Would have to agree. My buddy owns the one here on LKN and he seems like a great guy to deal with.

we just called Sea Tow and inquired about a hypothetical situation such as what happened and the VERY rude representative did state that any boat that is FLIPPED is considered a salvage and then the franchise can ask for payment, regardless if the boat was abandoned or not. We then contacted BOAT US and their contract is about the same also. Makes for a scary situation. We are definitely cancelling our membership with Sea Tow and looking at other options.

I agree that if everything happened as stated this could have been handled better.But Sea-Tow are independent owners the title should read Miami Sea-Tow not the company in general.
I am good friends with John and Eric McLaughlin owners of Sea-Tow Atlantic City and also Marco Island.I have never posted this before and I will not talk about it in detail but Eric McLaughlin was the one who pulled Jennifur Molter and her mom out of the water and it was a while before he was the same again.So if you want to trash Miami Sea -Tow go ahead but remember there are many other franchises that are stand up guys
I would also recommend that every one read marine salvage laws and be real careful towing with dock lines they can and have seriously injured people when they break.And you will not be covered under you insurance

You're right. With "How Sweet it Is", the local (Lauderdale) Sea Tow guy was there and couldn't believe what was happening. He took his truck from the parking lot @ the Bahia Mar because he was afraid what might happen to it. He was as vocal as the rest of us as to how we were being treated. Also, the local police turned their backs (litterely) to what was going on so all they could do (if anything happened) was take a report. Very cool or their part.

Sea Blow

We were wrong Treadwell came out after the accident to see if he could help with the Coast Guard It was Jo and Pepe in the boat that went over

I talked to Joe today and was interesting to hear from him what they went through with the accident that we saw and the tow company another government loophole no politician has the brains or intelligence to fix

OSO Steve was on the scene that day as he was a pace boat and we milled around about 50 yards away with our boat while they tried to sort out the nightmare

what a nightmare for all

Like I said before.. it's a frenchise porblem. So I got my SST 8mm.. ready.
However. Where is maritime law starts? International waters. ?? Coastal??? WHo has jurisdiction "near" shore = offshore?? Water cops?? Coasties?? What about IE Lake Mich.. ?? it's a lake.. maritime laws on the lake and Loto???
I need to hire a freeking lawyer for my nav. to go boating ???
Greed does not go well with me and seems that just way to many Marine companies are and gettiing greedy. my .02 as usual.

Maritime law has not changed for hundreds of years.Example I am pulling up to the ramp with my boat,another guy unhooks his 38 top-gun that he is towing with his S-10(he was not going far and was real careful).Truck and boat slide down ramp.Boat is headed for rock jetty and has a reasonable expectation of being destroyed.I hook the boat with a line and pull it out of harms way.I now can claim salvage rights to that boat.
Would I do that no, but believe it or not that is the law

This whole thread made me check out Sea Tow and their competition and it appears as stated twice already in this thread they (those companies) would ALL do the same (make it a salvage). Check each website and they state the same thing.

The obvious is to check your boat insurance as they are supposed to cover just this. AETNA was forced to do this when they refused.

Secondly, it would seem someone would be complaining to change these, IMO, ridiculous and outdated laws. Maybe contacting your local representatives.? This forum grouping together to get it done? I don't know, clearly I have no law degree or any great understanding of it.

I'm just glad to have had a chance to learn more about it thanks to this thread.

We are and that's why I'm not commenting on this thread.