Boat tow insurance

[wallysackett]

I was looking at the Boat US tow insurance and it looks pretty reasonable and that there are some boat locations near the Rochester area. Anyone have any experience with them or offer any recommendations or insight? 

[Shakemsam]

41 minutes ago, wallysackett said:

I was looking at the Boat US tow insurance and it looks pretty reasonable and that there are some boat locations near the Rochester area. Anyone have any experience with them or offer any recommendations or insight? 

Not sure what you mean by locations near Rochester. I think it gets you perks at West Marine but the Roch store is pretty useless IMO. Better off investing in a reliable kicker!

[rolmops]

For the price that they charge and the peace of mind that it gives you, it's a no brainer. I usually trailer my boat so I added the trailer towing as well.

Take a look at all the different packages that they offer and compare the prices to having to have your boat towed even only once. You can probably buy 5 years of towing insurance for the price of one uninsured towing event.

I am a firm believer in Murphy's Law and it is my belief that the only reason why I never broke down on the water is because I bought the insurance.

[jmyers8]

I have it and the towing Insurance. I lost a tranny line at the marina they came and picked up my truck and took it to a repair shop. For 120 a year I cant see why anyone wouldnt  

[marinecrafts]

Several years ago I broke down on the water near Galloo and although Tow Boat did not have a boat close, they did reimburse me for having to use a marina out of Henderson.  They are the AAA on the water and their operators are pros.

[Silver Fox]

I used to subscribe to it till I called my insurance company and they said save the receipt and they’ll reimburse me if I need a tow. Some years ago off Wilson, my coupler went and tow US said about 4 hours. Luckily Lucas F came out and got me with the boat he was fishing on. Point is, call your insurance company.

[Shakemsam]

6 minutes ago, Silver Fox said:

I used to subscribe to it till I called my insurance company and they said save the receipt and they’ll reimburse me if I need a tow. Some years ago off Wilson, my coupler went and tow US said about 4 hours. Luckily Lucas F came out and got me with the boat he was fishing on. Point is, call your insurance company.

Same situation for me while Island camping in the St. Lawrence.  Tow Boat told me 3-4 hrs.  I drifted to shore and tied up to a tree, next to a private launch. The owner allowed me the time to walk 3 mi to my truck and come back and use his launch. I did all this in under 3 hrs. Never renewed with TowBoat.

[wallysackett]

22 minutes ago, Silver Fox said:

I used to subscribe to it till I called my insurance company and they said save the receipt and they’ll reimburse me if I need a tow. Some years ago off Wilson, my coupler went and tow US said about 4 hours. Luckily Lucas F came out and got me with the boat he was fishing on. Point is, call your insurance company.

I did call my insurance company and they do have good rates but you need to pay for tow then they reimburse you. My understanding is this may cost a couple thousand dollars. Also, who do you call for a tow if you go this route? Call 911, or coast guard? 

[Silver Fox]

1 hour ago, wallysackett said:

I did call my insurance company and they do have good rates but you need to pay for tow then they reimburse you. My understanding is this may cost a couple thousand dollars. Also, who do you call for a tow if you go this route? Call 911, or coast guard? 

I’d call tow US and pay for it, then send in receipts for reimbursement. The best bet is to “phone a friend” for quicker tow. Only 1 boat that I know of on the south shore. Maybe that changed

[J.D.]

Towing out of Rochester, 25 mile service area.

https://www.boatus.com/towboatus/rochester

[sherman brown]

i used boat us for years and ended up saving some money. I used almost every service they offered. my outdrive crashed at Geneve Oh so I called the number on my card and that's all I had to do. it did take almost 2 hours for the towboat to reach me. when we got back to the marina the cost was 610.00 but I paid with my signature.

 

I lost the tire and wheel off my trailer on I-75 just a few miles south of the KY state line. it was me and my younger brother returning home in IN. we didn't know what we were going to do. a cop had come by and said it had to be moved now or he would call their tow service which usually costs double. then I thought about my trailer assist and called boat us again. wasn't long before a flatbed came and got our boat and took it back to their shop. again, all I paid was with my signature.

 

next, I had a flat on my F350 SD 4 DOOR CREW CAB going through the drive-through at Hardies. again I called Boat Us. They found a service on their list but he had to be paid up front by us. I needed a new tire so he brought me a tire and mounted it and put it back on my truck. they charged Boat Us 375.00 for just the service call plus I paid for the tire and the mounting fee which should have been paid by boat us in their service fee.

[jemerling82]

Progressive has sign and glide for $100. I decided to get full coverage for couple hundred more

[nickihoyboy]

I live in southern NJ and tow my 23’ boat up to Lake Ontario every summer. I have subscribed to BoatUS (Towboat) for years, including the trailer coverage, and have been very happy with their coverage. First, let me say that I renew my subscription every year at a boat or sport show with a BoatUS booth where I save $50 on the annual price. I have used the plan services three times over the years with no complaints, including twice on the same trip. One year my trailer suffered a broken leaf spring on I-81. I called the service number, gave them the information on my problem and location, and had a flatbed on site within an hour. On the same trip, about 10 days later fishing out of Port Ontario, I stupidly ran out of two stroke oil about six miles out in the lake. I called Towboat and asked that they just bring me a gallon of two stroke oil. It took about 45 minutes for the red boat out of Oswego to get to me. He wouldn’t bring me a gallon of oil, but he did tow me back to the Lighthouse Marina. Both times, the service cost me nothing but a signature. The third time, two years ago fishing out of Oak Orchard, I lost my hydraulic steering while out on the lake. Made the call to Towboat and had the red boat from Oneida Marine in Rochester come all the way out and tow me back to the Orleans Co. Marine Park at no cost to me. So if you ask me, BoatUS Towboat is a bargain! I guess any insurance is expensive UNTIL YOU NEED IT! Personally, I like the peace of mind it gives me.

[GAMBLER]

Just add a kicker and you will not need a tow.

[Ric66]

6 hours ago, GAMBLER said:

Just add a kicker and you will not need a tow.

Number of years ago I got a downrigger cable in my main motor in a wicked current. Couldn't get my kicker to work right. Called my insurance (Progressive) and they sent someone to tow me, took an hour. My opinion- get it! Would have cost me $800 without insurance

[lost a lure]

23 hours ago, GAMBLER said:

Just add a kicker and you will not need a tow.

Unless you have a fuel problem, like running out

[GAMBLER]

1 hour ago, lost a lure said:

Unless you have a fuel problem, like running out

If you leave the dock and are at risk of running out of fuel, you shouldn't operate a boat on Lake Ontario.  There is ZERO reason to leave the dock with very little fuel in your tank.  Fuel issues other than running out can happen.  Running out should never happen!

[salmoseine]

On 4/19/2024 at 12:47 PM, GAMBLER said:

Just add a kicker and you will not need a tow.

 

Absolutely, with one caveat... properly sized to maintain steerage/headway in rough conditions, ie, an auxillary motor/power. "Kickers" are often undersized without the power to get you in to safety. 

[GAMBLER]

47 minutes ago, salmoseine said:

 

Absolutely, with one caveat... properly sized to maintain steerage/headway in rough conditions, ie, an auxillary motor/power. "Kickers" are often undersized without the power to get you in to safety. 

Absolutely!

[wallysackett]

On 4/19/2024 at 9:24 AM, Silver Fox said:

I used to subscribe to it till I called my insurance company and they said save the receipt and they’ll reimburse me if I need a tow. Some years ago off Wilson, my coupler went and tow US said about 4 hours. Luckily Lucas F came out and got me with the boat he was fishing on. Point is, call your insurance company.

Thank you all for the info and comments much appreciated

[lost a lure]

5 hours ago, GAMBLER said:

If you leave the dock and are at risk of running out of fuel, you shouldn't operate a boat on Lake Ontario.  There is ZERO reason to leave the dock with very little fuel in your tank.  Fuel issues other than running out can happen.  Running out should never happen!

Ran low in starboard tank that showed 3/4 full. Port was almost full. So 150 gallons of gas total and I "ran out". Had both tanks open and it was drawing from starboard tank only. Ended up drawing air from starboard tank and couldn't get engine primed on port tank. Ended up starboard sending unit was way off. 

[GAMBLER]

35 minutes ago, lost a lure said:

Ran low in starboard tank that showed 3/4 full. Port was almost full. So 150 gallons of gas total and I "ran out". Had both tanks open and it was drawing from starboard tank only. Ended up drawing air from starboard tank and couldn't get engine primed on port tank. Ended up starboard sending unit was way off. 

You still had fuel.  Thats not running out.  Thats a mechanical failure.  

[Pair of Jacks]

I have been a member of BostUS and all my boats are insured by BoatUS via GIECO since I bought my first boat 45 years ago and I now own 3 boats.  I get the unlimited towing from BoatUS Tow.  I consider myself a fairly good sailer/boater and marine mechanic and would not go boating without the tow insurance.  I had to use it once when I filled up at a marina that had water contaminated gas.  We were 8 miles from the dock in my 1995 21’ SeaRay when the engine fouled out.  I had 2 non-nautical guests on board…fortunately the weather was good and TowBoatUS was responsive and a great service.  They had four other toes that same day…all of us had filled up at the same marina😫😫😫.   I would be without it.

Edited April 21 by Pair of Jacks

[13owhunter]

I can see someone running out of fuel due to a faulty gas gauge.  My gas gauge is pretty sketchy. It tells me weather Im full or not full.  In between that it kinda works if I slosh fuel around but i do not trust it at all.   While I agree you shouldnt be out on the lake not knowing your fuel level, its a mistake many smart people have made.  (for the record I have not)  =0)

[landingzone]

For what it's worth, I just talked to TowBoat/US Rochester and they have a boat in Sodus Point this year.