Re: Towing Coverage (Coastal Waters & Offshore)
KnightGang<br />I suggest you start with a kicker motor. About 15 HP for your size boat. This size can be started with a pull roap if the battery is dead. If the Battery is dead the radio and GPS do not work either, but the 15 will get you in. <br /><br />I am on the west coast and many times herd someone call Coast Guard and report there problem. The Coast Guard will call your tow service or call a friend or put out a brocast that you need a tow. Anyway many times I have heard someone with a tow service be told that their problem and position was reported to their tow service but that they were involved in another tow and ETA is 4 hour or more. Not a good feeling if weather is not the best and night is approching. <br /><br />I will not go to Sea in my 21 foot Runabout if both motor do not start at the Dock. My 15 Kicker will get me in. I actually used mine one time to head in when motor did not turn over. Wife got real excited until I started the kicker gave her a compass heading and put her on the wheel.<br /><br />I am sure it was a operator error. We were headed in after a long day of fishing when we saw 5 whales about 1/2 mile farther off shore. We headed out and got as close as safe to take some pictures. I am sure now that I shut the motor off in gear, something I never do. Anyway wife getting excited about the whales being too near so decided to go in and nothing, no starter action. Since I always stop take motor out of gear and advance engine to alout 1000 RPMs just incase we need to start and get underway in a hurry, I did not ever think about the neutral start switch. (daaaa) <br /><br />With wife at the helm under kicker power I opened the engine and Jumpered the starter solenoid and started right up. Closed up engine and went in. After we got to the dock I started engine many times and has never failed since. I sure it was a operator error, mine. If we had to wait for a tow wife would not have made it.<br /><br />We have towed in 3 small boat from out to sea and each one had a single engine. Two of them had problem getting motor to start before they started out. One boat about a 16 foot open bow runnabout almost in the breakers. If fact 20 feet closer to the rocky shore I would have not risk My Crew and boat to save them. They had one motor no anchor, no radio, no required flare gun, no horn, no lights no wishel and not wearing life jacks, and so close to shore lucky we saw them. Had about 7 foot seas and just out side the breakers. One guy seating on the bow holding a beer and a 1/4 inch roten ski roap. Lucky my Crew and I have towed several and have a good towing bridle and tow roap set up and every one knows what to do. We did not even have time to give the Coast Guard a shout and report position and problem, Something we should have done before taking that risk.<br /><br />First time we had to tow a Big Bayliner (28 foot by 10) with dual engines and a fly bridge. I learned we needed a towing bridle. We came acrossed a boat smoking very bad with a lady on the front deck with a life jacket ready to jump. Guy in the back with a fire extingeser opening all the covers looking for fire. Never did find anything but oil. This was inland in San Francisco Bay area. We had all taken all the Coast guard classes but were not ready to tow something that big. Under power I could not steer. We did call the Coast Guard to report and there advise was don't get too close. Anyway we rigged a quick roap bridle so we could steer and tow him and his wife in. He was less than one mile from his berth but with a 3 mile per hour current took quite a while to get him out of the current and into to marina. When in the marina took him right to his berth where we had help from about 8 people raised on the radio to help. With boat hooks and roaps got him right into his birth. Could have bought that boat for $10 and the wife would have paid us to take it.<br /><br />If your going to go Offshore I think you are a fool if you do not have two motors, it can save your life. It you ever need a tow then the service can save you big bucks. For me I think the fear of the big cost is one thing that make me be sure everything is working. Tow service can take a long time to get to you. Vessel Assist popular out here on the California Coast. Of corse any Mayday type distress the Coast Guard will respond.<br /><br />Just my 2 cents Maybe more like $2.02 cents.
