Sea Tow or Boat US ?

[POON MAN]

What is the concensus on which one may be better

currently i have had boat us for several years and never used it

does any one know the ins and outs for distance offshore covered

i only travel a max of 30 miles offshore in a small C/C


Chris

[Double D]

I did some research a few years back. Boat US "Unlimited" towing is limited to within 25 miles of the inlet. Here is the verbage from their website

The TowBoatUS Service Area covers a 50 coastal mile diameter around the TowBoatUS home port (25 miles in each direction) and extends to 25 miles offshore!

BoatU.S. Towing Service Providers offer a standard service area of 25 miles from their homeport. However; in order to meet the needs of the over 600,000 BoatU.S. Members with towing service, many companies have expanded their service areas to better serve our Membership.

What that second paragraph means is that you need to contact the local franchise to see if their range is extended.

When I talked to Sea Tow, I was told they would come get me no matter how far (I fish 80-120 miles off quite frequently). Their website claims no time, distance or dollar limits. Sea tow was a no brainer for me

[BrothaBob]

I have had Sea Tow for three years now.

I have only had to use it once when my anchor and my proper could not come to a proper agreement about wether or not the anchor should have been stowed away properly. Anyhow....the prop lost.

I was about 8 miles offshore and in less then an hour, I got picked up and did what my buddy who was with me calls the "Tow of Shame"

Fortunately for me.....it was just the prop, no other damage.....the anchor is properly stowed now.

[BTH284]

I have had both. Got Boat US as a freebie when I got insurance on my skiff a few years back.

Went with Sea Tow on my boat I got last year. When the man told me that "I will come get ya now matter where your at" that sold me right there.

Knock on wood have not had to use either one yet. But for $115.00 a year for piece of mind that is not even a question for me!!! Most of my stream trips are no longer than 70 miles anyway.

[matey1]

i had sea tow for 5 yrs and never used them. then last year i was on a buddies boat, 30' blackfin, when both engines went out. he had boat us. we were out side the elephant trunk when we called boat us. they brought a mechanic with them, batteries, fresh fuel, and a ton of other stuff. the mechanic could not get us running and so they towed us all the way to indian river inlet. when we got to the dock all the guy had to do was sign the paper. no cost to him except what he paid for the year. boat us never questioned how far out we were or anything. since i run mostly out of delaware and boat us is in most ports there i switched this year to boat us.

[Bite Me]

I have had Sea Tow for 8 years. Yes, they have bailed me out on several ocassions both in my home port and not. Sometimes just helping getting me back in a slip when a motor fails in the basin. They have always given me first rate service.
A word of advice, whomever you choose get to know the local operator if at all possible along with the guys running the boats. Taking the time to shoot the breeze with these guys once in a while can never be a bad thing.
Sea Tow's service has been first rate in my neighborhood.

[Proheat]

I've had both! I had Seatow when I trailered to Delaware Bay and luckily never had to use them.

When I moved to Indian River, I found that Seatow had to come from NJ., so I switched to BoatUS. I had them for a couple years, and just last year, I broke down in the middle of Indian River Inlet! After the Coast Guard came to our aid, they towed us back to North Shore Marina and called for BoatUS to to tow me back to my dock. The Coast Guard men were all business during the rescue, and after the paper work was done, we BS ed and found that they were really a great group of guys! As far as BoatUS- they towed me to the ramp so I could pull the boat out and just had me sign thier slip and were gone.They were great also. It never cost me anything other than the membership dues.

[Sea Draggin]

I got picked up and did what my buddy who was with me calls the "Tow of Shame"

That's funny. For the record I have had great service from Sea Tow over the years.

[seaweasel]

guys,
I'm a captain for SeaTow Key Biscayne and second the advice about getting to know the local tow company owner-operator. Both tow companies, while nationally affiliated, have local franchises or boats and they have some local differences in how they do things, particularly distance offshore. For instance, we will tow you back from Bimini, even though it is 56 miles. Like any local franchise the quality of the service depends upon the owner and the local captains. It is nice to be able to call up Captain So and So and hear a friendly voice on the radio when you are stuck 35 miles offshore. Talk to each company if you can, not just the national rep, and go with the person you like. Also make sure that the company you choose docks vessels near the area you regularly boat. That will make a difference in how fast they can get to you, which can save a day of fishing if your only problem is a bad battery or something like that.

If you've got any questions let me know.

seaweasel

[Murph]

Boat US the nation's largest on-the-water towing and assistance service predicts it will receive as many as 3,000 or more requests for assistance from boaters across the country this Memorial Day weekend who will need a jump start, fuel drop off or a tow back to port, which includes over 500 TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist response vessels stationed in some 260 ports across the country.