BoatUS towing

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

What’s your opinion on this or similar towing service insurance?

[12poundbass]

For the Great Lakes, coastal waters, and the big southern impoundments I think it would absolutely be beneficial. The small inland lakes on Michigan not so much. I doubt it’s even available on small lakes. 

[A-Jay]

Sea Tow & Tow Boat Us are Big Water services - both fresh & salt water. 

If I were on any, I'd have one or the other depending on where I was and who offered the services I needed.

These are usually for non-emergency situations although if they are within shouting distance to an urgent deal - they'll often respond or assist as needed.  

I was still serving when these 'commercial assistance' Companies first came to be; mid 1980's I think.

While there'd always been big tug boats for ships and larger commercial fishing vessels, there was really nothing for smaller recreational craft. 

 On the East coast, in major ports, Boston, NY, etc business took off quickly - where I was working at the time. 

Actually caused a policy change by the USCG to where we no longer responded to non-emergency calls.

Completely changed the way we conducted business. 

That still stands today. 

USCG will call commercial assistance for you once they determine you're not in immediate distress.

If you have coverage you're good.  

If you do not - you're paying through the nose. 

Either way your tax dollars no longer ensure a free tow home, which was the vast majority of what I did the first several years of my career.  I can remember towing 2 boats at a time with 3 or 4 waiting for me to get to them on a busy summer weekend or holiday.

No longer the case - it's all commercial salvage now.

In fact, in the early days, many USCG coxswains left the service to run those boats - so at least some of them knew what they were doing.

Bottom line - it's a good thing to have if you're running water where they cover.

Still need food & water and whatever to keep you comfortable if you break down, because they are in no big hurry to get there.

A-Jay

 

[Fishing Rhino]

I remember when the Coast Guard implemented the new policy.  A clever fellow got into the business of towing, naming his business "Any Towing Company".  When the Coast Guard would get a call for a non emergency problem the Coast Guard would ask the owner who they could contact for him, the usual response was "Any towing company".  

 

It drove the other towing companies crazy.

[A-Jay]

51 minutes ago, Fishing Rhino said:

I remember when the Coast Guard implemented the new policy.  A clever fellow got into the business of towing, naming his business "Any Towing Company".  When the Coast Guard would get a call for a non emergency problem the Coast Guard would ask the owner who they could contact for him, the usual response was "Any towing company".  

 

It drove the other towing companies crazy.

We kept a "List" of the companies and if the operator didn't have a preference, we'd rotate through the companies. 

So everybody got called.

Other enterprising guys would 'chase' disabled calls (Via VHF).

After the USCG determined the disabled vessel's position, they would just show up before we called the next company on the list or one could get on scene.

There would actually be fights over who was going to do the tow.

PIA really.

Eventually worked itself out.

A-Jay