BOATUS is a Scam!!!

[Tom Hoffman]

BOATUS Trailering Division is deceptive...

(Ok, I was upset and angry at the treatment of the dispactch division of BoatUS when I wrote this.)...

Yesterday, I was pulling our boat through the City of Grinnell, Iowa. We were involved in an accident and our Truck was totaled. We were on a major through highway and had the truck and boat towed to a local Chevy Dealer a mile down the road.

We had the truck and boat towed there because there was some concern about a short in the dash and possible concerns about a fire. We hoped to get the short issue resolved and continue on to our destination. Our truck really sustained little exterior damage.

I have AAA Gold and BoatUS unlimited. I called AAA and was told that they would come and take the truck back to our local dealer but thought we should leave it there at the dealer in Grinnel and get it fixed. We came to find out that the Radiator and the engine compartment were damaged worse than we first thought. AAA would do nothing with the boat.

Both air bags deployed so that was an additional issue. Our front and rear bumpers were bent down but the boat and trailer was undamaged. Also we found out that our brakes were not working now.

Luckily we were in the city of the Headquarters of Grinnel Mutual our insurance carrier and an adjuster was on the scene within an hour. Her assessment was that the truck will be totaled, but we won't know for sure until Monday.

I originally bought BoatUS because I was assured by the sales person on the phone that in the event of a a break down or accident that they would dispatch help and recover the boat as well as the truck, if we were on the road.

I called them believing that we would be able to get the boat and truck towed home. When they found out that we were at a dealership and in a safe location, they told us that they would not help. If we had left the truck and boat out on the highway only 50' away from where they were parked at the dealership, then they would come. We went through multiple layers of management and received this information.:cussing::cussing:

Needless to say, I am not a happy camper when it comes to BoatUS and this is not the end of the situation. We will be following up.

We are home safe and the boat and truck are still down there.

Friday is never a good time to have an accident or break down. Everyone seems to mentally quit around noon on Fridays.

I will say this. While the Wes Finch Auto Plaza could not really help us other than diagnose the problem, they, and Wes were genuinely as helpful as they could be and our boat is still in his lot and he told me that it would be OK there until we can make arrangements to come back and get it.

I will update with further info as it comes in.

Tom...

 

[seadaddler]

Move it

OK play their game and can you get the dealer to move to 50' away and than call them saying you got a truck but problems with this truck would not allow you to continue towing it home and you had the truck towed away but could not tow the boat away because the problem was with the hitch and now you are stuck with the boat on the side of the road or some thing like what I suggested.
I know some one who's sailboats engine blewup and I used my Sea-tow t5o tow it to a none repair marine and he called Boatus and signed up a contract with them that day 7 am the next day called Boatus for a tow 8 hours away and they did it.
Your situation is much more honest having the contract but you need to flex your situation.
Nick

 

[KD3PC]

I would have to disagree with your complaint about Boat US...from their trailer assist website....

• Q: If I am involved in an accident while trailering my boat, will TRAILER ASSISTTM pay to have my boat and trailer taken to a repair facility? [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A: BoatUS will dispatch a service provider to assist you, but will not provide payment for the service. TRAILER ASSISTTM is not an insurance policy and does not provide service for highway accidents. This would normally be paid under your vehicle and or hull insurance policy. [/FONT]

There are a lot of limits and terms and conditions with these types of plans, whether AAA, or Boat US...

however involvement in an accident gets a big caveat with them all...

they did more than most would have...

 

[Merlin Clark]

Sorry to hear about this Tom. Hope you get back on the road and water right away and glad no one was hurt(?).

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Not a scam...

I called them believing that we would be able to get the boat and truck towed home. When they found out that we were at a dealership and in a safe location, they told us that they would not help. If we had left the truck and boat out on the highway only 50' away from where they were parked at the dealership, then they would come.

And if they had come, your truck and boat would most likely be right where they are now--in the nearest "safe harbor." That's all ANY insurance company is obligated to do, on land OR in the water.

If you've already done that, your truck insurance carrier should cover the cost. An insurance company's only obligation is to protect the insured property from additional damage or theft--something you're also required to do insofar as you can...and you did. No insurance carrier is gonna incur additional UNNECESSARY expense just 'cuz it's more convenient for you. However, your AAA policy MIGHT cover at least part of the cost of moving the boat back to your home...but in my experience, roadside assistance from any carrier is limited to the nearest "safe harbor" or has a mileage limitation.

Having totaled a vehicle 300 miles from home myself, I have a pretty good idea of the kind of shape your nerves are in...This pretty much describes what mine were like for about a week! And if you think Friday is a bad time to have an accident away from home, try having one on a Friday that also happens to be Christmas Day!

When you've stopped shaking and started thinking logically again, you'll realize that B/US has done exactly what hey're supposed to do. Meanwhile, count your blessings that your truck is the only casualty! And get ready to deal with your truck insurer...'cuz your boat isn't damaged, only the truck is.

And Nick...you need a better class of friends! It's people like those (that you seem to recommend!) who drive everyone else's insurance premiums up!

 

[kenn]

Just an FYI. I'm with CAA (service level CAA Plus), and that includes a tow to a destination of my choosing to a limit of XX km. According to the fine print, they will provide trailer towing for "light duty" trailers (which I presume would include boat trailers), but that this may be at additional cost. So, here anyway, CAA trailer coverage isn't automatic or necessarily free.

When you can, check the fine print of the BoatUS policy.

(And, we're glad you, your family, and the boat are safe)

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Chapter 2: Well, I talked to BoatUS again today and now they are seeming to re evaluate their first position. Won't know for sure until Monday.

Nest issue:

What kinds of trucks do you guys and gals buy to pull your boat? The truck that I just totaled was a 1999 Suburban 2500 with heavy duty towing package.

I am thinking of looking for something more substantial, like a F-350 w/ duallies on it. The problem seems to be that because my boat is so heavy (5600+trailer) my Suburban seemed to work awfully hard getting us up rolling hills here in Eastern Iowa.

Please let me know your thought and possible recommendations and for what reasons.

Thanks,

Tom...

 

[KD3PC]

the F350 with proper hitches and the diesel can likely pull 15-17K pounds easily as if it is not back there....you should be able to do an F250 and unless you are going to be on dry, flat ground don't bother with the dually on either...a little moisture under all that tire...and it will just spin. Worse yet on a slick ramp, even with 4 wheel drive they are not the best for anything but asphalt roads.

F250 4x4 with the turbo diesel will do you just fine with power and pull to spare in all situations. Will likely do all that with better fuel mileage than the suburban. I am lucky to get 12mpg pulling with my Suburban, small block 4x4 same as your "old" one. Gas powered fords still pull, just that the mpg is as bad or worse than your Suburban.

 

[Big Windy]

I recently sold a Chevy 3500 dually diesel, used it to haul a 14k 5th wheel. A one ton would be an over kill for that weight. I'd get a 3/4 ton diesel. Any diesel will pull that load as if it is not there.

 

[Joe]

BOATUS is NOT a Scam!!!

 

[Tom Hoffman]

I beg to disagree....

BOATUS is NOT a Scam!!!

Joe, So far they have failed to live up to any pledge that was told me when I signed up. They promised up to 100 mile towing for both the boat and vehicle. There was no mention of the difference between an accident and a break down. The truck was totaled. That left me 87 miles from home and 35 miles from the lake and no truck. If I could have had the boat taken to the lake, at least that would have helped. So far nothing but a stone wall. I hope you have better luck if you have the occasion to use them. On the water, I am sure they are wonderful. On land they suck...

 

[Steve Dion]

Tom:

The question may be would any other insurance company did anything else?

 

[Joe]

Joe, So far they have failed to live up to any pledge that was told me when I signed up. They promised up to 100 mile towing for both the boat and vehicle. There was no mention of the difference between an accident and a break down. The truck was totaled. That left me 87 miles from home and 35 miles from the lake and no truck. If I could have had the boat taken to the lake, at least that would have helped. So far nothing but a stone wall. I hope you have better luck if you have the occasion to use them. On the water, I am sure they are wonderful. On land they suck...

If you think they are "scamming" you, then file a report with the insurance commission. That's how you deal with it. You're presenting your case to the wrong "court".... It sucks that you felt misled. I totally sympathize with you... Perhaps you could have an attorney... or at least a consumer advocate... read your policy and give you an interpretation.... Just don't go postal, my brother.

 

[Warren Milberg]

In over 35 years of boat ownership, I've only made one insurance claim and it was with BoatUS. In 2003, Hurricane Isabel destroyed about half of Herrington Harbour North and most of the boats docked there. BoatUS deployed a "Catastrophe Team" composed of skilled and experienced marine surveyors. These guys had hundreds of boats to assess and claims to deal with. They were very professional and easy to deal with. The adjuster for my boat found damage that I had overlooked -- and I looked very hard. I had a check for the full value of the boat in less than a month. Although this was an unpleasant experience for me, I couldn't have been happier with the way BoatUS dealt with it and me.

 

[Tom Hoffman]

I guess there is a mis understanding. I don't have my boat insured with them. I have the equivalent of AAA Gold membership. It is for towing on land and water. It has just like AAA a 100 mile limit.

Any way the end of it is. I will be receiving a check for the amount of the tow that I paid out of pocket $60. I will not be reimbursed for my out of pocket of getting myself home and then going back and picking up the boat and taking it onto the lake. That was about $150.00 in and of itself. IF they would have just towed the boat to the lake, it would have saved me all of that.

I don't believe that their or AAA's road service - tow service qualifies as insurance in the strictest sense.

I guess that the best thing is that I get to shop for a different truck (Oh' Joy!!!) and no one was hurt.

SWAMBO is pushing hard for me to get a truck and get it over with. Now I find that the trucks on Craigs's list have taken on mythical powers and are made of Gold...

Cheers...

 

[Douglast]

would it be a good idea to edit the thread heading since it is somewhat in question and if a person doesn;t read all the posts it isn;t fair to BOATUS...???

 

[Joe]

I guess there is a mis understanding. I don't have my boat insured with them. ..........


I don't believe that their or AAA's road service - tow service qualifies as insurance in the strictest sense.


Cheers...

Uhmmm so, are you saying BoatUS is NOT a scam.. that it was just a mis understanding?

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Joe, No, I am saying that I have a serious issue with their Trailering division and I made the above adjustment to my title. I did paint too wide a swath with my angry brush.

However, the misunderstanding seemed to come from some of the members of this forum who spoke about insurance. BoatUS does sell insurance, but their Towing on land and water is not insurance. That is the misunderstanding. I don't have an issue with the water towing part of the company. I just feel that I was let down very hard at a terrible time by a Company who had promised to help and did not.

 

[Tom Hoffman]

Doug you are correct

would it be a good idea to edit the thread heading since it is somewhat in question and if a person doesn;t read all the posts it isn;t fair to BOATUS...???

Thanks for calling me on it Doug, I did go back and try to change the title and modify it. But is still shows up as the original.

I was severely peeved. Won't be the first time or the last that I have shot myself in the foot.

Cheers.

Tom...

 

[Winkfish]

Tom, what does your Boat US agreement actually say they will do?