These guides cover emergency towing, distress procedures, and rescue services — on both sides of the Atlantic. Read them before you need them: the moment a tow line parts or a Mayday call must go out is not the time to learn the procedure.
Sea Tow vs. BoatUS: Choosing a Towing Membership
The two major US boating assistance networks compared — cost, coverage limits, offshore rules, when the USCG steps in instead, and what either membership actually gets you.
- BoatUS $99/yr vs Sea Tow $185/yr
- Coverage limits offshore
- When USCG takes over
How to Tow Another Vessel: Line, Bridle, and Speed
The Good Samaritan obligation under maritime law, making contact on VHF 16, rigging a tow line that will not fail your cleat, towing speed limits, and the emergency release procedure.
- 150 ft minimum in open water
- 3–4 kt maximum tow speed
- Bridle vs. single stern cleat
USCG Distress Procedures: Mayday, Pan-Pan, and EPIRB
The complete distress signal hierarchy — visual, sound, radio, and electronic. The exact Mayday call format, when to press the DSC button, when to activate the EPIRB, and what to do while waiting for the Coast Guard.
- DSC button faster than voice Mayday
- EPIRB triggers COSPAS-SARSAT
- Stay with the boat as long as possible
The RNLI and European Sea Rescue Services
How the Royal National Lifeboat Institution works, how to call for help in UK and Irish waters, the lifeboat types, and equivalent charity rescue organizations across France, the Netherlands, and Germany.
- Free to callers — charity-funded
- VHF 16 or 999/112
- SNSM, KNRM, DGzRS equivalents
Editorial Note
These guides are practical references, not substitutes for formal safety training. Regulations, membership costs, and SAR response capabilities change. Verify current membership terms with BoatUS and Sea Tow directly. For USCG regulations consult navcen.uscg.gov; for UK waters, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. The safety section has additional offshore and heavy-weather resources.