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Unlimited towing with Tow Boat US

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mrapkins
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/18/2012 : 09:49:13

I was recently towed by Tow Boat US. I used the service because I have "Unlimited Towing" insurance.

It turns out that "Unlimited Towing" is limited to 25 miles only.

I was towed 17 miles.

The insurance paid $837 for the tow!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2012 : 10:37:24

Yikes! I suppose it doesn't need to get you home. Just to the nearest repair shop. Just make sure there's no more than 50 miles between one to the other.

On I-10 through west Texas, there's a stretch with something like 120 miles between gas stations.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 07/18/2012 10:38:26

krobsten
1st Mate

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46 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2012 : 11:22:45

wow! Nice to know.

Edited by - on

vipermagic
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2012 : 13:33:31

I got towed about 3/4 mile on lake Erie - just from outside the marina to my slip. Cost BoatUS $265.

Best $36 I ever spent.

Edited by - on

Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2012 : 15:43:18

I have BoatUS insurance and the Unlimited Towing option includes unlimited towing within the service area you are in. Standard is 25 miles. I am in Oceanside, CA and my closest provider is in Dana Point 20 miles to the north. Their service area is 40 miles. San Diego (35 miles to the south) is the next closest one. Their service area is 40 miles also so either one should tow me back to Oceanside if I need a tow. Never have in 8 years. While at Catalina I will be in the Avalon service area which is also 40 miles. So as long as I am more than 10 miles from Catalina Island I can call Dana Point and have them tow me home. If I am closer than that I will get towed to Avalon and have to mortgage my house to pay the repair bill. I don't know why I have towing insurance. Thought that was why I bought a sailboat. I think BoatUS calling this "Unlimited Towing" is shady advertising.

Edited by - on

awetmore
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1144 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2012 : 16:13:31

At $125/year (for people who are connected to coastal waters) it is pretty expensive insurance. Even if it does cost me $300 for a tow, as long as I don't do that more than once every 3 years I'm still coming out ahead.

Edited by - on

mrapkins
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2012 : 04:24:40

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by awetmore
 At $125/year (for people who are connected to coastal waters) it is pretty expensive insurance. Even if it does cost me $300 for a tow, as long as I don't do that more than once every 3 years I'm still coming out ahead.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I started a thread with that very premise; $125 a year and used once every 5 years... does it make sense?

I received an unequivocal "Yes" from our members!

I would add that the repairs to the outboard were nearly $600 plus 4 nights in a marina (actually 5 but the marina gave us one night free!!) so without towing insurance, it would have been a pretty serious dent in monthly cash flow.

Without insurance, this time, since I was sailing with friends, I could have had a friend tow me out of the anchorage and tried to sail. However, those of you that sail on the Chesapeake know how flukey the winds are (there one minute, gone the next, out of the South one minute, then out of the North) so I chose not to be "stranded" in the middle of the bay and chose what I considered the safest solution - especially since I had insurance.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2012 : 07:11:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by mrapkins
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by awetmore
 ...Even if it does cost me $300 for a tow, as long as I don't do that more than once every 3 years I'm still coming out ahead.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I started a thread with that very premise; $125 a year and used once every 5 years... does it make sense?

I received an unequivocal "Yes" from our members!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The response from awetmore is most certainly an equivocation.

But I am an "unlimited" member of TowBoatUS. (If my engine fails, I'm truly dead in the water--possibly in The Race!) My rationale is, if something happens, there's "no muss, no fuss"--such as how I'm going to pay for a $500 tow it they won't take my Visa card.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3442 Posts

Response Posted - 07/19/2012 : 11:17:22

I do not think you can categorically indicate that all should get full towing insurance. Agree that for those that have had coverage and needed a tow, the insurance was invaluable. However, there are additional measures that can be taken that minimize the need for insurance or for some, the waters one sails in may not be far from others assisting. Obviously, if one has a finicky outboard, one needs to ensure their outboard is reliable.

In my experiences, it is extremely rare that I use the outboard for much more than just getting into and out of my marina. For the few times that the wind is calm and I am far away, okay that is then the time that I need to count on my outboard getting me back but these instances are rare and wind is generally not calm for hours. It usually will eventually pick up. If my mast were to come down, that would be a circumstance when I would need a tow but that has not happened on any boat that I have owned in the past and is generally a rare occurrence among most sailboaters. The one instance when towing would have made sense for me was when I first bought my boat and I had a finicky outboard. At the time, I was on the waiting list to get into the Washington Sailing Marina for a dock and then when I had the option to get to dock my bat there, I decided to to stay where I am primarily because the Washington Sailing Marina has a very long, narrow channel to get into and out of the marina and if the outboard would not start, unlikely that I would be able to sail thru the channel to get back to the marina. It was this decision that I feel helps minimize the times when I would need a tow. Does not address all situations but the most common one. The marina I am at on the Wash, DC side - James Creek Marina has relatively easy access and an outside dock that one can reach by sailing if my outboard konks out. During the first few months with the finicky outboard, I had to sail back to the marina and dock alongside due to the outboard not starting on at least 4-5 different occasions. But that was no issue. I did not purchase towing insurance but I did replace my outboard and have had reliable service from my Honda for the past 7 years. So, in my instance, I feel 3 decisions I have made help minimize (not eliminate) the most common reasons for needing towing insurance:

Sailing on waters that are never far from shore or assistance of others. Deciding to keep my boat at a marina that allows easy access via sailing. Buying a new outboard so not having to deal with the PO's unreliable outboard.

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/20/2012 : 07:18:43

FWIW - our Progressive insurance provides a $300 coverage per occurrence for towing and on-site repairs (also available in $500 and $1,000 levels) as part of our $189 policy.

Edited by - on

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