What........................
 

........boat towing company do you generally use?

Do you sign an annual contract with them and, if so, for what towing
coverage/tow?

I have always used BoatUS as there is always a vessel covering the areas we
boat. In the past we opted for max coverage due to the amount of time we
spent in open water.

With our 21 footer we opted for the basic coverage (especially since the
membership brought us some discounts at BoatUS and West Marine stores) as we
do not plan much off shore boating with this boat. ;-)

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...
.......boat towing company do you generally use?

Do you sign an annual contract with them and, if so, for what towing
coverage/tow?

I have always used BoatUS as there is always a vessel covering the areas
we
boat. In the past we opted for max coverage due to the amount of time we
spent in open water.

With our 21 footer we opted for the basic coverage (especially since the
membership brought us some discounts at BoatUS and West Marine stores) as
we
do not plan much off shore boating with this boat. ;-)

This may seem like a silly question, but, as I have never had to call for a
tow in over 40 years of boating on all of the Great Lakes, I have to ask it.

"Why do you need to have tow boat coverage?"

Jim

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
.. .

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...
.......boat towing company do you generally use?

Do you sign an annual contract with them and, if so, for what towing
coverage/tow?

I have always used BoatUS as there is always a vessel covering the areas
we
boat. In the past we opted for max coverage due to the amount of time we
spent in open water.

With our 21 footer we opted for the basic coverage (especially since the
membership brought us some discounts at BoatUS and West Marine stores) as
we
do not plan much off shore boating with this boat. ;-)

This may seem like a silly question, but, as I have never had to call for
a
tow in over 40 years of boating on all of the Great Lakes, I have to ask
it.

"Why do you need to have tow boat coverage?"

Jim



Sh@t happens. Have you seen what a basic tow costs?

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
.. .
This may seem like a silly question, but, as I have never had to call
for
a
tow in over 40 years of boating on all of the Great Lakes, I have to ask
it.
"Why do you need to have tow boat coverage?"
Jim
Sh@t happens. Have you seen what a basic tow costs?
Well, I boat in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes and any of my friends
who have had to use a tow tell me that it "may" cost of couple of drinks or
a lunch, never more than that. There are no charges for a friendly tow
from Coast Guard Aux. or from the local boat repair guy who may tow you in
to his shop to fix any problems. They charge for time and materials for the
repair. I guess that in US waters it must be different.
Jim

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
...

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
.. .
This may seem like a silly question, but, as I have never had to call
for
a
tow in over 40 years of boating on all of the Great Lakes, I have to
ask
it.
"Why do you need to have tow boat coverage?"
Jim
Sh@t happens. Have you seen what a basic tow costs?
Well, I boat in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes and any of my
friends
who have had to use a tow tell me that it "may" cost of couple of drinks
or
a lunch, never more than that. There are no charges for a friendly tow
from Coast Guard Aux. or from the local boat repair guy who may tow you in
to his shop to fix any problems. They charge for time and materials for
the
repair. I guess that in US waters it must be different.
Jim



Not really. No difference. However, I choose not to depend on my friends
being on the Lake (I also boat on the Great Lakes) when I may get in a bit
of trouble, especially when it is life threatening.

This may seem like a silly question, but, as I have never had to call for a
tow in over 40 years of boating on all of the Great Lakes, I have to ask it.

"Why do you need to have tow boat coverage?"


Gene Kearns wrote:
Frankly? Major CYA.

Agreed.


... I have never had an environmental catastrophe, but
I am insured against it. I have never needed a "tow" and a "tow" per
se does not warrant insurance.


Agreed, again. The thing is, it only covers 'just a simple tow' not
anything complex, and not anything for a distance. So the odds are
pretty good that unless you have a simple problem (dead battery, out of
fuel) and have it close to home, you're still going to get soaked.


However, there is a fine distinction between "tow" and "salvage" and
one could cost you a 6-pack to a friendly fellow boater.... and the
other could cost you up to (a minimum) of two times the value of your
vessel.


Y'know, the towboat operators I've had experience with (not towing *me)
were all very professional, and they are uniformly helpful with accurate
advice over the radio. Yet the cases I know of where a boater had to pay
salvage, it was a pretty blatant rip-off... a rip-off that may be fueled
by the boater's panic, but still a calculated effort to really gouge them.

I've towed people, at times... including towing in a few motorboat with
a sailboat... under sail, no less... but I've always been very careful
about it. Liability is an increasingly important issue, plus the
potential for damaging your own boat. In fact, one recent time we
rescued somebody (a small capsized sailboat) the guy refused to
cooperate with my 'suggestions' and I just about left him in the middle
of the lake. My wife would not let me, though. So we went ahead and his
boat put many ugly scratches in ours. My wife didn't realize this until
later and then she was mad at *me* for it.

Fair Skies
Doug King

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 20:48:09 -0400, "Jim Carter"
wrote:


I guess that in US waters it must be different.
Jim


Well, I guess that truly qualifies as a cheap shot....



He is not a keeper Gene. He knows no better. Let him go so he can
finally mature. ;-)

*JimH* wrote:

Not really. No difference. However, I choose not to depend on my friends
being on the Lake (I also boat on the Great Lakes) when I may get in a bit
of trouble, especially when it is life threatening.



Translation = .......no friends!

DSK wrote:
This may seem like a silly question, but, as I have never had to call
for a
tow in over 40 years of boating on all of the Great Lakes, I have to
ask it.

"Why do you need to have tow boat coverage?"



Gene Kearns wrote:

Frankly? Major CYA.


Agreed.


... I have never had an environmental catastrophe, but
I am insured against it. I have never needed a "tow" and a "tow" per
se does not warrant insurance.


Agreed, again. The thing is, it only covers 'just a simple tow' not
anything complex, and not anything for a distance. So the odds are
pretty good that unless you have a simple problem (dead battery, out of
fuel) and have it close to home, you're still going to get soaked.


However, there is a fine distinction between "tow" and "salvage" and
one could cost you a 6-pack to a friendly fellow boater.... and the
other could cost you up to (a minimum) of two times the value of your
vessel.


Y'know, the towboat operators I've had experience with (not towing *me)
were all very professional, and they are uniformly helpful with accurate
advice over the radio. Yet the cases I know of where a boater had to pay
salvage, it was a pretty blatant rip-off... a rip-off that may be fueled
by the boater's panic, but still a calculated effort to really gouge them.

I've towed people, at times... including towing in a few motorboat with
a sailboat... under sail, no less... but I've always been very careful
about it. Liability is an increasingly important issue, plus the
potential for damaging your own boat. In fact, one recent time we
rescued somebody (a small capsized sailboat) the guy refused to
cooperate with my 'suggestions' and I just about left him in the middle
of the lake. My wife would not let me, though. So we went ahead and his
boat put many ugly scratches in ours. My wife didn't realize this until
later and then she was mad at *me* for it.

Fair Skies
Doug King


tow rope too short...or did you lash him alongside?

On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 20:48:09 -0400, "Jim Carter" wrote:


"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

"Jim Carter" wrote in message
.. .
This may seem like a silly question, but, as I have never had to call
for
a
tow in over 40 years of boating on all of the Great Lakes, I have to ask
it.
"Why do you need to have tow boat coverage?"
Jim
Sh@t happens. Have you seen what a basic tow costs?
Well, I boat in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes and any of my friends
who have had to use a tow tell me that it "may" cost of couple of drinks or
a lunch, never more than that. There are no charges for a friendly tow
from Coast Guard Aux. or from the local boat repair guy who may tow you in
to his shop to fix any problems. They charge for time and materials for the
repair. I guess that in US waters it must be different.
Jim


I've been towed (Boat US) twice. Both times the bill was in the $500 range.
'Friends' on the water was not a consideration. The $99/year was money well
spent.
--
John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 20:48:09 -0400, "Jim Carter"
wrote:


I guess that in US waters it must be different.
Jim


Well, I guess that truly qualifies as a cheap shot....

Gene. How does that qualify as a cheap shot? If you read my post again,
you will notice that I said that in Canadian waters of the Great Lakes, the
boat tows are free. If in US waters, you have to pay, then, of course, it
must be different. I did not intend it to be taken as a slur against
anyone in the US. I simply stated the truth. The Canadian Coast Guard
Aux. has assisted thousands of boaters that needed their boat's batteries
boosted, or they have delivered gas or diesel fuel to boat that had run out
of fuel. They have towed boats into the nearest harbor when needed. All
of this at "No Charge". At my marina in Bayfield, the local boat repair
shop, Bayfield Marine Service, has many times gone out into the lake to
assist boats that needed help. They only charged for the repairs and
never charged if a tow was needed. It is Canadian Law, under the Canadian
Boating Act, that "all vessels must render assistance to any boat in
distress".

Jim

... one recent time we
rescued somebody (a small capsized sailboat) the guy refused to
cooperate with my 'suggestions' and I just about left him in the
middle of the lake. My wife would not let me, though. So we went ahead
and his boat put many ugly scratches in ours. My wife didn't realize
this until later and then she was mad at *me* for it.



Don White wrote:
tow rope too short...or did you lash him alongside?

Neither. This particular rescue involved a small capsized sailboat that
did not have sufficient flotation. To right it and restore it to
floating status required pulling the mast upright & holding it that way
(fortunately we were on a boat big enough & stable enough to do that)
and then getting the people out of it while bailing enough water out to
get the top of the centerboard trunk above the water.

This guy was convinced that he knew exactly what to do (although the
evidence was already heavily against him before we came along) and not
only didn't accept suggestions but wanted to boss me around on my own
boat. He didn't even know why he had got into the trouble in the first
place.

Should have let the damn thing sink, it's an outdated deathtrap anyway.
One reason why sailing *used* to be a sport for the intelligent.

DSK