Boat US or Sea Tow

J

JVM225

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I'm currently covered by Boat US for towing. I rarely, if ever take advantage of any of their other member services, and I insure my boat through another company.
I'm considering a switch to Sea Tow this year.
My question is this: Since I really only need towing coverage which is better Sea Tow or Boat US?
What are the pro's and con's of each?
What are the differences in their towing coverage and membership prices for comparable levels of membership?
 
IMHO.....you get better coverage in this area with Sea Tow. I just got back from the Nassau boat show....where I always renew my Sea Tow membership.....this year they offer Sea Insurance. They claim that you can't beat their cost. We'll see.....

I'll be calling them in the AM to do some comparision shopping.
 
This pretty much sums up what I think is the difference between Boat Us and Sea Tow. I copied and pasted it from the Boat Us web site.

Q: If I'm broken down at my dock, does my BoatUS Towing Service still work for me?

The Towing Service is for tows due to breakdowns at sea or at a restricted use dock. In addition, if your boat will not start while you are at your home dock, rental dock, or a non-restricted use slip, partial coverage may be available to you. By setting up the tow through normal channels, calling our dispatch center or contacting a TowBoatUS company directly, BoatUS will provide 50% of the towing charge incurred to the closest repair facility, up to your current towing service level. Of course, pre-existing conditions are not provided for at all.

Let's say I'm at my home dock in Amityville, the boat doesn't start, and I want to have it towed to my mechanics yard in Lindenhurst; what would Sea Tow's policy be. I think Boat US would wish me luck.
What would happen if I were at WH or Tobay?
 
Sea Tow would tow you from your dock to a place for service........a FACT
 
Down here in S. Florida Sea Tow are called "pirates". If you're at your dock and need a Boat US tow to a repair facility, untie the lines just before they arrive. Works everytime. Don't forget to tip the tow boat operator.
 
This stuff always confuses me. Are both our boats covered with BoatUS? SeaTow? We've been using BoatUS for years, probably more out of habit than anything else. I haven't ever had a problem with them but still can't seem to understand some of the differences in towing, etc. I used to think one of them insured the boat itself and the other insured whoever was driving a boat but who knows.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Davelm

Down here in S. Florida Sea Tow are called "pirates". If you're at your dock and need a Boat US tow to a repair facility, untie the lines just before they arrive. Works everytime. Don't forget to tip the tow boat operator.

Click to expand...


Pirates? Why is that?
I'd prefer not to have to play games with the lines if my boat breaks down, is that what I would have to do with Boat US and Sea Tow?
 
With Sea Tow, you would not have to untie your lines. Sea Tow Freeport towed a friend's boat from the dock behind his house to his mechanic's boat yard.

Boat US can play games...someone at our marina grounded their sailboat, had Sea Tow coverage, but were new to the area and did not know if Sea Tow operated nearby. Tow Boat US came upon them, they told the operator they had Sea Tow, and he told them that there were no Sea Tow franchises nearby. This happened at the end of Hudson Canal, where Freeport Sea Tow is located!
 
BJL,

From the SeaTow web site...

"This is the world famous card that 95 percent of our members select. It is “Your Road Service at Sea”® providing on-water assistance to recreational boaters 24 hours a day, 365 days and nights a year. The Sea Tow Gold Card covers any recreational vessel that has an engine and is registered to or owned by the member. Any person operating a covered vessel is entitled to receive benefits for that vessel. Gold Card members can also use their privileges on any vessel they charter, rent, lease or borrow. One of the member’s vessels must be identified as the primary vessel."

Basically, If you own a cruiser boat and lets say a small fishing boat or water craft, both boats are covered by any person operating that boat. You are also covered on any boat that you borrow or are renting.

JVM,

As far as Dock to Dock tows, If your primary vessel breaks down at a safe port you are entitled to a tow back to your home port at no charge. If your primary vessel is disabled at your homeport, you are entitled to a tow to any dock within your home area at no charge provided you schedule the tow during off peak hours (Monday - Thursday in season. perhaps on weekends during early spring or late fall) and have someone on your vessel. There is supposed to be a 30 day waiting period for dock to dock tows once a membership is activated.
 
The guys at Seatow in the GSB area are outstanding, no bs, no games, great service, quick response.
Boat US may be the same, not experience with them so I can't comment about them.

Sea Tow in my experience is top shelf where I boat, just real good guys.

Just keep in mind that Seatow has diffrent people in different areas, as doe Boat US, with that in mind the GSB Seatow guys are great, outside their area the other guys may not be as good.

Walter
 
I don't know the difference, as there is no SeaTow around me. I've had minimal ($50) BoatUS coverage for many years, but this year they lowered unlimited coverage from well over $100 to $34. I jumped on it!
 
Steve, I haven't heard of such a low price for unlimited. When did they do that? I'm up for renewal and would love to get that price if possible.
 
quote:
Originally posted by BJL

Steve, I haven't heard of such a low price for unlimited. When did they do that? I'm up for renewal and would love to get that price if possible.

Click to expand...


I didn't know it either until I signed on 2 weeks ago to renew. There it was! They really ought to promote it better.
 
Steve, when I sign on to either renew or look up prices, there's nothing less than $100 for unlimited towing. Wish I had seen that special when you did. You sure you got unlimited coverage for that???
 
Here is my copy of my renewal (I get a group discount):

Items Ordered Below

1RDUE RENEWAL MEMBER DUES
Qty: 0001 Price (each): $0012.50

TOW HIGHER TOWING SERVICE OP
Qty: 0001 Price (each): $0034.00

Item Subtotal: 0.00
Special Charge Subtotal: 46.50

Order Total: 46.50
_______________________________________________
It didn't show "unlimited, so I eMailed. Here is the response and a contact for you:

Thank you for emailing BoatUS

Your Membership does include Unlimited Towing. I apologize for we had the wrong automatic response email set up. Thank you for being a BoatUS Member and please let me know if I can assist you with anything else.

Matt Startzel

BoatU.S. Membership

800-395-2628 ext. 3580

www.boatus.com/membership
 
What kind of group discount before I call?
 
Walter , If u knew what u were doing, u wouldnt know how good seatow really was....

: )
 
quote:
Originally posted by BJL

What kind of group discount before I call?

Click to expand...


From the OLD Regal Owners Forum. Don't know how long it'll last. :)

You'd need a Group number.
 
Oh well, I don't have a group number so I guess it will be full cost :(
 
I've been a Boat US member for many years on the south shore and they are excellent. No game playing. Very professional. The Reynolds Towing/ Boat US guys who cover a vast area from Massapequa west to Long Beach and more are very knowledgeable, courteous and friendly. As Walter said, it always depends on the individual operator, but I boat out of Massapequa and had to use Boat US all the way out by the Shinnecock Inlet once during a very challenging time... outstanding service. Everyone has an opinion. That's mine.
 
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