Texas Fishing Forum

Broke down on lake - who do you call?

Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish

Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/02/18 05:03 PM

Happened last Sunday on Grapevine. Dark:30 and not another boat seen or heard anywhere. O/B wouldn't start. Used TM until batteries crashed. Boat policy from Geico covers first $250 for towing. Called them and spent over 30 minutes on phone as they contacted FD. Got motor to start before Geico ever confirmed help was on the way. We were able to get off the water without any other problems.

Has it happened to you? Who did you call?
Any idea what cost is if FD has to come? I know $250 ain't gettin it done. Better off to call FD directly?
Is there someone else to call?
Posted By: Bobby Milam

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/02/18 08:21 PM

I think that it is pretty expensive to call out someone for a tow. If I'm not mistaken much more than $250. There is something out there that you can get for a monthly fee that want bad for free tows
Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/02/18 09:21 PM

Hey Bobby,
I know you're right about being way more than $250 - especially if it's the fire department!
Just curious if guys have had to call someone and what it ended up costing?
Posted By: needmofish

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/02/18 09:43 PM

You cannot ever have to many friends in this world , but I always try to stay close to the trailer the latter in the day it gets.
Posted By: ChuChu1

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/02/18 09:50 PM

BoatUS.com has a $72 a year plan.
Posted By: JIM SR.

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/02/18 10:49 PM

what was wrong,..??

I have Game Warden phone numbers,...and several lake neighbors, and a couple of guides... helpsign
Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/03/18 12:18 AM

Jim Sr:

Not sure what happened yet. fuel lines have some pin holes will replace them and give it another try. Have had boat a little more than a year and only failed to start twice. Had same thing happen almost exactly a year ago under same temps/circumstances. Launch in afternoon and one short run. Fished for less than 2 hours and no start. Ran at home on muffs both times. Didn’t change a thing a year ago and had zero troubles til this week
Posted By: SWH

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/03/18 05:44 PM

I’d be real tempted to post here. Certainly someone would do it for less than $200...
Posted By: C.M.

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/03/18 07:30 PM

This
Posted By: Donald Harper

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/03/18 09:31 PM

I make a simple list and run a copy for my family. It takes about an hour of your time to develop such a list for your next trip. When you are old, you and your family will feel much safer if you take the time to develop the list. These are the things on the list in case of an emergency and I do not show up back at home and there is no cell service on the water.
- Hopefully I can use the trolling motor to get out to a main lake point.
- I carry the equipment in the boat to build a large fire on the shoreline which is a signal fire.
- The list has the following phone numbers:
Game Warden for the area - Marinas - Two Guides - Lake Side Stores - Late Night Restaurant - State Park Emergency Number if there is one.
- Some of these contacts will know other numbers and people that may be able to help get you off the water. Add those numbers to the list also.
- If you really want to be prepared for the worst situation then call all your contacts the day before your trip and just ask the "What If Questions".
Posted By: RedRanger

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/03/18 10:51 PM

Originally Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish
Happened last Sunday on Grapevine. Dark:30 and not another boat seen or heard anywhere. O/B wouldn't start. Used TM until batteries crashed. Boat policy from Geico covers first $250 for towing. Called them and spent over 30 minutes on phone as they contacted FD. Got motor to start before Geico ever confirmed help was on the way. We were able to get off the water without any other problems.

Has it happened to you? Who did you call?
Any idea what cost is if FD has to come? I know $250 ain't gettin it done. Better off to call FD directly?
Is there someone else to call?


Fire Department is probably free

People call them all the time, to shut off their water lines, get a person out of a bathtub, etc.
Posted By: Chris B

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/03/18 11:17 PM

I doubt the fire dept would come out if you are not in immediate danger.
Posted By: senko9S

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/03/18 11:34 PM

I would just call a friend with a boat to come give me a tow. or heck, many have posted on here and got tows back in.
Posted By: Fooshman

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 12:57 AM

If I couldn't make it back with a paddle or just stay out:

a) Free towing.
b) I've got a few locals I could probably call.
c) I'd call our GW buddies and see if they could help.

All depending on the situation of course.
Posted By: V-Bottom

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 01:10 AM

Have a Float Plan set up just in case stuff like this MAY happen. VHF radios are a God Send..
Posted By: Jim Ford

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 03:00 AM

Just FYI: I don't know what TPWD's policy on towing is, but I used to work in a boat for a Sheriff's Office. We were only permitted to tow in a life-threatening emergency. Thank a bunch of greedy attorneys for that. If anything happens to your boat (or you/your passengers) while I am towing it, and there is any way an attorney could convince a jury that my negligence caused it, my agency would be sued. My agency didn't want to be sued. My orders were to refer non-emergency tows to a commercial towing service.

I would imagine that most, if not all, agencies funded by tax dollars have similar policies.

I don't recall the name of the service, but there is a towboat franchise that works many of the larger Texas lakes. When I fished fresh water I kept the operator's number in my phone. Tows aren't cheap.
Posted By: Bassdeer

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 03:21 AM

BoatUS.com

This
Posted By: C.M.

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 10:44 AM

> Thank a bunch of greedy attorneys for that.

Aren't you supposed to say thanks to jury that makes the final call? Or agency lawyer that has no balls and decides to settle? Or the actual owner that sues his savior and no one teach him manners afterwards...
Posted By: RedRanger

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 01:45 PM

Originally Posted By: Chris B
I doubt the fire dept would come out if you are not in immediate danger.


It would probably depend on the City they are based in and their level of customer service.

I know Plano FD will turn you water off if you get a water leak in your house, and you don't know how to shut of water to your house.
Posted By: LStewartPlano

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 02:17 PM

I had the same experience on Roberts maybe 10 years ago, in early January. Fished in Jordan all day and when we pulled out to main lake - it was dead calm and a beautiful sunset. Stopped and took pictures. When I fired back up the oil warning came on. You guessed it - out of oil . I hadn't filled the reservoir since summer and this was the first trip out in some time. My mistake. Got on the trolling motor and headed to Buck where we put in as fast as I could. It got dark and cold and we weren't really prepared for that. My mistake again. I started calling Pilot Point FD - no interest, the Wise and Cooke Count GW- all out checking duck hunters- no interest, and you have to tell the story over to every one who answers the phone. Mean while the cell phone battery is dying - no charger cord. My mistake again. By now its dark and cold- thankfully zero wind- calm as glass. I call my duck hunting buddy and tell him where we are and ask if he'd come get us if the trolling motor battery died. He agrees , and we keep in touch about every 30 minutes on the phone. Finally roll up to the Buck Creek ramp at about 9:30 with almost no TM battery left. But got home safe.
Learned a few lessons: 1) check the oil 2) carry spare clothes 3) carry a cell phone charger 4) Unless your dying - the fire dept. and GW's really won't help , and if they do it's probably a search and recovery effort only!
Be safe out there!
Posted By: donothin

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 02:55 PM

A few years ago wife and I were out on a Sun afternoon, no one else on the lake. Decided to come home and motor would not start. Wind was blowing a gale, but it was blowing us in the direction of an isolated boat ramp, known as a place for druggies to meet. Fortunately we blew in real close, called 911 and after about 2 hours a deputy came out and got us and took us to the boat ramp where out trailer was parked. Got home about midnight. Lessons learned for sure.
Posted By: Jim Ford

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 03:07 PM

Originally Posted By: C.M.
> Thank a bunch of greedy attorneys for that.

Aren't you supposed to say thanks to jury that makes the final call? Or agency lawyer that has no balls and decides to settle? Or the actual owner that sues his savior and no one teach him manners afterwards...

Yep. Them too......
Posted By: TGalyon1

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 05:25 PM

https://www.boatus.com/MembershipWeb_Main/Membership/personalbuytowing.aspx
The freshwater towing is all bounded unless you go to the coast. A average tow on Texoma will run $300. It all dependes where you are and where you need to go back.
One thing about Boat US all there captain hold a maritime captain license by Coast Guard.
If there is not a tower on the water you are on they will find one, money youbare out they will reinbuse you
Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/04/18 07:50 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

Donothin + Lstewartplano: your experience sounds almost exactly like mine. It's great to have the lake all to yourself - until it isn't!

FYI - asked Grapevine FD and was told they don't help in situations like these unless there's a risk to public safety or welfare...

BoatUS is provider for all ins companies. You may be able to get BoatUS cheaper through your agent than buying direct from BoatUS. In my case, it was half the $$$ BoatUS coverage I had with Geico was $15/yr and only covered first $250 of towing. I changed to unlimited towing for $31/yr through Geico. Same coverage from BoatUS is $72/yr.

There are some limits on "unlimited" towing. They cover a handful of TX lakes (lew, eagle mtn, texoma, conroe, sam & tb) in their entirety. If you're lucky/unlucky to be stuck on one of them there are no limits. If you're not on one of those six, they'll come to you at a charge of $300 per hour, starting and ending at closest port. BoatUS pays first $2,500 I think that would cover big chunk of TX, maybe all except far west and border lakes.

Hope I'll never need to use it but $31/yr seems pretty dang cheap for peace of mind.
Posted By: crapicat

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/07/18 02:46 PM

Originally Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish
Happened last Sunday on Grapevine. Dark:30 and not another boat seen or heard anywhere. O/B wouldn't start. Used TM until batteries crashed. Boat policy from Geico covers first $250 for towing. Called them and spent over 30 minutes on phone as they contacted FD. Got motor to start before Geico ever confirmed help was on the way. We were able to get off the water without any other problems.

Has it happened to you? Who did you call?
Any idea what cost is if FD has to come? I know $250 ain't gettin it done. Better off to call FD directly?
Is there someone else to call?


Ok, first off...stuff happens when on the water...so, I always carry extra clothes for warmth, extra food/water to survive a two day ordeal...and I let someone know where I am going and when I intend to call them from the boat ramp...it is usually a fishing buddy, that knows where I plan to go...and that will come get me...at times I have had to park the boat on shore and wait out bad weather, or have been dead in the water, locked up on a stump etc...usually, someone comes by, but not always...as happened to you...I do have two local GW’s phone number in my phone, but never used them...I guess if worse came to worse, I would call 911...but hey, I just look at it as another adventure as long as I am relative safe, I don’t worry much about it. Personally, if I was in real trouble and had to call for help, I wouldn’t be concerned about the cost of the rescue...

BTW, I used to have a Johnson motor that did that to me occasionally...it was an issue with the choke Staying engaged and flooding the cylinders (or something)...normally when it happened, if I would just fish for another 30 minutes, it would start right up...told my Mech about my problem, when I took it for service, he never mentioned it again, and it never happened again, so I don’t really know what he did...or if the motor was just in need of regular service.
Posted By: ChuChu1

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/07/18 10:22 PM

Originally Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish
Happened last Sunday on Grapevine. Dark:30 and not another boat seen or heard anywhere. O/B wouldn't start. Used TM until batteries crashed. Boat policy from Geico covers first $250 for towing. Called them and spent over 30 minutes on phone as they contacted FD. Got motor to start before Geico ever confirmed help was on the way. We were able to get off the water without any other problems.

Has it happened to you? Who did you call?
Any idea what cost is if FD has to come? I know $250 ain't gettin it done. Better off to call FD directly?
Is there someone else to call?


For $3 a month, you can add unlimited towing to your Gieco BoatUS policy. And that will include roadside service if you have your trailer insured with them.
Posted By: TGalyon1

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/11/18 07:58 AM

There are some advantages to Boat US. It covers you in any boat you rent own or borough. It covers tows as long as you are not at you slip. It covers all soft grounding, battery jumps and gas drop. You have to pay for the gas. If there is not a tower on the lake they will find one for you. Texoma runs 24 7 365 days a year. He has 3 boats on the water and one ready to travel. Its does not cover salvage, that you will need your insurance or bank loan for.
Boat US is a tower for GICO but the call has to come thorough GICO. If you have Boat US you can call tower direct, That saves time.
Posted By: Space

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/12/18 12:56 PM

Originally Posted By: RedRanger
Originally Posted By: Too Fat 2 Fish
Happened last Sunday on Grapevine. Dark:30 and not another boat seen or heard anywhere. O/B wouldn't start. Used TM until batteries crashed. Boat policy from Geico covers first $250 for towing. Called them and spent over 30 minutes on phone as they contacted FD. Got motor to start before Geico ever confirmed help was on the way. We were able to get off the water without any other problems.

Has it happened to you? Who did you call?
Any idea what cost is if FD has to come? I know $250 ain't gettin it done. Better off to call FD directly?
Is there someone else to call?


Fire Department is probably free

People call them all the time, to shut off their water lines, get a person out of a bathtub, etc.


I don't think the fire department is free and it will cost you more than $250. It cost over $600 for the f ire department ambulance to take my mom to the hospital.
Posted By: Mo

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/12/18 02:44 PM

Apparently for some folks it is me . smile

Mo
Posted By: patriot07

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/12/18 03:09 PM

Originally Posted By: Space
I don't think the fire department is free and it will cost you more than $250. It cost over $600 for the f ire department ambulance to take my mom to the hospital.
Ambulance is EMS. Fire department services are paid for by your taxpayer dollars. EMS is a medical service that is handled between you, them, and the insurance company.

And these days, $600 for an ambulance ride is a bargain. I've heard of folks being charged over $20,000.
Posted By: TBS

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/13/18 03:38 PM

Step son got hit by car years ago and took an ambulance ride from Desoto to Children's Medical....we got a bill for $8000. I thought police, fire, and EMS were paid for by our tax dollars. Nope, you will get a bill from EMS, and although I cannot confirm, I have been told occasionally a fire department will send you a bill depending on the situation.
Posted By: ChuChu1

Re: Broke down on lake - who do you call? - 02/13/18 05:36 PM

I switched from State Farm to BoatUS today. Saved $75 a year on premiums, now have towing @$6000 per instance vs. $500, have coverage on equipment for $100 deductible vs. having to claim on homeowners at $1500 deductable, trailer breakdown road service at $6000 per instance. I now have uninsured boaters liability, didn't have that before. Same personal injury liability.
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