Tow Boat US refusal to tow members with storm related problems

S

scoflaw

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2011
6,395
cape cod mass, cape coral fl
Boat Info
1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496
Engines
502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1
Long story short. I wanted to get my boat in my driveway to deal with water in the tank. Dispatch wanted to know if it was storm related which I said yes. Big mistake, Oh we don't cover that and it will be a pay tow, someone will be in touch with a price in 48 to 72 hours.

OK, so I say what if I have this resolved and I break down next week? She goes we will refuse that as well until you produce a receipt saying the problem was fixed. WTF?

My next call was to join SEA TOW. So now you know how to answer the storm related question.
 
scoflaw said:
Long story short. I wanted to get my boat in my driveway to deal with water in the tank. Dispatch wanted to know if it was storm related which I said yes. Big mistake, Oh we don't cover that and it will be a pay tow, someone will be in touch with a price in 48 to 72 hours.

OK, so I say what if I have this resolved and I break down next week? She goes we will refuse that as well until you produce a receipt saying the problem was fixed. WTF?

My next call was to join SEA TOW. So now you know how to answer the storm related question.
Click to expand...
Your damage is storm related and is an insurance claim, not a free tow from BoatUS.
 
Any policy I've had included emergency towing up to $500 if memory serves. That being said, not sure if a deductible would be applicable (don't believe so). You may want to refer to your boat insurance policy wording.
 
scoflaw said:
What insurance? So what your saying is just about any tow request is an insurance claim.
Click to expand...
When you say storm related what do you mean? How did water get into the tank? Not sure how that is "storm related." If it is storm related, then, yes it's an insurance claim and they probably get different reimbursement levels.
 
I have no insurance. The boat was submerged. Runs fine now on auxiliary tank.

My point was do not disclose the storm part with your request for a tow.

I said "I don't recall that clause in the agreement." That question didn't get answered.
 
From the BoatUS service agreement. https://www.boatus.com/products-and-services/boat-towing/towing-service-agreement

I'll let the lawyers argue what it means

A. Definitions – When used throughout, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:
1. Covered vessel is a recreational vessel owned by the Member that becomes disabled on the water, or a vessel chartered, rented, leased or borrowed
by the Member that becomes disabled on the water when that vessel’s owner is not present.
2. Incident is an event, or a series of events, arising from the same occurrence that rendered the covered vessel disabled
 
LTD.330 said:
From the BoatUS service agreement. https://www.boatus.com/products-and-services/boat-towing/towing-service-agreement

I'll let the lawyers argue what it means

A. Definitions – When used throughout, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:
1. Covered vessel is a recreational vessel owned by the Member that becomes disabled on the water, or a vessel chartered, rented, leased or borrowed
by the Member that becomes disabled on the water when that vessel’s owner is not present.
2. Incident is an event, or a series of events, arising from the same occurrence that rendered the covered vessel disabled
Click to expand...
It also says this:

Exclusionsto towing benefits:
d. Salvage, including hard groundings, assistance requiring more than one vessel, pumps, divers, airbags or other special equipment, or vessels abandoned, wrecked, beached, on fire, damaged by fire, taking on water, sinking, sunk, previously sunk, in the surf or surf line, or in any other state ofperil.

k. When towing benefits are available from another company or service.
 
Lets just call it what it is. BoatUS is part of Geico. The insurance side knows that this expense can usually be passed of onto another insurer. Hence this goes from being an expense to being a income source. Most insurance companies seek to look for ways to say No before saying yes.

BTW I generally like BoatUS.

-Kevin
 
I work on the claims side of insurance my first 3 years out of college, so this doesn't surprise me.
 
I am a BoatUS member and also have my boat insured with them. My contract provides an extremely liberal towing benefit.

The fine print says that they will tow me up to the policy limits for any problem for an INSURED boat. The exclusion is for salvage, probably because they don't have the required equipment.

I wonder why one would not have insurance? Also, can you be a towboat member without having insurance?
 
I've been a member with both companies, several years with each, insurance question is never asked.
 
Glad to hear the scooter is running again.
How far do you need a tow? Or, can you just run on the aux tank to the ramp?
 
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