Re: Boats U.S. or SeaTow
Since they start the meter when they leave their dock, also consider which tow company has a franchisee closest to where you are likely to need them.
As someone suggested, there is no substitute for local experience--I heard horror stories about one of the national companies here locally, completely the opposite experience of those using the other company here or the same company elsewhere. But you need to collect a lot of local stories to get good information; one or two complaints or recommendations are worthless.
for some boaters, the cost of paying a tow in full, although painful at the time, is less than a few years of dues.
Also your boat insurance may pay towing, up to a certain amount, and even if you pay the difference, the difference is less than a few years of dues. For example, I get $500 towing on my insurance, and my most expensive tow for where I boat would be $800, so I am only at risk $300 by not having Boat US/Sea Tow, and after 2 years of not paying $150 dues or needing a tow, I am ahead.
You also have to factor in whether you are likely to get assistance from a friend or "good Samaritan." My friends and I have all agreed to help each other out, but we all live where we boat, and around here, boaters usually help each other out regardless of whether they know them. I do it all the time. I've learned from this forum, though, there are some lake boaters that wouldn't pull you 300 yards back to the dock. Shameful.
The towing companies have already worked out the odds of their cost to tow versus your dues, and the odds are in their favor.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with paying for convenience or piece of mind, as long as you know that you aren't making money on it.
Bottom line: towing service is not a "must have" for every boater, and that "free tow that would have cost $800" was not free. For some boaters, it is far better to have it than not (like the offshore/big boat guys around here).
