5 Reasons You Might Need A Tow & How To Avoid Them

As we approach the peak of the local boating season, I wanted to share an interesting statistic from Boat U.S. citing the top 5 reasons that boaters request a tow. 

“Every year, the BoatUS Towing Dispatch center gets over 70,000 calls for assistance. Almost 90 percent of those fall into five categories: mechanical breakdown, running aground, dead battery, out of fuel, and engine overheating.” Nearly every day that I am on the water, I personally see boats being towed or otherwise being rendered assistance. One commonality that I notice in most cases is the upset, and sometimes scared, faces of the people on board the boats. A mishap, such as running aground or losing power in bad weather, is not just inconvenient but can be downright dangerous.

Let’s take a look at some scenarios that may be easily preventable. 

Mechanical Breakdowns
These can range from major issues, such as catastrophic engine failure, to minor issues such as a broken fan-belt or faulty ignition system. The best way to prevent the majority of mechanical breakdowns is with preventative maintenance. Whether you do the work yourself or have a technician do the work for you, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Oil changes, fluid exchanges, and filter replacements are typically required or recommended at specific intervals. A close inspection of belts and hoses should be done yearly or every one hundred hours at a minimum. Listen to your engine for any noises that don’t sound normal. Take notice of any odors that may be a sign of leaks. Be familiar with how your vessel normally performs and have it checked if things don’t seem normal. Small problems don’t go away, they just become big problems. 

Running Aground
Nothing can stop a fun day (literally) like running aground. In the best scenario, you’re going to jostle your crew and have to spend some time at slow speeds while sucking mud, sand and other harmful stuff through your cooling system. In a severe grounding, you could injure your crew and damage your boat. My personal recommendation is to review a chart in advance, especially if it’s an area you’re not intimately familiar with. Once on the water, make sure to know the tidal cycle and follow marked channels, while also paying attention to a chart plotter.

Dead Battery
Picture this; You are anchored in a great area, swimming with friends and family. The radio is playing your favorite summer tunes. You use your 12-volt compressor to blow up the inflatable floats for the kids. What a great day! Five or six hours later, you have everyone back on board and all the toys stowed away. You hit the key to head back to the dock or ramp and all you get is the dreaded click. “No problem”, you say, as you have dual batteries and will just switch to the other battery. Unfortunately, when you check, it seems you have had it set on both, and now BOTH ARE DEAD! There are many solutions and preventative measures to avoid this scenario. If you have the room, you can carry a portable jumper box (make sure to charge it periodically). This is also helpful to have when your buddy’s boat has a dead battery. Other options include being sure to alternate between each battery, instead of using both. If you have a single battery, you need to be aware of your consumption to make sure you always have enough cranking power to start your engine.

Out Of Fuel
This is probably the most preventable situation on the list. First, you need to know how much fuel your vessel holds. Remember that only about 90% of the fuel you hold will be usable. The exact amount will depend on where your fuel pick-up is located in the tank, the angle (trim) of your boat while underway, and the shape of your tank. Next, you need to know how much fuel is in the tank. Nearly all tanks have either a mechanical or an electronic gauge. Make sure it works and pay attention to it. You should also be familiar with your vessel’s fuel consumption at cruising speed. For example, a 15’ runabout may use 3 gallons an hour at 25 MPH, while a 35’ cabin cruiser may burn 45 gallons an hour at 25 MPH. Finally, I recommend using no more than 1/3 of your fuel to get to the destination. This leaves you 1/3 to get home and another 1/3 in reserve should you get into bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. 

Over Heating
This is one problem that can get you when you least expect it. A common cause of this is debris (seaweed, etc.) in the cooling water pick-up. This can sometimes be resolved by operating in reverse. Water flowing along the water pick-up in the opposite direction can often clear the debris. Other times, you may need to enter the water to clear the debris (follow all safety precautions prior to and while in the water). In extreme circumstances, you may need to disassemble the strainers or water intake assembly to solve the problem. Remember to follow the manufacturers’ recommendations. Other common causes of overheating can be water pump failure, drive-belt slippage or failure, or sticking / failed thermostats. Pay attention to your gauges and warning buzzers. An overheating problem needs to be addressed immediately or severe engine damage could occur. 

Many of these situations are preventable with proper maintenance, planning, and a comprehensive pre-trip checklist. Let us know if you have any questions or would like our help developing a personalized pre-trip checklist for your boat.

Sea You On The Water!
Captain Ed