SEATOW vs BOAT US

[Carl]

Since I will be getting my boat back next week after the new (rebuilt) power is put on, it will be the first time I will be putting her in the water. I was wondering which towing service most of you use? SEATOW or BOAT US? Any comments, experiences with either? I will be boating in Long Island sound CT / RI border. The boat is a 1978 steplift V-20 with a rebuilt 1988 Mercury 150. The engine has spent its whole life up to this point in Lake Lilinonah (freshwater) in CT.

Thanks

Carl

[Blue_Runner]

Funny you should ask Carl. Over the past few days I've contemplated a Sea Tow post on this board to weigh out the pros and cons. Ever since I read an article in NC Sportsman Magazine about a guy who, I think, got stuck on a sanbar. The Sea Tow captain declared it a salvage even though there was hardly a scratch on the boat or twin motors. The guy ended up with a crazy bill from SeaTow. Seems like it was over $20,000. That could be an exageration. I just know it was thousands.

Seems that SeaTow is the thing to do though - as long as they don't pull that crap with you!

[buckleyjr]

For what it's worth - Seatow is locally based in Long Island. Always noce to support a local company. But I have no idea where BoatUS is located.

[macojoe]

I have had both and have never needed them Thank God!!
But I see Sea Tow boats all around. and a buddy of mine had Boat US and when he needed towing the sent Sea Tow???
I guess they will use what ever is available when they are busy, they use each other.
So I guess it really don't matter?

[pk]

Just my 2 cents here. When I bought my boat, it had a 2 stroke, 10Hp. kicker on a "bracket" as a backup to the 205 IO. The first couple of years I never put it on the boat, but this year I decided it was good insurance in case I lost power. I do all of my boating on Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence River and it can get pretty lonely out on the lake in a hurry. I have started thinking about picking up a new or slightly used 4-stroke to use as a trolling/back-up motor and getting rid of the 2-stroke tank. Granted, it may be a long ride in, but at least I can get back home. Anyways, this may be an option that works for you.

[Skools Out]

Sea Tow is only good on what it says The Sea. Tow Boats US will give you road side service too if you are towing your boat. they cover you on both water and land and they are usually much nicer to deal with on the phone and in person i've had both prefer Tow Boats US. Plus Tow Boats doesn't care how many boats you own and they will tow you on a friends boat where sea tow you have to register each boat seperate.

[phatdaddy]

As I understand it, the difference is in how they are repaid. With Boatus, your fee goes into an insurance pool and when you recieve a tow, the local operator bills the pool and is paid by the national org. With Seatow, the local operator gets the majority of the money up front and hopes you never call him. If you do call him, he will be quicker to declare it a salvage instead of a simple ungrounding. With salvage, he is able to bill for a lot more(50% of the value of the vessel). I think if all you need is a tow, you should go with who has the stronger presence in the water you boat in. I choseTowboatus because of what Skool said, I have 2 boats and they cover which ever one I am on. Towboat covers the person, not the boat.

[shicks007]

I have Sea Tow here in Va. A couple of freinds have Tow Boat U.S. Neither of us have ever used them. There are always heated discussions on this subject on Tidalfish.com.

[Stinky_Hooker]

Dont know how it is up there, but down here, Sea Tow is the ONLY way to go. Boat us is very limited in what they will/will not do.

Here if you pay the 120.00 a year Sea Tow will get up to a 65' boat up to 50 miles out UNLIMITED! If you launch in LA and breakdown off the coast of AL they take you back to WHERE YOU LAUNCHED (or where you port)...not the nearest place like Tow Boat US. They also have three boats in Dauphin Island (where I fish) and they will get you up into the bay and rivers in their little flats boat as well. Boat US has a lot of fine print that once read, will probably in the event you actually need a tow...cost you more money.

All that IF you have coverage, if not BEND OVER!!! It is really the best 120.00 you could ever spend.

[Blue_Runner]

Well, I've got the kicker motor but would like to have more peace of mind. All this fine print talk and "salvage" talk has me worried. I guess I need to do it though.