Towing in Baltimore

[windystar]

After months of searching, traveling through several states and dealing with countless not as advertised boats our journey finally began when we ended up in Baltimore, MD to purchase our first live aboard sailboat.

We now realize the engine will take much more time and money to fix and we have yet to purchase our sails making our stay here a few months longer than anticipated. We have no issue with this as we have worked hard through the years to position our careers already and are not afraid of or to proud to work side jobs too. We are determined and focused to get it ready to sail and live our dream of living/working on a boat and someday even make it to the Caribbean.

While we do have income (we have a remote company) it isn't quite where we need it yet or where we can afford over $500 to be towed less than 3 miles?!

The Marina where we are currently located does not allow liveaboards, even though they have been amazingly helpful and have allowed us to get it sea ready as we possibly can while here. We did find a marina around 2.5 miles away that accepts liveaboards while they work though.

Since this is a newly purchased boat with a pre-existing condition (engine) we cannot purchase US Boats or Sea Tow membership to be towed. Each estimate we have received has been from $500-$750.

If anyone knows of a way to be towed via water cheaper or even knows someone in the Baltimore, MD area willing to tow us we would pay everything we possibly can. We aren't looking for free, but just need someone who would be willing to help out. We can pay what we have or even offer services such as web development, tech support, or even manual labor.

Thanks for reading and glad to finally be a part (almost) of the sailing live aboard community. Whatever happens we will see you out there, maybe just a little later than originally thought.

Kind regards to you and yours.

[windystar]

Sorry, forgot to include my email:
Holdingfaith@gmail.com

[donradcliffe]

If you have an inflatable dinghy with an outboard over 5 hp, tie it to the stern quarter of the big boat and do it yourself on a light wind day.

[pickpaul]

How big is the boat?

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[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

If you have an inflatable dinghy with an outboard over 5 hp, tie it to the stern quarter of the big boat and do it yourself on a light wind day.

This is a very viable plan for a 2.5 mile move. After a transmission failure we moved our boat to a marina from a point where we lost productive sailing capability. We tied the dinghy to the quarter and motored to a marina about the same distance. As donradcliffe suggests, pick the light wind day or even take the advantage of some wind with some functional sails (maybe that's not your choice now), but also use the tidal currents up the Patapsco to your advantage.

We expect to be spending most of august and a bit of september in Baltimore (Canton). We are presently in the Rappahannock and poking our way north. 'good luck!

[windystar]

Donradcliffe and Hudson Force, thank you!! That is a great idea! We don't have a dingy yet but could probably spend much less for a good used on one than the prices we've been quoted so far for towing and have a dingy we're going to need anyway.
Thanks so much! We're going to check that route now. Pickpaul, it is a 30 Ft Hunter.

[windystar]

Thanks for the advice. We ended up getting an outboard engine. We had her dropped yesterday and tried it out. Works perfectly now to restore some interior and do a few projects for the next month or so to get her ready to sail south. We couldn't be happier! Hope to meet some fellow cruisers and get involved with the network. If we'd only thought of this years ago

[Lepke]

You don't say what's wrong with the engine. If it's not run in some time, someone here with the same engine should be able to talk you thru getting it started.

[windystar]

Originally Posted by Lepke

You don't say what's wrong with the engine. If it's not run in some time, someone here with the same engine should be able to talk you thru getting it started.

Lepke, sorry I just noticed your reply. The engine would turn but not start. It didn't seem to be getting any compression. Some parts seemed to be missing as well as it sat here for two years. We ended up going an alternate route with an outboard and gave the Yanmar to a fellow Hunter sailboat owner who could use it for spare parts.

[cabo_sailor]

Similar situation. Engine sat too long probably frozen rings. Had boat towed to yard for no charge, few weeks later needed to be towed back to my slip to get engine worked on. Maybe 1.5 miles down river. The quote was $750!!

I finally had a friend with a 4 hp electric tow me home. Not fast picked slack tide but it worked.

IMO the towing business is a racket.

Rich


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