BOATU.S. TALLIES UP TOP TEN LIST OF STATES
WITH THE MOST REQUESTS FOR ON-THE-WATER ASSISTANCE

Why do Boaters Call for a Tow?

With Labor Day marking the end of the summer boating season in many
parts of the country, the nation's largest provider of on-the-water
towing and assistance, BoatU.S. Towing Services, has tallied up a list
of the top ten 10 states that had the most requests for assistance this
season. They a


1. Florida
2. California
3. New York
4. New Jersey
5. Maryland
6. North Carolina
7. Massachusetts
8. Virginia
9. Texas
10. Washington


While the list largely follows boat registration data for each state,
several states had more requests for assistance than anticipated. New
Jersey, Maryland and Massachusetts, ranked respectively #23, #25 and
#29 in the nation based on the number of registered boats, were #4, #5,
and #7 (respectively) in requests for on-the-water assistance. Last on
the list with the fewest requests for help was Vermont.

The top five reported reasons why boaters called BoatU.S. we
1. Unknown engine failure
2. Grounding
3. Out of fuel or other fuel problems
4. Battery problems & jump starts
5. Engine overheating

"Preventive maintenance is probably the number one item that all
boaters could do more of to prevent those late evening calls to our 24
hour TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist Pacific dispatch centers," said
Jerry Cardarelli, vice president BoatU.S. Towing Services.

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:04:26 GMT, Red Cloud®
wrote:

On 14 Sep 2005 19:48:44 -0700, wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

"Preventive maintenance is probably the number one item that all
boaters could do more of to prevent those late evening calls to our 24
hour TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist Pacific dispatch centers," said
Jerry Cardarelli, vice president BoatU.S. Towing Services.

I wish that TowBoat US and Seatow would start charging a $50 deductible
for "Out
of fuel" type calls. That would bring everybody else's rates DOWN.

I totally agree with you here.

I listened to a radio exchange a few weeks ago where a guy had an alarm on
one
of his engines and didn't know what it meant. Someone finally told him to
check
engine oil with the dipstick. There was NO oil on the dipstick. He then
checked
the other engine and it was still showing a little bit. He radios for
Seatow,
who determines that the guy is about a mile from a large marina where he
could
easily go on the one engine, and get oil. The Seatow boat was 18 miles
away
finishing another tow. The boater insisted on anchoring and having the
Seatow
operator go to a marina, buy 10 quarts of oil and bring them to him. Why
not?
After all, he had unlimited towing and this red carpet service wasn't
gonna cost
him a cent over what he paid for the policy. The oil itself would cost the
same
either way.

That kind of nonsense costs the rest of us a lot of money! There needs to
be a
$50 deductible so that people pay a little more attention to things like
CHECKING FUEL LEVEL and maybe even OIL LEVEL before leaving port.

Here's where I disagree. If you are stupid enough to not check your
oil, keep an eye on your gas and run your battery down partying and
get caught, then you should pay the whole freight. If there is a
cataclysmic event then fine - lack of routine maintenance shouldn't
even be considered.

I've been a Sea//Tow member since forever and have the super-duper
coverage which covers me on any boat I'm on or in control of. I have
never used the service. I know people who have used Sea//Tow three or
four times a year for everything from out of gas to minor electrical
problems.

I know a Sea//Tow operator and she has told me that every season she
can almost set her calendar by the same idiots who do the same things
every season and call for Sea//Tow.

I don't know what the solution is, but there has to be some sort of
penalty for being stupid.

All you have to do is go looking to buy a used boat. It is amazing the
number of folks who do not log their maintenance, which tells me they did
not keep up with routine maintenance. The other amazing thing you will find
is the number of folks who change the oil in spring, rather than when
winterizing the engine(s).

wrote in message
oups.com...
BOATU.S. TALLIES UP TOP TEN LIST OF STATES
WITH THE MOST REQUESTS FOR ON-THE-WATER ASSISTANCE

Why do Boaters Call for a Tow?

With Labor Day marking the end of the summer boating season in many
parts of the country, the nation's largest provider of on-the-water
towing and assistance, BoatU.S. Towing Services, has tallied up a list
of the top ten 10 states that had the most requests for assistance this
season. They a


1. Florida
2. California
3. New York
4. New Jersey
5. Maryland
6. North Carolina
7. Massachusetts
8. Virginia
9. Texas
10. Washington


While the list largely follows boat registration data for each state,
several states had more requests for assistance than anticipated. New
Jersey, Maryland and Massachusetts, ranked respectively #23, #25 and
#29 in the nation based on the number of registered boats, were #4, #5,
and #7 (respectively) in requests for on-the-water assistance. Last on
the list with the fewest requests for help was Vermont.

The top five reported reasons why boaters called BoatU.S. we
1. Unknown engine failure
2. Grounding
3. Out of fuel or other fuel problems
4. Battery problems & jump starts
5. Engine overheating

Preventing each of them:

#1--Maintain your engine
#2--Know the waters and tides
#3--Duh! Fill your tank and replace your fuel filters
#4--Keep two batteries fully charged and use a battery switch
#5--replace your impeller/water pump as suggested by manufacturer. Check
for weeds, plastic bags or other debris in water uptake areas

All but #1 should never happen. That being said, I've had #3 happen to me
on an older boat (new to me though) that had a faulty fuel gauge. The gauge
went from 1/2 full to empty in less than 2 miles. I've heard of poor gas
mileage, but a half tank of fuel in my boat is 75 gallons.

"Red Cloud®" wrote in message
...
On 14 Sep 2005 19:48:44 -0700, wrote:

BOATU.S. TALLIES UP TOP TEN LIST OF STATES
WITH THE MOST REQUESTS FOR ON-THE-WATER ASSISTANCE

Why do Boaters Call for a Tow?

With Labor Day marking the end of the summer boating season in many
parts of the country, the nation's largest provider of on-the-water
towing and assistance, BoatU.S. Towing Services, has tallied up a list
of the top ten 10 states that had the most requests for assistance this
season. They a


1. Florida
2. California
3. New York
4. New Jersey
5. Maryland
6. North Carolina
7. Massachusetts
8. Virginia
9. Texas
10. Washington

Good thing Krause has no boat...

Maryland would have been first by a long shot.


--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...


I know a Sea//Tow operator and she has told me that every season she
can almost set her calendar by the same idiots who do the same things
every season and call for Sea//Tow.

I don't know what the solution is, but there has to be some sort of
penalty for being stupid.

There is, it's called having Bush running the country!

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

I know a Sea//Tow operator and she has told me that every season she
can almost set her calendar by the same idiots who do the same things
every season and call for Sea//Tow.

I don't know what the solution is, but there has to be some sort of
penalty for being stupid.

All you have to do is go looking to buy a used boat. It is amazing the
number of folks who do not log their maintenance, which tells me they did
not keep up with routine maintenance. The other amazing thing you will
find is the number of folks who change the oil in spring, rather than when
winterizing the engine(s).


You may be right, in general, but I never log anything. I take my cars,
boats, and planes in for maintenance and or repair and I let the shop keep
records if they will. I don't have the patience or discipline to be on task
about paperwork. I just follow the schedules for maintenance.

On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 17:09:51 GMT, "Bryan"
wrote:


"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

All you have to do is go looking to buy a used boat. It is amazing the
number of folks who do not log their maintenance, which tells me they did
not keep up with routine maintenance. The other amazing thing you will
find is the number of folks who change the oil in spring, rather than when
winterizing the engine(s).


You may be right, in general, but I never log anything. I take my cars,
boats, and planes in for maintenance and or repair and I let the shop keep
records if they will. I don't have the patience or discipline to be on task
about paperwork.

Then you most definitely shouldn't be allowed to fly an airplane.

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On 14 Sep 2005 19:48:44 -0700, wrote:


While the list largely follows boat registration data for each state,
several states had more requests for assistance than anticipated.

Another factor, which should be considered, is that of saturation of
the market. The figures could be skewed one way or another due to
relative saturation of the boating market with tow insurance sales,
vs. number of registered boats, vs. length of boating season... etc.

And maintenance will probably never be that big of an issue when
BoatUS is selling the "feel good of irresponsibility" for the paltry
sum of $105.00....


Isn't this a market driven issue? If "you're" willing to pay 105 for tow
service and the service runs their business in the black, in spite of the
out of fuel calls, how many customers would they lose with a deductible and
how many would they gain because they charge less for the service? Why
should they lower their prices if "you've" decided their current price is
acceptable to "you?" Maybe the dummies who run out of fuel are the bulk of
their market base? Penalize them and lose a large share of the market. We
need data!

"Marty" wrote in message
. ..

"Shortwave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...


I know a Sea//Tow operator and she has told me that every season she
can almost set her calendar by the same idiots who do the same things
every season and call for Sea//Tow.

I don't know what the solution is, but there has to be some sort of
penalty for being stupid.

There is, it's called having Bush running the country!

So you're admitting that the Democrats are stupid and unable to muster up a
coherent platform or viable candidate? Then quit voting for idiots like
Kennedy, Kerry, Pelosi, and Howard Dean.

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 15 Sep 2005 08:14:29 -0400, "*JimH*" wrote:

All you have to do is go looking to buy a used boat. It is amazing the
number of folks who do not log their maintenance, which tells me they did
not keep up with routine maintenance. The other amazing thing you will
find
is the number of folks who change the oil in spring, rather than when
winterizing the engine(s).


Why would you want to run an engine with 6 months worth of
condensation in the oil pan?


Condensation in the oil pan? How about contaminated dirty oil sitting in
the engine for 6 months.