Boat US vs Sea Tow

Tim R. · Sep 20, 2011

Roger, check with your insurance. I have towing included with mine so I can call anyone and then be reimbursed.

kloudie1 · Sep 20, 2011

I have done Ft. Lauderdale to central Georgia in a boat that draws 6.5 feet.. No problems other than the markers took some "reckoning" sometimes. very poorly marked in a few places in north Florida. .. we did touch bottom a couple of times but were going slowly when we did and were easily able to get off .. Haven't done the northern part..
I was expecting the same type system as our southern branch of the Intercoastal, but I guess our commercial demands keep the maintenance up much better..

tommays · Sep 20, 2011

They are both franchise operations so its going to vary by area

I have Boat-US and they did not have a dedicated boat in the Northport area BUT this season they now have TWO boats based out the area and somebody make a huge investment in it

I have they have to get me to home port coverage as for example we have a friend that broke down in greenport and is stuck there for repiars VS being bought back to home base here and having more control over the issue

cbsailor · Sep 20, 2011

Coverage by both Sea Tow and Boat/US be a little spotty in some of the really out of the way areas. A friend once told me the best thing I could do before going to FL via the Intracoastal was invest in Boat/US Unlimited towing. I took his advice. I've made several trips south and back and only used it once. The bill for that one time was more than double what I have paid for four years of coverage. Yes I do have some coverage on my boat insurance, but it dosen't hold a candle to the Boat/US Unlimited.

Steve Dion · Sep 20, 2011

We used Boat/US towing a couple of months ago. It would have been about $1,000 for the two if we did not have the unlimited two package.

I think they charge about $150/yr.

http://www.boatus.com/join/servicelevels.asp

It is just like any other insurance, you never know when you are going to need it.

Rick486 · Sep 20, 2011

Roger Long said:

I'm just about to leave Maine and head for FL/GA via the ICW. Several people who should know have assured me that I will need and use towing insurance somewhere along the line despite 4' - 3" draft and pretty good navigational skills. I'm going to heed them.

Is there any significant difference in coverage, service, etc. between the two main providers along the ICW?

Click to expand

As you probably know Roger, BOAT US offers "unlimited" towing for $130.00/year, which I have. It covers things such as running out of fuel, tows into a marina, and importantly "soft" groundings, where one is presumably pulled off a sand bar with no damage to your boat. As I'm sure you are aware, there are also "hard" groundings which require some sort of salvage operation with damage to the hull and so forth. "Hard" groundings are not covered under BOAT US unlimited towing but may be covered under your hull insurance. I'm going through figuring this all out now as I am shopping for another insurer and will probably go with BOAT US. I recommend you brush up on all these definitions as you prepare for your trip south. God forbid you should need any of this and probably won't, but just in case.

jfmid · Sep 20, 2011

I have used Boat US for the last 2 years. Being new to sailing and inexperienced I have had to call them twice. Both times they responded within 20 min. and were very helpful. My neighbor (a powerboater) had Boat Us and was off the coast of NJ when his engine crapped out. Boat US couldn't get to him for over an hour and advised that he call SeaTow. SeaTow required a credit card which Boat US later reimbursed him for so he was ok at the end but now hates Boat US.
Point being experiences vary and locations are different and I would pick one of them and it's in my opinion like AAA is for the road. In a bad spot you could wait for over an hour for AAA. If they help you it is worth every penny and you never regret it.
Good luck and keep us posted with your adventure. I want to do the same someday.

MJWarner · Sep 20, 2011

Roger, I've had Boat US unlimited for over 14 years now. I have had the misopportunity to use them to haul my sorry butt off the bottom several (ok, MANY) times over the years. Love them for their service, professionalism, for always keeping me informed if there is a holdup on their end, and for never laughing at my putting the boat aground. I just recently purchased a new sailboat, and as she was needing insurance, decided to give BoatUS Insurance a go. Why? Because if they do this so well on the towing assistance side, they are probably as good on the insurance side of things also.

Gunni · Sep 20, 2011

Rhetorical question here: How do I square up a statement that "you never know when you may need it" with "they only pay for soft grounding tows and running out of fuel"? Those things are pretty "knowable".

If you have a fuel gauge, a kedging anchor and a plan, why do you need these guys? And, no, I would never send my insurer a bill for pulling me off a bar- they are the guys who decide my risk (and premium). I want them to know that I can navigate, and manage my fuel supply.

shemandr · Sep 20, 2011

We don't usually knowlingly ground our boats. I've never run out of fuel but I've worried a bit about it since my fuel gauge has never worked. Sometimes early or late in the season the fuel dock isn't open very much. Other times tide or weather prevents a visit.
I have Sea Tow. Started and owned by Capt. Joe from Southold NY. Never had to call them.

Rick I · Sep 20, 2011

I use TowBoatUS and have found them to be very good on US East Coast. In twenty years I have had to use them three times, all in the last two years. Twice when I had bad fuel and once running aground. It is well worth it just for the peace of mind it will bring. The cheapest tow is over $500 so for $150 or so for unlimited towing, it's quite worthwhile.

Rick I · Sep 20, 2011

Gunni said:
Rhetorical question here: How do I square up a statement that "you never know when you may need it" with "they only pay for soft grounding tows and running out of fuel"? Those things are pretty "knowable".

.

Try running the ICW from NC to FL. If running aground is "knowable" you're a better man than I am. And when you do run aground it's usually on a falling tide so quick assistance helps. I sailed back from the Bahamas last season without an engine due to bad fuel. TowBoatUS was waiting at the Ft. Lauderdale seabuoy for me. Excellent service.

sailcruiser · Sep 20, 2011

I've carried Boat US for several years. Being in the Great Lakes spending the $35/yr is a silly thing not to do. I know when I go out if something happens silly or no I've got help that won't break the boat budget. so far never used but I figure if I have one tow over my time here it will pay for itself. SC

Ross · Sep 20, 2011

Towboat US and Seatow do not have overlapping coverage in all places on the upper Chesapeake Bay. It is very hard to find rocks to hit in the Chessy and unless you manage to ground at the higher of the high tides a little patience usually solves the problem.

Gunni · Sep 20, 2011

Rick I said:
Try running the ICW from NC to FL. If running aground is "knowable" you're a better man than I am. And when you do run aground it's usually on a falling tide so quick assistance helps. I sailed back from the Bahamas last season without an engine due to bad fuel. TowBoatUS was waiting at the Ft. Lauderdale seabuoy for me. Excellent service.

Sure it is Rick. I read the ditch guides and they made it clear my best option was to head out at Beaufort, N.C. which we did, and had a beautiful 3 day sail to St. Augustine.

sailaway78 · Sep 20, 2011

I would highly recommend

One or the other. I understand that Tow Boats will cover Sea Tow charges, if not a Tow Boat franchise in the area. I got caught hard aground last year, and had to call Sea Tow. Cost was 1400 and change. From what the guy told me, even if you have Sea Tow, there is still a per foot charge, apparently depending on the mood of the operator. They charged me 200 an hour, plus 25 per foot. This was my only ever encounter with either, so don't take this as gospel, and may only be this particular operator. All in all, Tow Boats seems to be a better deal.

RAD · Sep 20, 2011

From what I read over the years is that some slime Sea Tow operators will take a grounding and tell you its a salvage or charge you a hefty dollar amount where Boat US is also an insurance company so that changes the dynamics when your aground....I have both towing and insurance from Boat US and also having to use them once with very quick service was a pleasure

zeehag · Sep 20, 2011

in the incident with sea tow and nne's boat-- the individual on radio stated there was a specified rate for the tow per hour and said nothing about the added fees-- we werent advised until back on the dock tied safely that there was a salvage fee involved for the 5 seconds worth of tow needed to free the boat from the bank in which we were involved.
winds were 41 kts and the seas in the protected harbor were beyond rough. would have been nice to have known in advance there was to be an added salvage fee.