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Towboat Companies
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Dane Tessler
Oct 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM10/28/99
to
Looking for recommendations/opinions on the various towboat companies I have
been reading about....Towboat U.S., Seatow...etc.
been reading about....Towboat U.S., Seatow...etc.
Thanks in advance
--
Dane Tessler
Treasure Island, Florida
http://home.att.net/~dane714/cruise.htm
JGarner
Oct 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM10/28/99
to
In my meager experience with these companies, I have come to the
opinion that they generally are very predatory. They are not like land
based car towing companies at all, or depending on your opinion of
those, at least they are much worse. I think it's because of the
existing marine salvage laws which are so biased towards the salvor.
This is key, I think. You need to consider them as salvage companies,
not towing companies, for indeed, this is what they are.
Ironically, I think the best defense against these salvage companies
is to buy "insurance" from one of them. But if the assistance you
require doesn't fall into the criteria covered, you may end up in a
salvage situation and end up paying a lot of money anyway. They could
take you to court and charge you a significant fraction of the value of
your boat, like 25%-50%.
As to preference, in my own experience, I had bad dealings with
SEATOW in the FL keys a couple of years ago, so promptly went out and
purchased insurance with TOWBOAT U.S. and have kept with them ever
since. I have not needed this insurance since (go figure), but my
general business dealings with them have been positive. They messed up
once on my insurance, and long story short, I basically ended up getting
almost a free year of $350/incident coverage, and all it took was a
phone call.
I have found SEATOW to be the most predatory of the bunch. (I guess
someone has to be worst) Previous postings on this topic seem to
validate my own findings, though someone's own personal experiences may
differ.
Why would they be worse? My own thoughts are the structure of the
organization make it so. The operators are basically independently
owned, operating under license from SEATOW, and really have nothing to
do with the company. I'm sure some of these are very reputable, but the
chance of getting a "rogue" operator exist, and this is how I consider
the one I delt with.
Finally, if I became aware of a company that could guarantee they
were a towing company only and not a salvage company and that they did
not do salvage, well, I would go with them.
Hope this helps.
opinion that they generally are very predatory. They are not like land
based car towing companies at all, or depending on your opinion of
those, at least they are much worse. I think it's because of the
existing marine salvage laws which are so biased towards the salvor.
This is key, I think. You need to consider them as salvage companies,
not towing companies, for indeed, this is what they are.
Ironically, I think the best defense against these salvage companies
is to buy "insurance" from one of them. But if the assistance you
require doesn't fall into the criteria covered, you may end up in a
salvage situation and end up paying a lot of money anyway. They could
take you to court and charge you a significant fraction of the value of
your boat, like 25%-50%.
As to preference, in my own experience, I had bad dealings with
SEATOW in the FL keys a couple of years ago, so promptly went out and
purchased insurance with TOWBOAT U.S. and have kept with them ever
since. I have not needed this insurance since (go figure), but my
general business dealings with them have been positive. They messed up
once on my insurance, and long story short, I basically ended up getting
almost a free year of $350/incident coverage, and all it took was a
phone call.
I have found SEATOW to be the most predatory of the bunch. (I guess
someone has to be worst) Previous postings on this topic seem to
validate my own findings, though someone's own personal experiences may
differ.
Why would they be worse? My own thoughts are the structure of the
organization make it so. The operators are basically independently
owned, operating under license from SEATOW, and really have nothing to
do with the company. I'm sure some of these are very reputable, but the
chance of getting a "rogue" operator exist, and this is how I consider
the one I delt with.
Finally, if I became aware of a company that could guarantee they
were a towing company only and not a salvage company and that they did
not do salvage, well, I would go with them.
Hope this helps.
Jpwvoymar
Oct 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM10/28/99
to
Depends where you are . I was a Captain for Tow Boat US and Vessel Assist here
in Southern California. If you are on the west coast, definitely go with Vessel
Assist. Apparently, TowBoat US is the biggy on the other coast. I never had a
complaint from a Vessel Assist member when I towed them back in. They all said
it was the best $79 they spent. Cap'n Jon
in Southern California. If you are on the west coast, definitely go with Vessel
Assist. Apparently, TowBoat US is the biggy on the other coast. I never had a
complaint from a Vessel Assist member when I towed them back in. They all said
it was the best $79 they spent. Cap'n Jon
Keith
Oct 29, 1999, 3:00:00 AM10/29/99
to
I think most of them are all modern day pirates, based on what we've
seen here in the Clear Lake Area. There are big complaints about all the
majors (named earlier). A friend of mine had his boat sink after
striking a submerged object. His insurance told him NOT to use one of
theses guys, so he called one of the others. They came out, totally
inept, almost no equipment. Two sets of scuba, neither of which worked,
so they had to go to a repair shop to get them fixed. Then had to go
find some empty barrels to use as floats. No air bags, etc. etc. etc. It
was about 14 hours before they actually started doing anything except
looking at the boat and running around. Found out later that one of
their "side trips" was to go file salvage papers for the vessel! Ended
up presenting the insurance company a bill for something like $20,000
for 20 hours of "hazardous duty".
seen here in the Clear Lake Area. There are big complaints about all the
majors (named earlier). A friend of mine had his boat sink after
striking a submerged object. His insurance told him NOT to use one of
theses guys, so he called one of the others. They came out, totally
inept, almost no equipment. Two sets of scuba, neither of which worked,
so they had to go to a repair shop to get them fixed. Then had to go
find some empty barrels to use as floats. No air bags, etc. etc. etc. It
was about 14 hours before they actually started doing anything except
looking at the boat and running around. Found out later that one of
their "side trips" was to go file salvage papers for the vessel! Ended
up presenting the insurance company a bill for something like $20,000
for 20 hours of "hazardous duty".
I guess what we all learned from watching this, was to have a plan for
what you're going to do in that event. The adrenaline that's rushing
after watching your boat sink leaves you in no frame of mind to make a
good decision on how to deal with that at the time. Oh yea, and DON'T
leave your boat unattended no matter what, unless you want one of those
guys to own it under the salvage laws.
Jonathan W.
Oct 29, 1999, 3:00:00 AM10/29/99
to
Dane Tessler wrote:
>
> Looking for recommendations/opinions on the various towboat companies I have
> been reading about....Towboat U.S., Seatow...etc.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> --
> Dane Tessler
> Treasure Island, Florida
> http://home.att.net/~dane714/cruise.htm
>
> Looking for recommendations/opinions on the various towboat companies I have
> been reading about....Towboat U.S., Seatow...etc.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> --
> Dane Tessler
> Treasure Island, Florida
> http://home.att.net/~dane714/cruise.htm
I have had an experience with Towboat US, they towed me from the
Verrazano Narrows Bridge, up the East River, thru Hellgate, against the
tide, to a marina in City Island (after ascertaining I carried the
unlimited coverage option :) Without a doubt the best 85.00 for
insurance I ever spent
Jonathan
Hal
Nov 6, 1999, 3:00:00 AM11/6/99
to
I too just had a good experience with Towboat US and thanks to
unlimited coverage I saved about $500
unlimited coverage I saved about $500
On Fri, 29 Oct 1999 21:31:46 -0400, "Jonathan W." <jons...@tiac.net>
wrote:
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