Towboat contract

[Rufus]

Last evening Tow Boat dragged in a fishing boat that had suffered a fuel pump failure on their Chevy V8. The tow had been enroute to the boat’s home port about four hours south of us (at tow speed).

Wave height had been steadily increasing when they ducked into our little town, which happens to have an excellent marina and mechanics. The harbor master suggested the boat owner might have the pump replaced here instead of continuing the tow after Lake Michigan settles down in a couple of days. The Boat Tow captain immediately advised that he had a contract for the entire trip and would not release the boat owner. So the insurance company will be stuck with slip fees for two boats for at least two days plus an unnecessary long distance tow. Moral of the story…be careful about what you sign up for with Boat Tow.

 

[phillippeterson]

That's just pookie.

 

[psneeld]

Not really.

The assistance towing companies in their membership agreement used to and I bet still have the clause of where they tow you to. Back to your home port or first suitable repair facility. If there was no agreement, and often commercial vessels have different agreements or can't get one at all.

Either way....membership agreement or separate contract....

If the fishing captain didn't want to pay for the repair at a closer facility and contracted outside the membership agreement/standing contract to get towed all the way back to his home dock....I get the towing companies position. Especially if they used a different boat and captain than the one normally covering the original area.

These situations are often not as simple as they seem.

 

[tiltrider1]

Remember, the Towboat may have passed on other work on anticipation of a full tow.