BoatUS is a popular organization among boaters that offers a variety of services and benefits to its members, including boat towing, insurance, and discounts on boating-related products and services. For many boaters, being a member of BoatUS is a smart investment, but it’s important to understand the costs involved. We’ll explore the different membership options and the associated costs to help you determine if a BoatUS membership is right for you.

Membership plans and prices for BoatUS

BoatUS offers four membership plans:

• Basic
• Unlimited Freshwater
• Unlimited Saltwater
• Unlimited Gold

Each plan includes 24/7/365 dispatch service, over 25 benefits and services, service for all boats you own, borrow, or rent, and the opportunity for free enrollment as a West Advantage Gold Rewards Member, earning the highest level of rewards at West Marine. The main difference between the plans is the level of coverage for on-water towing services. Here is a summary of each plan:

Basic Membership: This plan costs $25 per year and covers the first $50 for on-water towing, jump-starts, fuel delivery, and soft ungroundings.

Unlimited Freshwater Towing Membership: This plan costs $99 per year and covers 100% of on-water towing, jump-starts, fuel delivery, and soft ungroundings in all inland lakes, rivers, and waterways (excluding Florida). It also covers 50% of dock-to-dock tows for repairs and reimbursement up to $2,500 for tows outside the TowBoatUS service area.

Unlimited Saltwater Towing Membership: This plan, priced at $165 per year, includes all the benefits of the Freshwater plan plus coverage in all waterways, coastal and inland, including Florida.

Unlimited Gold Towing Membership: This plan costs $200 per year and includes all the benefits of the Unlimited Saltwater Towing Membership, plus 100% coverage for dock-to-dock tows for repairs and reimbursement up to $3,000 for tows outside the TowBoatUS service area.

Factors to consider when choosing a BoatUS membership plan

With so much variation between the pricing of the plans, you’ll want to honestly assess your needs before deciding on a plan.Here are some factors to consider:

1. Frequency of Boating: Consider how often you use your boat. If you use your boat frequently, a higher-level plan may be more suitable since you’ll be on the water more and are more likely to encounter problems that require assistance. If you only go out occasionally or seasonally, you might be fine with the basic membership.
2. Type of Waterway: Consider the type of waterway you frequently navigate. If you’re a freshwater boater, the Unlimited Freshwater Towing Membership would be more appropriate, while if you’re a saltwater boater, the Unlimited Saltwater Towing Membership would be a better fit.
3. Location: Your location can also play a significant role in which plan you choose. If you boat in Florida or coastal areas, the Unlimited Saltwater Towing Membership may be more appropriate, while if you boat inland, the Unlimited Freshwater Towing Membership may be a better option.
4. Budget: Your budget is also a factor to consider. If you’re on a tight budget, the basic membership plan may be more suitable for you, while if you can afford it and require more extensive coverage, the Unlimited Saltwater or Freshwater Towing Memberships may be the better options.

Examples of how to choose a BoatUS membership plan

To illustrate how these factors can influence your decision, let’s consider a few scenarios:

Scenario 1: John frequently boats on the Great Lakes and navigates freshwater areas. Since he uses his boat often and mainly on freshwater, the Unlimited Freshwater Towing Membership would be the better option for him.

Scenario 2: Sarah has a boat and frequently uses it for fishing in the coastal areas of Florida. She needs coverage for saltwater and would benefit from the Unlimited Saltwater Towing Membership.

Scenario 3: Mike has a tight budget but wants coverage for his boat. The basic membership plan would be the most affordable option for him.

Considering these factors and scenarios, you can determine which BoatUS membership plan is most appropriate for your boating needs.