The Small Problems That Leave You on the End of a Tow Line

A trusted fuel gauge left Jeff on a Sea Tow line. His advice on pre-trip checklists, maintenance and why every boater needs towing coverage.

Asked Jeff what small ownership problems turn into big ones, and he doesn't hesitate.

"Quite frankly, maintenance is one of the biggest problems that new boaters tend to not pay attention to."

It is rarely the dramatic failure that ruins a day on the water. It is the belt nobody looked at, the coolant level nobody checked, or the gauge nobody questioned.

Build the Habit Before You Leave the Slip

Jeff's advice is to keep a once over checklist and run through it before every trip, especially before a 30, 40 or 50 mile cruise. At minimum, that means checking oil and fluid levels, checking coolant, inspecting belts, and knowing how to read your gauges and what normal looks like.

The goal, as Jeff puts it, is to avoid coming back on one engine, or worse, at the end of a tow line.

A Lesson From the Long Island Sound

Jeff knows that last part from experience. Years ago, he had a 26 foot Scarab center console and decided to rely on a NMEA 2000 fuel monitoring system instead of replacing an old fuel gauge. The system worked by resetting each time the tank was filled, then tracking exactly how much fuel had been burned.

The problem? The system only knows what you tell it

At the fuel dock one day, the pump shut off early, which can happen when a tank burps during filling. The attendant told Jeff he was full. He took her word for it, buttoned everything up, and reset his fuel gauge. In reality, he was about 10 gallons short.

Out on the Long Island Sound near Clinton Harbor, with his wife aboard, the engine went quiet. His gauge still read a quarter tank.

"She said, 'What happened?' And I said, 'We just ran out of gas.'"

Why Towing Coverage Is Worth It

Jeff called Sea Tow, and they arrived within 30 to 40 minutes while he and his wife waited at anchor. They added 10 gallons of fuel, the call itself was covered, and Jeff only paid for the fuel. Then he went back in and filled up properly.

His recommendation for every boater is to carry Sea Tow or BoatUS coverage. It is a small investment, and in his words, it will happen. Even the most seasoned boaters eventually need that call.

The Takeaway

Technology can tell you a lot, but it can't check your belts, and it can't know that the pump shut off early. Make the checklist a habit, trust but verify your gauges, and carry towing coverage. It happens to the best of us.

The Next Boat Journey is a series from Dock Side Live Radio, where the music meets the water.