BoatUS vs SeaTow

[Irie308]

Which is the better value. They seem to offer the same services however BoatUS seems to be slightly cheaper with their unlimited towing and on water services. It seems there are more Sea Tow locations in the Northeast however. What do most use ?

 

[bahamabreisus]

Tow Boat, they sponsor a lot of boating rights issues. Sea Tow for profit only.

 

[Boater420]

I've used them both and noticed no difference between the two companies regarding service. They show up, throw you a rope and tow you in, pretty straight forward. However, where I live they're all over the place like sharks waiting for the boats to break, so it might be different where you live if one boat has to cover a large body of water.

 

[Bob & Sue]

We have BoatUS here in the Pacific Northwest they own Vessel Assist which is owned by WM or BoatUS owns WM I can't remember which it is. If you have BoatUS they're contracted with Sea Tow if you need a tow they'll call Sea Tow to get you.
I personally would buy BoatUS for full coverage I've used them twice for a broken shift cable just give them your card & your done no paper work, they also cover you for dead battery jumps, out of fuel ( just pay cost of fuel ).

 

[ShaneOnYou]

I have both!!! Never know whose closer . And it's cheap enough..


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[PMC]

I've always used Sea Tow, and they are very helpful with navigational planning over the phone.

 

[JimT]

Sea Tow locally on LKN is the way to go. I know the owner and he has helped me in many different situations. Sea Tow on the coast pulled me off a mud flat on the ICW inSC last year (first time admitting this publicly). No charge. It comes down to which company has the best coverage in your area. If they can't respond when you need help then the cost differential in meaningless.

 

[fwebster]

Pick the one that has the best presence in the waters where you boat. The cost is a fairly low priority if you have to wait 3-4 hours for help.

 

[SloBurn]

+1 "Pick the one that has the best presence in the waters where you boat. The cost is a fairly low priority if you have to wait

3-4 hours for help."​

I've been broke down with bad T-Storms approaching, luckily some one towed me in before Sea Tow got on site.
But, Sea Tow boats are more common in NJ waters, and that's who I called.

 

[almostenuff]

Pick the one that has the best presence in the waters where you boat. The cost is a fairly low priority if you have to wait 3-4 hours for help.

If you're near a WM, it may be a better value for you to select Boat US
YMMV

 

[h_gerry]

I have had Sea Tow with all 3 of the boats I have owned and have been very pleased with them. I see their boats (multiple) every weekend around here (I have seen BoatUS boats too, I could be mistaken but it seems to me to be just one boat). I have used them several times, even for a pre-arranged tow from home dock to marina (can't remember why) and they have always been on-time, professional and very curtious. One of the boats helped guide me and another CSR member around Moriches when we were not sure which way to go.

Sea Tow does "give-back" too: they provide shuttle service from anchored boats to the marina during the Tobay Beach boat show and run radio check towers for the VHF radio (repeats what you say back to check your transmission).

As as I have no direct experience with BoatUS, I don't want to knock them, but Frank and others are correct, if price is same go with company that has better presence in your cruising area. For my area, that is Sea Tow.

 

[fwebster]

Yesterday, after posting the above comment, we decided to take a run out to the Gulf and watch the sunset. TowBoat/US has one boat here in Panama City. It was on a rack in the mechanics shop at the marina with one lower unit removed. As we idled out to the ship channel, I passed 2 SeaTow boats, idling around. Guess who would make it to a boat in distress the quickest.

Just do your homework for your area, but here the answer would be SeaTow.

 

[Billfletcher]

We only had to make a call once, and it was Boat US – not good. Switched to Sea Tow. The better choice in our area.

 

[ZZ13]

TowBoatUs is slipped just down from my boat. Their boat is always in the water ready to go and are quick to respond. Whatever works for your area.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

My .02 c. I've been a (tow boat us ) member for 8 years with no issues but,,, this year I wanted to move my boat early in the season problem was the bouys where not in place so I called my local tow boat us station and asked if he could guide met across a 1-1/2 mi channel his response a was I get $450 /hour unless I tow you across. This idea came from a sea tow captain at my marina who took me across on the boat so I could track it on the iPad so I bought him lunch... Guess who I'm switching to after 8 years?

 

[Irie308]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Just based on the share numbers In my area I think I'm leaning towards SeaTow however its good to hear everyone's experience.