[Stinky_Hooker]

Tow boat US when compared to SeaTow SUCKS!

I have researched both and bought Seatow. BoatTow looks like a good deal, but read the fine print! They say they tow up 50 miles out, but this is FROM their point of port...NOT 50 miles offshore. It is also 25 miles on EITHER side of their port, not 50 miles one way. From down here the Boat US port is well up into Mobile bay so if you are say 20-25 miles offshore you arent covered within thier 50 miles. Oh they will come get you, but you will recieve a bill at the dock. *:o

Also, BoatTow US doesnt even have their own boats depending on where you go. Down here they contract it out through other marine companies and if you are broke down and in need they get to you when they can. When researching the two I called the BoatTow US "towing service" and it was a local maritime tug service. I was asking about the towing service and this secretary didnt even really know what I was talking about. After some confusion and wading through a bunch of crap she finally put me on the phone with some jerk that acted like I was bothering him. He told me "uh yeah, we work for BoatTow " I asked how long it took them to respond to a call and he said "it depends on how and where my boats are tied up at" I said ok, BUDDY, whatever! *::)

I then called The SeaTow captain out of DI. He had already came to one of our club meetings and seemed like a really nice guy. He is a fisherman that started working for the Franchise and knows our area well. I called and got him ON his cell phone. I explained the 50 miles thing to him and he said "yeah, alot of people dont look into it that deep." He said "our policy states 50 miles OFFSHORE, but if fuel and conditions allow me to get to you and you are a member...I WILL come get you." He runs three VERY nice boats and lives ON the Island. He also tows up to a 65 footer! :o SeaTow also tows you back to your point of launch.

I could launch in Bama, run up to see MJ and break down on the East Coast. (Assuming I ran a big boat, of course) They would come get me and *tow me BACK to Bama...not the nearest port. ;)

They will also jump you off for free, unground you and bring you gas if you run out (you pay for gas costs)


One story to prove my point:

Our fishing club has a couple teams that have been fishing the Redfish Tour. These two teams were running the marshes over in Venice LA a couple months back during a tourney. One team had Seatow, and the other had Boat tow US. They both ran onto mud flats and got stuck. They called their respective towing companies for an ungrounding. The SeaTow policy holder was pleased as he got pulled off free, as stated in the contract. The Towboat member was told on his cell phone (while stuck and being a current policy holder) "we arent familiar with that area and cant come get you. We might get OUR boat stuck trying to find you" *:P *He had to pay SeaTow to pull him free. LMAO!!


SeaTow is also UNLIMITED, non of that per incident BS.

Have I made my point clear enough?


Again, I dont know how things are up there with Boat tow US, but *cant imagine it being that good with all the problems I have seen down here. My boat doesnt leave the dock without Seatow!! Its the best 120.00 a year for piece of mind you could spend! Just a 5-10 mile tow for a non-member depending on conditions could run you a grand! You dont even want to THINK about a trip from 20-30 miles offshore.


Sorry for the long rant, I have just researched the hell out of it and from the horror stories from around here I have heard I would hate for someone to end up throwing their money away.