BoatUS Membership

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mcrow33

mcrow33

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Mar 29, 2011
169
Beneteau 361 Charlotte,Vt
I'm thinking of joining Boatus. What is the opinion of the group? Is it worth the $25? I won't be using them for insurance or towing. I guess the only thing I would be getting is another magazine and the West Marine points. Are there any other perks that I'm missing? I should mention that I just bought and older boat, so I may be making a few trips to West Marine for parts and stuff.
 
Kermit

Kermit

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Jul 31, 2010
5,669
AquaCat 12.5 17342 Wateree Lake, SC
Be sure and use the rewards certificates they send to you. As long as you're going to West Marine anyway, you may as well get discounts. I do enjoy reading the magazine, too.

Kermit
 
JK_Boston_Catalina310

JK_Boston_Catalina310

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Nov 18, 2010
2,441
Catalina 310 Hingham, MA
Why not towing?

Our boat us charge each year is $125 and I get all of the rewards of the $25 membership plus unlimited towing.

On top of that, you support the boat us lobbying efforts and they are really the only ones looking out for boaters.

JK
 
Ian McGain

Ian McGain

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Feb 17, 2004
268
Hunter 30_74-83 Lower Salford, PA / Tolchester,MD marina
You wrote that you have an older boat. The cost of one tow will pay for your membership and unlimited towing coverage for many years. Suggest you make the investment. No difference from having tow insurance added to your auto policy for your car.
Ian
 
mcrow33

mcrow33

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Mar 29, 2011
169
Beneteau 361 Charlotte,Vt
I guess I forgot to mention that I have $500 coverage with my insurance. Which was cheaper than the BoatUS quote. As for the older boat thing, unless I do a boneheaded thing like end up on a rock pile. I don't plan on needing a tow. Got them big ass sails to get home on. Now I got to go find me a big old piece of wood to knock on...
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
A single salvage recovery from a HARD grounding will consume a $500 towing policy .... in about 3 seconds; A partly sunken boat emitting fuel into the water .... about .3 nanoseconds, a soft grounding in sensitive 'sea grass' ... dont even think about it.
 
Snotter

Snotter

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Sep 25, 2008
615
Morgan 415 Out Island Rogersville, AL
If it were not for the towing insurance (a very good bargain imho) I wouldn't bother joining.
 
thinwater

thinwater

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Mar 26, 2011
3,684
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
RichH said:
A single salvage recovery from a HARD grounding will consume a $500 towing policy .... in about 3 seconds; A partly sunken boat emitting fuel into the water .... about .3 nanoseconds, a soft grounding in sensitive 'sea grass' ... dont even think about it.
Click to expand
The Boat US pollicy excludes all of those, I think. Read the fine print; I could be wrong.

Hey, it's worth it for the rebates, but for towing, not me. Haven't used it in 30 years. Sails, 3 engines, anchors; there's always a way.
 
JVB

JVB

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Jan 26, 2006
270
Schock Wavelength 24 Lake Murray, SC
Marina discounts were the deciding factor for me. At Charleston (SC) Maritime Center it is $45 per week off of the normal $266 for transient docking a 25 footer.
 
R

RichLan

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Jan 7, 2011
29
Hunter 30 Solomons, MD
10 % Discount at West Marine

West Marine used to offer a 10% discount for 30 days for Boat US members, if you just purchased a boat. Ask them if they still have it. It may be an added incentive for membership.
 
mcrow33

mcrow33

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Mar 29, 2011
169
Beneteau 361 Charlotte,Vt
I guess I will give it a shot for a year and see if I think it's worth while. Like on poster said, if I'm going to be buying stuff from West Marine might as well get the discounts. I think there are some marina discounts for diesel and pump out also. I'm not sure if they are in my area. By the way, my sailing area is Lake Champlain. I don't have to deal with a lot of issues that you coastal guys. Thanks for all the information.

Now can someone deliver some warm weather to melt the damn ice on the lake.
 
Rick D

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,183
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
From Another Perspective...

...I think $25 a year to an organization that has a lobbying presence in the Capital and works to protect the interest of recreational boaters is money well spent and critical for our continued enjoyment of our sport and recreational pastime. For that, you also get some good reading. With the image of 'rich yachties' and the people who assume we are gross polluters (without the facts), it's a serious effort.
 
Warren Milberg

Warren Milberg

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Dec 1, 1999
2,391
Hunter 28.5 Chesapeake Bay
While I have Boat US insurance, including towing, I believe that the primary reason to join this organization is that it really does look after your rights as a recreational boater.

FYI, in over 30 years of boat ownership I have only had one insurance claim: a boat totaled by Hurricane Isabel. BoatUS was a pleasure to deal with and they were very professional. I do not believe that a auto insurance company could have dealt with the type and number of claims that event produced. And, while I have never used the towing insurance, stuff really does happen out there on the water and mostly when you least expect it.
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,175
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
I've always been a BoatUS member.... always been insured by BoatUS... used to shop at BoatUS before they were absorbed by WM... I don't buy any extra towing....
Lots of perks, though I always forget to ask for the Boat US discount. The WM dollars are cool... especially if you have a new boat, you'll be spending lots of money.

The free cap is worth $20.. so I think it's a no brainer.
 
FourPoints

FourPoints

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Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
if I recall you get 4% cash back in WM dollars for everything you buy (vs 1% otherwise), in addition to helping the lobbying efforts, and the magazine. The rebates alone more than pay for it for me.
 
S

Steve Dion

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Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
I agree with Rick D. They provide lobbying efforts in Washington DC (regardless if the Fed employees are furloughed or not) and also with the State legislatures.

Hopefully they are still working on fighting about the 15% ethanol issue in gasoline. The next big issue is going to be bottom paint. If they do not fight thiese issues who is going to do it for the marine industry?
 
rpwillia

rpwillia

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Sep 29, 2008
1,936
Catalina 310 #185 Quantico
Rick D, Warren, Joe and Steve are right

This is a small sum to pay to get someone to advocate for you - besides have you noticed how competent our government is these days. Plus with the BoatUS foundation I have seen them do a few things in my area that are useful. Plus if you contact them with a concern they always get back to you.
 
RECESS

RECESS

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Dec 20, 2003
1,505
Pearson 323 . St. Mary's Georgia
I bought the trailer insurance for $14 a year. That week I spun a bearing coming home from a get together with our C22. They had not got all the information for the policy and they still sent a tow truck that loaded up my trailer and sailboat and put it in my driveway 70 miles down the road. Great customer service, sadly that is getting harder to find.
 
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