Chincoteague, VA: Boat Towing Insurance?

[Fishing-Rod]

Chincoteague, VA: Boat Towing Insurance?

I was about to sign up for unlimited boat towing insureance through BoatUS, but I checked their website and they don't have any towing service for the Chincoteague/Wachapregue area. Closest is Ocean City, MD but they don't have unlimited service and Virginia Beach, VA

http://www.boatus.com/towing/guide/

What are my boat towing insurance options (besides a good buddy[wink])?

Thanks, Fishing-Rod[wink]

[hookinfinger]

Have you checked out Sea Tow ??

http://www.seatow.com/

Dennis[smile]

[Fishing-Rod]

Yes, SeaTow list only 3 ports in Maryland and 2 ports in Virginia. BoatUS has many more ports in the Chesapeake Bay... just not off Chinco/Wacha.

Thanks, Fishing-Rod

[TerpHeels]

I have Boat/US. Was told they will come get me regardless of the 25nm radius. Hope they aren't lying to me.... but just in case I carry a paddle.

[johnrogers]

I know a guy that had to get towed that was out of chincoteague but I want to say they towed him back to OC.

[Pat N Mike]

Rod-
Looked into it extensively for Chinco. There is no operation in Chinco that I know of. Unless you call the Coasties an operation.

I think when I got towing insurance, I choose Vessel Assist. If they don't have a towing operation in an area, they will call one for you and pay the bill. It's limited to 50 miles towing for the premium membership and $3,000 cap if another service is used... They have been bought by BoatUS so all this might have changed.

I don't do extra insurance anymore, have saved over $300 in the last two years, we'll see if the gamble pays off.

Plus, I have the kicker and my insurance (Allstate) has $1,000 per incedent coverage. It's enough for me as much as I head out deep.

Patrick

[Lance]

Here's all I know. The guys in OC, tow boat maybe?, said they will come get you no matter how far out you are. A couple years ago we foudna guy dead in the water at the Parking Lot late on a Friday afternoon. We tried to hail towboat or Seatow Ocean City with no results. The Chinc coasties got them by phone and served as relay to us by radio. After finding out that the guy was unisured, the towing company declined the tow, too rough to make the long run was the reason stated, no sh!t. It was slick calm on the ocean. In that instance the Coast Guard came out to get them. To add to the story. The Coast Guard requested that we say with the vessell since they had no power, lights, or comms. In the end we elected to take the tow until the coasties arrived. This all happened about 6:30 in the evening and the coasties wouldn't have got to the lot until about 8:30.

Lance
I don't know if the coasties would come and get you today....

[Pat N Mike]

Lance- If Sea Tow refuses, I'm pretty sure the Coasties HAVE to come. They will monitor the comm. of the Sea tow\Tow Boat guys if they do come to be sure they arrive.

Had a 26' cruiser we happened upon one day some 15 miles out of Chinco. He was dead in the water, no gas ( idiot runs out of gas some 15 miles out has no business being out there ! ). We pulled up and they said the Coasties were on the way. I was surprized they were coming, but I think the captain had told the Coasties that a passenger wasn't "feeling well" and that was enough to get them out to help him. He wanted ice from us, kept braggin about all the tuna he had and no ice... Jack A** !!!!


Patrick
Pat N Mike

[WildeOne]

I had Boat US towing, until I found that my yacht policy for liability and hull insurance also covered towing with no limitations, other than US waters. No distance limits at all and very simple, no weasleword language, either. I called the carrier (AMICA) and asked their underwriter if I would be fully covered for a tow if 60NM offshore, and he said yes. I ran aground in the bay year before last and the policy reimbursed 100% of the tow, which was an outrageous $488 for a fifteen minute deal. There are other options than Boat US and Sea Tow.

Jim

[Fishing-Rod]

Called BoatUS and they told me the operator out of Ocean City, MD would be the primary responder and he has an operating radius of 75 miles and will tow you back to your home port. They couldn't or wouldn't give me a price as they said everything depends upon how busy he is... which sounds like a bunch of crap.

Anyway, the procedure is to call the BoatUS dispach or hail them on Channel 16. If you're too far away the coast guard will relay your radio call. Then BoatUS dispatch will contact the Ocean City operator and find out his response time. If the response time is too long they will then contact a local operator and have them come out and get you. However you will have to pay the local operator yourself and then be reimbursed by BoatUS later. But you must let BoatUS contact them in order to be reimbursed.

Finally, I already have a $400 towing coverage through my insurance company but I will call them tomorrow and find out if they can raise my coverage and how much that would be.

Thanks, Fishing-Rod