OAHU, HI, July 14, 2009 -- Capt. Michael Parker has opened Vessel Assist Oahu, Hawaii, an on-the-water towing company that recreational boaters and anglers can call to get reliable assistance day or night.  Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, and tows back to safe harbor are the most common requests.

Located at Kewalo Basin Marina in Honolulu, a 28-foot response boat, Hoikekai , is stationed at the new towing port.  The vessel is fully rigged for marine towing and salvage work, including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, an air compressor, dive gear and a battery "jump pack" to handle dead batteries.  It can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and "Vessel Assist" lettering along its side.

"Seas can get pretty rough," said Parker, who is U.S. Coast Guard licensed and has worked in the marine industry all of his life. "Out here on the open Pacific Ocean, a simple engine breakdown can get serious quickly. Our goal is to get you back to port safely, 24-hours-a-day."

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach Vessel Assist Oahu by calling the company directly at 808-277-0772; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatU.S. toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

Vessel Assist Oahu joins a nationwide fleet of over 600 towboats which are part of BoatU.S. - Boat Owners Association of The United States - the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services.  BoatU.S. offers "Unlimited" on-the-water towing plans for saltwater boaters and anglers for just $135 a year, which includes BoatU.S. membership.  Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident. Visit BoatUS.com/towing for more information.

On-the-Water Towboat Co. for Recreational Boaters and Anglers Opens on Tennessee River in Decatur, AL

Fifth TowBoatUS Location on 652-Mile Waterway

DECATUR, Ala., June 4, 2009 – Local business owner Capt. Jim Helms has opened TowBoatUS Decatur, AL, an on-the-water towing company that recreational boaters and anglers can call to get reliable assistance and tows back to a launch ramp or marina day or night. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, and ungrounding services are some common requests for help, but Helms also says engine breakdowns caused by aquatic weeds being ingested into motorboat cooling systems is a problem unique to the area.

TowBoatUS Decatur, located at mile marker 305 at the Riverwalk Marina in Decatur, is the second port for Helms, who opened TowBoatUS Scottsboro, AL in 2004. Stationed at TowBoatUS Decatur is a 25-foot Munson Pilothouse response vessel fully rigged for marine towing and salvage work, including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, dive gear and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries. It can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along its side.

The port's service area includes Lake Guntersville to the Joe Wilson Dam. Helms says he sometimes trailers the response vessel to avoid going through locks, providing a quicker response to boaters in need of assistance.

Five local US Coast Guard-licensed captains operate the vessel. Helms, who has a commercial license, also has extensive HAZMAT experience with fuel spills and his company has worked with the Alabama Marine Police for several years. He is also owner of Precision Auto and Truck Collision Repair in nearby Scottsboro which offers roadside towing and vehicle repair services and has been in business since the early 1980s.

This is the fifth TowBoatUS port on the Tennessee River, joining a nationwide fleet of over 600 towboats which are part of BoatUS – Boat Owners Association of The United States – the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Decatur by calling the company directly at 256-259-5814; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters and Anglers Expands With New Location on Lake Murray, SC

LAKE MURRAY, S.C., June 3, 2009 – Just four years after opening TowBoatUS locations on Grand Bahama and in the Abacos, Captain Jess Cooley has opened a third location, TowBoatUS Lake Murray, SC, that gives recreational boaters and anglers a reliable way to summon on-the-water assistance day or night. The new port is located in Chapin, and three local captains will operate the towboats. They are Jimmy Takach, Jim Holland and Randy Saliga, all with extensive knowledge of the lake.

Cooley, a former Navy commander, says battery jump starts, fuel drop offs and tows back to a launch ramp are some common requests from boaters. The lake has many isolated coves and inlets, and Cooley believes that his three captains' local knowledge is invaluable in locating disabled vessels in need of assistance.

Stationed at the port are two, 20-foot Shamrock response boats loaded with a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, dive gear and battery “jump packs” to handle dead batteries. The vessels can be identified by their distinctive red hulls, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along their sides.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Lake Murray by calling the company directly at 888-604-0119; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters and Anglers Expands With New Location on Lake Wylie, NC

LAKE WYLIE, N.C., May 26, 2009 – Just three years after opening TowBoatUS Lake Norman, local entrepreneurs Steve Branum and Jeremy Thompson have opened a second location, TowBoatUS Lake Wylie. The on-the-water towing and assistance company gives recreational boaters and anglers a reliable way to summon on-the-water assistance day or night. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to a launch ramp are some common requests.

Branum says the new home construction ringing the lake is bringing more boaters, many who enjoy watersports such as wakeboarding or tubing. “We want to be here to help them get back home safely. With no channel markers and frequent fog, it's easy to get into trouble if you are not familiar,” said Branum.

Capt. Kevin Scott, a USCG licensed captain, is the new port's manager of operations. Located at Pier 49 Marina on the North Carolina side of the Buster Boyd Bridge, the new port joins a nationwide BoatUS towing fleet of over 600 towing assistance vessels.

Stationed at the port is 22-foot center console response boat loaded with a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, dive gear and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries. The vessel can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along its sides.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Lake Wylie by calling the company directly at 704-588-5464; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters Opens on Lake Texoma

LAKE TEXOMA, TX, May 19, 2009 – BoatUS Towing Services has partnered with it's first on-the-water towing and assistance company on Lake Texoma, giving recreational boaters and anglers the ability to summon reliable on-the-water assistance 24 hours a day. TowBoatUS Lake Texoma offers battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to launch ramps or marinas.

TowBoatUS Lake Texoma is owned by Capt. William “Joe” Winner and his wife, Roxan. “It took us nearly a year to get up and running because of the stringent requirements set by the various government agencies as well as meeting BoatUS' high standards,” said Roxan.

TowBoatUS Lake Texoma is located at Cedar Mills Marina in Gordonville, TX. The location is the third TowBoatUS towing port in the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth region and it joins a nationwide fleet of over 600 towboats. “

Stationed at the port is a 23-foot Parker Pilothouse response vessel loaded with a full complement of towing equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries. The vessel can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along its sides.

Joe Winner has been a US Coast Guard licensed captain for 10 years and has been boating for over 25 years. He says that with over a dozen marinas on the lake and thousands of boats, his service should be invaluable. “You can call us day or night and we'll be there.” While current lake levels are okay, fluctuating water levels sometimes recede, leading boaters to accidentally run aground. “You can boat on the lake one weekend in water that's deep enough, but a week or two later in some areas it can get too shallow for sailboats or powerboats,” he adds. Running aground can damage a motorboat's drive gear leaving the boat disabled with no way to return to the launch ramp or marina.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Lake Texoma by calling the company directly at 903-267-0767; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters Comes to Lake Maurepas, LA

LAKE MAUREPAS, La., May 18, 2009 – New Orleans native Capt. Mark Tupper has opened TowBoatUS Lake Maurepas, an on-the-water towing and assistance company that recreational boaters can call to get reliable on-the-water assistance day or night. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to a launch ramp are the most common requests. “It's a lot easier and safer to call us for help rather than having to ask a friend to find you and bring you back to the ramp,” said Capt. Tupper.

This is the third TowBoatUS location in Louisiana for Tupper, who first opened TowBoatUS West Lake Pontchartrain in 2006, followed by TowBoatUS East Lake Pontchartrain last year. Tupper has hired local Ascension Parish resident Andrew Gross, also a US Coast Guard licensed captain, to manage the port.

TowBoatUS Lake Maurepas is located on the Diversion Canal in St. Amant. Stationed at the port are two response boats — a 20-foot Twin-V and 33-foot Broward, formerly used as a crew boat. Both vessels carry a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries. They can be identified by their distinctive red hulls, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along their sides. The two vessels join a nationwide fleet of over 600 towboats, and are part of BoatUS – Boat Owners Association of The United States – the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services.

TowBoatUS Lake Maurepas' service area includes the Amite, Tickfaw, and Blind Rivers as well as Lake Maurepas, the Diversion Canal and nearby bayous. Tupper says the biggest reason boaters and anglers call for non-emergency assistance is when they have engine troubles or run out of gas. “It happens to the best of us,” said Tupper.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Lake Maurepas by calling the company directly at 985-373-6330; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters Opens on Lake Charles, LA

LAKE CHARLES, La., May 14, 2009 – Capt. Fred Leger, a local business owner and Lake Charles native, has opened TowBoatUS Lake Charles, LA, an on-the-water towing and assistance company that recreational boaters can call to get reliable on-the-water assistance day or night.  Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to a launch ramp are the most common requests.

Capt. Leger also operates Bayou Wrecker and Towing, a vehicle recovery business in Lake Charles which he has owned for 20 years. He grew up on Grand Lake and has run family shrimp boats as well as been a captain for Crowley Maritime. 

TowBoatUS Lake Charles is located next to the Interstate 210 bridge.  Stationed at the port is a 26-foot Monarch, a former commercial crew boat loaded with a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries.  Capt. Leger also trailers a 20-foot aluminum response boat for assisting boaters and anglers in shallow marshes around the area.  Both vessels can be identified by their distinctive red hulls, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along their sides. 

A US Coast Guard licensed Captain, Leger says the biggest reason boaters call for non-emergency assistance is for ungrounding help.  “Boaters sometimes don't realize that there is only six inches of water at Sabine Pass between the ship channel and the lake,” he said.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Lake Charles by calling the company directly at 337-497-0888; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters Expands with New Location on Lake Anna, VA

LAKE ANNA, Va., May 13, 2009 -- Capt. Peter Merrick, owner of TowBoatUS Ingram Bay in Kilmarnock, Va., has opened a second location, TowBoatUS Lake Anna.  The on-the-water towing and assistance company gives recreational boaters a reliable way to summon on-the-water assistance day or night.  Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to a launch ramp are some common requests. 

“Boaters and anglers have been asking us for a long time when we would open up on the lake,” said Capt. Merrick.  “Since we have professional captains and all the right equipment, they know it's a lot easier to call us rather than have to ask a friend to find them and safely get them back to the dock or launch ramp,” he added.

TowBoatUS Lake Anna is located at Anna Point Marina near the Route 208 bridge. It is operational 24-hours a day, seven days a week from May 1 to September 13.  Off-season service is also available.  The new port joins a nationwide BoatUS towing fleet of over 600 towing assistance vessels.

Stationed at the port is 16-foot center console response boat loaded with a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, dive gear and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries.  With a shallow draft and fold-down radar arch, the vessel can easily pass under all of the low bridges on the lake to reach stranded boaters in any location.  The vessel can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along its sides.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Lake Anna by calling the company directly at 804-435-7650; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.   

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters Opens on Chickamauga Lake, TN

CHICKAMAUGA LAKE, Tenn., April 22, 2009 -- Capt. Shane O'Neal has opened TowBoatUS Chickamauga Lake, an on-the-water towing and assistance company that recreational boaters can call to get reliable on-the-water assistance day or night. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to a launch ramp are some common requests.

TowBoatUS Lake Chickamauga is located at mile marker 477 at Island Cove Marina, and the port's service area includes the Tennessee River 50 miles north and south of the marker. Stationed at the port is a 26-foot center console response boat loaded with a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, dive gear and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries. The vessel can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along its sides.

It is the third TowBoatUS towing port on the Tennessee River, joining TowBoatUS Scottsboro, AL, and TowBoatUS Pickwick Dam, TN. It also joins a nationwide fleet of over 600 towing assistance vessels.

The USCG licensed O'Neal was raised in Chattanooga and is also a firefighter for the Catoosa County Fire Department. He says the biggest reason boaters and anglers call for assistance is for help getting off shallow sand bars. “Outside the buoy markers and secondary channels there's only a foot or two of water,” said O'Neal. Striking submerged logs is also common, “Especially at night,” adds O'Neal. The collisions can disable and sometimes shear off drive gear or props, leaving a boat disabled with no way to get back to the launch ramp.

Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Chickamauga Lake by calling the company directly at 423-326-9768; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

Cape Coral, FL On-the-Water Towing Company for Recreational Boaters & Anglers Expands with New Locations

CAPE CORAL, Fl., April 15, 2009 – TowBoatUS Cape Coral, the on-the-water towing company that offers recreational boaters reliable on-the-water assistance day or night, has added two new operating locations. Company owners Capt. Richard Paul and Capt. Jay McMillin have opened TowBoatUS Ft. Myers, located at City Yacht Basin, and TowBoatUS Ft. Myers Beach, located in Siesta Isles. The US Coast Guard-licensed captains say the two new ports will decrease response times for boaters seeking non-emergency help on the Caloosahatchee River east of Ft. Myers and near Bonita Springs. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to a launch ramp are common requests.

Stationed at TowBoatUS Ft. Myers is 22-foot center console response boat with 225-hp Yamaha while TowBoatUS Ft. Myers Beach has a 21-foot Atlas Pompano with 115-hp Yanmar diesel inboard. Both vessels have shallow drafts necessary for plying the region's skinny waters and carry a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, dive gear and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries. They can be identified by their distinctive red hulls, white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along their sides.

The company's service area includes from Redfish Pass south to Wiggins Pass, and the Caloosahatchee Waterway all the way up to Moore Haven on Lake Okeechobee. Offshore the company offers a 75-mile “extended” service area in the Gulf.

Paul and McMillin first met over two decades ago working at Publix Supermarkets. “We have retained our customer service focus,” says McMillin, who along with Paul were former store managers before retiring and purchasing TowBoatUS Cape Coral in 2005. McMillin has been in the Cape Coral/Ft. Myers area since 1960. “I'm not yet considered a local,” he says with a chuckle. Paul grew up in the Lakeland/Winter Haven area and learned to fish as a child living on Little Gasparilla Island, where he took the family boat to school. Both had extensive boating experience before going into business together and are certified scuba divers.

Captain McMillin says the region sees may transient boaters who are unfamiliar with local waters, which sometimes leads to trouble. “It's very shallow around here, but the good news is the bottom is sand so we can usually get them on their way with a gentle pull,” he says.

BoatUS offers "Unlimited" on-the-water towing plans in Florida for just $135 a year, which includes BoatUS membership . Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident. Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach all three ports by calling the company directly at 239-945-1664; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters and Anglers Opens on the Hudson River

HASTINGS, NY, July 7, 2009 - Capt. George Farrell has opened TowBoatU.S. Yonkers, NY on the Hudson River, an on-the-water towing company that recreational boaters and anglers can call to get reliable assistance and tows back to a launch ramp, marina or service facility. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, and ungrounding services are some of the more common reasons boaters on the Hudson call for assistance, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

TowBoatU.S. Yonkers is located at Tower Ridge Yacht Club in Hastings, NY and the port's service area includes the Hudson River from Manhattan north to the Bear Mountain Bridge.  Capt. Farrell has a 24-foot Privateer response vessel rigged for marine towing including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, and a battery "jump pack" to handle dead batteries.  The  vessel can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and "TowBoatU.S." lettering along its side.  

A Yonkers, NY native, Farrell is also a detective with the city's police department and was formerly the marine patrol officer in charge of marine law enforcement training.  He is also currently commodore of Tower Ridge Yacht Club which is located just north of the Harvest on Hudson restaurant.

The new port joins a nationwide fleet of over 600 towboats which are part of BoatU.S. - Boat Owners Association of The United States - the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services.

BoatU.S. offers "Unlimited" on-the-water towing plans  for coastal salt and brackish waters for just $135 a year, which includes BoatU.S. membership.  Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident.  Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatU.S. Yonkers by calling the company directly at 914-400-8276; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatU.S. toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

On-the-Water Towboat Company for Recreational Boaters and Anglers Opens on Sturgeon Bay, WI

STURGEON BAY, WI, June 22, 2009 - Bay Marine in Sturgeon Bay, Inc., has opened TowBoatU.S. Sturgeon Bay, WI, an on-the-water towing company that recreational boaters and anglers can call to get reliable assistance and tows back to a launch ramp, marina or service facility. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, and ungrounding services are some of the more common reasons to need assistance, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the summer.

The port's service area includes Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay north to Fish Creek, and on Lake Michigan from Baileys Harbor to Manitowoc. Three local U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains operate the vessel.

Stationed at Bay Marine is a 30-foot former U.S. Coast Guard vessel fully rigged for marine towing and salvage work, including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, and a battery "jump pack" to handle dead batteries.  The towing vessel can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and "TowBoatU.S." lettering along its side.

For over 40 years Bay Marine  has offered boaters a wide range of mechanical, electrical and fiberglass repair services, as well a fuel dock and a 70-ton boat lift for hauling vessels up to 100 feet.

This is the 41st TowBoatU.S. port on the Great Lakes, joining a nationwide fleet of over 600 towboats which are part of BoatU.S.  - Boat Owners Association of The United States - the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services.

BoatU.S. offers "Unlimited" on-the-water towing plans for the Great Lakes (fresh water) for just $58 a year, which includes BoatU.S. membership.  Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident.  Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatU.S. Sturgeon Bay by calling the company directly at 920-743-6526; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatU.S. toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.