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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Towing Insurance

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mrapkins
Navigator

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USA
124 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/31/2011 : 05:49:51

Towing Insurance costs me $125 for unlimited towing (I'm on the Northern Chesapeake Bay). A "big" tow might cost $500. I've had the insurance for 3 years so I've spent $375 so far. Another payment for next year will equal the cost of the "big" tow.

Soooooo, is it really worth it? Basically I need a "big" tow every 4 years to break even so my thought is to forget it. What do you guys think?

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 05:55:26

My first grounding happened in Annapolis right in front of everyone. It was $500... Tow Boat US is worth every penny. Sea Tow, eh, not so much.

sten

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 06:09:26

I don't think you're looking at this from the right angle. Instead of weighing it against the cost of a tow weigh it against your peace of mind. I wouldn't be without it.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5897 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 06:36:29

There are lots of reasons why you might need help from a tow company on the Ches. The most common reasons are getting off a grounding, engine trouble and running out of fuel. Whether you need tow insurance depends on how you use your boat, and how willing you are to gamble. A swing keel obviously has less need than a fixed keel. The more time you spend on the water, the more potential you have for needing help. Likewise, if you like to gunkhole frequently in isolated, unfamiliar areas, there is a much greater potential for needing help. Also, inexperienced sailors are more likely to need help than experienced ones. A new or reliable engine will reduce your potential need for assistance. Anyone who plans to cruise long distances on the ICW should definitely obtain tow insurance, because the ICW is notoriously shallow in many areas, and isolated. If you are an experienced sailor who spends all your time sailing in deep, familiar, local waters, you might decide not to buy tow insurance.

According to your calculation, one more year without needing a big tow, and you will break even. The problem with that calculation is, what if, next year, you need assistance twice? I know that seems unlikely, but that's just the mean little trick fate plays on us sometimes. The bottom line is, it's a gamble. I buy it some years, when I plan to use my boat alot in unfamiliar waters, and don't buy it when I plan to stay closer to home. To me, it's a judgment call. When in doubt, I buy it. It's not so costly that I regret my choice if nothing bad happens.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 06:51:05

In 1987 I was in a head on collision. That was that last time I needed a seat belt to save my life. I still wear one today.

Insurance is the same thing. Buy it, you'll never know when you'll need it. It's just another pleasure of boat ownership.

Edited by - on

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 07:37:10

I don't carry it, of course if we need a tow on my lake we hop over the side with a painter and drag her to shore.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 09:13:49

Ya pay a bit often or Ya pay lot once (then ya pay a bit often

Paul

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 11:04:43

Profound, Paul, but right!

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 11:34:03

It is a personal choice and a gamble. I could probably live without it, but it is somewhat reassuring to me and makes living with the Admiral much better. I spend a lot more on Coke Zero than insurance. I ran out of gas once with Chris aboard and a time constraint before I had unlimited insurance - the gas ended up being about $50 a gallon.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 12:22:25

I have the BoatUS unlimited service, largely for peace of mind, even though my river is very deep so the likelihood of running aground is low. However, the currents could make the consequences of a disabled boat severe.

I am cheap enough that if I ever needed a tow and had to pay for it, I might subject myself to further danger by trying to figure a way out of my problem without calling for help. With the prepaid service I will be more likely to call for help right away, and then work on remedying the situation while the tow boat is en route.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 13:14:31

Another benefit of unlimited from Tow Boat US is dock to dock towing. Let's say you are at a different dock than your homeport and have a problem. They'll tow you to wherever you want.

Sten

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 13:45:32

Another benefit of unlimited from Tow Boat US is dock to dock towing. Let's say you are at a different dock than your homeport and have a problem. They'll tow you to wherever you want.

Sten

Edited by - on

KeziCat
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 16:27:55

We managed to survive somewhere around a dozen or so groundings in our first years afloat. Most were temporary hang-ups in soft bottoms while gunkholing or during low water season. Each time we managed to work our way out using one technique or another and haven't ever needed a tow. Someday I'll write about a few of our more exiting adventures. Oh, and did I mention the sometimes/maybe outboard? Our sailing skills have improved much because we now know the boat and local waters far better. We are pretty resourceful boaters but admit we've paid lots of stupid tax. We plan to expand our cruising areas over the next couple of years. We're counting on Boat U.S. to cover us for the inevitable but unknown snafus that we expect to encounter but may not be able to handle. For us, the smallest price for peace of mind has been insurance with Boat U.S. We don't put the boat in the water without it.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 17:31:30

Besides, if you renew at the winter boat show, they (BoatUS) will give you a cool new canvas boat bag. I've got 3.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 18:25:54

Pay me now or pay me later!

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2011 : 19:23:33

Murphy's sixth corollary: If you want to insure that you'll need a tow, drop the insurance. If you want to insure that you won't, keep it.

Now that I don't have sails, it's a no-brainer.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 15:12:35

I have kept up the insurance ever since losing my self-repaired rudder one day in strong winds. When I'm out at night or when I'm the only boat in sight on the Bay, I'm glad I have towing insurance.

My 2 crew and I will be reassured, next weekend when we're sailing in the crisp November night air under the full moon, that we can be towed home for free if something breaks.

Edited by - JohnP on 11/03/2011 15:13:41

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5897 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 16:28:36

The people who sail the Great Lakes have the best deal. Their unlimited tow insurance only costs $34.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 17:58:24

I actually pay $62 for the premium package with roadside trailer assist and it covers my sojourns to coastal waters as long as my primary venue is Lake Erie. As for the "big tow", this is Boat/US's example:

Commercial towing companies charge $250 per hour for non-members! Even if you boat close to home, the towing company will bill from their home port and back. If you've run soft aground, towers will also charge up to $15 per foot of your vessels length to pull you free. The following scenario may help you choose the towing service level that's right for you.
Time (portal to portal) Rate Cost
1.5 hours to scene $250.00 per hour $375.00
10 minutes ungrounding 24ft @ $20.00 per ft. $480.00
1.5 hours return time $300.00 per hour (night rates) $450.00
Total $1,305.00 

And if they tow you to your dock, their time doesn't end until they get back to their dock.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 11/03/2011 18:00:49

rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 11/03/2011 : 22:01:16

Unless it's the polite OC sheriff. I hailed for five minutes on VHF 16 for a commercial tow about mile offshore having floated for hours without wind. The skipper and I agreed on splitting whatever costs. No response led to the Coast Guard dispatching the OC Sheriff's Harbor Patrol providing probably their only call for the evening in this lazy, mega-dollar, recreational-only harbor. Our skipper even received a performance survey. How could a response be anything but A++ when the OC people covered the two mile tow to the club slip for this 4500 lbs pointy ended sloop (no engine, oar a joke, and anchoring for the evening in wet gear a possible disaster). Now that I'm on an inland lake on a vessel with an outboard, anchor, and ore: I haven't given a thought to acquiring a tow service. I'm hoping my Good Sam Road Side Assistance covers land towing.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 06:33:39

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I haven't given a thought to acquiring a tow service.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I wouldn't either on a more modest body of water. I once went over the side and walked my CM-21 in, dragging her by the rode. That would not be so appealing 20 miles offshore on Lake Erie.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 09:30:12

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rrick
 ... I'm hoping my Good Sam Road Side Assistance covers land towing.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">My boat insurance with Progressive covers roadside/(land)towing coverage. I still have towing insurance from BoatUS.

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

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USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 13:23:50

Thanks John. I just checked out my BoatUS vessel insurance to learn I get two tows a year if I want to meet the $250 deductible. Dave, that excludes the Great Lakes, boo.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 14:41:45

That makes it sound reasonable to skip the tow insurance unless you expect to be towed every year,

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/04/2011 : 17:35:51

Let's be clear. I was talking about coverage on the highway should my tow vehicle and/or trailer have issues. Not to be confused with my BoatUS towing insurance for on the water issues.

Edited by - on

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