Insurance companies have been doing this for years.
There were growing pains back when I was towing, hopefully all involved are happy now.
Not really too good to be true...the insurance company doesn't tow so you are still at the mercy of the guys actually on the water. They are just covering the $179 or so bucks instead of you buying the tow insurance directly....is it buried in your premium? Of course somehow, someway.
Sounds like the "KY Option".Yes, $30 a year. I didn't ask about it when reviewing the policy or reading my declaration page. "Sign and Glide = $30." Based on the creepy name, I probably didn't want to know.
Got to remember that Boat US was bought out by GEICO in 2012, and they are starting to act more like an insurance company every day. Of course that is what they were in the first place, selling towing insurance and laying off their boat insurance to other companies-like progressive. The result of the new arrangement is towers having fewer boats available than in the Towboat US days. I don't know why(maybe a change in local tow operators) but there are definitely fewer towboats available in our area (Great Lakes). Possibly other factors are in play but Towboat US is not as effective as pre GEICO. I grabbed the sign & glide, for an extra $30 it is a steal. Maybe Progressive is planning some new approach, a new wholly owned towing service?
Sounds like the "KY Option".
Wifey B: Thinking "Slip and Slide?"
Sounds like a horrible idea to me, but then so does Progressive.
Curious what is so horrible about Progressive or this towing poilcy.
So I have Seatow, BoatUS, and my Chubb policy includes towing. Why 3 you might ask. First, I like to support the local guy with Seatow and also want the BoatUS guys to stay in business. But most importantly, if it's a simple tow where there wouldn't be an insurance claim from damaging my boat, I'd rather the insurance company (Chubb) not know about it. Considering the price of fuel these days, the cost of Seatow and BoatUS towing is a rounding error.
Ted
So I have Seatow, BoatUS, and my Chubb policy includes towing. Why 3 you might ask. First, I like to support the local guy with Seatow and also want the BoatUS guys to stay in business. But most importantly, if it's a simple tow where there wouldn't be an insurance claim from damaging my boat, I'd rather the insurance company (Chubb) not know about it. Considering the price of fuel these days, the cost of Seatow and BoatUS towing is a rounding error.
Ted
Wifey B: Progressive has clauses in their policies that I wouldn't want and also practices in handling of claims. I just wouldn't choose them as a marine insurer. Pau Hana has addressed the issue mildly here before. If you've read the entire policy and are happy, great. Hubby is going to elaborate.
Hubby B: Typical progressive policy, inadequate pollution coverage, not up to federal standards, depreciation/deductible factor on both full losses and partial, very limited salvage, very low medical and personal effects coverage, very low limits on older boats.
My limited experience is that they charge less because they provide less.
Thanks B's. Like most things, you get what you pay for. I didn't do in-depth research and certainly did not read the entire policy, but they were reasonably priced and checked the boxes. Didn't even need to see a survey or a boating resume, maybe because my boat was fairly new and not that big? I know that's not the smartest way to buy insurance, but then again my boat is not worth so much that a total loss would change my life, but it is insured for what I paid for it. I know liability is another issue, but I have what I consider adequate coverage. Also, I did read the sign and glide info and I don't see why that is such a bad thing.
Jeez, maybe it's me, but in a lifetime of boating, I've only required 1 short tow and that was for a new to me sailboat. On the first longer cruise, the fuel pickup filter in the tanks clogged with dog hair. The previous owner was an older woman liveaboard with a dog, and over time I guess hair must have gotten blown into the fuel inlet during fueling. Talking about multiple tow services and supporting the local economy seems like it must be a regular occurence for some. Actually, considering the cost of fuel, a tow may be cheaper than running your engine!
In 4,000+ days at sea (underway), I've been towed three times. Operator error and lack of preventive maintenance aren't the only things that cause a towing necessity. The guys who bought my charter boat, had a valve spring break last fall. The piston hit the hanging valve, broke the connecting rod, and punched a hole through the oil pan. $hit happens. Given enough time underway, the possibility of a tow starts to become probable.
Ted
have read the whole thread
thanks to all posters.
My take
You convinced me to sign up with both providers
Already a BoatUS Gold will do the same with SeaTow
Living in NC with shifting sandbars and unreliable markers, running aground is just part of boating costs.
thanks
I have Sign and Drive through my Progressive marine policy, but have never had to use it. I also keep a TowBoatUs policy because I *have* had to use it before, and it paid out completely and promptly. A few years ago I had to use an independent tow service (actually a dive service) because I was in the middle of nowhere in Louisiana. Thought I had wrapped something around the prop but the divers found nothing. Turns out my trans had seized up, so the divers slowly towed me about 5 miles to the nearest dock with their smallish 20’ boat. I sent the $800 bill in to get reimbursed (not feeling very hopeful) a few days after the tow, and it was promptly paid, no questions asked.
I generally despise buying insurance, but towing insurance I’m happy to pay for. Plus it seems pretty cheap.
I often wonder if tow insurance is sort of a east vs west thing. I don't know many who have it on the west coast. In my 35 years of big boats I have never had tow insurance, is because folks have a lack of mechanical skills, or wont go over the side if a prop is fouled, they plain wont work on their boats, or wont work to get themselves off after a grounding. I'm not attempting to be a smart ass (like I tend to be) but genuinely wish to understand. We plan to do the loop/Caribbean and who knows where in the near future.
In the 35+ years we have experienced all the things that most folks typically us a tow company but have always figured it out and made do without. Never been towed in by anybody.
Hollywood
Yes, we are weenies about going under the boat to clear a prop here on the east coast, we don’t maintain anything worth a damn, and we can’t drive our boats without grounding them every other weekend.
I broke down basically in a Louisiana swamp full of gators, so was a bit reticent about hopping overboard. Y’all have swamps and gators over there?
We also have a thing called the ICW over here, which is a narrow trench that has shallow sides and sandbars everywhere. Come check it out!
[emoji849]
Full disclosure, I *am* attempting to be a smart ass!
No Kidding?
I have always wondered about the towing difference between east and west, It has appeared when we did boat in the east towing boats (both the two big associations and a ton of freelancers) were everywhere.
Out here you rarely see one.
I have never personally been in the water with Gators,
Crocs, seals,whales,sea snakes, every kind of shark, sea lions, cudas but no gaters... are they worse?
HW
No Kidding?
I have always wondered about the towing difference between east and west, It has appeared when we did boat in the east towing boats (both the two big associations and a ton of freelancers) were everywhere.
Out here you rarely see one.
I have never personally been in the water with Gators,
Crocs, seals,whales,sea snakes, every kind of shark, sea lions, cudas but no gaters... are they worse?
HW