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04-13-2013, 07:18 PM
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#1
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Member
City: Richmond
Vessel Name: Dee Vine
Vessel Model: 1987 President 43
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 15
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Seatow vs. BoatUS
I am planning a trip down the east coast from NJ to Fl. Which is the better tow company to use-Seatow or BoatUS? Pros and cons? Thanks.
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04-13-2013, 07:20 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Cruising East Coast US
Vessel Name: Grace
Vessel Model: DeFever 48
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,420
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I've been very happy with TowBoat US
__________________
Cruiser
Esse Quam Videri
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04-13-2013, 07:46 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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Six of one, half a dozen of the other. That said, I personally prefer BoatUS.
John
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04-13-2013, 08:05 PM
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#4
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Guru
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,920
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I have boat US but have never had to use them.
__________________
Tim
Tampa Bay
Carver 355 ACMY Twin Cummins Diesels Sold
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04-13-2013, 09:51 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Juno Beach, FL
Vessel Name: Takes Two
Vessel Model: Defever 49 RPH
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 500
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Tow boat US is probably more available for many boaters but to check go to each of their websites and pull up their service locations on your planned cruise area.
I have used Towboat one time in FL after hitting a submerged piling mid channel of the ICW in another boat and their level of service was exceptional. I wouldn't leave shore without a membership in case "Murphy" showed his ugle head.
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04-13-2013, 10:11 PM
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#6
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Scraping Paint
City: -
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 13,745
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Is Vessel Assist on the east coast? It is the only (I think) towing service in Puget Sound.
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04-14-2013, 12:09 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Spartanburg, SC
Vessel Name: Big Duck
Vessel Model: '72 Land-N-Sea
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 535
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Boat/US would be my choice - unlimited policy. I've never needed them but have been on a buddy's boat that used them twice. One time they came 60 miles to get us...towed us back and put us in the slip.
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04-14-2013, 12:15 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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Sea Tow Membership Agreement | Sea Tow
Universal Towing Coverage: In areas where Sea Tow is not yet operating, Sea Tow will assist in arranging, and will reimburse for, assistance towing up to $225 per hour, not to exceed $5000 PER INCIDENT, to the dock or facility that will best facilitate the boat's repair or transportation, with no annual aggregate limit. You must use a USCG licensed professional tower, pay the bill and submit a copy of the invoice to Sea Tow Services International for reimbursement at Post Office Box 1178 Southold, New York 11971. Reimbursement requests must be postmarked within 60 days of service received. Tows and hourly rates in excess of $225 per hour will not be paid without prior authorization.
BoatUS: Towing Services
For non emergency assistance when a BoatU.S. Licensed Towing Company is not available, Member must contact 24 Hour Dispatch via VHF relay or 800-391-4869 prior to accepting assistance from another towing company. Upon authorization, Member is eligible for Paid Services up to $125 per hour from breakdown location to the nearest repair facility and soft ungrounding up to $10 per foot of boat length, up to Member’s Service Level ($2,500 for UNLIMITED and $3,000 for UNLIMITED GOLD). If towing service is not available, BoatU.S. will contact a government agency. To receive reimbursement consideration, invoice must be submitted within 90 days.
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04-14-2013, 03:38 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Spartanburg, SC
Vessel Name: Big Duck
Vessel Model: '72 Land-N-Sea
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 535
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Good point about BoatUS having poorer out of network coverage, then again I've never heard of anyone experiencing BoatUS services being unavailable anywhere on the ICW.
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04-14-2013, 03:53 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffnick
Good point about BoatUS having poorer out of network coverage, then again I've never heard of anyone experiencing BoatUS services being unavailable anywhere on the ICW.
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We were somewhere on the East Coast ICW one time, far from anywhere, and ran aground. Couldn't kedge off, because the tide was falling, but I did have cell phone coverage and called the BoatUS 800 number. They got some local guy to come out and pull me off. Not sure just how that works, but apparently they do have an arrangement to cover areas where the red hulls do not operate.
By the way, just in passing, any cruiser who does not spend the extra few bucks for the "unlimited" option on the towing insurance is not really thinking it through. :-)
John
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04-14-2013, 05:47 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marin
Is Vessel Assist on the east coast? It is the only (I think) towing service in Puget Sound.
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Vessel Assist is the west coast version of TowBoatUS. Same company and membership is interchangeable.
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04-14-2013, 05:51 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eggowner
I am planning a trip down the east coast from NJ to Fl. Which is the better tow company to use-Seatow or BoatUS? Pros and cons? Thanks.
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I'm surprised (shocked) that you don't already have a membership in one or the other. It's one of the cheapest things you can buy for your boat and turns a $800.00 tow into nothing.
I have been a member of TowBoatUS since I started boating. They have done well by me, once on the water and once with a trailer.
Others will swear by Seatow. Based on my experience, I recommend TowBoatUS, but either one will come out and get you.
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04-14-2013, 06:15 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
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BoatUS
Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
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04-14-2013, 06:46 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Missourah
Vessel Name: M/V Scout
Vessel Model: Sundowner Tug 30'
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 645
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Quote:
Originally Posted by O C Diver
BoatUS
Ted
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+1
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04-14-2013, 07:16 PM
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#15
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Master and Commander
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
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Yesterday while eating lunch on the berthed Coot with the VHF radio on, a 30-foot sailboat called the USCG on channel 16 saying it had gone aground on the Napa River not far from the Napa Marina. The tide was low. After several conversations in which the CG wanted to know the number on board, more information on the boat's location, as well as the boater's cell phone number, I heard no more. Seemed like the CG was being too helpful (a young voice). Doubt the aground folks had towing insurance. ... Still, I would expect the CG to tell them via the cell phone to wait for the rising tide or to contact a commercial towing service.
During my sailing, non-VHF, pre-cell-phone days (60s and 80s), I always relied on a rising tide (and once with an anchor to keep from being pushed higher toward shore) to fix my groundings.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
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04-14-2013, 07:42 PM
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#16
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Guru
Vessel Name: Just a Tinch
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 44 MC
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Anode
+1
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BoatUS +2
I have used Towboat US a couple of times, and frankly....on both occasions....I was very happy with the service, and I am certain that what the two tows would have cost me out of pocket....and all I had to do was sign....I got back every penny I put out for the service prior to that.
Now that I have a trawler.... I carry the:
Why Choose $157 Unlimited Gold Towing? – For those who want 100% of their towing bill paid for, no matter if the tow starts from drifting offshore, a soft ungrounding, from restricted use docks OR from your homedock to a repair facility, Unlimited Gold is the level to go with.
In comparison to some of the expenses that go with boat ownership....its hardly worth debating the need....
Now, I don't want to start an argument...but from what I have been told by people who have had Sea Tow....they weren't all that happy, and I'll let it go at that.
This link shows the service area for BoatUS:
BoatUS: Towing Services : Unlimited Towing
To each his own though.....
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04-14-2013, 09:19 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
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FYI Australian east coast Seatow subscribers. I had an inkling of problems previously, did a search, discovered Seatow Sydney advised it was closing 28 February 2013,and the previous operators were starting BoatAssist to cover Sydney and Port Hacking, phone (02)9181377.
Although a member I did not receive notification, so others may not have.
A March post by "Redbook. com.au says "Franchisers (sic) elsewhere have been forced to close". I believe there was a long established franchise operator in the greater Broken Bay area north of Sydney.
I have no direct knowledge, just posting here what I found online, it may or may not be accurate, to assist any other subscribers.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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04-14-2013, 11:33 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Everett Wa
Vessel Name: Eagle
Vessel Model: Roughwater 58 pilot house
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,919
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For 16years I have bought BoatUS. I figure if I buy the package I will not need it,the year I don't is the year I wish had.
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04-15-2013, 06:53 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
City: Port Huron, MI
Vessel Name: Meander
Vessel Model: 1983 Grand Banks 36 Classic
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 177
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For those that use Boat US: What is the difference between the Unlimited and the Unlimited Gold? From the website is seems the only difference is that they will cover 100% rather than 50% towing from your dock to a repair facility. Am I missing something. Seems like a steep premium upgrade for just that.
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04-15-2013, 07:05 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
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BoatUS: Towing Services : Unlimited Towing
Why Choose $157 Unlimited Gold Towing? – For those who want 100% of their towing bill paid for, no matter if the tow starts from drifting offshore, a soft ungrounding, from restricted use docks OR from your homedock to a repair facility, Unlimited Gold is the level to go with.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Do I have to join BoatUS to get towing?
- A: Yes. BoatUS is a membership organization. In addition to towing services you will be part of the world’s largest association of over half a million recreational boaters which has provided savings, services and representation on Capitol Hill for over 40 years.
$157 Gold + $24 BOATUS membership = $181
Membership Types | Sea Tow
Gold Card
The choice of 95% of all Sea Tow members. The most comprehensive on-water assistance on the market.
Membership privileges include: - Nationwide coverage - all salt and fresh water
- Service for every boat you own, regardless of who is operating them
- Service for the member on any boat they charter, rent, lease or borrow
- No distance or dollar limits in your home area
Only $169 per year
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