7:33 PM Thu 11 Mar 2010 GMT 'The results of the study probably apply also to Australia' . The Boat Owners' Association of the United States (BoatU.S.) keep a great count of what they do. The result is statistics which tell a story that probably applies roughly to Australia as well. This time it's about why boaters - yachts and powerboats, need a tow. As many yachts cannot reach their mooring or marina without the help of their engine, yachts are well included in these numbers. The BoatU.S. Towing Services, which operates a nationwide on-the-water recreational boat-towing program reports that over 65,000 requests for non-emergency assistance were received by its TowBoatU.S. and Vessel Assist towing fleet in 2009 -- an 8% increase over the previous year. 'The economy may have led many boaters to skimp on routine maintenance, which always means more on-the-water breakdowns,' said BoatU.S. Vice President of Towing Services Jerry Cardarelli. Formerly ranked fourth out of the top five reasons why boaters needed a tow, battery problems jumped to the 2 spot last year and totaled over 10,000 individual requests. The top five reasons why boaters called for on-the-water assistance in 2009 were: 1 General engine failures 2 Battery problems 3 Groundings 4 Out of fuel or fuel related problems 5 Propulsion system failures 'Boaters told us that they forgot to monitor their battery's charge level, delayed replacing a poorly-performing battery, or substituted a less expensive starting battery when a deep-cycle was needed,' said Cardarelli. 'And some boaters simply drained their batteries by running sound systems, refrigerators, and fans,' he added. Advice? Watch your Battery carefully. (See recent Sail-World Cruising story 'During 2010, we suggest boaters should be vigilant about battery charge levels and basic maintenance such as cleaning or replacing corroded wiring,' said Cardarelli. 'Spending a little now could save you from an expensive tow, not to mention the aggravation,' he added. About BoatU.S. Towing Services: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing over half a million members with a wide array of consumer services, including on-the-water towing assistance by Sail-World Cruising Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:

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