If for nothing else but the towing, if you're on the Chesapeake, I'd highly recommend becoming a Boat U.S. member and getting the unlimited tow insurance. I have no affiliation with Boat U.S. or anything/one related to them or their Tow Boat service. I say this because the points rewards at West Marine can add up, and you need stuff, and sailing the Chesapeake can be like sailing an unpredictable mud puddle. Any sailor who claims to have spent any significant time on the Chesapeake and never run aground is lying about something, either time on the water or hitting bottom. And I say this sheepishly admitting that my unlimited Tow Boat insurance saved my proverbial bacon a butt load of money one afternoon sailing an area I wasn't too familiar with, distracted by guests, and all wrong, 4th of July, hard aground, and getting blown on harder. Just happened to be a Boat U.S. Tow Boat in the vicinity that watched it all happen. After it became apparent we were going nowhere, he putted over and asked if I needed a hand. I asked if my unlimited Boat U.S. would cover it. Yes. The effort required to get us off was beyond my expectation - he really had to put some power into it. Like I said, it was an everything went wrong event. All said and done, I get a copy of the bill I would have paid if I had not had insurance. It was over $800 (can't remember the exact amount). In addition to a copy of the bill I did not have to pay, there was a West Marine gift certificate and thank you note for being a Boat U.S. member. Think the gift certificate was for $50, actually may have been more - I'm sitting here thinking it almost paid for the unlimited insurance plan. I think it was the second year I had signed up for it. I almost didn't. It had been something like 20 years since I had last run aground, and I had sailed home after loosing the engine before. I didn't need it. Got it anyway, and wow, saved my butt - now I wouldn't not get it. Just my $.02.