Tow insurance

[Bill Roosa]

I can think of lots of better...

ways to spend $500Take a course on engine repairBuy some critical engine/hull partsBuy an emergency rudder or other emergency equipmentBuy a kedge anchorTake a sailing courseTake a map reading courseJoin a sailing club and go out in groupsI've been boating a while now and I've gotten stuck quite a few times. I've never needed a tow for running aground or some equipment malfunction. That includes the time I ran out of fuel due to a rusted gage while nursing home the boat after blowing out the main and jib in a thunderstorm. Put up the 150 genny and found a safe anchorage and overnighted. The next morning I put the sail on the dingy and went 5 miles to the power boat only (3' depth at the entrance to the river) marina and bought a 2.5 gal gas can, 2.5 gal of fuel and returned to the boat.IMHO folks give up too soon and easily.

 

[higgs]

Bill: I am in your corner

Good God we are sailors! Running out of fuel is not an excuse for a tow when you have sails. If you are aground, there are so many options available. I have even gotten in the water and pushed. With a little ingenuity a sailboat should rarely actually have to be towed. As I posted earlier - 30 years and lots of cruising miles and I have enever had to call a towing company. I'm not saying it won't happen, but after all these years if I have to shell out even a grand for an unisnsured tow, I am still ahead.

 

[Paul Akers]

To Those Without Tow Insurance

If anybody doesn't have tow insurance but are a BoatUS member, that $50 won't even pay to get them to your boat to tow it! I have the inlimited BoatUS tow policy and I'm glad I do. I have been towed 4 times in the past (2x for a dead alternator, 1x for a mixing elbow, and 1x for overheating which I thought was gone oil but turned out to be a clogged intake w/ eelgrass). My insurance company dropped me after 3x because it cost too much. That was when I got new insurance and my unlimited tow insurance. I was towed a week after due to a dead alt. That tow was $1200, alone and about 18 miles). So you can see where $125/hr can quickly add up. It cost me $99 at the time ($109 now/unlimited). But it is worth it. I also have bought a spare alt to keep on board, now. That is also worth it.