check your membership

[wetdreams]

Just heard the seatow in mobile/dauphin island was thinking about providing service to only members.

[Redweiser]

So ...??
Coast Guard's always there.

[Blue Magic]

You heard right..............you must have been at the fishing club meeting.
The thing I did'nt care for is when he said that they will only go 50 miles out to get you.

Red
The coasties are only going to get you if it's an emergency.

[Redweiser]

Originally Posted by Blue Magic

Red
The coasties are only going to get you if it's an emergency.

If I break down and give out of beer it's an 'EMERGENCY'!!!

[wetdreams]

Blue Magic, did he tell you that if you have to pay someone to bring you in or inside fifty miles that you will get your money back? Did you join? If not what are your options now if you break down beyond fifty?

[Blue Magic]

From what I understood is that he will tow you up to 50 miles or from 50 miles offshore. He also said that their would be extra charges if you did have to be towed from 70 miles. Apparently a captain can only be on duty for 12 hours at a time.
I got my membership in Sarasota Fl and since I have the unlimited, including Bahamas they are supposed to come out and get up to 100 miles. I'm calling Sea Tow direct and finding out if he can do this as a Sea Tow franchise

[wetdreams]

You might want to do that,
I just called Rob and he said that he told you he would go 50 miles south of dauphin island (the limits of his boat and the 12 limits the cg has placed on commercial boats) and get you free of charge. IF you were beyond fifty miles and had to pay someone to bring you in close enough for him to take over the tow that you would be reinbursed upto five thousand dollars every single time that it happened. He assured me NO member has ever been charged for a covered tow.

[bluffman2]

Originally Posted by wetdreams

He assured me NO member has ever been charged for a covered tow.

of course if its a "covered tow" they wouldnt be charged

and you are right, with the unlimited service you can have any company/person tow you inside of the providers boundries and they will reimburse up to 5000 dollars per occurance...
from what im told,its up to the owner/operator as to whether they want to go outside the 50 mile line...however the website says differently..

"per seatow website" Sea Tow has no distance limits. If your local Sea Tow is unable to come get you at long distances, Universal Towing Coverage applies, providing reimbursement of up to $5000 per incident.

• Unlimited free towing, jump starts, fuel drops, prop disentanglements & covered ungroundings
• FREE dock-to-dock tows for your primary vessel
• NO distance or dollar limits in your home area
• Multiple Area Towing* (which gets you home when boating in neighboring Sea Tow areas)
• Universal Towing Coverage* (which includes an unprecedented $5,000 out of all areas coverage policy)
• Navigational assistance, sea condition reports, radio checks, float plans, tidal and community information
• Member-exclusive discounts through our Advantage Network™
• Member-only pricing on insurance, financing and more
• Complimentary subscription to Lifelines, our member magazine
• Invitations to member-only events

[Captnrob]

To start with I'd like to clarify wetdreams initial post; Sea Tow Mobile will still provide assistance to ANY boater in need as long as it doesn't comprimise service to ANY of my members. There is no guaranty that service WILL be provided to NON-seatow members but that's not to say that I won't provide service.

Blue Magic, I was the one who spoke at that meeting with SSA and am always available to talk with boaters in person, love to talk seatow. First I did not say I will only tow someone 50 miles, I said due to the limits of my boats and crew (governed by CG regulations) that I have set my limit to 50 offshore. I also said that I wouldn't leave you stuck out there past fifty miles, and if you had to pay a service (crew boat, etc) that you would be fully reinbursed upto $5,000.00 each time.
Your second part, the part about the 100 miles, I just spoke with the owner of ST Sarasota and at NO time has he or his staff ever said they would come out 100 miles to get anyone - not that it's an impossibilty but he has just never said it.

There are NO TOWING limits to your seatow membership, you are covered, covered reguardless of the distance. There are however limits on OUR seatow boats and the distance we CAN go. Not looking to get into an arguement but just wanted to try and clarify what seems to be a complete misunderstanding. Thank You and I will be glad to answer any question ANYONE may have concerning seatow. Good fishing guys.

[Blue Magic]

Well......I guess that some will say anything to get members.
Thanks for clarifing things up and I hope I never have to see you out there.........