Boat US ????????

It seems silly to have to get a tow in a sailboat. Where I grew up, losing a motor was never an issue. In fact, you sailed whenever you could, up to the mooring or even the dock. I think it depends on your priorities or what gives you peace of mind. I am not a boat owner, and I can understand people wanting the security of being able to fall back on that tow- especially the larger the boat.

I would also point out that it's "services" such as these that break apart some of the generosity rarely found on land that exists on the water. What happened to people offering tows or helping you off that shoal versus assisting until Seatow arrives to charge an arm and a leg?

There are rare places where losing headway will put you and your boat in danger. But how often in your lifetime will that happen and could a towboat even get there fast enough to save you?

If you have sails and a mast you can get by in most situations even without a rudder. Rely on your skills and not your wallet!

NaviGsr said:

It seems silly to have to get a tow in a sailboat. Where I grew up, losing a motor was never an issue. In fact, you sailed whenever you could, up to the mooring or even the dock. I think it depends on your priorities or what gives you peace of mind. I am not a boat owner, and I can understand people wanting the security of being able to fall back on that tow- especially the larger the boat.
I would also point out that it's "services" such as these that break apart some of the generosity rarely found on land that exists on the water. What happened to people offering tows or helping you off that shoal versus assisting until Seatow arrives to charge an arm and a leg?
There are rare places where losing headway will put you and your boat in danger. But how often in your lifetime will that happen and could a towboat even get there fast enough to save you?
If you have sails and a mast you can get by in most situations even without a rudder. Rely on your skills and not your wallet!

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I have to disagree with everything you've said - over 50-years of sailing, we have been in some very bad situations that had nothing you could do with sails or engines would have made an iota of difference. A couple of unfortunate examples - we have been pushed, you might say whoooshed, deep into lonely coastal estuaries and left hopeless aground by large prop wash waves from multi tows in the deep Southern ICW - not their fault or intent, just our problem. About 3 years ago, we ran solidly aground in a woefully mismarked channel off of the Laguana Madre, so solid that almost a foot of bottom paint was showing at high tide - could we have heeled over and kedged out - nope - we were under sail and heeled about 20 degrees when we ran aground - when we came to a screeching halt in the silted up channel, Paloma stood upright with the sails flailing - the water was little more than knee deep. The TowBoatUS boat that rescued us was a converted offshore workboat with twin 800 hp diesels - much less muscle and we would still be there. On the other hand, I have been helped out of minor situations by friendly boaters - down here, I see no decline in the willingness of fellow boaters to help out
There have been many situations were an engine that quits is only a minor inconvenience, but the point is, there are situations when sails and mast aren't the answer and you are the only one out there - no helpful fellow boaters. The answer in those instances? The TowBoatUS unlimited towing package, they have always been there for us in the dilemas that we can't get ourselves out of.

Shortly after we bought our first boat, we were advised by more experience Chesapeake sailors that Towboat US' Unlimited towing should be considered as "cheap insurance". We've paid for it every year since and have used it twice both times due to engine issues. You have to negotiate about a mile of 50' wide 10' deep channel with 2 90 degree turns to get to our slip. No way are you sailing a 36' boat into our marina and I see little point in sailing the first part of the channel only to become grounded or adrift in the tighter confines of the creek.

As to having a good samaritan tow you, I much prefer having a boat designed and built for towing, crewed by someone thats trained and experienced than making do with whatever boat and whatever experience happens by when I need a tow.

The two times I've used my coverage, TowboatUS responded quickly, arrived within 10 minutes of the time they estimated and promptly delivered us to our slip with no damage. We now have a Seatow franchise on our creek so I thought I might change next year, but I've been really happy with the response I've gotten from TUS and I think they have better coverage further from home.