BoatUS is renaming its West Coast-based Vessel Assist towing fleet as TowBoatUS.
The national boating advocacy, services and safety organization purchased Vessel Assist in 2003 and since has operated both recreational boat towing fleets under the membership-based BoatUS towing service program.
The transition to TowBoatUS is expected to be completed by early next year.
“Other than a new name on the side of the towboat, BoatUS members and boaters needing assistance 24 hours a day will continue to get the same great, helpful and professional service from our local captains,” BoatUS president Margaret Podlich said in a statement. “There are no pricing changes for any of our annual on-water towing plans.”
Prior to the rebranding, BoatUS offered the recreational boat towing service east of the Rockies under the TowBoatUS banner. The move to rename the red boats of Vessel Assist — located in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, as well as British Columbia, Canada — as the red boats of TowBoatUS emphasizes the towing service’s standing as North America’s largest provider of on-water assistance, with more than 300 locations and 600 towing response vessels.
Services include boat towing, jump starts, soft ungroundings and fuel drop-offs.
“Since our purchase of the Vessel Assist fleet, BoatUS members have seamlessly been able to use either towing fleet for any boat they own, rent or charter anywhere in the U.S.,” BoatUS vice president of towing services Adam Wheeler said. “We will continue to offer unlimited freshwater annual towing service plans for $72 and unlimited saltwater annual towing service plans for $158. Both include BoatUS membership.”
