As owners of these types of boats we probably don't think about how to handle these kinds of situations. The usual advice for dealing with a tow company is to get the estimate up front before they start to do anything. At particular issue is whether the job is considered to be a simple tow or a salvage operation. The difference in costs and legal implications are huge between the two, and something you don't want to find out about after the fact if you can avoid it.

The one gripe we've had as a club was during last year's C-100 when they came to tow the I-20 with the injured sailor. One of the boats took the sailor aboard and was almost to the home port in Galesville when the operator informed the captain he had to turn around and go to the Eastern Shore instead. The injured sailor then had to endure the ride back across the Bay (in very rough conditions) and then take an ambulance ride back to the Westerm Shore to go to the hospital there. Very unnecessary...