Excuses not to tow someone?
 

On a busy lake, I bet you I have towed in more people this year than anyone has in the last ten!! I towed in at least 10 in the month of October. (theres proof that always being at the lake isnt always fun) But now Im starting to get a bit weary, insurance dosent cover anything when towing, the people I tow do not understand that. Does anyone have any excuses not to tow someone?

Tommy

Tell him you`ll do it this week and do not do it...

It`s been done to me ....

At your age, just tell them youur parents won't let you.

I've towed many.
Been towed a few times, too.

What goes around comes around...

Ya gotta help if ya can. If not, the only boaters that won't pass ya buy will be canvas boaters!

Ya Just tell them Mommy and Daddy said NO:D

I always tow a stranded boat. Even though I have Sea Tow, it is usually a long waite for them to get to you. So, it is more convenient to have someone close by if possible. People will always offer money, which, I decline. I also offer money if I need a tow.

Here is the only time I did not offer $$. One day I ran out a little to warm up before meeting a buddy. Since I wasn't going far, I didn't check my fuel guage. I'm sure now you have guessed what happened. When I called Sea Tow they were doing a tow and would be about 1.5 hours. Since I was just around the corner from my marina, I flagged down a pontoon boat. It turned out to be a rental with tourists looking for Manatees After they agreed to tow me the short distance, the lady b1tched the whole way. As soon as we got back, and before I had a chance to reach into my wallet, the b1tch asked for a tip. I quickly responded with: "Sure, here's a tip. Sometimes there are Manatees by the spring around this corner."

tell them you have explosive diareah and really must get to the bowl ASAP.

Actually, according to Maratime Law, you are required to render assistance to a vessel in trouble. Now weither you actually tow the vessel is up to you, you can call for a tow on the VHF or cell phone or flag down another vessel to assist, but you are required to assist. If someone happened to expire on the boat that you failed to assist, you could be held accountable. On the lake that I boat on, I usually see if they have already called for a tow, before I offer my personal assistance (my boat). I will wait with the strandend boat until assistance arrives, if they have already called for help. If not, I will try and do what I can to get them going again. I have done this many times on the lake at night waiting for TowBoat/US to show up. It's only common courtesey, who knows when I might need a tow or assistance.
Robert

Puder.....looks like you are beginning to catch on......:D :D

I turned a guy down this year, felt really bad about it. My blower went out about 1/2 hour earlier and I did not feel too good about towing him about 2 miles with no blower and a rich, lumpity motor. I felt pretty bad, so I stayed with him until we found someone to help him. Usually, I tow no matter what.

Hyper, just tell them you will tow them to "eroticville". That oughtta end that converstion........

eroticville...
is that anywhere near funkytown??

mcollinstn
No, that's near a town on the lake, Cumming. Better known as "Orgasm City" :p

Robert

I USED to tow anyone that needed help because I knew how it felt until last spring. I offered to tow a bass boat that was in a tournament down at LOTO. It was late in the afternoon and half way through the tow the guy asked if I could speed it up because he had a big fish that needed to be weighed before the deadline otherwise it would be disqualified. I looked at my wife and said "did I hear what I think he said?" She said yes, so I stopped the boat, unhooked the line and took off. I was furious at the nerve of these people. Unbelievable!!!!

I dunno.......ask Hyper, he hangs out there with Tank's old lady........:D ;)

Ya got to help them out in my opinion.

Once on my way in there were a bunch of Kyakers paddeling into land and there was a HUGE storm comming. I pulled up next to them and offered to get them in. They were after all going BACKWARDS. They said thanks but no thanks (to proud to get into my stink pot :D) So I informed them of the storm coming and that I have noticed them to be going backwards. They relented and I said ok hop on and we will toss them under the deck and then we can plane off. They wanted me to tow them in. I said ok as I did not want to read about them in the paper the next day and opened up my exhaust :D Thanksfully JUST as I got the boat on the trailer and put away the sky opened up so I JUST made it.

Jon

I will tow anyone that needs it even if they called for the tow...then pass them off to the tow boat if it shows up.

i've been towed many times myself with my previous boats. The best was when i overheated about a 1/2 mile away from the cove, and didn't want to risk burning anything up.....a bayliner stopped and towed me into the cove. While he was towing me he turns around and says "i bet you never thought you would be towed by a bayliner". Damn was i pissed. The worst part was he towed me right into the cove and left me where my friends were all rafted up. i never heard the end of it. :) :D

I will always offer to help.
I broke the drive on my previous boat, and called for a tow from Towboats US, but it was going to be 3 hours. After about an hour the sky started looking dark (it was 2pm!!!) and we started flagging down boats that were passing by. I heard 3 excuses before someone helped. This guy and his wife in a real nice Formula towed me about half way to the nearest ramp when a small Fire & Rescue boat stopped. They took over towing with my 3 passengers in my boat while the Formula took me to the ramp where my truck and trailer was. One of the passengers was my 7 year old daughter and she was getting pretty scared because we could hear thunder by now. When we got to dock where my truck was, I opened my wallet, and was ready to give this guy all I had ($210) and he would not take any money. He said "I don't want any money, but if you ever see a boat that needs help, be sure and help them out". "It may be me". I pleaded for him to take some for gas, and he still refused. Anyway, I was only about 15 miles from my boat and started heading that way. About half way there, mother nature let loose. Pretty good storm. Knocked a few trees down, one of which was blocking a 2 lane highway. Luckily I was the fourth vehicle to get there and was able to go around the other 3 and drive over the tree with only a few scatches to buff out. When I got to the ramp, the rain had stopped, and there was my boat tied to the dock with the bilge pump just pumping away. In the nick of time, my passengers found shelter in hut for Pepsi machines and did not have time to cover the boat. I opened the engine cover and it looked like 10 gallons of rain had made it into my boat. :D

Tonto is exactly right, according to maritime law, you are required to assist a vessel in need of help, besides, it's just common courtesy. There are strong tides and currents where I boat and a vessel in distress can quickly be swept to our rocky shore. The water is also no place to be stranded, it's not like your car just broke down and your brother can just come get you, people can get in real trouble on the water, especially if it's big water and weather decides to move in. I've towed boats in and I'll refuse a tip because I might be in the same situation someday.

Keep towing them Hyper....It is the "right" thing to do....

Remember......Someday it WILL be you !!!!!

Couldn't have been said any better!

Tell them you have a solid roller cam that can't idle for extended time. In my case its the truth.... I never mind short distances, but can't do the 2 mile+ thing. I always try to help them flag someone down though.

Have towed many and have been towed a few times.

I agree..."It's the right thing to do"

What goes around comes around.

Towed and been towed
 

Hyperbaja, I have to agree with some of the other members here. I have been towed a couple of times and have never passed a boat in need without stopping to offer a tow. The only thing that I have never thought about, is that if something happens to them or their boat while you are towing them , I assume they could and probably would sue you. This is a sue crazy world. But , I guess I'll take my chances .

I will always offer assistance....as said" what comes around goes around".....the last itme I towed someone was while breaking in my new engine last fall....not too good for a break in ..but the right thing to do ...I'm just glad they were not far from the ramp...

Good excuse not to tow, when the idiot flags you down and when you get up to him he is out of gas and drunk. Had that experience once, why should the idiot take up my time on the lake, so I towed him out in the open so he could either get out and walk it the mile to his destination in three feet of water or flag someone else down.

Did tow someone into a canal and he told me it was deep, sucked up the bottom and burned up my water pump, he thanked me for the tow. So I am very careful in how I help people.

Hyper,

You can't get farther than a mile from ramp on the lake you are on and I bet most of them stranded are out of gas.


I have towed and I have been towed, but the after the last time I was towed in 22 miles, I started carrying extra studs and during the following winter, I bought a boat with twins.

I have towed and been towed before.

Last year I bought a Formula with twins, never thought I would need a tow. After the first 3 hours running the boat, my steering broke at the helm joint and a bayliner towed me 1/2 mile to the ramp. I tried to offer him money, but he wouldn't take it. As he pulled away, I threw it in his cockpit and thanked him.

I never ask for money to tow anyone, but if they offer enough for gas, I'll take it. I believe we need to help anyone that needs it.

Toolman;)

Has happened twice :) once out of gas, then next, a burnt up belt. I know it is the right thing to do, but when Im towing someone who has no idea what their doing, telling me what Im doing is wrong, then the depth alarm is going off, saying less than 3 feet....

jdnca1.... got some info on a solid roller cam? :D

Have you ever been stuck on the open water? I have....If you have, you will NEVER leave someone out there!!!! If you chose to leave someone out then you deserve the same.....

I have towed, many a boats and Seadoos. Most are always very nice and offer money. I accepted gas money once only because it was a very long tow, and I was out of gas:D .

As for reason not to tow???, only reason is if I was in unfamiliar water and didn't want to drive back at night?

Will:cool:

Tonto's got it right!;)

Had a friend brake down in the middle of the river miles from a ramp int he middle of week. A boat came by and stoped to help them out said they would pull them to the ramp where ther truck was 20 miles not the closest ramp 10 miles. they where in a 19 foot open bow sea ray. The guy threw them a rope and my friend just looped it on the front cleat and sat back with a drink and long tow. When the guy got the rope tight then kept throttling and throtting till the front cleat riped out of the boat and stuck the guy in the back.The guy then went to his knees and then one of his crew had to remove it. He said he felt week but didnot want to leave them. They told he to just go they would be fine.

Sounds like if we get stranded, our best bet is to look for a passing Bayliner! :)

Now that's what I call dedication!!!!!!:D :D

I would have yelled over to him....."ah you pu$$y....get back in that seat and drive, nothing but a little cleat in the back, happens all the time.....".......!!!!:D :D :D