Considering starting a towing service (sarcasm)

[boatman37]

Well last time out a few weeks ago we had to tow in a jet ski. Today we went out and had to tow in a 340 'Dancer. Wasn't sure how well my 250 would pull it but it was all no wake so it was fine. I don't mind doing it but geeez. Want to spend some time actually boating...lol

 

[Quint4]

I hear ya.....here is a pic from yesterday towing a disabled Yamaha jet boat!

 

[northern]

Insurance question.
If you damage the boat you are pulling are you liable?
If your boat is damage by the boat you are pulling who pays?

 

[Quint4]

Don't know about liability. The boat we towed was a friend who was stranded with a dead battery.

 

[boatman37]

Well it was a good day today. Didn't have to tow anyone today...lol. Almost did though. There was a boater from our dock sitting off to the side with his engine cover up. I slowed as I went past but they didn't motion that they needed help so I went on. A few minutes later they passed us cruising along so not sure what they were doing. We had headed down river and turned around about 1/2 mile or so from the dam and came back. Couldn't see the dam from where we turned around due to a bend in the river. As we were coming back up a river rescue boat flew by heading towards the dam with lights flashing. About 30 minutes later they came back towing a small boat. All speculation here but we never saw that boat so guessing he was dead in the water and heading towards the dam and nobody far enough down to see him in distress. Maybe called 911 because they didn't have a VHF? I always have my VHF on when we are out and there were several other boats out today and I am sure others had their radios on. I strongly urge everyone to at least carry a handheld VHF just for these reasons. I have heard a few people say they don't need a radio cause they have a cell phone??? If river rescue wasn't around (they usually aren't) what would have happened to this boat? Not sure if they had an anchor or not but still scary.

 

[Little Ducky]

You have good Karma.

I've towed once years ago but now that I have the tow boat service on speed dial ... the next time I'll see if everyone is well and then call a tow for them.

 

[Leardriver]

I would think about liability or referring someone to a towing service. It is one of the laws of good behavior on the water. You never leave anybody out there.

 

[trflgrl]

For liability:
1. Check your own insurance policy for language regarding both towing and being towed.
2. Check laws/regulations for the area(s) in which you boat to know whether "Good Samaritan" concepts exist and whether it's reasonable to expect they apply to on water towing.
3. Understand and equip your boat for "best practice" to minimize the risk of injury or damage should you decide to tow someone or have to be towed.

The following excerpt from a boats.com article is helpful; I believe it describes operations in the US only. (Emphasis mine)

TOWING AND THE LAW

If you decide to tow another vessel, you become a "Good Samaritan" in the eyes of the law and are thus protected from liability as long as you "act as any prudent person would". A lot of well-meaning skippers have been sued over that nebulous phrase so, if you have any qualms about your own abilities, don't attempt to tow another boat. Good seamanship will always be a defense but you may find yourself up against an "old salt" in court who will swear you were inept in your actions. In addition, your insurance policy probably has a clause that frees them of liability if you don't exhibit what they consider to be good seamanship.

Don't hesitate to refuse to tow someone if the weather is bad, if you think your boat is too small, or if you're unsure of your abilities. You have a legal (and moral) obligation to save lives, but the saving of property is not your problem. Stand by the disabled vessel until an acceptable tow boat arrives on the scene, but don't jeopardize yourself or your boat by attempting a rescue beyond your abilities.

If you're at the other end of the tow line, bear in mind that the laws of salvage entitle a rescuer to "fair compensation" for his services. In the pleasure boat world, most towing is done out of courtesy, and a thank-you (perhaps in addition to a favorite beverage) is satisfactory payment.

If you find yourself needing a commercial tow, be sure to agree on a price before the towboat leaves the harbor. At the same time, find out how they expect you to pay the bill, since some companies will impound your boat until you pay in cash. Towing services have various ways of charging: some use a flat rate while others charge by the hour. If the charges are hourly, be sure to find out if the meter starts when they leave the dock, or when they actually take you under tow. Don't forget that admiralty law is on the side of the towing company and, if you try to evade the cost, most courts will penalize you heavily.

Towing is simply an exercise in good seamanship. Let's hope you never end up on the towed end of the line.

 

[boatman37]

Unfortunately there is no towing service near us. The river rescue boat just happened to be there either for training or for a separate incident. 99% of the time if a boat needs towed near us it is up to us to help each other.