***** Sea Tow  higest option allows for payment of up to 1000 dollars

 Admitedly charges could be a great deal more - but at least it's a help

. Cost effectively, the $85.00 > per year for unlimited towing from Boat US or Seatow might work out cheaper. > Many of us are planning US based inter and intra coastal passages with a side > trip to the Bahamas. Those going further or outside the US may want to make > some additional arrangements. ***** Sea Tow higest option allows for payment of up to 1000 dollars for towing charges outside the US . They even cover me when I am operating my friends boat in the UK or European Canals . Got it from the horse's mouth - Capt Joe . Have not had occasion test with a claim yet however - hope I never have to. Admitedly charges could be a great deal more - but at least it's a help .. Boat US does not cover beyond US waters .. All the Best Ken

In a message dated 3/13/01 6:21:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, stonejd@mindspring.com writes: << I tried the outboard in a very moderate chop and swell. The prop spent about as much time out of the water as in and it was a losing battle, good idea but not even close. I wouldn't dare share the price of the tow that resulted. Info might get back to the "admiral". >> Hi All, I'm not sure if all this is worth it. It is entertaining to think of ourselves as 'self-sufficient' but is it cost effective? Who but the most well-heeled and well-traveled amoungst us is really prepared to spend the big bucks for a 'wing engine' with it's separate fuel supply not to mention it's maintenance regimen and spare parts array. Cost effectively, the $85.00 per year for unlimited towing from Boat US or Seatow might work out cheaper. Many of us are planning US based inter and intra coastal passages with a side trip to the Bahamas. Those going further or outside the US may want to make some additional arrangements. I, too, entertained visions of using my O/B on the swim platform or perhaps the dink in a side tow if my engine failed. I agreed this would only be useful in calm conditions. How calm? Very calm. This summer I lost engine power off the Jersey coast due to a broken injector line. It apparently had been broken for some time without our knowledge (hour or so) and the engine and engine room were a mess with diesel fuel and fumes. There were what looked like several gallons of diesel sloshing in the bilge. The sea conditions were slightly 'snotty'. Short choppy little waves like you get a mile or so off shore in 40-50 ft of water. A thunderstorm was bearing down on us. Maybe 5 -7 miles to go to the nearest all weather inlet. Until we broke down, it was a walk in the park. I'd like to say I used my O/B or the dink for a self-rescue, but I didn't. It was just easier and safer to get a tow. I'd already paid the fees; been paying them for years. Now was the time to use them. The Coasties came out to see if we were OK but the water was so unsettled, they broke a piece off the swim platform disembarking. It was icky out there, but not scary. The O/B on the swim platform would not have been useful due to the pitching of the boat. It was going up and down about 5 feet (thats only 2.5 feet of chop). Mounting it would have been very scary. The dink tied along side would have kept the O/B in the water. I feel launching the dink with the O/B mounted in those conditions would have been dangerous. (and we are not talking about bad conditions; just sloppy) To perform a self rescue in these conditions, I would have needed a new injector line or some time to think up a jury rig. At the beginning of the trip, I made the decision not to spend the several hundred dollars for redundant injector lines (each is different, so you must buy a whole set). I already had a thousand dollars of spare parts (which all remain unused). It would have added up to the same price as the tow. Boat US picked up the tab and I was only out the 20 buck tip to the towboat driver. I had the new injector line in my hand the next day, FedEx'd from my supplier. It took 10 minutes to install (at the dock). I didn't even have to bleed the engine. After a serious encounter with "Simple Green" and "Fabreeze", we went out for dinner and continued on our way in the morning. IMHO if you are not a retired movie producer or brain surgeon (no offense intended to Bruce and Dolph), you may be better off investing in towing insurance and spare parts for your main engine. A true wing engine and prop is what is needed for any but flat calm conditions and that is just out of the question for trawlers under 45' and $150,000. In flat calm conditions, give it a try. Just don't hurt yourself and make matters worse. World cruising powerboats under 40 foot are in another class and need unique solutions (Sails?). Any suggestions on spare parts inventories? I know I'll add injector lines before my next trip. Al Johnson 34' Marine Trader "Angelina"

> Boat US does not cover beyond US waters .. > > All the Best > Ken On the web page for Boat US towing it states "no geographic limits" and on another page is the statement "If you break down outside of this TowBoatU.S. service area, or your boat is in an area where there isn't a TowBoatU.S. company, this service offers you up to $1,000 for a tow". This is for the highest option policy. I know, I questioned them a while ago and they said they did cover towing costs in Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. Does anyone have any more information on this and what about Ken's SeaTow policy of coverage even in Europe, does Boat US do similar under the "no geographic limits". Coverage in the Bahamas is of concern for a number of us hopefully this falls under the "no geographic limits". Cheers Al Binnington GB 36 FALKOR Guelph, Ontario

abinning@ovc.uoguelph.ca writes: >I know, I questioned them (Boat U.S.) > a while ago and they said they did cover >towing costs in Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. I haven't seen that in writing anywhere. They have no towing service in Canada that I could find and I dropped my membership because of that. Would love to hear evidence to the contrary. George of Scaramouche, Lake Ontario, Canada

George Geist wrote: > > abinning@ovc.uoguelph.ca writes: > >I know, I questioned them > (Boat U.S.) > > a while ago and they said they did cover > >towing costs in Canadian waters of the Great Lakes. > > I haven't seen that in writing anywhere. They have no towing service > in Canada that I could find and I dropped my membership because of > that. Would love to hear evidence to the contrary. > I contacted Boat US several years ago and asked them what would happen if I need towing assistance in Canada as there are no Boat US towers listed in Cdn. They said at that time I would have to pay for the tow and then Boat US would reimburse up to the policy limit upon submission of my bill. I have never tested this, nor have I contacted them in the last couple of years. Looking at the map of where coverage is on the Great Lakes it is few and far between even on the US side. Cheers Al Binnington GB 36 FALKOR Guelph, Ontario

> Any suggestions on spare parts inventories? I know I'll add injector lines > before my next trip. Al, Two years ago when we bought the boat I bit the bullet and bought the extended cruising kit from American Diesel. I figured at some point I would need these parts anyway since the engine was 30 years old. Since then I have been slowly changing out the old parts with the new parts, and keeping the old parts for emergencies. I'd rather have the new oil cooler on the engine instead of in the drawer. This winter the injectors were serviced and the injector fuel lines will be replaced with new, I will save the old lines just in case. Otherwise, I too will call the towboat! Regards, Andy Andy & Linda Woods Grand Folly 1970 Grand Banks 36 Classic Georgetown, MD. ajwoods@worldnet.att.net