Never had to tow or be towed yet, but I'm glad this topic came up. I never thought about the motor overheating while pulling another boat. I'll take that into account if I ever get put in that situation.

That being said, I would hope that, if I needed to be towed, someone would at least pull me to the nearest ramp. I wouldn't want to inconvenience anybody any more than that, but I would hate to leave the boat out there on the water, too, if it was simple enough task to pull it in.

But, most of the lakes I fish, I'm within trolling motor distance of some ramp. I HAVE had to troll long ways before, even if I haven't had to be towed!

After reading all the posts on this topic, I am dismayed at the number of people who are too scared of being sued to help someone who is in trouble. And believe me, if NO one helps, the situation could become an emergency. I have towed dozens of boats over the years, never hurt my motors or the equipment/persons in the other boat. Tow slow, slow, slow. If you need a tow, and I see you, I WILL HELP. Come on guys, don't be like the whimps we see on the news who stand by and let bad guys beat up on helpless victims. Maybe if I got sued I would feel differently. But I have not, so will continue towing if the need is there.

Would you feel differently if you blew a motor? Would you pull a boat twice your boats size? Just asking, not starting anything.

I have towed several boats, I have been towed only once, I had my two young sons way up a creek on Ray Roberts when the engine quit, it was late and we were using a 2x6 for an oar, we were several miles from the ramp, an elderly gentleman happened to comeby us and offer a tow, he would not accept any money, he said to just keep taking the youngins fishing, ever since then I always try and offer help.

We always offer help if someone is in a bind. A few years back I towed a cabin cruiser half way up Eagle Mountain that was broke down with my pontoon boat. It was late with only about an hour of sun left.

Would they have returned the favor? Who knows, but my sons were with me and I have always taught them to do the right thing. I kept the rpms low on my motor and had no problems...after we got them to the marina I would not accept any money but they tossed fifty bucks into our boat anyway. It was some time lost fishing but a lesson learned on my sons part.

The only time I have been towed, knock on wood, was around twenty five years ago. I was out in the Gulf by myself. I know, that was my first mistake. I was in a 16 ft alum V bottom boat with a 40hp Johnson. I never went out further than about five miles. Anyways, after fishing I went to start my boat, but the battery was dead. So I got my rope to pull start it. On the first pull the motor started. However, it started in revers. It kicked up and the flywheel hit me in the chest. Knocking me to the floor and killed the motor. Carter key sheered off. After getting my breath back I started to paddle. Unfortunately there was a strong north wind and I wasn�t making any progress toward shore, which at this point was getting harder to see. A pod of dolphins came by and I tried to get them to drag me in, you know like Flipper? At this point it had been about four hours adrift, so I tossed out my anchor made of bricks and waited. I saw a boat in the distance and shot off a daytime flair. As he got closer, I saw it was old man Boudreaux who live next door to my uncle. He got to within 100 yards and yelled out "did you catch anything?" At this point I was standing on the front of the boat yelling like a mad man. He started up and turned to leave, I was just about to dive in and swim after him, when I saw he turn back towards me cracking up. He not only towed me in and helped me load my boat on the trailer. I stopped by his house and he fixed my boat for me. I have always loved the people in South Lousiana.

I know what its like to be stranded. So if you wave me down, I will help any way I can.

Back in the day we use tow and be towed often, this was before integrated fuel tanks so there was no fuel guage readily viewable. Never hurt our boats or anyone elses. I did tow someone recently that was out of gas and dead batteries. Now they were high risk, they didn't even know how to be towed, I had to give them a lot of instructions to keep their boat off of mine and where to tie the rope. They had it tied on one of the front tie hooks and this boat was old, look to me like it would have ripped that tie hook out so I had them move to the winch hook. They did say thanks but never offered any money which I would not have taken anyway and only the female in the boat seemed to really appreciate it.

do what you can to help.

Back in the 70's on Lake Austin, my motor went out 5 miles from the ramp. We tried to wave down folks for help but no one stopped. Barely made it back using trolling motor and paddle last mile. I have since been towed once and towed others twice. It is the right thing to do to help someone stranded on the water, as it is not a matter of if you will ever need a favor returned, but when. There is more satisfaction in helping someone than catching one more fish or one more round of skiing. If you are on the water enough you will need help someday.

thanks for all the stories. Certainly brings up the memories,
I've been boating about 55 years and have towed in my share
and always made me feel good to lend a hand. I'm not going to wait and see if an emergency happen. It's enough to see someone in distress, a single fisherman with engine trouble, a family with kids and a boat adrift with a skipper not knowing what to do. I'll continue to give people the opportunity to be greatful
that some passer-by didn't pass them by

I've towed about a dozen boats in the last 15 years. I got a call just last week (8PM) from a guy whose friends were out of gas in the middle of the lake. He said he called me first because He knew I guided out here. The boat was a 25 foot pontoon with 6 people on it. I declined....citing too much stress on my old motor. But I did point him to the RAB rescue boat.

No one is saying not to offer help. No one is saying dont do all you can do. What I am saying is if you tow, you also put yourself and others in danger for "property".

Not worth it to me.

karma baby

If it's a pleasure boat I offer to tow them in if they give me the women.

Absolutely. I have towed from mile marker 10 to Diablo (twice) and never had engine issues. I will absolutely help anyone who needs it and hope someone will return the favor when I need need help someday.