wrote:
On Sun, 04 Jun 2006 21:20:10 -0400, jeff wrote:


went to one of my favorite salty trout creeks this morning. uneventful
launch, headed out into the creek...first thing on entering the main
creek looked like a piling out in the middle, but it was making a wake
across the normal current. turned out to be a bear - a big one -
swimming across campbell creek. i followed him/her across the creek and
watched him/her scurry out of the water into the woods. pretty neat
start to the day. caught a few fish - speckled trout, flounder, and
blue fish - but, as i was heading out to a favorite spot in the sound,
my motor quit on me in the mouth of jones bay.


That's pretty cool...


ended the day beating
back into the wind about 5 miles using the trolling motor...it was a
pleasant afternoon for a slow boat ride back to hobucken, where i met a
lost soul from pennsylvania who corraled his friend to give me a ride to
get my truck...bummer, but, the bear sighting made it a splendid day.
pictures on abpf.


Geez, Jeff, another breakdown? Is it time to coin the "full Miller" for
boating? Seriously, you might wish to look into TowBoatUS...and before
I go any further, I have no interest in BoatUS, TowBoatUS, or any tow
service...IAC, they are sort of like "AAA" for the water. I'm sure that
much like AAA, the service varies, but in my (limited) experience with
them, they are a decent deal, especially if one is prone to need tow
services. For 139.00 a year, you get unlimited towing/breakdown/fuel
hotshotting/etc., and for 89.00 a year, you get (IIRC) 500.00USD per
incident coverage. BoatUS is www.boatus.com . They claim more service
boats and areas than SeaTow, but I have no idea on what that is based.

And for the record, I do know the service owner in S. MS, but I get
nothing whatsoever if anyone joins.

TC,
R


jeff

heck...it's a normal part of the boating experience, no? i have some
friends who would better serve as models for the "full-(yournamehere)"
characterization. i've been fortunate with the bay boat...no problems
for several years of constant use. i think this one involved the water
pump and cooling system. anyway, i don't subscribe to a towing service
for the bay boat. i'm always close enough to shore and some landing that
i feel secure in getting home ok, eventually. between the trolling
motor and the relative certainty that friends within a cell phone call
or other boaters will tow me, i've not been too concerned with it. but,
before i ever left the dock with the offshore boat i had a seatow card
in my wallet. seatow seems to be the better equipped and more responsive
service in my area of north carolina. the annual premium - about $135 -
is excellent value. plus, on the recent breakdown off lookout, the
towing charge was over a $1,000...but no charge to me as a seatow
member. i was very pleased with the service. like you, i recommend
getting the towing insurance package to anyone who owns a boat used for
offshore sal****er fishing or who might be concerned about getting towed
back to their homeport after a breakdown. just be aware of the limits
of the service, because the charges for non-covered work can be very,
very costly.

jeff