Sea tow rates?

lilboat

This did not happen to me, but an employee of mine, I thought it was a little excessive however I carry tow insurance and have thankfully have never had to use it. My buddy purchased a small fiberglass boat 90 hp. 17' make not real sure, it had multiple problems which he solved sort of. He wanted to fish instead of a sea trial he launched at Kelly Park made it east to ICW broke down just before the bridge tried for 2 hrs to get motor running, called sea tow it took them 40 minutes to reach them towed them back to the park 30 min tow and hit them for $450.00. An officer was at ramp to make sure tab was paid no problem there, just a crappy first time experience for my friend. Fees seemed excessive to me, maybe I am out of the loop. It was not a salvage and gas was not spewing out of the gunnel, so I am left wondering is this typical?

Jethro

Cost me $600 to be towed from 8a. That was 12 years ago id expect the cost be twice that now.

shamrock1188

Sea tow is on call 24/7 your not just paying for a 30 min tow your paying for sea tow 24/7 service. You may have been there only tow for 2 days and sea tow has to cover those costs. Tow insurance only covers base tow fees you still can get hit with a big tow bill read the fine print. If your boat needed to be salvaged or had a big fuel spill your bill would be more then your boat is worth in most cases for small boats.

gerrys

Was he a Sea Tow Member?

Darcy

Plus it's great incentive for all non insured to actually join.

CountryBumpkin

lilboat wrote: »

so I am left wondering is this typical?

No I don't think it is typical. Typically I think most people purchase tow insurance or carry it as an add on rider on their boat insurance policy. Those that don't, well they wind up paying for services rendered at an hourly rate.:rotflmao

captryan5878

sounds about right

duckmanJR

If you have an old piece of junk outboard...get a small HP long shaft kicker and put it on a bracket.... or store it out of the way when you are going to go offshore and put it on the transom when you need it.

I have a flats skiff...with a trolling motor...I can get back to a ramp easy enough if my motor died....without any big bill.

saltybum

TowBoat Unlimited water and trailer assist is about $159 year and worth it. Threw a bearing buddy a while back and pulled into Palm Bay rest area and discovered it smoking. Called in and unhitched and headed home to Merritt Island. 20 minutes after I got home a flat bed arrived with my boat and unloaded it. Zero cost. Luv it.

chronicbreak

Darcy wrote: »

Plus it's great incentive for all non insured to actually join.

Sorry OP but agree with Darcy and the rest. Been to a doctor lately without insurance?

Skiblet

Sea tow and towboat us charge between $225 to $250 per hour. The billed time starts when they leave their dock and return back to their dock.
$149-169 per year to join one of the tow companies is cheap insurance.

dinosaur

This is why I pay the membership fee.

lilboat

After his experience last weekend I believe he will become a member. Just a tough lesson to learn for his first time in his own boat

rehartline

It's cheap insurance in the long run. You might skip out on AAA for your car but it's a little tougher to get out and walk from the boat. I think about it every time I renew but there's that one time you need it. If you twist there arm you can get 14 months for the price of 12. I think Costco has a deal from time to time as well.

beat to fit

Also consider boat insurance through companies like AS, progressive, etc.
I have progressive and it includes towing up to 50 miles( or more if u choose) from the boat ramp, theft, etc... easy to customize.
I can use boat usa or sea tow service.
Consider all options.

duckmanJR

beat to fit wrote: »

Consider all options.

I did, That's why I bought a small outboard. For what you pay for two years of "coverage"...I have protected myself....and * I have something to sell * that will still be worth my original investment if I decide I don't want to go offshore anymore.
Also, My little outboard doesn't have "limits" on how far it will take me home from......and doesn't make me wait to get going either.

saltybum

Those little outboards can fail too...then what?

duckmanJR

saltybum wrote: »

Those little outboards can fail too...then what?

Not going to fail on the same day....

Hotpursuit

As I'm sure you know a kicker can't solve all issues out there. For example fuel or power issues. Unless of course there's extra tanks and batteries available as well. Unfortunately I've had to use my tow boatus membership a few years back due to water in the fuel tank. Paid for the next ten years membership on that 1500 bill. By the way boatus is a much better deal then seatow. It goes on any boat the members on regardless if it is their boat. Saved a buddy of mine on a $400 dollar bill because I was there.

duckmanJR

Little kickers don't have "power" issues since they don't use batteries...they are rope started...

and yes, bad fuel could be an issue if you don't have RACORS on your boat...but what idiot doesn't have them on their fuel system? a 3 gallon remote solves that.

I'm not saying you should do it...I'm saying it has worked for savy skippers for many years...buy towing insurance if you think you should...no skin off my nose.

Bluewaterfever

Sea Tow covers you on any boat too.

FishyGirl

We lived for year without the insurance but after a friend towed us in a few years back, we decided to get it. Very safe feeling knowing it is there when you travel with the boat as much as we do. We can't always call a friend to come meet us.

beachsideandy

We typically burn $230-250 per trip on fuel. The yearly rate for tow insurance is CHEAP all things considered.
I have trolling lures that run up to $70 to put things in perspective. The offshore game ain't cheap!

Hotpursuit

duckmanJR wrote: »

Little kickers don't have "power" issues since they don't use batteries...they are rope started...

and yes, bad fuel could be an issue if you don't have RACORS on your boat...but what idiot doesn't have them on their fuel system? a 3 gallon remote solves that.

I'm not saying you should do it...I'm saying it has worked for savy skippers for many years...buy towing insurance if you think you should...no skin off my nose.

The issues w the water in the gas I experienced weren't going to be solved by my racors. And yes I carry two so I have a back up just in case. The issue was do to a problem w the fuel vent and a poor design in the older pursuits unbeknownst to me at the time. I believe I have solved the problem permanently but my point is simply in my experience it's best to be prepared for all situations when your offshore. A kicker is a great plan but as we both mentioned bring an extra small tank to be certain.

Hotpursuit

Bluewaterfever wrote: »

Sea Tow covers you on any boat too.

It didn't for us when my friend ran out of gas pulling back into the port. They told us he'd have to pay out of pocket even though he was a member until he could prove the actual owner of the boat was not onboard. I don't know their rules but that was my experience about two months ago.

Jethro

they can refuse to get you if seas are over 5' even if its 5' every 20 seconds! Yep that happened to me too. I also remember a time that was stuck out of ponce and listened while seablow was talking on other stops he made along the way and by the time they got to us it was 4 hours later and a storm was brewing and almost gave up on assisting us. That's what you payfor

beachsideandy

I thought if they "deemed" it unsafe to get you they were under obligation to hire someone ASAP to do the job. I remember reading that somewhere in the documentation I received... Anyone know for sure?