General preparedness prior to a storm

• Know what your marine insurance policy covers. Read it and ask your insurance agent questions. Some insurance companies may require owners to pull their vessels out of the water during a storm or store it in a specific location while the storm is a threat.
• Ensure your policy will cover the recovery of your vessel, transportation or storage if needed, repair of your vessel or, in the worst-case scenario, the demolition and disposal of your vessel.
• If your boat is kept at a marina, check your marina policies to gain an understanding of requirements and procedures.

before a Storm

• When a storm is approaching, determine where your boat will ride out the inclement weather.
• If your boat needs to be relocated on land, position it on a trailer close to a strong building to break the wind and away from debris and strap it down securely. To anchor the trailer, place blocks beneath it and deflate the tires so it doesn’t shift around due to high winds.
• If your boat must stay in the water, secure it to the dock with longer, thicker lines to ensure it doesn’t sway during the storm.
• Make sure there aren’t any loose items on the boat that could potentially fly around during the storm causing more damage.
• Take video inventory of all property onboard and place legal documents such as policies, licenses, and registrations in a secure, dry place away from the vessel.

during a storm

• Monitor radio, TV, NOAA Weather Radio, and/or hurricane hotline telephone numbers for official bulletins and storm updates.
• Do not return to your vessel until there is an official announcement that the storm has passed, or the marina is open.

after a storm

• Once it is safe to return to your vessel, inspect it for any structural damage.
• If the boat was damaged during the storm, take photos, and report it to your insurance company as soon as possible.
• It’s imperative to only work with licensed and insured companies to recover and repair your vessel. In many cases your insurance company has a pre-arranged relationship with a recovery company, and in many cases it’s Sea Tow! Sea Tow’s experienced captains can assist with the recovery process and prevent any further damage from happening.

In addition to on-water assistance, Sea Tow’s franchise network handles salvage and recovery, responds to natural disasters, environmental hazards, and oil spill cleanups. Learn more about Sea Tow’s marine support capabilities here.

The post How to Protect Your Boat During Hurricane Season appeared first on Sea Tow.

This year, the survey generated over 7,800 responses.

We all have been wondering the same thing given one of the biggest headlines of the year so far, how will the cost of fuel affect boating season? Despite the sharp rise, over 50% of boaters reported no anticipated change to their boating season. That means the 85% who say they use their boat primarily for fishing and cruising will stay underway. Additionally, over 51% of boaters surveyed say they either have a vacation by boat planned or are seriously considering it, with only 10% reporting fuel costs as a deterrent.

The survey also showed that of Sea Tow’s services, over 56% of members ranked free boat towing as the most valued service of membership, in part correlating with members’ greatest concern of engine failure. These concerns along with other insightful feedback help Sea Tow best tailor its services, resources and education to both new and longstanding members.

“At Sea Tow, we value our members’ feedback and with their insight, we can better target our services while continuing to provide a superior level of customer service,” said Sea Tow President Kristen Frohnhoefer. “Our member survey has proven to be an effective way to communicate with members and allows us to best anticipate these needs now and into the future.”

unmatched membership benefits

Sea Tow has been the premier leader in on-water boating assistance since 1983. With Sea Tow, you pay one annual rate and receive the most comprehensive member benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent, charter, lease or borrow. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Center at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post We Asked, Boaters Answered appeared first on Sea Tow.

Many Sea Tow members point to the feeling of security they get simply from knowing Sea Tow has their back on the water, 24/7/365. Have a boating problem? You call Sea Tow. It’s hard to overestimate the importance of such reassurance for those who love the boating lifestyle.

For others, the value of Sea Tow boils down to dollars and cents. From this view the economic advantages of a Sea Tow membership are clearly a good investment. Consider the cost of on-water assistance if you are not a member of Sea Tow. Depending where you are in the country, hourly rates range from $250 to $500 per hour from the time the boat leaves its dock until it returns to its dock. The further you break down from port, time of day, weather conditions, etc. all contributes to that rate. For Sea Tow members, all that time is free and that adds up to significant savings. Last year, Sea Tow members saved over $20 million dollars in towing costs alone.

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that Sea Tow membership is included with towing coverage through an insurance policy. That is not the case.

Without a Sea Tow membership card, you do not have Sea Tow. So why have Sea Tow and towing coverage through your insurance? Simply put, a boat towing membership will always be more comprehensive than what towing coverage through insurance will offer. Priority service, distance, dollar limits, what’s covered, what’s not; it’s always worth doing some investigation with insurance providers to understand exactly what services are covered and how reimbursement or claims will work.

Listen to Captain Ramsey chason of Sea Tow Cape and Islands and Captain Mike Langenbach of Sea Tow Huntington talk about response time for non-members with an insurance policy towing rider.

Visit our FAQ page to read the full list of  Towing Coverage on Insurance Policies vs Sea Tow Membership.

But the value of a Sea Tow membership runs even deeper than that. With Sea Tow, there’s no boat towing distance or dollar limits in your home area, local captains are always standing by ready to help and share their knowledge of local waters, and members always receive priority service. Further, the goal of every Sea Tow Captain is to get members up and running again if possible, rather than simply hooking up your boat and towing it home. If there’s a way to get you behind the helm and on your way, Sea Tow will strive to make it happen.

As a Sea Tow member, you’ll also receive plenty of added value beyond the end of a tow line.

Standard services fuel deliveries, jump starts, nationwide coverage, covered ungroundings, and more. Add in the Sea Tow Savings Club, through which members are eligible for discounts and special offers at local marinas, fuel docks, repair facilities, hotels and tackle shops, as well as car rental services and worldwide businesses discounts, and it’s easy to see how all these savings can add up to a significant chunk of change over the course of a boating season.

So then, what is it that makes a Sea Tow membership such a value? It’s all the above, of course, plus the knowledge that your membership dollars stay local, in your own community, to keep your Sea Tow Captains and crews ready to assist when you make the call.

Rest assured that on-water assistance is never more than a quick call away. Join for peace of mind, economic rewards, or both. Any way you do the math, a Sea Tow membership is a plus on the balance sheet.

The post The Value of Sea Tow appeared first on Sea Tow.

While recently looking through some old files and photos, Chuck stumbled across some items that belonged to his dad, Horace Dewitt Bower, vice president of Privateer Boat Company. The rare find of his dad’s memorabilia prompted Chuck to contact Sea Tow about that distinctive yellow boat he recalls his dad working on and ask if they might have any photographs – that is, if they even remember the vessel.

“We not only remembered it, but Sea Tow I is still in service today at our Eastern Long Island franchise,” said Georgia Frohnhoefer, the wife of Captain Joe Frohnhoefer who founded Sea Tow Services in 1983. “I remember the first time I rode on that tow boat; it was the start of something big.”

Chuck was very surprised to find out that Sea Tow I was still in service and noted that he had a similar feeling about that special Privateer boat his dad worked on in their shop in Chocowinity, N.C.

“I felt like Privateer had hit the big-time when they started building boats for Sea Tow,” recalled Chuck, who was a teenager when Privateer started work on Sea Tow I. “My dad’s company was building something that was a commercial, purpose-built boat – like what the U.S. Coast Guard uses. I do remember thinking the enhancements they did to the design were strange, but it worked. At Privateer, they basically said, ‘Whatever the customer wants, we will make it happen.’”

Horace later went on to work with Hatteras Yachts and Grady White, learning the ins and outs of the trade and honing his skills.

“I feel so fortunate to have been part of a family with strong connections in the boating industry,” Chuck said. “My dad saw and learned so much and brought that to Privateer. He maintained friendships with some of the engineers at Grady (White), and one of those friendships is why I got to see Sea Tow’s first boat being built.”

While working at Grady White, Horace became friends with a man named Norman Wilkerson – better known as Warren Wilkerson – another name synonymous with North Carolina’s boating industry. Warren was the founder of Privateer Boat Company and recruited Horace to join him in 1977.

“(Horace) loved to design stuff,” Warren said. “He was a real craftsman in my mind and very good at what he did. I was proud to have him on at Privateer as my partner. He is actually the one who designed that Sea Tow I boat. His son should be proud.”

About 125 miles north of Privateer’s base of operations in North Carolina, commercial fishermen in the Chesapeake Bay started to hear of the way Privateer Boats were being made.

Some of the early boats were designed so the aft was open to allow space for workers in the stern. This worked perfectly for commercial fishermen and the company began purposely designing boats with larger aft decks.

It wasn’t long before word of Privateer’s design spread further north to Long Island, N.Y. The connection of Privateer to Sea Tow came through Bill Lieblein, who owned a boat dealership on Long Island’s North Fork called Port of Egypt; he still owns it today. Bill was a friend of Sea Tow’s founder, Captain Joe Frohnhoefer, and through some conversations about the unique features and construction of Privateer Boats, Sea Tow I was born. The year was 1983, and Sea Tow I was the first in a long line of Privateer Boats that started the Sea Tow fleet.

Today, Sea Tow I is still in service under the leadership of Capt.Bill Barker, owner of Sea Tow Eastern Long Island. As a native “East Ender,” Bill has been fortunate, not only to be the owner of the first Sea Tow franchise, but also the owner and custodian of the original Sea Tow service boat.

“I started riding that boat at the age of 10 and have so many memories,” said Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer, Captain Joe’s son and CEO of Sea Tow. “Privateer made a solid boat for us; in fact, they made several. It had a shallow draft that would allow us to get into some complicated spots to help members.”

Captain Joseph recalls that the boat wasn’t the smoothest ride, but it always got them home, no matter the conditions.

“We have been out in some rough seas on Sea Tow I,” he added. “One day, we blew out the windshield when we dropped down the backside of a large swell and crashed in the trough of the wave. The glass from the windshield cut my dad’s arms and chest, but despite it all, we made it to our customer in need and back home.”

According to Captain Joseph, the company’s first boat has established a legacy that still lives on today. Along with photos of the boat in Sea Tow’s headquarters on Long Island, the boat’s original 6×6 wooden tow post is in the lobby as a treasured piece of memorabilia to remember the company’s roots.

Like so many in the marine and boating industry, legacy is the way of life. From Chuck’s email to Sea Tow, to a reconnection with so many that helped create the cornerstone for a company that today helps thousands of individuals every year. This legacy lives on and will continue for decades to come.

MEMBER BENEFITS BEYOND 24/7 TOWING

As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive the most comprehensive benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent lease or bareboat charter. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Team at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post 35 Years and Still Going Strong appeared first on Sea Tow.