s I have said many times, I am a do-it-yourself type of owner. I like doing my own maintenance and repairs. Because of that, I usually don’t worry about problems on the boat. BUT … there are times that I do think about running into a problem that I can’t fix on the water. What do I do then?

Well for one thing, I am on a small lake and usually there are other boaters around. Sure, there are nights when I don’t see anyone close by. And for that reason, I do keep a handheld radio on the pontoon. I am in a pretty good situation, but if you’re on a bigger lake or running in coastal waters, getting help isn’t always as easy.

So what happens if something fails while boating and you need a tow? I’m thinking with a pontoon, its usually going to be a power failure. I do believe that pontoons are very safe boats, but still … engines quit. I remember when out skiing one night years ago, we blew up the old Evinrude 75hp V4 outboard. And by blew up, I mean we broke a connecting rod and punched holes in the cylinders and crankcase. It happened on a small lake and no one was around. That was one time I wanted a tow; instead, we used water skis as paddles. It was a long, tiring trip back to the dock.

Anyway, towing is good, usually. There is a frightening story of a boat owner who abandoned his disabled boat and opted to ride on the towboat. Seems harmless enough, but the story goes on that the person providing the tow claimed the crippled boat as salvage. I have heard other variations of this type of thing happening. Is this some sort of urban legend or can this happen?

Ultimately there is truth to the story. Marine salvage has been around for a long time. It is a way to financially compensate or reward other boaters for helping crippled or disabled boats. Salvage laws took effect when most of the boats on the ocean were moving cargo. The captain of a ship on a paying voyage was reluctant to go out of his way to help if there was not some sort of remuneration.

In a quick summary, to claim salvage there are three basic requirements. First the vessel has to be in peril. Second it has to result in a successful rescue of people and property. And third, the rescuer has to do the job voluntarily. In these cases, the rescuer can request payment from the owner. Usually the type of risk, size of the boat, etc. will establish the salvage reward. Typically, it is a percentage of the “salvage” value.

Salvage situations like this are not just for the big boats. Almost any boat or vessel on navigable waters can be subject to this salvage claim (except if the boat is on a pond or lake, which is good for a lot of us).

Doing a bit of research, I learned that there are basically two types of salvage, contract salvage and chance salvage (or what’s also known as pure salvage).

Basically, if a stranger offers aid and provides aid, that is a chance or pure salvage. Contract salvage is an agreement between the vessel owner and the “salvor.”

If you operate on navigable waters, it is a good idea to check into buying emergency towing coverage. You can get it through a separate policy or as additional coverage with your existing marine insurance policy.

Typically, towing coverage is calculated on an hourly rate compared to a percentage of the salvage value. If you have time to call and contract a vessel towing service, get a copy of their agreement and what they will charge per hour to tow your vessel.

Some insurance policies will include towing coverage; just make sure the amount of emergency towing coverage in your policy will be appropriate for the locations you will be using your boat.

If you do not have emergency towing included on your policy, you should investigate buying a separate policy to provide that service. The difference between towing and salvage is something all boaters should look into. Make sure you discuss the coverages with your agent or the organization you purchased the coverage through.