To Join or Not to Join....Tow Boat US that is.....

[Reelax]

If someone tries to get you to join Tow Boat U.S., for a membership fee of 120.00 per yer.......take it........especially if you go offshore.

Case and point:
Launched from Lanark yesterday, went to a "honey hole" between Dog Island East and Florida Gas Transmission Reef. After successfully boating a 38inch 25lb red, went to start the motor to get back on the hot spot. Well it would seem that while chasing Mr. Red an internal gas line in the motor split, thus causing major engine flooding and no engine running. At this point my partner and I begin calling everyone that could possibly be out in Lanark for the day. To our surprise my partners next door neighbor is fishing the docks between the FSU marine lab and the Lanark marina. They agree to come and tow us home as soon as they finished the last three or four docks. So all is good...right.....WRONG. On their way out to get us, their motor cuts out, so now we have two boats dead in the water. Well eventually they were able to get the motor started again, but didn't want to run any further offshore due to the circumstances.

So now we are back to square one. We tried haling two boats in the distance that were heading into the alligator point, panacea area, but no luck. Finally suck it up and call the closest sea tow or tow boat US. Well that location is Carabelle. To make this long story short, it cost just under $500.00 to get towed back to Lanark.

The break down was this $160.00/hr

1hr to reach us from Carabelle
1hr to tow us back to Lanark
1hr to reach home base in Carabelle.

So moral of the story is............If you don't have a brand spanking new motor.....or even if you do.........$120.00 a year for unlimited water towing is worth every penny me and my bank account found out the hard way!!!!

[birddog]

1 hr to get to Carrabelle from Lanark

Yep a membership to 1 of the towing services is smart money spent.

[Capt Reggie]

If you think gas prices are high, try getting the bill when towed in from God knows where - OUCH!!! Don't even think about it - J O I N NOW!

[Jumptrout51]

Call 1-800 BIRDDOG. For a free tow.

[birddog]

And you think their bill was high.

[devans850]

birddog Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 - 7:43 Post subject:

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1 hr to get to Carrabelle from Lanark

Yep a membership to 1 of the towing services is smart money spent.


1 HOUR TOWING TIME,NOT TRAVEL TIME

[Ty one on]

I called 1-800-BIRDDOG, I got a recorded message that said, Your business is very important to us as you are a valued costumer.

Press 1, If you are stranded.
Press 2, If you would like a membership.
Press 3, If you dialed the wrong number.

So, I pressed 1. Message said, I'm sorry but I'm fishing at this time and will not be available to assist you until later this afternoon. Until then honker down and keep your spirits up. And thank you again for using 1-800-BIRDDOG. And then some cheesy music started to play.

[Just Fish]

Your other option is to take a friend that has Tow Boat US. The membership travels with the person.

Also my buddy signed up for the Tow Boat membership the other day and he also got the trailering package etc. (total was $140) They asked him who he wanted to add to his membership for free. He was able to add his brother also (different boat etc.) to the membership. So if you can confirm this with Tow Boat US, you could split it with a friend for $70 a year. Sounds like a good deal to me.

[birddog]

I called 1-800-BIRDDOG, I got a recorded message that said, Your business is very important to us as you are a valued costumer.

Press 1, If you are stranded.
Press 2, If you would like a membership.
Press 3, If you dialed the wrong number.

So, I pressed 1. Message said, I'm sorry but I'm fishing at this time and will not be available to assist you until later this afternoon. Until then honker down and keep your spirits up. And thank you again for using 1-800-BIRDDOG. And then some cheesy music started to play.

What can I say?

[Reel Cowboy]

Call 1-800 BIRDDOG. For a free tow.

Its gonna be awful for him and tow you back at the same time. That is 'til the new cuddy gets here.

[seatrout99]

I have Towboat US. Russell and Amy are good folks.

Ironically, I am going to be helping Joel Singletary (former owner of Keaton Beach Marina) at Sea Tow. He will have Sea Tow boats in Carrabelle and St. Marks very soon. He is already in St. Marks full time.