Towing services????

[beanz2166]

I had no idea that there were actual companies out there, Are they worth it? I would like to think that another boater would help me out if I needed a tow. Thoughts?

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Towing services????

In most cases yes another boater will, However how soon is another question, I am often the only one out on my small little lake, I night fish and their is no commercial service around but the guys at the marina where I slip my boat will come out and drag me in if needed for a 6 pack. Towing service is included in most insurances so I do have it.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Towing services????

I have a SeaTow membership and have used it. If you do have to get a tow, the going rates are pretty scarey. so, it is best to have a membership with a comping company that is present in the waters you normally boat.

As MH said, you are leaving things up to chance by just hoping someone will assist. Also, the towing company will know what they are doing in terms of towing your boat, etc.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Towing services????

I have TowBoat US. Haven't had to use it yet in the 5 years I've carried it. I wouldn't expect another boater to tow my 27' through rough water to get me back to my dock, nor do I expect another boater to wreck my day by not carrying $165. worth of insurance. Much depends on where you boat and what kind of boat you have.

My .02

 

[emilsr]

Re: Towing services????

I've had the Boat US package for many years now, finally had to use it last year. Although they weren't on the lake that I was on, they called a local marina and paid the bill. Worth every penny as far as I'm concerned.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Towing services????

I've had the Boat US package for many years now, finally had to use it last year. Although they weren't on the lake that I was on, they called a local marina and paid the bill. Worth every penny as far as I'm concerned.

Huh. Never knew they'd do that. Pretty cool.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Towing services????

Allot of insurance companies won't cover any damage you may get by being towed or by towing another boater. State Farm has a section in their policy that says they won't cover damage caused by the above. Its better to pay the $160/year for seatow. It would cost you triple that if you needed a tow and did not have the seatow insurance.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Towing services????

Huh. Never knew they'd do that. Pretty cool.

Me neither until I called them.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Towing services????

Beanz, if your premium is $160/yr, your cost over 5 years will be $800. One tow during that 5 yrs can EASILY exceed $800. Get a tow contracthone:

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing services????

First check to see if there is coverage! Where I boat, you absolutely have to rely on other boaters, tow boats don't exist. (for that matter, there are no marinas on the waters i'm on either).

I've personally towed quite a few people off sandbars, haven't needed a tow myself for a long time fortunately.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Towing services????

Beanz, if your premium is $160/yr, your cost over 5 years will be $800. One tow during that 5 yrs can EASILY exceed $800. Get a tow contracthone:

I would think that they would have to tow you a really long way for any tow to exceed $800. That sounds way out of line.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Towing services????

I have no basis for cost except for my experience as a tow truck driver back in the 1990s. We charged a $75 hook-up fee plus $3/mile. That was pretty nice since I got to keep 25% of the business. I suspect that in 20 years the cost per mile has gone up due just to gas prices. Now toss in the fact that we're talking about towing on the water, a specialty tow in my opinion, with worse gas mileage and I could easily see $5-$10 per mile rates on top of a pricey hook-up charge. That may not be how they price it for water towing, but $100-$200 hookup fee plus $10 per mile could add up real quick.

Okay, I just did a quick look at here is what is on the BoatUS website. Take it with a grain of salt but it probably isn't greatly exaggerated:

Let?s look at a scenario ? You run soft aground 15 miles from the TowBoatUS home port in your 24 foot vessel.
Time (portal to portal) Rate Cost

1.5 hours to scene $250.00 per hour $375.00
10 minute ungrounding 24ft @ $20.00 per foot $480.00
1.5 hours return time $275.00 per hour (night) $412.50
Total: $1267.50

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Towing services????

An acquaintance of mine had a older 19' runabout with a cutout transom. We often boated together at the Cut and would frequently anchor there. Many times I suggested he anchor "bow out" to prevent taking on water over the transom...he wouldn't listen. It started out as a normal day until we noticed a steady stream of offshore fisherman (sportfish types) coming through to beat an approaching storm. While most of the fisherman would just motor on by, some would slow down thinking they would do all of us little guys a favor, only to drag 3 foot swells with them. Yup, you guessed it...my buddy took the 3 wakes over the transom and swamped it right there. SeaTow arrived to de-water the boat then tow it in...$1,100...for a 7 mile tow. Despite this, he refused to get a SeaTow package...he swamped again in the same spot two months later. He could have over 13 years of SeaTow for what he paid to "save" the money:faint2:

 

[boat1010]

Re: Towing services????

I always try to stop and help a fellow boater that is stranded on our small lake... BUT it is getting so bad now a days that everyone is sue happy. You stop and try to help someone out and something goes wrong they want to take you to court and take all your money.. I mean come on trying to get money from Subway because the foot long isn't a foot long???? Come on people...

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Towing services????

I would think that they would have to tow you a really long way for any tow to exceed $800. That sounds way out of line.

Not out of liine at all. If you are being towed by a commercial towing service, consider that the captain needs to be licensed, insured and have substantial experience, then consider that they have a vessel specially equipped and rigged to tow boats on a regular basis. Then consider the time required to tow you to a destination and the amount of fuel burned and you will relize that the costs add up quick. Of that $800-1200 bill I wouldn't doubt that at least 50% goes to cover fixed costs. The rest covers any crew member wages and of course the captains.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Towing services????

The majority of my boating is done on water where tow services are not available. However, if I did boat more on water where they were, I would definitely have it. From what I understand, BoatUS pays their tow boat operators only when they tow. SeaTow works more like an HMO where that get money based on memberships. The BoatUS operator will be more than happy to come out and tow you whereas SeaTow is more likely to try to talk you through some troubleshooting procedures and whatnot on the phone first.

And yes, you can rack up astronomical tow bills pretty quick as they charge from when they leave their dock till the get back to their dock and it's major $$$$ per hour plus extra charges for ungrounding, salvage, etc etc. I would be extremely hesitant to call one of those services if I didn't have a membership. I have towing reimbursement up to some amount with my Progressive insurance and even with that I'm afraid of what I'd have to do to come up with the payment up front.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: Towing services????

I had no idea that there were actual companies out there, Are they worth it? I would like to think that another boater would help me out if I needed a tow. Thoughts?

I see from your profile that you're in the military. If you happen to be a Marine, you should know there are SeaTow franchises working out of Swansboro and Surf City. If you're lakebound around Fayetteville, you are probably out of luck.

You can buy years worth of coverage for the price of one tow. It's very cheap insurance if you're where you can get it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Towing services????

see the same discussion under "Sea Tow v Boat US." You don't have to be a member to get towed by the companies; it's just a matter of paying all at once or in annual installments they call membership. The insurance you pay for probably covers the first $500 or so anyway. sine they tow anyone, there is no "peace of mind" by joining; it's only a question of math.

As for which company: This gets discussed a lot. The consensus is that it depends on the operator/franchisee, not the company. Stories about good or bad experiences are irrelevant unless they are about the same operator you would use.

So unless you have local info, go with the one that will give you the shortest tow from where you would likely break down (including from HIS dock-that's where the meter is turned on). I'm not a member of either but I keep the numbers of the individual operators, so if I need one, I can call the closest one to where I am at the time. My boating takes me to different zones, as it were.

You have to look at a variety of factors to determine whether you should join. Relying on other boaters is one factor, and that swings with the size boat you have, among other things.

Some comments here are guessing about tow costs. go to the source in your area and ask. For me, the average will be about $800. Although I've been on the water 50 years and never needed a tow service*, since I got a larger boat (21') that might require a tow service 4 years ago, I have saved $640 by not joining. With my $500 insurance and the $640, I am "covered' for a $1,140 tow,and every year it increases.

*I've had plenty of break-downs and tows, however. And half of my boating is in a remote area with no tow service other than Coast Guard.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Towing services????

*I've had plenty of break-downs and tows, however. And half of my boating is in a remote area with no tow service other than Coast Guard.

Coast Guard will tow you? They won't do that here. That 'service' was canned years ago.

Bottom line, ANY insurance is a gamble- if you don't use it, it's money down the drain. Statistically, it doesn't make sense for anybody to carry insurance of any kind. If you break down far from home in your first year of ownership, however, you can be out a bundle. Some prefer not to roll the dice. It isn't always just about dollars and cents.

My .02

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Towing services????

Coast guard will on some occaissions tow you in, but it is not something you can count on. If no other commercial services exist in the ara, then probably they will. If there are commercial services in the area, they will generally hand it off to them and you get to pay.

I keep SeaTow membership active, just for peace of mind . . . knowing that I won't get a 'big surprise' during the season.