A key thing to consider is if there ie even a towing service operating from your port.

 

Yup, been on a boat that grounded on a sand bar and it turns out that tow insurance doesn't do jack if there is no one there that tows.

 

There is mileage limit on boat policies too. Beyond 75 miles offshore and my insurance will not cover any instance.

 

And need to read the fine print if it's "75 miles offshore" as the crow flies from shore or from port or towing distance.

 

CG is free.

 

I've been towed in and towed others in but never seen CG come out past the bar just to tow anyone. But you're there and would know better.

 

I don't know of any tow service on the central coast. There might be, but don't know of one or even heard about one. Best bet is to holler at CG and have them put out a call for a Good Samaritan. If I'm out, I'd tow ya. Carry a bridle and line just for that reason.

 

I too created a bridle in anticipation of having to tow someone else or supply a bridle to another boater willing to tow me back into port. Thankfully I haven’t had to use it (yet), but always want to be prepared. When I restored my boat four years ago, I beefed up my bow eye to 3/4” and created an aluminum backing plate on the inside of my boat that runs through a wooden backing block that has been glassed in and sealed up with 3M 5200. My big fear was that the bow eye would pull through the hull on a long tow home in rough seas. Hopefully Blackjack never has to be towed, but I’m prepared if/when it happens! 😬

 

The CG isn't a tow service. If there is an immediate urgent safety concern they will come and get ya.They dont do towing as a convenience to you. As DGB said they will send out a CH 16 call for a Good Samaritan in the area to help out, hence you might be floating around for awhile before you get help from someone that may or may not be CG. You dont want "ran out of fuel" if the CG tows you in.

 

The last guy I towed in was dead in the water a couple miles south of Newport's south jetty. He had been on the radio for about an hour or more while I was off the Lighthouse fishing in the late afternoon. Figured someone closer could help out. As the sun was setting and it was getting dark the stranded boat was still pleading for help. I don't leave people behind so ran down, hooked him up and towed him to the buoy just outside the bar. CG came out and finished the tow, but they wouldn't go get him down the beach - as he was drifting to the beach well inside the inner reef.

 

Is it not a duty of the captain to sink his vessel helping out a victim?

 

Not sure the Coast Guard is a good tow insurance plan .

I'm usually running out of Columbia bar as far as the corners (+/- 43NM).

I'm curious what that tow charge would be in a worst case scenario?

 

Any Salty Dawg should be able to tow you in. It is never convenient, but necessary. It will eventually happen to all of us if you keep going. Only problem is we just don't know why or when.

I stay prepared and have a tow-bridle now. Can have it ready to go in about 2 minutes.

We just have to stay in contact with each other and help each other. Really it is our only option.........

 

Jeff is there any configuration that works better than another for towing?

What length of rope?
Size of rope?

Just thinking it would be neat to have a settup that works well that we could all see that would be worth storing if we ever should need it. Either for our selves or to tow another.

Maybe there is something on the net that would show up from a search..

Great reminder-
we are the people that are closest to each other and with out a doubt should drop what we are doing to assist in the aid of another if needed and it's not a safety risk.

We should always stand by if needed by a fellow boater. This should go without saying.

Thanks for bringing this up

 

The Coastie crews may be bored and happy for an offshore run to tow in an disabled boat, but as skipper of said boat you had best be prepared for an extremely thorough inspection. The boat commander who has to come and get you is required to write a full report on the event, including the condition of your boat and any issues they found after inspecting it and any negligence on your part. And they may transmit any issues they find to local law enforcement.

I was fishing halibut in a 17' Arima out at the south end of the Rockpile a few years ago when a big older inboard at the north end came on the radio that it was taking on water from the outdrive boot. A MLB came and towed them in. When we came in and tied up to get our trailer we walked past that rescued boat and its passengers sitting very glumly on the dock with a couple of Coasties, an ODFW fish checker, a Sheriffs Deputy discussing the tickets the deputy was writing.

 

If you need insurance for piece of mind in the ocean I would suggest taking a third look at all the equipment on your vessel.

How fast could a tow reach you 50 miles out?

 

I've towed a boat in and know that he would do the same for me. I will refrain from mentioning names or posting photos (probably). I was happy for the opportunity to return many favors and would do it again in a heart beat. We are a community out there.

 

I didn't think anyone was providing tow services (as a business) anywhere along the OR coast. Am I off on this, I remember years back a few tried but faded out within a year

 

There’s no tow service for the tuna grounds in Westport. Never seen the big red boat leave the dock…

 

I believe it was Jeff that towed someone in this last year. If you are interested Randy there is a big thread about the tow rope and the bridle for towing. Depending on the ocean and distance if I was having trouble I would try and mange with my trolling motor. Nothing like a midnight ride on a great ocean. I'm still not sure how the tow would be on a semi rough ocean, rough and it would be the CG. Slow as you go, don't let the bow of the tow boat get swamped and for sure go slow. Anything else Jeff, Don?

 

I built mine from 3/4" 3-twist nylon and SS hooks. Bridle is something like 25' and clips to my transom eyes on both sides. The main line is attached to the bridle so that it can swing from side to side with a SS hook on the end to connect to the towed boat's bow eye. My tow line is 100' of the same 3/4" nylon rope.

Underway, I tend to run fairly slow. Maybe 5 knots in typical seas but it really depends on sea conditions. The towed boat needs to center their motor or rudder so you're not trying to pull it sideways.

Just remembered another incident but not a tow. Coming into the Newport ramp a 22' ~ 24' boat was try to get to "F" dock down by the end and there was a strong S wind blowing him away and across the water towards the moored boats. He waved us down as we were passing and said he lost power. So, let him ram the moored boats or help? He was about half way across so I got between him and the other boats then nudged him toward "F" until he could get a line attached. It seems like 3 or 4 times a year someone in trouble needs a hand. It only cost me a bit of time and karma pays dividends.

 

This thread reminds me that I have boat insurance through Progressive and they wouldn't let me remove 75 mile offshore tow coverage even though I will never take that boat into the salt because it's just not meant for it.

 

Totally agree - railing is not designed for loads and could very easily be pulled out on a tow. Tie down eyes or cleats only whether towing or being towed.

 

I had to get towed by the Coos Bay CG a couple years back. It was the first trip over the bar in a brand new boat. We shut off both mains and were trolling on the kicker, and could not get the mains restarted due to an idiosyncrasy of the dual digital helms that we couldn't resolve. We notified the CG and continued to run north to just outside of the bar on kicker power. The kicker on that boat was autopilot only, and we notified the CG that we weren't comfortable crossing the bar without an ability to steer. The CG came out and towed us back into slip. They were very nice about the whole thing. Of course, we got a complimentary inspection once we were back at the dock.

 

What!!! You’re obviously joking. The CG didn’t do a cavity search after the tow?
I’ve read here that the CG will ruin your life if they tow you in.
On a 26’ boat there is so many onion layers to pull back.
Got life jackets. Check.
Got throwable. Check
Got flares. Check.
Got fire extinguishers. Check.
Whistle. Check
Honestly. Y’all have zero clue what you’re talking about.

 

So if you are going to tow and have an offshore bracket how do you connect the tow line to your boat? I am thinking taking a turn and having the tow line hit your primary is not going to be a happy or good thing? I towed when I had an I\O but now offshore bracket with outboard I am trying to figure it out.

 

That's why you want a bridle to form a "Y". Motor sits between the two contact points on your transom and avoid tight turns.

I don't like bringing people over the bar and CG will come and fetch them. The time we got towed and got inside, they redid and side tied us gunnel to gunnel to put us against the dock. That was in the tiny harbor of Garibaldi. Imagine the 42 with a 22' footer tied to its side getting set against the dock. That dude was a skilled helmsman.

 

I think Don hit it on the head. Karma. Probably towed a dozen boats in through the years, not on the ocean, just lakes. Needed a tow once and was really glad when someone did. What comes around goes around.
Nobody going to look out for you, we have to look out for each other.

 

i signed up for Sea Tow a couple of years ago because I wanted to advertise there. They flat out admitted they have no services or tow boats in our area. I don't think any of the commercial towing services do.

Towing another boat can be a can of worms

• Liability if a towline snaps and hurts someone
• Liability if anything bad happens to the towed boat
• You don't anything about the captain/crew of the other boat. Are they drunk, high, beligerent, clueless?
• What do you do if the seas get so rough you must stop towing? Do you just cut the guy loose and head home? Do you stay with him all night?
• Do you have enough fuel? Your fuel consumption could be double or triple

There's no easy answer.

 

i signed up for Sea Tow a couple of years ago because I wanted to advertise there. They flat out admitted they have no services or tow boats in our area. I don't think any of the commercial towing services do.

Towing another boat can be a can of worms

• Liability if a towline snaps and hurts someone
• Liability if anything bad happens to the towed boat
• You don't anything about the captain/crew of the other boat. Are they drunk, high, beligerent, clueless?
• What do you do if the seas get so rough you must stop towing? Do you just cut the guy loose and head home? Do you stay with him all night?
• Do you have enough fuel? Your fuel consumption could be double or triple

There's no easy answer.

One of the times towing has been discussed I think you posted a link to a website about towing. Thought I'd saved it but can't find it now. It went over those points and others to consider as well as pointers on how to safely tow another boat. Think it was from USCG or BoatUS. Liability is always a concern whether towing or allowing someone on your boat. If they are injured, you're liable. As far as towing, I tend to weigh risk vs guilty conscience for not helping.

 

So no Good Samaritan protection as you get from offering aid like CPR with first aid training on land?

 

There is as long as reasonable actions were made. I was just reading the reg but closed the link and now can't find it again. But here are a couple links to towing on the water.

https://www.boats.net/blog/boat-towing-guidelines-tips

https://www.boats.com/how-to/towing-on-the-water/

 

Soooo what are you doing that has you concerned? You running drugs and worried when you get basic safety questions asked?
"you have read" ever really experienced a boarding inspection? Do you factually know anyone whose life has been "ruined"? I have been boarded multiple times... and a training boarding on the Hudson River was pretty funny when I had more safety gear than needed.... pretty funny the training officer response.

Just wondering about your paranoia?

 

I would be more curious on the fuel burn on the boat doing the towing! Do we as sport boats have enough fuel? Might take two boats splitting the 50 miles to tow a boat in. Considering same boat and HP.
Also being a smaller boat owner I only have a 90hp so don’t know how I would do pulling a big boat any distance.

 

Excellent point. From experience even the pros utilize assist when needed.
A life experience: Brand new boat and the cutlass bearing went out off of Wellfleet MA in 2001. The wonderful harbor master came and got us just before the beach, but needed fuel assist by the second Harbor Master boat to get us all back. Low tide, put us on a buoy for dinner time until high tide then side tied us into docks. $50 bucks, charge - I was shocked.... Lesson learned is know your fuel level and consumption, and when to call in help.
BTW, Wellfleet harbor master got a nice dinner gift certificate. Remember to show appreciation to those who are there for you.

 

Out of the last 4 or 5 I've handed off to the CG I don't recall any even saying thanks on the radio. The one time I was towed in on my buddy's boat I offered the guy that towed us 40 miles a full tank of fuel. He declined.

 

In my instance, we made a makeshift harness attached to the two rear cleats of the front boat and used our anchor line for the tow rope. It connected to the harness with a bowline knot loop and then to the bow eye of the towed vessel. About 150' of anchor line. The harness placed the tow line about 8 or 10' behind the motor. No problems coming in, no problems across a reasonably decent bar, and no problems pulling up to the docks at South Beach because they were mostly deserted when we got in. The system worked fine until I thought it might work better with the towed boat's motor dropped in the water. That caused the towed boat to fish-tale. Went slow and easy. No issues. Experienced skippers that knew each other on both ends of the tow line helped. Those kind of times are why we should always be a community out there - that and the opportunities for a Kodak moment.