Frequently Asked Questions
- What is ACAPT?
- What is a covered ungrounding?
- What is NOT covered?
- How far out will you go to get me for a tow?
- Will you go to Astoria or Bonneville?
- How do we contact you when we're on the water?
- What if we're not in the Portland/Vancouver and Lower Columbia River area?
- Is there any limit to the number or length of tows?
- What if I run out of fuel?
- Will you jump start me at the dock?
- How do I arrange for a dock-to-dock tow?
- What if I'm not a member?
- What does "port-to-port" mean?
- How many and what kinds of boats do you operate?
- What is your average response time?
- Where do you patrol?
"Excellent Service! the Captain [Ivan] was very helpful and courteous. Brought gas and stayed to make sure it started. (Which it didn't), then towed us all the way back to [the] dock where our trailer was. Great Service!." Tanya Banks~ member since July 2007
Member Testimonial ~ October 15, 2007
ACAPT is a program that recognizes and distinguishes the professional who is willing to adhere to high standards of service, training, and equipment. The ACAPT distinction is held in high regard by the U.S. Coast Guard because they know that to be accredited by ACAPT, an applicant must meet all of the standards set forth by industry experts and be inspected by an ACAPT approved marine surveyor. In recognition of their professional efforts, Sea Tow® Portland/Vancouver and Lower Columbia River has received ACAPT accreditation.
2. What is a covered ungrounding?
Sea Tow will provide free ungrounding assistance to covered vessels when all six of the following conditions apply:
- The vessel is not in the surf or surf line
- The vessel is in a stable, safe position
- The vessel is surrounded by water on all sides
- The vessel has some movement (i.e. rocking)
- The vessel can be refloated in 15 minutes or less by one Sea tow boat
- The vessel can continue its voyage safely once it has been refloated
If all six conditions do not apply it is not a covered service and may be a salvage situation. If you have any doubt, ask your Sea Tow Captain at the scene.
Fuel, parts, diver services, and any salvage, including hard ungroundings, are not included in your membership. It is important that you maintain a hull insurance policy to cover you in the event of damage to your vessel.
4. How far out will you go to get me for a tow?
There is no preset limit. If we can hear you on the VHF and conditions permit we'll come get you. In the Portland/Vancouver area we patrol about a 20-mile radius from the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers—a total of 82 miles of river. Even if you are outside that area we will respond if we hear the call or if it is relayed to us. We routinely tow from Bonneville Dam on the Columbia or the falls at Oregon City on the Willamette. We also maintain a boat year round in the Lower Columbia River with a full time Captain who manages the area. Off shore distance is dependent on safety and conditions. If the bar is closed or weather prevents us from safely dispatching a boat, we will work with the US Coast Guard. If necessary they will will bring you to safe harbor, we'll meet you and get you to your desired destination.
5. Will you go to Astoria or Bonneville?
In May 2005 the Rescue 3 went into full service in Astoria/Ilwaco covering up to 40 miles off shore. We do not typically respond to calls for service above the Bonneville dam. If we can't come and get you right away, we will work with local authorities and the Coast Guard to ensure you are towed to a safe location. As a Sea Tow member if you ever have to engage another commercial tower because you're out of the area, you have $5,000 of out-of-area coverage. Arrangements will be made by Sea Tow Services International, but save your receipt and we'll reimburse you 100% up to your per incident limit. If you have any questions feel free to call us at (503) 452-1189 and we'll go over the details with you.
6. How do we contact you when we're on the water?
Call "Sea Tow, Sea Tow, Sea Tow" on your VHF radio on channel 16. We monitor the VHF 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In most cases a call for "Sea Tow" on VHF-16 will get you a prompt response from a Sea Tow Captain who is on patrol in your area.
In the rare event you do not get a response contact the Coast Guard on Channel 16 and ask them to relay a message to us. When you get a response you will be directed to change to one of our working channels, probably Channel 19A.
If you do not have a VHF, you can call our local dispatch center at (503) 452-1189 or our international call center at (800) 4SEATOW (473-2869). Either one can get our captains underway to you quickly.
7. What if we're not in the Portland/Vancouver or Lower Columbia River area?
Sea Tow has franchises and affiliates throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, Australia, and Europe, and we are growing every day. To find the location nearest you, visit the Sea Tow International homepage locator here. In the event you are away from any Sea Tow coverage area call (800) 4SEATOW (473-2869) and we'll help you arrange whatever services you might need. Sea Tow International will reimburse you up to $5,000 per incident for any member services you incur while outside our service areas.
8. Is there any limit to the number or length of tows?
No, there is no pre-set limit.
We will bring you up to 10 gallons of gas. If you need more than 10 gallons make sure you let us know before we head your way. We'll do what we can to bring you what you need. Members will be charged for the fuel but not for the run time. If necessary we'll tow you to the closest fuel dock.
10. Will you jump start me at the dock?
Generally we do not provide jump starts to begin your journey but rather to complete it if you have a problem while on the water. We recommend if you have a dead battery at the beginning of your journey you have the battery tested and charged before you leave. We will respond to your location to make an assessment if you have not yet left the dock. The decision to jump start is always at the discretion of the on-scene captain and safety is always our first concern.
11. How do I arrange for a dock-to-dock tow?
Dock-to-dock tows are subject to the discretion of the local franchise. In most cases we try to schedule dock-to-dock tows for our slack time—typically weekday mornings—never on weekends. Please call us 24 hours in advance and we'll try to arrange something that will work for all concerned parties. The owner of the vessel must be present before we begin the tow and is required to travel onboard during the tow. Members are entitled to two free dock-to-dock tows per calendar year after being a member for 30 days, and only on their primary vessel. Additional tows are subject to our normal dock-to-dock rates.
All Sea Tow services are available to non-members. However, members receive priority service and on busy weekends, non-member service may be declined. Non-members are charged at our regular, posted rates. All our charges are port-to-port.
TOWING RATES
1 hour minimum
Scheduled Towing/Service
per hour $200.00 Sunrise to sunset
Daytime Towing/Service per hour $250.00 Sunrise to sunset
After Hours Towing/Service per hour $275.00 Sunset to sunrise
Large Vessel Surcharge per hour $25.00. Applies to vessels greater than 50
ft. length over all
All Towing/Service
rates are based on the port-to-port running time of the towboat. Inclusive
of all the time for travel of the towboat to your vessel, towing your vessel
to it’s destination, the time is takes to secure your vessel and complete
paperwork, and the return travel time for the towboat back to the position
from which it was dispatched. These rates apply to non-members only.
Sea Tow Members receive these services at no charge!
13. What does "port-to-port" mean?
As with most service organizations, Sea Tow Portland/Vancouver and Lower Columbia River charges for the use of our vessel from the time we leave our docks until the time we get back, i.e., "port-to-port."
14. How many and what kinds of boats do you operate?
We have 3 boats. The Dennis D, named for Capt Deborah Horan's late father, is a 2003 Seaswirl Striper 2601 Walk around (Alaska cabin) with a 230HP Volvo-Penta Diesel and a Duo-Prop out drive. The Seaswirl is an excellent towing platform particularly well-suited to the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. It is a 40 MPH boat and burns just 4.5 GPH of diesel. This means that the Dennis D can be on patrol rather than sitting back at the dock waiting for you to call.
Our second boat, the Mary P, named for Capt Deborah Horan's mother, is 21-foot Triumph Center Console, the Mary P is a 50 MPH boat with a 150 HP Evinrude outboard engine that burns just 6 GPH. With a draft of only 14-inches, the Triumph will be used for areas where shoaling is an issue. South side of Government Island? No problem. Elk Rock? You bet!
This boat was specially designed for Sea Tow operations by founder, Capt Joseph Frohnhoefer and has been in service in other Sea Tow operations for five years. Capt Chris Willis, who uses his Triumph at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, said: "We've had the boat in six-foot seas, had it full of water, had it towing a 50-footer, had it run aground—nothing's bothered it."
Expansion to Astoria has dictated the newest addition to the Sea Tow Portland/Vancouver and Lower Columbia River fleet. Rescue 3 is an excellent all weather vessel capable of work in and around the Columbia River Bar and beyond. SeaSport is a first choice for many law enforcement agencies as well as a favorite of fishermen and women everywhere. Exceptional storage spaces are available so we can keep extensive salvage gear on board and ready to deploy at a moments notice.
Sea Tow Portland/Vancouver and Lower Columbia River plans to continue expanding its fleet down the Oregon coast as our membership base continues to grow.
15. What is your average response time?
Response times vary based on the weather, time of day, and location. Our boats are strategically situated and we increase our staffing for busy weekends and holidays. On average our daytime response in the greater Portland/Vancouver area is less than 30 minutes. After dark that time increases to about one hour depending on conditions.
Offshore response times are longer, again depending on the conditions. A typical
response to the CR buoy is about 45 minutes.
Remember hot busy weekends for Sea Tow is like cold snowy weekdays for a tow truck company and your wait times may be longer. Heavy boating activity at any particular time may mean we have to triage our calls. Sea Tow members ALWAYS receive priority over non-members and life or death situations take precedence over all others.
The important thing to remember is we always respond as quickly as we possibly can given conditions and safety.
While in no way should this be construed as a limitation of our service area, we patrol on the Columbia River from Saint Helens (Buoy 77) to Camas/Washougal, and on the Willamette River from the mouth to Oregon City. We are frequently outside of those areas when we are called by a boater who needs assistance. Again, this is not a limit, but keeping our boats stationed in those areas makes for a better response time.
For the Lower Columbia, patrol areas are dependent of where the fish are biting. When the boaters are offshore that's where we spend our time. When the fish move up stream we will follow.
Remember, as a member, wherever you boat you are covered.
Sea Tow® and Sea Spill® are registered trademarks of Sea Tow Services International, Inc. All other products mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.
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