Boat U.S. - May 2008 - (Page 52) atyourservice MEMBERSHIP Member Mailbag Dear BoatU.S.: Last August while trailering our boat to the Connecticut shore, the bearings in one of the trailer wheels “blew,” and we were suddenly stranded on the side of busy Route 2 just outside of Glastonbury, CT. Instinctively, I dialed AAA, where we have had the “plus-level” service for the past several years. All BoatU.S. members with an “unlimited” towing plan will be immune to this fee, as the unlimited towing plans cover the entire towing bill (see the BoatU.S. On-Water Towing services agreement at: BoatUS.com/TowingAgreement). However, if you have not upgraded yet to an unlimited towing plan, you may be responsible for this fuel surcharge, depending on your on-the-water towing service level and your towing invoice amount. BoatU.S offers unlimited towing plans to members for salt or brackish water boaters for $116 annually and just $34 for freshwater boaters. To upgrade, go to BoatUS.com/towing or call 800-395-2628. Visit BoatUS.com/logoitems to order one. We also have shirts, baby bibs, and bags with our partner, Cafepress, at Cafepress.com/BoatUS. The next time you see a fellow member wearing our logo, be sure to say hello. You just may never know where you’ll find a boating buddy! Gas Discounts We know it’s not going to be pretty — summer fuel prices that is. But you have some help at over 300 BoatU.S. Cooperating Marinas that offer discounts of up to 10 cents off per gallon of fuel exclusively to BoatU.S. members. Currently there are nearly 900 marinas in the program, many that also offer members 25% off transient slips or up to 15% off repairs. We add new marinas each month so be sure to go to BoatUS.com/marinas for the most current roster including information on the specific discounts offered. And if you know of a marina that’s not in our program, tip us off – we’d like to try to bring them aboard. You can e-mail marina information to Jim Schofield at jschofield@ BoatUS.com. Show Us Your Knots Do you know the difference between a cleat hitch and a clove hitch? You can see how to tie them at BoatUS.com/knots, and many more knots, as well as learn how they are commonly used. Also feel free to upload your own knot tying videos, or any other boating subjects you’d like to share. And in case you have never used either knot or forgotten what they are called, a cleat hitch is often used to secure a line to a cleat affixed to a dock or a boat, while a clove hitch is commonly used to tie a line to a piling or bollard. I was told that because we were pulling a trailer, we were not covered. Nothing more. My husband then suggested that we call Boat U.S. We always thought that if we ever needed to call for service, it would be for a mechanical failure on the water — not on the road. When the Boat U.S. representative answered the phone, her first words were “Are you all right?” Not, “What’s your membership number,” or “What kind of coverage do you have” — but rather, “Are you all right?” Within minutes, a very courteous tower arrived. Our boat was quickly loaded onto his vehicle and brought to the dealer for repair. I will always remember those words of the representative who answered our call that day. — Ralph & Louise Arthur Wilbraham, MA Tower Of The Year Capt. Terry Hill of TowBoatU.S. Potomac Marine of Woodbridge, VA, was awarded “Tower of the Year” honors at the 14th Annual BoatU.S. Towing Services Conference held in Jacksonville, FL. Capt. Hill was singled out for his community and towing industry contributions, as well as his excellent service to BoatU.S. members. He chairs the Potomac River Rescue Association, comprised of local fire and rescue, government agencies as well as towing companies, which provides coordinated land and water rescue to the citizens of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. He is also chairman of C-PORT, the national organization devoted to improving the marine assistance towing industry by implementing professional standards. Congratulations, Capt. Hill! Membership “Make every day on the water a good day with BoatU.S.!” Visit BoatUS.com 800-395-2628 • Join BoatU.S. for the special rate of $19 – 25% off the regular dues of $25 • Renew Your Membership • Upgrade Your Towing Service • Get a free insurance quote or call Towing Fuel Surcharge With fuel prices on the rise, BoatU.S. has agreed to help our TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist companies recover some of the increases by authorizing a new fuel surcharge that will be added to all on-the-water towing invoices in 2008. This fee — which is expected to be somewhere between $4 and $25 — will fluctuate depending upon the price of fuel. 52 BoatU.S. Magazine May 2008 Recruiting a New Member? • Make sure to give your Membership number • Get a gift for each Member you recruit Call us or visit BoatUS.com. Mention Priority Code HB357AC Flags, Bags And Bibs Show your association pride with a BoatU.S. flag, baseball cap or seat cushion. Questions? http://www.BoatUS.com/logoitems http://www.Cafepress.com/BoatUS http://www.BoatUS.com/TowingAgreement http://www.BoatUS.com/marinas http://www.BoatUS.com/towing http://www.BoatUS.com/knots http://www.BoatUS.com/marinas http://BoatUS.com http://www.BoatUS.com http://www.BoatUS.com
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