North America’s largest boat towing fleet has expanded its emergency towing services to Center Hill Lake.
TowBoatUS Owner Jared Smith said the new port on Center Hill Lake offers 24-hour coverage for various maritime needs including battery jumps and soft ungroundings. Just like AAA, Smith said the service is available 365 days a year and is fully covered for those who maintain an annual membership.
“It’s just nice knowing that we’re on the water whenever you do have an issue,” Smith said. “Say you have your kids in the boat and you’re trying to figure out what’s going on, it’s nice to know that somebody’s coming to get you and you’re not trying to find somebody.”
Smith said the lake is becoming increasingly busy with more visitors traveling from out of town. Smith said the service allows boaters to return to a ramp or slip safely without having to rely on friends for assistance.
“That one buddy that heckles you for having boating issues is no longer an issue because if you have a problem you call us and we put you back on the trailer or in the slip and you don’t have to tell them unless you want to,” Smith said.
Smith said boaters can request assistance through a mobile app that functions in low cell-service areas or by using a VHF radio on channel 16.
“We’re going to get your location and TowBoat has an app to where if you don’t have service to call out, you can hit request tow,” Smith said. “It works like a text message. It will send into TowBoat, they’ll send us a alert with your location. So then we know exactly where to come get you.”
Smith said the annual membership costs $130 and covers all boats owned, rented, or chartered by the member. Smith said those without a membership are subject to a two-hour minimum charge because of the high costs associated with fuel and boat operation.
“I really hate to charge customers, but fuel is expensive,” Smith said. “Everybody knows what the price is at the pump. The lake prices are even more. Operating a boat is very expensive. So we, we try to stick by those numbers and with a membership, we fill out a invoice. And at the bottom, you sign ‘no payment to boater’. So that the TowBoat itself pays for your tow and you pay zero out of pocket with the membership.”
Smith said the company is currently working to secure a slip location to add an additional response vessel to its fleet.
Pop-up thunderstorms and windy conditions may also affect boaters up until Saturday as they head out to the lake for Memorial Day weekend.
