Tow vs Delivery

[JonVonOrient]

Hello CF,

I believe I might of found my future boat, and unlike previous viewings this one happens to be in my own backyard so to speak.
The boat in question a Ranger One Ton is tied up in Maryland while I am based in Virginia and would like to bring the boat down into the Potomac to be closer to home for the refit.
Here is the problem, I do not know whether to have the boat towed vs delivery. So I am asking what you people would believe the quote would be to have the boat towed vs delivered one state down.

Jon

[JonVonOrient]

Oh yeah I forgot to mention the boat does not have a working motor.

[rslifkin]

With no running engine, I'd plan to have it trucked over land. I'd expect most delivery captains would decline to do an engineless delivery.

[JonVonOrient]

That is exactly what I was thinking too, but I am still trying to get shipping quotes for the boat in regards to towing before I begin calling a trucking service and have it hauled out.

I believe it is small enough rig an outboard to it. But I just wanted to get some insight here as I am sure more than a few people on here have had a similar situation.

[SVHarmonie]

You might find your best option will be to sign up for a premium annual contract with TowBoatUS, or SeaTow. Some of them do include towing a “dead” boat from marina to marina. Just read the fine print really carefully to be sure.

A tow service especially if you are a member, will be your best bet. I would not take a cod delivery job on an engine less boat down the Potomac... not on a bet.

[JonVonOrient]

I have talked to three towing services on the Chesapeake and the prices have ranged from 12 - 5,000.
The representative suggested I get the boat shipped over land however I am unsure of how much that would save me until I begin calling the local moving options.
Either way I would prefer to keep it in the water until it reaches its destination.

[JonVonOrient]

Originally Posted by SVHarmonie

You might find your best option will be to sign up for a premium annual contract with TowBoatUS, or SeaTow. Some of them do include towing a “dead” boat from marina to marina. Just read the fine print really carefully to be sure.

A tow service especially if you are a member, will be your best bet. I would not take a cod delivery job on an engine less boat down the Potomac... not on a bet.

Not even for a Klondike bar?

:P

[Shrew]

Most towing companies consider towing from dock to dock to be much different than being disabled and being towed TO a dock. Here is an example of the verbiage from BoatUS:

https://www.boatus.com/products-and-...vice-agreement

PAID SERVICES include: Payment for towing Member’s disabled boat from the point of breakdown at sea to port of choice at sea battery jumpstarts; delivery of fuel, engine fluids and basic engine parts to avoid a tow, subject to availability; soft ungrounding assistance; towing the disabled boat immediately after breakdown from a restricted use dock to the Member’s home dock or repair facility. A restricted use dock is one from which Member must move immediately, i.e. fuel or restaurant docks and docks without overnight facilities. Thirty days following initiation of, or upgrade to, Unlimited Gold Service Level, Paid Service includes payment of the cost to tow Member’s disabled boat, for the purpose of repairs, from any dock or mooring to the Members port of choice not to exceed a total towing distance of 25 miles. All other Service Levels ($50, $150 and Unlimited) include payment up to 50% of the cost to tow the Member’s disabled boat from a non-restricted use dock or mooring, i.e. home docks or marinas, for the purpose of repairs, thirty days following Membership initiation or upgrade in Service Level. Paid Services apply to any recreational boat owned, borrowed or chartered by the Member and includes 24 Hour Towing Dispatch Service.

Relocating an engineless boat wouldn't seem to meet this criteria. You CAN get a towing service to move the boat, but I wouldn't expect it to be covered under a towing policy and I would expect it to be very pricey.

[JonVonOrient]

I am wondering... If I were to double up on the memberships and get Seatow + BoatUS, would that not cut the expense down to a fourth of the rate?

BoatUS would pay half of the rate, and Seatow half of that remaining amount.

To be honest I am starting to feel like keeping it up there and buying a clunker to do the 100 mile drive to and from the boatyard.

[a64pilot]

I feel certain that buying towing Insurence and expecting to tow a vessel that was disabled prior to the Insurence being purchased is akin to buying a wrecked car, purchasing Insurence and expecting them to pay to have it fixed.

Plus I doubt very seriously that any of them would two you from one State to another. There has to be fine print that amounts to towing you to the nearest repair facility.

[Bill O]

Why not sail the boat back? Is the boat in sailable condition? If you can't make it all the way to your destination slip, then give the tow a call.

[sanibel sailor]

I did a trip from Tampa to Ft Myers, new to me 43 footer with dead engine, +/- similar distance less the commercial traffic potential. Found some crew, got a local powerboater to tow us out of marina to open water for $50, sailed to channel entrance, then launched dinghy with 5HP outboard for a hip tow into the slip. I could have gotten Seatow the last 2 miles, but took pride in self-sufficiency. 24 hr trip, went well. We had everything from reefed in thunderstorm to anchored in calm with adverse current.

[JonVonOrient]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

I did a trip from Tampa to Ft Myers, new to me 43 footer with dead engine, +/- similar distance less the commercial traffic potential. Found some crew, got a local powerboater to tow us out of marina to open water for $50, sailed to channel entrance, then launched dinghy with 5HP outboard for a hip tow into the slip. I could have gotten Seatow the last 2 miles, but took pride in self-sufficiency. 24 hr trip, went well. We had everything from reefed in thunderstorm to anchored in calm with adverse current.

I have a friend with a powerboat that could give me the tow once I make it to the marina closer to my house. And I have seen more than a few power boaters around the marina the boat is located that would provide a tow out of the slip.
But regrettably to say, I do not know how to sail just let. My only boating expirence comes from center consoles and that had been limited to small lakes and the shallower end of the Potomac.

If I can help it, I really do not want to haul it out, dr mast it, and load it on a truck.
I would rather try and gain some expirence with this boat before the enviable refit process.

[JonVonOrient]

I would love to sail the boat down but, I do not know how to sail. Only motor,

If I knew I would sail her to the edge of the Potomac and have a tow or call a friend to help me bring into the new marina for the refit.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by JonVonOrient

That is exactly what I was thinking too, but I am still trying to get shipping quotes for the boat in regards to towing before I begin calling a trucking service and have it hauled out.

I believe it is small enough rig an outboard to it. But I just wanted to get some insight here as I am sure more than a few people on here have had a similar situation.

Typical hauling rates were around $4 a mile for boats that size last time I checked.


Most people would consider the maximum size sailboat that can be moved with an outboard to be somewhere around 28 feet. The difficulties in larger sizes are first, proper bracketing and mounting, and second, the unavailability of suitable higher-horsepower outboards that can be geared and propped for sailboat speeds.


I don't know the specifics of your situation but in general my advice would be to get the engine problems solved where she is today, or close by there. It is unlikely that repairs in VA will be any cheaper than repairs in MD. If there are problems with the rigging or sails that preclude their use you may want to have those addressed also. Once the boat is seaworthy you can move it inexpensively either yourself or with a delivery captain.


Towing and sailing an unfamiliar boat in doubtful condition that distance could be seen as a fun project for a small group of sailors who had another boat at hand to use as an escort and, when necessary, towing vessel. Could be successful with experience and the right attitude.