Tow=

Salvage=

I was under the impression that "Tow" was one boat, one line. That is how it is presented in the TBUS Web, and SeaTow also.

Salvage is rescue from imminent peril, requiring the use of multiple boats and other equipment such as de-watering pumps, flotation devices, and any other measure required to "rescue" the boat.

Not necessarily.

Salvage can be claimed for any assistance while in peril. Such as, you are in socked in fog, in a heavy shipping channel, and request assistance from another vessel with radar to guide you into port. They can then claim salvage on your vessel. This does not mean that they take ownership of your vessel. The amount of money awarded for a successful salvage is dependent on the expenditures and efforts of the salvor, but can be up to the total value of the boat and cargo on board. NORMALLY, salvage can only be claimed when the salvor informs the vessel to be salvaged of their intent to follow these rules. Lloyd's Open Form is the most commonly used salvage agreement in commercial shipping and salvage. NO CURE - NO PAY, or if the salvage is not successful in rescuing the ship from peril, the salvor doesnt get paid. Rarely do they give up though, as the more they spend to rescue the vessel, the more money they get.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd%27s_Open_Form
http://www.lloyds.com/The-Market/Too...-Open-Form-LOF

Now as far as what constitutes a tow vs a salvage, I have no idea. In the simplest sense they are one and the same.

This is all I can remember from my Maritime Law class.

Lost a drive on Erie yrs ago from an underwater strike in an area with many reefs. Not taking on wate ror such, just nothing left of drive below cavitation plate. The tow service labeled our bill as a salvage just for the fact he anchored his boat in safer water, got out and walked 50' over to us in the 4' water and handed me the tow rope to tie to my boat, then towed us back to a PIB marina. That was an expensive tow! As luck turned out, by the classification of salvage, my Ins paid 100% of that $1700 bill. Otherwise they would have just paid under $100 towards a regular 'tow' service.

its been a while since i read the sea tow contract but i do remember something about "hard" grounding and "soft" grounding terms and conditions.

soft grounding was defined as a boat being able to removed from its stuck position within 15 minutes and only using one tow boat. i do beleive the harm for which they put there own boat in comes into play too. that it def a gray area.

if it wasnt a soft grounding, then it was a hard grounding. using these terms they then categorize the terms and conditions for which they will charge you. a soft grounding was a free tow and hard grounding was a salvage (huge bill).

the definition between tow and salvage are pretty evident in other scenarios:

if your boat is not grounded and is simply floating and broken...i would assume that is a tow.

if the boat is taking on water/sinking then obviously its a salvage.

cant really think of any other situations...my 0.02 anyways.

Man the way some of you talk if I was to say anchor my boat and jump on another boat for a ride and a tow boat saw it they could claim salvage rights to it and off it would go and I would owe them a ton of money to get it back.

sea tow / boat u.s. will not touch your boat unless you call or they notice enough distress to help. an anchored boat will be left alone.

What if it was beached on say the sand bar?