rslifkin
Guru
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2019
- Messages
- 7,975
- Location
- Rochester, NY
- Vessel Name
- Hour Glass
- Vessel Make
- Chris Craft 381 Catalina
Two major differences. One is the type of water. ICW is a dug ditch, lots of shallow areas, lots of shoals. You can run aground and need help to get off. Easy to not just foul or destroy props but all running gear.
Second difference is availability of services. Tow memberships are used in the Puget Sound area, just not generally for offshore running. Now, those on the East Coast are astonished to see the Coast Guard two boats on the West Coast. The CG does not do that on the East Coast. Boat 10 miles offshore, CG will rescue the people but leave the boat for a tow service and if one doesn't have a tow membership then the cost will be thousands. CG on the East Coast isn't going to tow you in.
I've seen the CG tow occasionally on Lake Ontario but it's quite rare. Usually a situation where the tow companies decline the job for whatever reason. Last one I saw was them towing a flooded jetski back to a launch ramp.