a license or proof that you have taken a boater safety course. In Maryland, anyone born after July 1, 1976 must have taken a boater safety course. You will need to check the rules in your area, they vary state-to-state.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: sea tow/ us boats?

One more thing, auto insurance policies cover the car and trailer when you are towing the boat. Check to see if your auto insurance policy has towing built in. If so, you might ask the agent if it covers towing boats on the water. My standard Allstate auto insurance policy does cover on the water towing, but had a max of $300, which is a bit low for boat towing by BoatUs or TowboatUS. Figure on $175-$200/hour to tow your boat, and guess how long it will take to tow you home or to the closest ramp, should you break down.

I recommend liability insurance as a minimum. Check with your agent. Sometimes boats that are 10+ years old do not qualify for any kind of insurance, without a survey or blueprint. BoatUs also has insurance policies, but I found that my policy thru Allstate was cheaper.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: sea tow/ us boats?

i like sea tow, for a very small amount they will cover your trailer also, flat tire, bearing bad, etc, if you have AAA, they do not cover the trailer, learned the hardway.

there is also tow boat, find which one covers your area, some areas are sparcely covered, or not at all.

boating license, check your states requirements. boating safety course reduces your liability insurance premiums.

 

[The Great Escape II]

Re: sea tow/ us boats?

I agree. You can get "tow" insurance with a BOAT/US membership.

The tow insurance you get with your Boat US membership is for $50. That will tow you about 10 feet. They do have an unlimited towing in fresh water areas for $34. Below is their link for the pricing and levels.

http://www.boatus.com/towing/guide/services.asp

 

[AguaSki]

Re: sea tow/ us boats?

I went with Boat US because they cover my local lake, and they will reimburse my towing expenses in areas that they don't cover. For example, Lake Powell is a National Park, so neither Boat US or Sea Tow are allowed to operate there. If you need a tow at Lake Powell you have to call "Executive Services" (whatever that is) for towing help. The "Executive Services" will charge you an arm and leg for the help, but if you have Boat US you can be reimbursed for the "Executive Services" towing fee. Sea Tow may also offer to reimburse in areas they do not cover, but you should check with someone with Sea Tow experience to verify this. All of my local lakes, including Lake Pleasant, are just now getting Boat US service, so going with Boat US was a no brainer for me. For a small extra fee you can also receive Trailer Assist through Boat US. I also picked up the Trailer Assist coverage.