So, you’re out on the lake with your family and your boat engine quits and/or will not restart. What’s next?

-Is the boat at anchor or adrift? If the boat is drifting, it’s most likely a good idea to set an anchor. It’s hard to get to a boat that has drifted up into shallow water. Next………….

-What if you call 911. In many areas, unless there is an emergency with respect to life, limb, or significant property damage….calling 911 will not do much good. It would be much the same as calling the police if you have a dead battery in your car at the supermarket parking lot.

-What if you call a marina nearby where you’re stranded. If the marina you call has the staff on hand to send out a boat, there is a good chance that if you are just out-of-gas or you played your stereo for too long while anchored and ran your battery down the marina could help. If properly staffed, and if they have a boat available, many times a marina employee will bring a stranded boater some gas or a jump box (in the case of a dead battery). However, most marinas (unless they have an insured tow boat) will not tow your boat, as there is likely an exclusion in their insurance policy that bans this practice unless it is an emergency.

-What if you call a boat towing company. Some inland lakes and most coastal areas have a boat towing company in the area. These companies usually have well-trained personnel and have the proper equipment and experience to do a good job. Beware they are expensive! If you have boat insurance there is a good chance that some coverage (maybe not all) for the towing cost is included in the policy. If you do not have towing coverage, the out-of-pocket cost can be considerable. Either way, verify the cost before you hire the company!!!!!

-What if you flag down a passing boat. The great thing about boaters is that most of them will provide assistance to a fellow boater that is in distress. And many, if not most, will even offer to tow your boat to a marina or boat ramp and that might work out OK. Just note, most boaters are not skilled in being the TOW-ER or TOW-EE. Significant risks are involved by both parties. The most serious risk would be bodily injury due to someone, on either boat, being hit by a line that snaps or a boat cleat that is flying through the air. The next significant risk is damage to one or both boats. The goal would be to avoid being towed or offering to tow someone. But sometimes it just happens. So here are a few tips: 

****Avoid attaching the tow line to a cleat. Most trailerable boats have a bow eye (the place where you connect the trailer winch line to the boat). For the tow-ee that is the best place to attach the tow line. Also, many trailerable boats have a coupe of tiedown eyes mounted on the transom (one either side of the outboard/outdrive). The tow-er should design a bridal with a dock line and tie it across the two transom eyes, then attach the tow line to the mid-point of the bridal.  As the tow-er you will not like it if the boat you are towing is not being pulled in the middle of your boat.  Tie the tow line to one side or the other of your boat will make your boat pretty much....uncontrollable.  

****What if your boat lacks tow-eyes either on the bow or stern. This is a problem with most pontoon boats with respect to the stern. What is available is usually some cheesy cleats or in some cases an equally cheesy tow bar. If a tow bar is present, that would likely be the best option for the tow-er. If no tow bar/ball exist at the stern of the boat, then one should make a bridal out of a dock line and tie it between the two stern cleats. The tow line would then be tied to the mid-point. 

****Protect the passengers on both boats. For the boat being towed, move your passengers to the aft of the vessel. For the boat doing the towing its likely best to move the passenger to the front of the vessel. The reason: If the line snaps or a cleat is pulled out it’s likely best to be as far away as possible. 

****Go slow. THEN GO SLOWER. Neither boat is likely to be designed for this purpose and most likely the longest line on either boat is an anchor line. These lines are not made for the pressure created by towing…they will snap. GO SLOW.

****Call for some help on shore. If the destination is a marina, the tow-er or tow-ee should call the marina and inform them of the situation and the ETA. Most marinas will send someone out to the dock to help. And while releasing the tow line from either boat….make sure the tow-er does not suck the tow line and/or bridal into the prop. 

Bottom line. Keep your boat well maintained and full of fuel. Buy a comprehensive boat insurance policy to protect your asset(s). And remember….there are few (if any) ropes on a boat. Some might say that when you make your anchor line into a tow rope then maybe there is a rope on the boat. Most boaters would like say no….the only rope on the boat is on the bell, if so equipped. Again…best avoid having to use a tow line or toe rope, or whatever you wish to call it.