Boat tow from Dangling Rope

Status
Not open for further replies.
Breakdowns are not much fun nor cheap, unless you are boating with friends. I have towed 2 Sea Rays and 1 Formula back to Wahweap or AP over the past few decades. We boat in a pretty large pack of friends and I'm usually first to throw out a tow rope. With friends on board, music and refreshments, we make the slow cruise down lake into just another beautiful day on Lake Powell. A windy afternoon made for a very tense journey through the Castle Rock Cut as we approached a houseboat towing two runabouts. I think the towed boats got dragged along shore somehat as we passed within a few feet of one another. Ugh.
 
I've been meaning to ask -- What was the reasoning that Executive Services gave for only charging $500 when they quoted $1500 -- Perhaps I'll need that same type of reasoning in the future
 
Richard said:
What was the reasoning that Executive Services gave for only charging $500 when they quoted $1500
Click to expand...

My guess is that it went easier/faster than expected - or they combined the tow with another run they needed to make. I'm sure the original estimate was based on their hourly rate ($250/hr) which would include all the time/effort spent on your behalf.
 
BartsPlace said:
My guess is that it went easier/faster than expected - or they combined the tow with another run they needed to make. I'm sure the original estimate was based on their hourly rate ($250/hr) which would include all the time/effort spent on your behalf.
Click to expand...
The tow only took them two and a half hours (must have been a fast tow boat) so they only charged my brother in law 500.00 instead of the quoted 1500.00. His boat is a 22’ Sea Ray (still pretty heavy). I have a 26’ Sea Ray and it weighs more like 6500lbs loaded so it may be longer to get it down lake. I’m seriously looking into a kicker motor.
 
Robert Harrell said:
The tow only took them two and a half hours (must have been a fast tow boat) so they only charged my brother in law 500.00 instead of the quoted 1500.00. His boat is a 22’ Sea Ray (still pretty heavy). I have a 26’ Sea Ray and it weighs more like 6500lbs loaded so it may be longer to get it down lake. I’m seriously looking into a kicker motor.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info-- less is always better -- when it comes to these types of expenses
 
Kicker motors have saved me. Having one means you can have a cheaper/older main motor. Plus no tow fee. Double bonus. Plus stash it at camp if you are just putting around.
 
The cheapest and best towing insurance is a kicker. I've never owned a boat without one and had to use one three times. A good boat shop will be able to fabricate a good motor mount on almost any boat if there isn't an off the shelf mount available.
 
My old 18' SeaRay had to be towed from DL last summer. After a few hours of asking houseboats off the dock for tow back I called Executive Services... and luckily was only charged $250. Super lucky... small boat, we were able to haul butt. That was the catalyst for getting a new, more reliable boat (engine) and my boat insurance covers towing. I figure the $250 an hour they quote applies for larger, more complicated set-ups and they'll apparently (usually) go lower for the smaller boats. Perhaps it's better to quote high rather than getting there and adding charges.
 
Back in 83 I though about getting tow insurance, never did, so now even if I had a $2,000 tow bill I’m still ahead of the game. But I do spent on preventative maintenance.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top