So we have belonged to BoatUS for 25 years.  Living up in Minnesota, we really didn’t need their towing package cause if you break down on the river, there is always someone there to give you a tow.  But with the traveling we did with the big boat, we had to have towing insurance.  Luckily, we never had to tow the Navigator but, our luck finally ran out.

Gary decided to take the boat out for a little ride.  I stayed home as I was doing some paper work for the condo.  He called me after he had been out for a few hours.  Apparently he blew the salt water cooling hose that went to the turbo after cooler. (That’s for you guys who love the technical terms 🙂 )

Ouch!

He was driving along when he heard this really noisy boat behind him.  Guess what?  There was no boat behind him, it was ours!  Holy Crap!  Back off the throttle and turn off the engine.  A quick look under the hatch and the problem was diagnosed pretty quickly, at lease if you’re as knowledgeable as Captain Gary.  If I was out there, I would still be scratchin my head and shouting “Help Mr. Wizard!”.

By the time Gary was done figuring out what was wrong, the waves from the other boats had pushed him to the channel’s edge.  He threw out the anchor

Muddy bottom

(I guess it was pretty muddy), and he called BoatUS for a tow.  They said it would take a little bit as they were pretty busy.  Then he called me to let me know he’d be limping home.

BoatUS arrived and started hooking up the boat for a tow.  The guy told Gary that when he got the call and heard Gary’s BoatUS member number, which is a 6 didget code, he figured Gary was going to be about 80 years old.  He said it was only old guys who had the 6 diget numbers and Gary looked too young.  Of course Gary’s chest puffed out after hearing that. Then the guy continued to say he rearely got a call from someone with a 5 diget code.  Gary should have told him the people with the 5 and 6 didget codes are the more experienced boaters and rarely need a tow ;).  Turns out Gary has been a member since 1992.  After they were underway, Gary took this shot while he was being towed

  Of course the courteous people down here in Florida, they see someone being towed, lights flashing and they still maintain their speed and come closer so they can see what’s going on and waking the crap out of them.  Thanks you guys!  Anyway, Gary gives me a heads up when they are coming down the canal to our house so I can document the situation

I think I see them!

Oooooo! There’s the tow boat!

There’s our boat with Captain Gary on the bow

Here they come, slow….slow…..

Colleen! Grab the tow line!

Whew!  The guy got the boat right in the slip, smooth sailing.  When we were all tied up, the BoatUS guy handed us the bill.  How much did we owe of that $410 bill….nothing!  Good to have that unlimited towing insurance ;).