BoatUS & Vessel Assist

B

baz

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While at Cap Sante in Anacortes the other day I happened across a fella with a T-shirt sporting BoatUS - Vessel Assist logo. I stopped and chatted with him about their service. The important aspect of the conversation was that as a boater and you had one of those embarrassing moments out on the water they come to your rescue with just a simply 800 phone call. I recall him saying the fee was around $180 per year and by mentioning/submitting his Promo/Source code during the signup process a discount would be offered.

I'm curious about the experience and/or the +ive and -ive opinions others that may have who've signed up for this or a similar service ? Worth it ? Have you had to call upon the Service and if so how well did it turn out ? Etc, etc, etc.

Thanks... 🙂
 
I have had Vessel assist for many years, it is in various forms, first you pay to join, this also gives you reward points at West Marine, then you have several levels of on the water tow service, $150 limit (which is what I have) or unlimited, in unlimited read carefully. I also had tow assist because I towed long distance with my old boat. I have never had to use the service.
 
I haven't had to use our BoatUS coverage on the water, but their trailering coverage (a minimal amount extra) sure came in handy when we had a blow out on the boat trailer while crossing New Mexico last fall...

http://www.trailering-digital.com/trail ... friend#pg6

Check out the story that goes with the red truck and blue/white boat photo.

----------------------

On a side note, at one of my captain jobs, when not driving the cruise boats, I drove a rescue boat. There was no TowBoatUS or Vessel Assist on that lake in the National Park... it was not an inexpensive trip for those who needed a tow.

Like you Ranger Tug folks, my C-Dory is a single engine; towing coverage is a worth-while expense from my perspective.

Jim B.
 
There are several levels of coverage and the cost for the levels depends upon where you are going to boat. Towing is not cheap and the lower levels of coverage do not pay the whole bill. If you do not have sufficient coverage, then you need cash to make up the difference. They do not take checks or credit cards. I have unlimited coverage because of that, and the area of coverage I have is the whole Atlantic coast including tributaries. I have had to use TowboatUS twice with my old boat. The service was great and the unlimited coverage covered it all. I won't leave the dock without it.
 
Today I just signed up with Sea Tow here in RI, they have franchises throughout the country and will take care of you wherever you are.
Yearly membership is $169.00, they offer my fishing club RI Saltwater Anglers a $10.00 discount.
I've had other companies on my old boat but I went with Sea Tow because of the extended overage.
I think of it as AAA, it's there if you need it.
A breakdown at sea and a tow can be extremely expensive. The USCG will not come and get you unless it's an emergency, they will refer you to a commercial tow service.
When I was in the USCG and later as a RI boating enforcement officer (quite a few years ago) we towed boaters in without question. Times have changed and you have to be better prepared today.
I wouldn't leave the dock without it.
 
Both Sea-Tow and Boat U.S. have smartphone apps that can summon help and relay gps coordinates, as long as phone has coverage.

Haven't had to use it, but it's nice to know it's there.

Bill
 
My theory is get it and then you will never have to use it! don't get it and you will have wish you had it.
 
Mike... Absolutely... 🙂
 
I have it, BoatUS, but have not had to use it, although last weekend was a coin toss. If you tuna fish, it is a must. The problem that I know about is that your home port may or may not have someone who does the towing so you may get towed to another port rather than your home port. It is a good question to ask the agent who is pretty good about telling you if they have someone in your port. It seems as if it is not a real money making venture for the folks that do the towing so there are not as many outfits that do it as you might like.
 
We've had BoatU.S. unlimitied for a number of years, never have used it but would not be without it. I've just heard to many true towing, retrieval, suck on a sand bar expensive stories that I would not want to not have the coverage. We also have BoatU.S. Trailering coverage, which we have used once for a flat. If you are boating in a non covered BoatU.S. territory BoatU.S. will reimburse with another provider, as long as you make arrangements thru them.

Jim
 
We have commercial towage/emergency service coverage to $10k with no deductible on our boat insurance with Travelers (underwritten by Anchor Marine, a group recommended by the factory...fantastic service). In this case, you fork out the cost of towing and get reimbursed. It came as part of the insurance package (no additional cost....allegedly). Have any of you used towage services this way? The caution about cash instead of a check is unsettling.

We also have an endorsement for the trailer.

Jeff
 
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