PHOTO COURTESY BOATUS

Captains Mike Brown and Jared Smith, who met while working at a marina in Tennessee, are the new owners of TowBoatUS Lake Cumberland in Kentucky and TowBoatUS Dale Hollow Lake in Kentucky and Tennessee.

“We kept talking about it and how it would be a great opportunity for both of us,” Brown said in a statement. “Jared and I kept pulling the numbers until it worked. We’re very excited — it’s our first full-time joint business venture. We’re ready to help when you need us, 24/7.”

The company provides on-water assistance including towing, battery jump, fuel drop-off and soft ungrounding services. TowBoatUS Lake Cumberland has a 22-foot response boat based at Conley Bottom Marina on Lake Cumberland. Brown and Smith say they plan to add a second location at Lake Cumberland Marina later this year. On Dale Hollow Lake, they have a 24-foot boat at Mitchell Creek Marina.