The new name on the TowBoatUS Santa Cruz response vessel.
When recreational boats break down, run aground or need a little help getting back to the launch ramp or boat slip, the red response boats of Vessel Assist located in Santa Cruz, San Francisco and the California Delta have been there to lend boaters assistance. Now the 24-hour on water towing and assistance service has a new name: TowBoatUS.
The move to rename Vessel Assist to TowBoatUS – with locations in CA, AZ, OR, WA, HI and British Columbia, Canada – recognizes TowBoatUS standing as North America’s largest provider of on water assistance with over 300 locations and 600 towing response vessels.
Other than the name change, local boaters will still see the same familiar, professional captains at the helm. The bright red response boats have “TowBoatUS” in big white letters on each side. All are fully equipped for towing and salvage with dewatering pumps, dive gear, lift bags, towing gear, battery jump packs and extra fuel. Nationwide, the towing service responded to over 70,000 requests for routine assistance last year.
Much like an auto club for boaters, BoatUS offers Unlimited Towing Membership Plans for freshwater boaters, anglers and sailors for just $149 a year that includes BoatUS membership. All plans are good for any boat owned, rented or borrowed. Boaters face costs that can top $700 per incident when they don’t have a towing plan.
All of the locations can be reached by dialing BoatUS 24-hour towing dispatch at 800-391-4869, or with a tap on the BoatUS Towing App or on VHF radio channel 16. To learn more about TowBoatUS towing services, go to BoatUS.com/towing.
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About TowBoatUS:
Celebrating 50 years in 2016, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation’s leading advocate, services and safety group for recreational boaters. We provide our over half-million members with a wide array of helpful services, including 24-hour on water towing that gets you safely home when your boat won’t, will bring you fuel if you run out, jumpstart your dead battery, or provide a gentle pull after you’ve run aground. The TowBoatUS towing fleet is the North America’s largest network of towing ports with over 300 locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels, responding to over 70,000 requests for assistance each year. For more go to BoatUS.com/towing.