@Bill D , wow this brings back some memories and chills. Here is the link to my thread from that trip.
https://jetboaters.net/threads/equipment-failures-and-getting-home-on-a-flat-bed-tow-truck.7300/
I have Aaa insurance and roadside assistance, gold/platinum member for over a decade/almost two. All of my cars are covered with them as well as my home and we have life insurance with them. My boat is covered by boat u.s. And I subscribe to their roadside/tow boat service as well.
Aaa will tow your vehicle how far depends on the level of service you have but I believe the minimum is 50 miles per incident up to 3 times per year and they have options for up to 500 miles. You can no longer have them tow you 50, stop, call them back to tow you another 50 in the same day, etc., until you reach your mileage limit for the year. They do not offer any on water towing assistance.
Side bar: you can rent a vehicle with a tow hitch but I would look for a company that permits towing with their vehicles to preclude any problems if Murphy's law comes into play. The worst possible outcome being that insurance won't cover so you are out of pocket for all costs. There is a member here who had his tow vechule breakdown on the way home from a distant boating vacation, he ended up unexpectedly buying a new tow vehicle ($40k+). One other option I would consider is putting out a call for help here. If someone here can't get you home maybe they could help you store the boat while you sort out the problems with your tow vehicle.
Boat u.s./tow boat u.s is very much like aaa where roadside and on water assistance is concerned, on paper anyway. Two bad experiences with aaa have taught me to call them when only my road going vehicle is involved. If I have a boat or waverunners in tow, I call boat u.s.
First, I had two flat tires on my boat trailer. The aaa rep spent over an hour looking for the correct tow truck to get my boat home. I ended up calling tow boat u.s.who sent a mobile vehicle repair truck out to put new tires on my trailer (at $100 each for some really old tires but it was late and I really didn't have to do anything but wait and watch).
Second, when My trailer separated from the tow vehicle on the freeway (l put the hitch locking pin behind the tongue instead of through it).
http://yamahajetboaters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=59119&hilit=Disaster&start=15
When I described the problem to aaa and told them all I needed was a floor jack the rep told me that they did not want to take on any liability in such a situation so they didn't send anyone out nor would they refer me to a local tow truck company. Boat u.s. Sent out a tow truck and the guy simply broke out a floor jack to lift the front of the trailer off the ground and back onto the correctly installed tow ball/tongue/hitch. Aaa almost lost me as a customer on that one, I had my family with me on the side of the freeway. I tipped him $20, no other costs were involved.
When the brake caliper on my boat trailer came off its mount, it caused a horrible vibration and I couldn't take the wheel off to remove the caliper which was rotating freely on the rotor so I called boat u.s. Who sent out a flat bed for the boat and trailer. If you are ever in this situation I suggest that you lower the tower, the driver gave me the option but only after the boat/trailer were high up on the flatbed and he didn't have a ladder so I passed. I regretted doing so by the first overpass. Apparently the overpasses have to be at least 14' high, my boat's tower seemed to clear some overpasses by 6" or less, it was a stressful and long 20 mile trip home. When I got home the driver handed me a bill for $400ish but tore it up once he verified I was a tow boat u.s. Member. I tipped him $40 (it's all I had at the time), like before no other costs were involved.
Lesson learned, if you are a trailer boater be ultra prepared for the what if moments and take really good care of your tow vehicle(s) and trailer(s).
