break down insurance.

[jgriner]

this is my second season with a boat. I live in kentucky, I only boat on ky lake. ive seen some ppl talk about it on the forums, but its not like im trying to cross the ocean. is thier a need for me to carry break down insurance.

ive never had any problems but a dead battery once, and everyone is always more than happy to help. around here most ppl help every one else out.

seems like a silly question since boatus is pretty cheap, but then again why waste money.

 

[roscoe]

Re: break down insurance.

So you are looking for "stranded boat insurance" ?

Is there even coverage for the lakes you boat on?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: break down insurance.

like everything with boating (except the plug) it depends.

what is "break down insurance"? I assume it means towing or gas, like AAA, furnished by seatow/boat us.

You already have it with your boat insurance. What, no insurance? get it.

small boat, busy waters, daytime summer time use--rely on the kindness of strangers, as Tennessee wiiliams said. and carry jumper cables.

 

[jgriner]

Re: break down insurance.

ill have to check my insurace company to ensure that it comes with it, thanks.....

 

[Beefer]

Re: break down insurance.

I say get it. As to which one, BoatUS or SeaTow, find out which has better coverage for your lake. It's really cheap insurance.

Just to give you an idea, on Monday night, the wife and I went out for a cruise. When we got back, I dropped her off at the dock, and went to pull away so I could loop around and pull into my lift. I was at idle speed, pulling away, and then the motor stalled about 6 feet from the dock. GRR! Well, it seems that when I started up the boat to head home, that was the last time the starter wanted to work. So now I was stranded about 25 yards from home, wind was blowing (storm was moving in), and I was drifting along nicely. Dropped the anchor, and tried to get her going. Nope, not happening. It's now about midnight, no neighbors were up that I could tell, and the house I was anchored at (2 doors from me) is the only house on my canal without a dock or a boat. Decided to call BoatUS, as embarrassing as it was. Guy came out about 35 mins later, towed me the 100 feet, and handed me the invoice that I didn't have to pay - $383.57.

Just one of many thousands of stories out there as to how useful the insurance is to have.

A sidenote - BoatUS covers you, not the boat, so it doesn't matter who's boat you're on, you'll be covered. SeaTow covers the boat, not the policyholder.

 

[jgriner]

Re: break down insurance.

I looked it up and boatUS is in the canal at ky lake, which is across from where i put in at, it seems kinda point less to ask this question since boatUS is 35bucks for inland unlimited towing. just kinda wanted to know if it has some value. But all the comments i have seen, it seems like everyone is real satisfied with their service.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: break down insurance.

+1 on boatus
Been holding off renewal this year till the old girl got a survey, and did that about a week ago. Just time to get a pro to go over her and make sure it's worth the time and money to get her ready. Any-who all is good, she has her problems, but a couple of hundred, not thousand and a good cleaning/polishing/waxing and she's good to go for another 20 years I hope.
The BoatUS discounts over the years has just about covered the price of the membership and we had one tow from 12 miles off shore ($500.00+ no-out-of-pocket) made the insurance a no-brainier for Lake Erie.
Just ask around to make sure who is the best on Ky. Lake, and if some iboaters reading that could and should chime in ?.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: break down insurance.

here's why you have to do the math for your own situation. I agree that $35/year is pretty simple.

The most important aspect is that anyone can use a tow service; non-members pay the towing charge and members don't (because they have already paid it in installments)

Here, seatow is $169 a year. So the guy who got the $380 "free" tow, if he had been a member for 3 years, lost money.

Where I am, my most likely tow will be $800. My insurance pays $500 of it (reimburses me). So my exposure is $300. In the two years since I got my most recent boat, the one that would need the $800 tow, I have saved $340 by NOT being a member, which is my $300 exposure right there.

Now, the guys who go 20 miles offshore around here, or who have large boats, would be smart to have it. If it were $35 I'd have it for convenience/peace of mind if nothing else. But $170 a year is not good logic for me.

The guys who sell towing services agree with my thought process; I've talked to them about it.

Another factor is the availability of help from others. One place I go is so remote, there aren't many others around, and the towing companies don't go there, either. (I've broken down a lot out there, too) Around home, there are tons of boats out to give a short tow; my sister has a boat that can tow mine; I have dozens of friends with boats in the water who I can call, and they can call me (we have an agreement). Heck, Wednesday night at 11 pm I towed in a broken down boat that flagged me down.

I've been taking boats out by myself since I was 14, and in almost 40 years, have never needed a commercial service. And I've had some pretty unreliable boats. I am, however, very glad to have one a phone call away--didn't have that for the first 30 years or so, just a paddle.

So look at it carefully then make a decision, but the tow you might use isn't free.

 

[Beefer]

Re: break down insurance.

You may want to double check the $35. You have to be a 'member' first, then get the towing package, so it may be $24 + $35. Still worth it. There are other benefits that go with a BoatUS membership. Some fuel docks give a discount, you get discounted insurance, and a bunch of other stuff.

And HC, I boat out of the Gulf, and the example I gave was the second time I used it this year (fuel line problem first time, then the starter), and I go 20+ miles out, so no way would I be without it, ever.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: break down insurance.

I would get either Seatow or Boats US, whichever is on your lake. I have never broken down and not been able to get home on my own accord in my life, ever. But, every time I am on the water I see people expecting a free tow. If it is a few hundred yards or a serious or property/life threatening situation then of course I will help but otherwise, an engine that will not start or a dead battery is not an emergency and I will not tow you. Recently, I came across a party barge, they were drunk, trashy looking, tattoos, the "f" word used as an adjective for everything, had a dead battery or something. They flagged me down and just to make sure I stopped to make sure nobody was injured (I have EMT training)and of course, they wanted me to tow them about 10 miles. Nope, I told them sorry, no, which resulted in some more cursing etc. I asked if they had a cell phone since it was obvious there was no vhf. I gave them the phone number and went on my way. I usually have both Seatow and Boats US because we trailer to many different places, both ocean and lake.

Just as a general note, sketchy looking people, drunk, tattooed like bikers, piercings all in their lips and body parts, in dilapidated boats, using curse words substituting for language, I ain't stopping unless I see smoke/fire or the boat actively sinking. I don't deal with that kind of people and do not want to expose my family to them.

JR

 

[sschefer]

Re: break down insurance.

If you go get a membership at West Marine it includes not only rewards points and discounts on items purchased but also Boat US insurance. I also carry boat insurance with Progressive but so far haven't needed either so I can't comment on how good it is accept that I'm not worried. In my minds eye, that's reason enough.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: break down insurance.

Beefer, I agree with your decision to have it, and now that you used it twice in one year you may be ahead!
High'n'dry, I agree with you in that example. I help people who are appreciative and reasonable (or in danger) but I'd stay away from some. I towed 2 guys in one night and once they were on my boat got a little worried myself--but they were in danger, an overloaded dark green boat in winter tidal waters at night, no lights.
i carry jumper cables, which often avoids a tow.

 

[jgriner]

Re: break down insurance.

got to love jumper cables
I think im going to buy it right now, today I had 2 times the starter was acting right, once the spring loaded thingy was lockup against the timeing houseing and it would not spin at all, the other it would pop up and ingage the timing house, both were easy fixes, and probably just the shaft needs cleaning and would have the problem any more, but i cursed myself missing with it both times for not buy the tow insurance