TowBoatUS captains are on the water non-stop during the summer. This year has been no exception. There have been some pretty obvious trends in the type of requests for service that we received this year. There are always the calls where the boat owner says, “it just stopped” and “I have no idea what happened.” But, this year those comments are more often than not followed by “I just bought this boat.” So, for all of you new and old boaters alike, here a few pieces of advice from some of the towboat captains out on the local waters.
Captain Brandon – Havre De Grace/Chesapeake City – “Before you leave the dock, check to be sure all of your safety gear is on the boat and operating properly. Check your lights before you need them. And consider your anchor a major piece of safety equipment. When that engine konks out, you will lose control of your boat. Anchoring equals control.”
Captain Mike – Middle River – “Don’t trust your fuel gauge. Fill up early and often. And be sure that whoever is staffing the fuel pump knows that your boat is gas vs diesel. Easy prevention for a costly mistake.”
Captain Matthew – Baltimore Inner Harbor/Patapsco – “Watch for and obey six knot zones and learn to read the navigation aids. Take time to learn the rules of the road, how to signal other boaters and how to use your VHF properly.“
Captain Jim – Bodkin Creek/Rock Hall – “Remember that heat, long days and alcohol don’t mix. We tow an awful lot of people home that should not be operating their boats. Can you imagine all the intoxicated boaters out there who manage to get their boats started?”
Captain Adam – Kent Narrows/Eastern Shore – “Before traveling to unknown waters, check your charts, plan a route and seek out local knowledge for tricky areas like the Narrows. Be prepared for currents and boat traffic in tight areas.“
Captain Brian – Magothy – “Take a look at the sky and check the weather often when you are on the water. Storms develop quickly over the bay and can be much worse than predicted. Fast building storms can overtake a boater who is not prepared. If you cannot make it back to port, find a cove and anchor to ride out the storm.”
Captain Rob – Annapolis/South – “If you do not know how to use your on-board electronics, take the time to school yourself over the winter. When you do break down, be able to give an accurate location using your GPS or be prepared with the BoatUS app. The free app provides your current lat/long based on your phone’s location.”
Captain Austin- Annapolis/South – “Become a member of TowBoatUS with unlimited towing. We tow non-members, but the bill is often more than $700 and those boaters are not happy. Members are always glad that they purchased the towing membership and happy to see us arrive. The membership can save you hundreds and is a no-brainer.”
Learn more about all of these topics at boatus.com/ expert-advice. Our TowBoatUS Captains are everywhere that you boat on the Bay and are available to assist with whatever comes your way on the water. As always, “red is ready,” and happy to help.
