www.iFourWinns.com

Well Paul it certainly doesn't make sense to argue with your devotion to being a good samaritan, and if your ok with using your boat in that manner then whoever you tow in should consider themselves lucky.

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Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Good thread for all boaters to read and think about. Better to have put some thought into what you would do in the event of being asked to tow, verses getting asked out of the blue and struggle with tow/not tow and what help you could offer.

I will and have towed, but bliss36 comments are certainly valid and I would only tow if I felt it quite reasonably safe to do so in my opinion. My boat, my crew, my decision.

No one should take the decision lightly to tow. Especially with someone you don't know, IMO. Big difference in towing a friend or acquaintance a mile or so in calm open waters into an open gas dock or dock vs towing someone you don't know in a similar sized or larger boat in rough conditions in crowded channels and congested dock area. No question, I'd definatley lean towards helping call for assistance in the latter.

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Current Boat
- 2001 Four Winns 328 Vista "Hour Decision"
- 2010 310 Mercury Inflatable

Previous Boats
- 30' Doral Prestancia
- 25' Doral Citation

Yes, all good points. I agree "but bliss36 comments are certainly valid". Also, "I would only tow if I felt it quite reasonably safe to do so in my opinion. My boat, my crew, my decision." Yes!

Your only obligation is to render aid to the people on a vessel, not the vessel itself. Otherwise wouldn't an ocean-going freighter have to tow in a sailboat whose passengers the rescued? No, they wouldn't and plenty of them get scuttled because of it. It's about rendering aid to fellow human beings, not their boats.

$85 is BARGAIN! Around here that wouldn't even pay to have them come out to you, let alone hook up and take you anywhere.

Given the stresses put on equipment during towing I'm of the opinion it's best left to someone with gear specifically designed for it and insurance to cover it. Something goes wrong and your insurance company will not look kindly at your decision to undertake activities your policy may specifically prohibit.

I'd certainly take aboard any passengers that might need transport, but I would not tow. Especially not when someone's too eff'ing cheap to spend a mere $85.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Here's the very best solution, can't think why people don't have it. It is not even expensive and its a great peace of mind. It can even cover you while trailering, including the tow vehicle if the boats hooked up.

http://www.boatus.com/Towing/

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[url][/url]

I have been following this discussion, and others in the past, with interest. Over the last 15 years or so I have dragged about half a dozen boats/pwcs back to the dock. I certainly understand the hesitation or refusal to tow. We have always been rather particular with our boats also. I have a question. Does everyone have the same opinion about who should do the towing if you are on the back end of the rope? Would you refuse to tow, but be willing to be towed by another boater? just curious.....

Surface Interval - A scuba diving term for that period of time between dives when you relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

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Surface Interval: A scuba diving term for that time between dives to relax and prepare for life's next great adventure.

Current boat: '02 FW 268 Vista
Previous boat: '95 FW 190 Horizon

Good question!

Yes, this is all good food for thought ahead of time.

I'm sure a lot of owners in the 17-20 foot class are saying "what's the big deal?" Towing is easy in the smaller size boats.

Consider this: an inflatable dingy can tow a 30' vista, or a 30' vista can tow a dingy... But a 30' towing a 30' is where you better know what your doing. It is two large masses tied together and moved about that can easily exceed the strength of the hardware.

I have been towed, and have towed others. I'm sure I will do so again, but always slowly and with caution. But I agree that everyone has the right to refuse to tow (and render assistance to the people if needed, but not the vessel).

_________________

"Knot Easy" 2000 Horizon 240 Volvo 5.7GS /SX
tow: 2017 Honda PILOT EXL-AWD
prev. boats:
'87 Chaparral 198CXL 4.3 OMC Cobra
'69 Jetstar 16ft Ski Boat, 115hp Yamaha
'68 Aluminum Jon Boat, 3hp Sears
'64 Water Wings

I figured that would come up soon, and it's a great question. I would refuse a tow from someone if I had the option of a professional tow. Just as I don't want to risk my boat/crew, I also wouldn't want to chance damaging someone's boat or injuring crew of those trying to help me. Also how do I know if the person offering the tow has any clue what they're doing? That's why I write the check to BoatUS every year for tow insurance.

I have towed a boat once and been towed myself for the first time last summer. When we broke down my first phone call was to BoatUS, who had no tow boats in the area(North Channel Canada). I then called the Canadian Coast Guard to have them tow me, but they also had no one in the area. Dead in the water with limited cell and a storm blowing in that was pushing us away from land,we lucked out and a good samaritan that was listening to me talk to the CG offered to help. I had no other options and that gentleman saved the day, and I will be forever grateful for it.

Part of my fear of towing comes from the one time I towed a family in who lost their prop far from shore on Lake Michigan. He just bought the boat earlier that day and had no radio, no life jackets, no flares, no anchor, and no cell reception but made sure to load all 6 kids and 2 dogs It was getting dark and I knew there where no other options for this guy. I towed his 21ft cuddy in with my 190 horizon and it went well until we got into the channel. There is a narrow channel in between the concrete pilings of a bridge that we had to tow through, and as we approached the current caught his boat and pulled him very quickly towards those pillings. He got within a couple inches of hitting but luckily I gave it enough gas to pull him away. Here's a question....if he hit the piling would it have been my fault since I was the steer/tow vessel?

This isn't about if someone is a good samaritan based only if they're willing to tow. Just because someone says they prefer not to tow doesn't mean they don't stop and offer assistance. There is just too much liability involved. From BoatTest.com

Another relevant quote from the same article:
http://www.boattest.com/resources/view_News.aspx?NewsID=4167

Again if someone is in danger I will tow them to safety. If someone is flagging me down I stop without hesitation and offer assistance, but if I need a tow and professional service is available I'll crack a cold one and wait for the pro's to show up. It's just less liability and safer for everyone involved.

_________________
Our Boating Blog: http://ben-dana.blogspot.com/

2005 268 Vista "Sea Pickle II"
1979 AMF Alcort Puffer
Previous:
2003 FW190 Horizon
1973 Startcraft 18ft "Sea Pickle"

Right, and it's one thing to be towing a small boat in un-challenging conditions. But it's indeed a whole other issue when the size of the boat increases or the water isn't glass-smooth. Even with those I'd still limit my assistance to that of the people on-board.

You'd certainly be putting yourself at risk for the liability if you choose to two another vessel. And any damages that might result from the action. Just as if someone who made the mistake of trying to tow someone else's road-going vehicle would be. Good Samaritan protections wouldn't extend to damages, injuries or even deaths that might occur should the towing go wrong. Nor would it with a boat.

Nobody's going to sue you (with any chance of winning) should you offer to move the passengers to safety but leave the boat. But everybody is likely to after you should your towing efforts go wrong.

There's always possible exceptions, and I'm not typically boating in places or during conditions that would present them. So there's always some wiggle room on the decision-making process. But it starts with the premise that I'll offer whatever I can to make sure the people on the distressed boat are moved to safer conditions. The other boat just isn't going to be my initial concern. I'd do what I could to see the boat was made secure but it's still very unlikely I'd tow it. Hell, I'd be more willing to GIVE the $85 to the other guy instead.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I agree with Ben,
I would refuse a tow from a non-professional. thats why I pay only $125.00 a year for unlimited towing.

And I only boat in an area that is well covered by tow boats.
it gets pretty dicey in the bay at times and I have seen the tow boats pulling a boat through 5 footers smashing all around during a high tide with a north wind and there is no way I want to be the one towing in that or have a non towboat doing it. I like most of us have seen the waters change in a heartbeat so why take a chance

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Glad to hear you got some assistance. And in that situation it'd be hard to argue against the benefit they offered. I'm certainly not going to pick it apart for all the "what if" potential problems. But at the same time I wouldn't support using it as a justification to tow when other professional solutions are available. Like I posted, I'm not typically out in those waters or conditions to be making the same calls.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I've towed a friend in his 21' shallow running center console, which was no big deal. I loaded all kids in mine, hooked up to stern hooks with a harness with snap rings and tied off to his bow eye. Water was calm too.

Now two weeks ago I had to motor over to a sinking bass boat. Another boater arrived first and tied off to swamped bass boat, which I would have never done. That boat was way unstable and rolling side to side and about to belly up. They tied off to cleats and short lined it too. I followed along side to pickup any carnage. I hollered at them to have a knife ready to cut free....we helped bail out boat once near an island. Bad ignition, no working bilge and suspected failed baitwell supply line.

I was ready to take them and salvaged gear aboard, but was ready to decline to tow anywhere.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi