Towing - - 40nm South. Calif. vs 30nm N. Calif.

D

DLL

Member
exMember
Joined
Jan 1, 2000
RO Number
1777
Messages
429
Boat U.S. charges us $79 for their towing package and that is still a bargain to me, but I found it odd that we pay the same as Southern Calif. and they get 40nm towing while we only get 30nm.

I asked Boat US why and they said it is just the way it was written up when they bought the company out here. If the boaters in Northern Calif. want a 40nm limit, we need to ask for it and they can re-write it when it comes up for renewal or something like that.

While I have never needed it, I did ask that we be treated the same. He said no one up here had asked for the same milage, so if we want it, we should email them.

No big deal most of the time, but if you are beyond the 30 nm for any reason, it would add up fast.
 
Since I just renewed with the special "Inland only" option, it won't affect me. Good info though!
 
they have more coverage down there
all we have is halfmoon bay and alameda and the delta

they have plenty of baots down there
 
The same company has the SF Bay and the Delta contracts. He has enough boats/crews to handle the demand for each area. I don't know if that is the case for the coast. Perhaps the one out of Half Moon Bay is all that is needed for the demand. I do not think SeaTow or some other towing service is available along the central coast. I know Vessel Assist is the only service of its type available in the Delta.
 
There are no towboats out of Half Moon Bay, unloess you count the Harbor Patrol (who towed me in a few months ago when my engine caught fire). If you break down out of Half Moon Bay, your tow boat will come from either Santa Cruz or SF Bay. Count on a lengthy wait and that is why you'll see so many boats with outboard kickers on them.
 
Sorry to hear about your engine problem Dave. Glad you are OK.

I am not unhappy about the towing thing one way or another. I would prefer 40nm on general principles, but I am guessing the REAL answer is how many tow boats are available, etc. BUT that is not what I was told. Simply "it was set up that way and that is how it goes..."

Like most of you, if I feeling a burning desire to go over 30nm out, I will just spend the money. Compared to fuel costs.... no big deal.
 
Dave,
What did you end up doing about your engine problem.
 
The So Cal extension is the exception to the rest of the Western US. That is left over from the old VA days before BUS bought it out. The likely result of a letter writing campaign would probably be a reduction in the So Cal milage, and I don't imagine that will help anyone here.

Dave is right about HMB...no commercial towboats there, VA or otherwise. Same goes in Bodega Bay. There is a VA company on Lake Tahoe.

Also, to clarify...The Unlimited (Captains) Card is $135. The Unlimited Gold is $162.
 
It has come to my attention that there was a $79 membership upgrade offer sent out to the $350 and $500 level memberships holders as those levels are being eliminated.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jtybt15

Dave,
What did you end up doing about your engine problem.

Click to expand...

Charlie,

I'm embarrassed to say that I plan to make an insurance claim, but I've been so busy that I haven't done it until this afternoon. The upside is that there hasn't really been anything to fish for anyway ;-(
 
Phil, that is what I had sent to me. It was $79. Caused a little confusion when I called in. I can't remember if I still got the $79 offer or not. It is a bargain either way if you need help. Since my Tolly has only been out of the slip 2 or 3 times since Oct 2004, it becomes a mute point for me. But we might need it right outside WB. You never know.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top