Towing insurance a must!

L

littlebookworm

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When our 'new' boat, a 33' Cruisers Yacht was moved by trailer from Huntington Harbor to Eastport, it was launched at the ramp in Hart Cove, rather than Seatuck Cove, because the trucker was concerned about getting stuck in the sand at the end of the ramp; it was low tide. The launch went fine, and I backed out and turned around. Following the chartplotter, I headed, at idle, for the east/west channel. Right near the point, I ran out of water. A call to BoatUS led to my being slowly pulled of the shoal and into deeper water. Over this weekend, I got a statement from BoatUS of what was paid for the 'soft-grounding and tow', $768! Thank goodness for un limitted towing coverage. Anyone who boats in Moriches Bay in a boat over 16' and doesn't have the coverage is awaiting disaster, or at least a very large bill. Save yourself aggravation; get the coverage. It's not a question of 'if' you'll need it, only of 'when' you'll need it. Hy
 
At the risk of sounding callous won't a good chart and some caution prevent this?
 
Littlebookworm, I Agree 100%. A few years ago we were fishing in the fog, and being the desperate amateur fisherman I am, I decide to fish snake hill, a cut i have never been in before, let alone in the fog. But I saw a Professional party boat captain go in there once, so why couldn't I! Well, between radar and gps I get into the cut, between 2 islands, kill engines and start fluking. Needless to say, we drift onto a sand bar. I learned many years ago, it is not worth it to use your engines to get off sand, so i just called sea tow and 20 minutes later they pull me off. Unfortunatley I find out we forgot to renew our tow insurance that season, another bright move. It cost me almost $700. Afterwards, I called Boat US wnd explained what happened. They said "you are a long standing customer for many years and as long as you renew, we will credit the tow immediately. Boat US now has a customer for life!
 
JoeShoes

That area on the south shore is not charted. Take a look at the Moriches thread and you will see what guys have to go through to transit the area.

One moment of distraction and you are out of water.
 
I have both boatus and tow boats. Plus my marina gives us a free tow package for anywhere north of the bay bridge in the Chesapeake. It is cheap insurance.
 
JoeShoes: Yes, I have a chartplotter, a chart, and a depth sounder, and am fairly familiar with Moriches Bay. That's why I was going at idle speed and was following the chartploter, which showed six feet of water exactly where I was and where I was heading. The tow actually pulled me about 20' and I was back in 6' feet of water. Moriches is notoriious for its shoaling - check my postings on the east/west trip through the bay. I've been fishing and boating in that bay for about 50 years (wow, that's scary), but that doesn't mean much when it comes to staying afloat. There's even a nickname for engines which move through the bay; they develop 'Moriches propellers', missing the tips from pushing through the sand and mud. By the way, many of the buoys in the bay are not on the charts and/or not in the water at all, because the CG has to move them so often due to shoaling. I'm not being defensive, just trying to expain the situation and give people a heads-up. Hy
 
If you don't touch bottom on the south shore of Long Island, you are either not boating enough or you are lying. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Dani-Lu

If you don't touch bottom on the south shore of Long Island, you are either not boating enough or you are lying. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.

Click to expand...


Well that is a like button :)
we boat in a sand trap, great boating, but blink your eyes and your done.

Cool place though
 
Lost my shaft coupler in Ocean off NJ.
Towed to Barneget Bay through inlet.
Time of tow was a little over a hour plus a scary ride in the inlet trying to keep my boat from running up on the towboat.
Cost was about $1200 plus a $100 tip to the operator.
I never actually paid the $1200 as it was covered.

It's the best piece of mind in boating.
Always tip, they remember you!
 
quote:
Originally posted by walterv

quote:
Originally posted by Dani-Lu

If you don't touch bottom on the south shore of Long Island, you are either not boating enough or you are lying. It is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.

Click to expand...


Well that is a like button :)
we boat in a sand trap, great boating, but blink your eyes and your done.

Cool place though

Click to expand...


LIKE Button... So true...
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

Lost my shaft coupler in Ocean off NJ.
Towed to Barneget Bay through inlet.
Time of tow was a little over a hour plus a scary ride in the inlet trying to keep my boat from running up on the towboat.
Cost was about $1200 plus a $100 tip to the operator.
I never actually paid the $1200 as it was covered.

It's the best piece of mind in boating.
Always tip, they remember you!

Click to expand...


Yes agree tip well they all work hard, Boatus or Seatow. Most people I say hope to see you soon. I have only been towed once but joked with the Captain and said hope I never see you again, he laughed....
 
I agree it is a must-have, I have had Boat US for 10 years.
And the South Shore of LI has areas that are constantly changing, that's why charts and GPS do not always help.
The North Shore where I am has plenty of deep water but BIG ROCKS that are hidden at high tide, esp right in front of the Eaton's Neck CG station and on the east side of Huntington Bay.
 
I always say the difference between the south shore and north shore is, on the south shore you run aground, on the north shore you sink.
 
JoeShoes,
As you said "At the risk of sounding Callous" that sounds like someone who does not believe or have the right insurance. As stated by the MasterCard folk's "I Wouldn't leave home without it"
 
quote:
Originally posted by mintregila

JoeShoes

That area on the south shore is not charted. Take a look at the Moriches thread and you will see what guys have to go through to transit the area.

One moment of distraction and you are out of water.

Click to expand...


I see what you mean. On the North Shore there are no radical changes on the bottom like the south shore of LI.

Book- It was not a shot just a question.
 
Without starting a 'who's is bigger debate', I have been a Boat US member since '92 and never regret what I pay each year - its the only service I look forward to not getting my money's worth... Stuff happens, and you never know when it will. Have had to call upon BoatUs a few times over the years - once they met me half way between ambrose light and ER as I was limping in on 1 engine, last year they pulled me out of the shoaling just west of the bulkhead drain ( that bill came in at around $1k) Regardless if you choose to use the Red, Yellow or other color tow company they are an invaluable resource for all of us and raise to the occasion when called upon. Just seeing them patroling the waters gives me an odd sense of comfort.
 
Something to think about--

I pay about $600 a year to insure my boat.

I pay Sea Tow almost $200, or one third, for towing.

Sounds a little high, no?
 
It is not high when you think that one minor towing would absorb 5 years of the cost.

Gerry
 
$200 for seatow, I think it is more like $149.
It's about odds, you will use seatow before you use your insurance probably.
I have 12 years of boating now.
Roughly $1500 in seatow fees in giving price increases.
Tows:
1) Flat tire on trailer boat had trailer coverage, AAA came out, Seatow paid bill Estimate cost $150
2) Tow to Barneget Bay after shaft coupler snapped - Bill $1200
3) Anchor jammed, couldn't raise it. Sea tow came, helped me muscle it up - Estimate $200
4) Fogged in on trip through moriches - Seatow met us and guided us through - Estimate $200

Looks like i am ahead, but not by much.
Anyone else?
Cost vs Use
 
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