Getting routine on-water assistance on the Chokoloskee Bay and in Everglades National Park’s 10,000 Island region just got better with the opening of TowBoatUS Everglades City. The new towboat port, which offers professional 24/7 on-water towing and assistance to recreational boaters, is expected to shorten response times significantly by eliminating the current 10- to15-mile response by water when dispatched from TowBoatUS Marco Island, the former closest TowBoatUS port north of the national park.
“By keeping a response boat ready 24/7 in Everglades City, we can respond to requests for towing and assistance must faster. It saves us up to two hours of water travel time to come down from Marco Island,” said Capt. Dillman. “Also, our Carolina Skiff response vessel only draws 6 inches. It allows us access to a lot of skinny water, areas we could not get to into before. I think the combination of a shorter response time with the increased coverage area will be a win for boaters and anglers in the 10,000 Islands.”
TowBoatUS Everglades City, Marco Island and Naples are owned by Capt. Dillman and his wife, Dominique. All of the company’s captains are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed. The towing ports are part of the largest 24/7 on-water towing service in North America with more than 300 locations and 600 red TowBoatUS response vessels.
Much like an auto club for recreational boat owners, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers annual on-water Unlimited Towing Memberships for saltwater boaters and anglers for just $175 per year. Services include towing, soft ungrounding, battery jumps and fuel drop-offs. Members receive more than 25 BoatUS benefits including discounts at local fuel docks and transient slips at marinas. Also offered is a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.
Separate from BoatUS on-water towing, the company offers boat salvage and environmental remediation services.
The fastest way to request assistance from TowBoatUS Everglades City, Marco Island and Naples is to download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain. Additionally, the company can be reached at 239-389-1177 or by phoning the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869.
For more, go to BoatUS.com/Towing or call 800-888-4869.