There is a lot of safety and backup gear that I won’t leave the dock without – fire extinguishers, all the spare rope I can jam in the lazzarette, emergency rum, etc. Above all (o.k. not the rum) is my BoatUS towing membership card. I’m not pimping for BoatUS here. I have it for peace of mind and because I’m a cheapskate. A tow without insurance costs something like $75/hour. Currently I pay just over a hundred bucks a year to know that anytime I’m on the water in my boat, or even someone else’s, I can get FREE help. If you break that down per month, it costs about the same as a drive-through supersized #4 meal.
You’re heading out of the marina, cooler stocked with beer, rum and ice, music playing, nice breeze and then the motor hiccups. Maybe you should turn back? Is the day going to be ruined? Let’s go for it – what could happen, we have sails right? I have always believed that if I could get the boat out, I could bring her in – on my own. About 12 years ago a bad run-in with a sandbar left us motorless and with a bent rudder on our old Morgan 24. Somehow we managed to sail her all the way back up the Anclote river and into (or close enough – that’s what boat hooks are for) the slip. We were indestructible after surviving that experience - a pox on your towing insurance.
Ski-Tow
The happy little ironic part is that later, while moving that same boat to Port Charlotte, sailing a mile off of Clearwater Beach the rudder fell off. The heating of the rudder stock to bend it back after the sandbar experience caused the stainless to lose it’s anti-corrosive properties. Shaft rusted through. Nothing worse than having the tiller go completely loose, turn around and see your rudder sinking. This was, very unexpected.
My buddy and I had planned for every contingency on this two day trip – even had two porta-potties. I’d never been confronted with a no-steering issue before. Luckily the little 8hp outboard could be turned with a some effort and it got us back to the Clearwater Pass bell marker. I didn’t have the guts to take her through the turbulent water under the big Sand Key bridge – the boat steered like a drunken sailor. I’ll take risks with my own boat, but I didn’t want to plow into somebody else. We needed a tow.
Three hundred and sixty-five dollars and two miles later our crippled Morgan 24 was tied up in the nearest marina. This was $365 in 1995 money too – what is that, like four grand today? Sure as hell seemed like it. Plus, I still had to buy a new rudder! Lesson learned.
About a month or so ago, while taking my Grandfather for a sail, we ran aground. THAT’S a helpless feeling. TowBoatUS was called, but Mariola came off with the help of some waves that passed through. Fourtunate, but I’ll put my faith in the towing service over the random wave.
The point is, if you don’t have it, do it now. It’s too late once you’re stuck. You’re at the mercy of the towing company then. I suggest that if you have a boat, use it more than once a year and perform the standard amount of maintenance on the movin’ parts - avoid going out for a nice dinner just one time and spend the money on towing insurance.
Side-note: Quite a few times there’s been mention if a private boater offers you a tow, always ask if it’s a tow or a salvage. Even get something in writing if possible. Apparently big legal problems can develop from a person claiming they “salvaged” your boat.
