Sea Tow’s Customer Care Team \ 800-473-2869

When calling for on-water assistance, have the following information ready to expedite your call and dispatch:

1.  Your location (GPS preferred)
2. Your boat details: make, length, color, name if applicable and anything that would distinguish you from other boats in the area
3.  Nature of distress/description of the problem you are having
4.  Where you left from and where you’re heading to
5.  Number of people on board
6.  Whether or not you are anchored

No cell service? Hail Sea Tow on VHF channel 16. Offshore with no service or you’ve hailed Sea Tow on channel 16 with no response? Hail the Coast Guard and ask them to relay to Sea Tow.

IMPORTANT! IN AN EMERGENCY, LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION, ALWAYS HAIL THE COAST GUARD FIRST ON VHF CHANNEL 16.

Before heading out on the water, download the Sea Tow app to reach us directly with one touch.

UNMATCHED MEMBER BENEFITS

Sea Tow has been the premier leader in on-water boating assistance since 1983. With Sea Tow, you pay one annual rate and receive the most comprehensive member benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own or rent. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Center at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post What’s the Best Way to Call Sea Tow? appeared first on Sea Tow.

Sea Tow is known for its distinctive yellow boats out on the water. With that comes priority service, boat towing, and a slew of other membership benefits. But besides that, Sea Tow has some cool clothing, accessories, and giveaway swag!

There are many lucky boaters who have landed some Sea Tow swag from our Sea Styles collection. Whether it’s a hat, a shirt, or a jacket, getting the latest and greatest Sea Tow clothing is always a win! Insiders say some of the best items are found at boat shows like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Atlantic City. But it doesn’t stop there! Your local Sea Tow teams participate in local boat shows, flea markets, fairs, and more. Follow them on Facebook or Instagram to find out where they’ll be next! Meet them in person and see what Sea Styles they might have on hand.

Fun facts about Sea Styles:

1. In 2022, over 3,000 t-shirts were handed out at boat shows
2. Visors are more popular than hats, outselling 2 to 1 in 2022
3. Buffs (or gaiters/yowies as some call them) are the #1 requested item in the southern US – t-shirts are most popular in the north

With so many boaters having Sea Tow clothing, we often see many of our Sea Styles off the water. One of the coolest that we’ve seen to date is of this member on the move through Zion National Park!

MEMBER BENEFITS BEYOND 24/7 TOWING

As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive the most comprehensive benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent lease or bareboat charter. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Team at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post Where Do You See #SeaTow? appeared first on Sea Tow.

Serving local boaters in need for 25 years has been a labor of love for the highly skilled group of Sea Tow Brunswick franchise owners, their captains, and crew in the small coastal village of Brunswick, Ga., just north of the Florida border.

A friendship that started more than 25 years ago with Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, Sea Tow’s founder, led Capt. Bruce Fendig, his late father Edwin Fendig Jr., and his three fellow Brunswick Bar Pilots Association members to open a Sea Tow location. A quarter-century later, the four owners are still taking care of business on Georgia’s Golden Isles.

“One thing we learned from Capt. Joe is how to take care of our members with a personal touch and always be an ambassador of the brand whether we are on duty or off,” Capt. Bruce said.

Similarly, Capt. Pete Murphy of Sea Tow Port Jefferson in New York has accumulated plenty of time on the water over the years. In fact, he’s been cruising the same waters around Port Jefferson and the Long Island Sound since he was 12 years old, which makes the 25th Anniversary of owning Sea Tow Port Jefferson even more special to him.

“It’s hard to believe I have owned this Sea Tow franchise for 25 years,” Capt. Murphy said. “There are a lot of people that helped make it happen, and our commitment to the community is stronger now than ever.”

Capt. Murphy is grateful for the support he has received throughout the last quarter-century and wants to pay it forward. The franchise has sponsored charities like the American Cancer Society Regatta and community beach cleanups. They are active in the Chamber of Commerce and sponsor the Dragon Boat Races and Police Athletic League sports. To help boaters stay safe, Murphy and his team work with the Sea Tow Foundation to maintain a Life Jacket Loaner Station so jackets are available to those in need.

When Capt. Michael Langenbach took ownership of Sea Tow Huntington in New York in 2006, he was a 25-year-old entrepreneur and wasn’t sure what the future would hold. Today, he is celebrating his 15-year milestone.

He and his crew have established a reputation for quality service in their area. Piloting his fleet is an experienced group of captains who not only know the area well but have also cultivated relationships with Sea Tow’s customer base, many of whom have been long-time members, earning Capt. Langenbach recognition from Sea Tow Services International for outstanding customer retention.

Every year the company donates several memberships to raffle off in local fishing tournaments and other charity fundraising events, as well as sponsoring local marine events. Not only do they support local fishing tournaments and other events, but they also provide a life jacket loaner station through the Sea Tow Foundation that allows boaters to borrow a life jacket for the day if needed.

Without a doubt, “personal touch” is a true representation of the way in which all three franchise owners describe their years of service.

Member Benefits Beyond Towing

As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive the most comprehensive benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent lease or bareboat charter. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Team at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post Three Locations and a Combined 65 Years of Service appeared first on Sea Tow.

Captain John grew up on the waters of southern Florida watching and learning from his grandfather.

Captain Glenn Ward was one of the inaugural leaders in the boat towing and salvage industry with experience dating back to 1960 when he opened a dive charter business in Key Largo. Once free towing in non-life-threatening situations was cut from the Coast Guard’s charter in 1983, Captain John’s grandfather was ready to expand his business and provide tows to boaters all over the Florida Keys – much like Sea Tow’s founder, Captain Joe Frohnhoefer.

“My granddad and Captain Joe probably had a lot in common,” Captain John said. “They both were pioneers during the early days of the boat towing business. I learned so much from my granddad over the years. That’s where a great deal of my salvaging knowledge comes from. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for his help and support.”

After spending a decade in the Coast Guard, Captain John purchased his first franchise, Sea Tow Destin, in 2004. Over the next decade, he would become a vital member of the Sea Tow network as he took over three additional franchises – Sea Tow Pensacola, Sea Tow Lake Norman/Lake Wylie and Sea Tow Kerr Lake/Lake Gaston in North Carolina.

During that time, Captain John became a member of Sea Tow’s Disaster Response Team.

Just three months into his ownership at the Destin franchise, Hurricane Ivan hit Florida – making his expertise vital to the area’s recovery efforts following the devastating storm. Captain John has been a key resource in catastrophe response efforts following all the major storms that have made landfall since he joined the Sea Tow network. Everything from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to Harvey and Ian. With each season that rolls in, Captain John is ready for whatever mother nature might throw his way.

“I’ve been a part of the response teams after so many storms that we’re ready for just about anything,” he said. “Whether it’s helping other franchisees, lending a hand to the team at Sea Tow headquarters or providing support to the local boaters here in Florida, I’m here to help.”

HOW SEA TOW CAN HELP

Sea Tow has established relationships with most marine insurers and the experience to safely recover your property while preventing any further damage. If you have an insurance claim reported, we will do our best to work directly with your marine insurance provider. Our boats and equipment are top-of-the-line and built to respond. Learn more here or contact our 24/7 Customer Care Team for assistance.

The post Captain John Ward – A Third Gen Salver appeared first on Sea Tow.

According to 3,500 of our members who responded to the survey, 52% anticipate their boating activity to increase this summer compared to last. Additionally, 20% cite the pandemic as the reason for extending their boating season again in 2021.

“Our member survey has typically been a very strong indicator for seasonal recreational boating trends,” said Kristen Frohnhoefer, President of Sea Tow Services International. “Last year, Sea Tow saw a 34% increase in requests for on-water assistance in the summer of 2020, and our nationwide network of captains are anticipating another busy season for 2021.”

The results also confirm that a significant portion of boaters plan on continuing to implement socially responsible actions and habits while boating this summer:

Other interesting trends include:

With the sale of a record number of new boats in over a decade and an influx of new boaters, Sea Tow noted that in 2020 owners of new boats were 142% more likely to need ungrounding services, 108% more likely to need fuel delivered to them, and 11.2% more likely to need a battery jump. Alternately, new boat owners are 22% less likely to need a tow.

“These numbers are very interesting,” Frohnhoefer said. “They reflect the fact that new boaters are not yet familiar with things like shifting sandbars and hard-to-navigate channels, or how to manage their fuel, like their more seasoned counterparts – which is getting them into trouble and causing them to call us for assistance.”

Member Benefits Beyond Boat Towing

As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive the most comprehensive benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent lease or bareboat charter. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Team at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post Sea Tow Member Survey appeared first on Sea Tow.

Over the course of the last few years, the Hughes’ have been on the lookout for ways to extend Sea Tow’s reach so that boaters all throughout southern North Carolina waters have a helping hand available whenever they may need it. This has led to a significant expansion over the past several months.

The Hughes recently purchased Sea Tow Myrtle Beach, extending their franchise’s reach by an additional 35 miles south.

In addition, Captain Clay recently closed on a brand-new home for Sea Tow Ocean Isle – a four-acre, multi-building headquarters just off the main highway between Shallotte and Ocean Isle.

Previously, Captain Clay and his crew were utilizing three separate locations between their former main office and two storage spaces. Now, the company has its office and storage space for the franchise’s six boats and all of its equipment all in one centralized location, making Captain Clay’s operation run more efficiently than ever before.

“Having all of our boats and gear in one centralized area has saved us a ton of time, and money that’s better spent on helping the local boating community,” Captain Clay said. “It’s allowed us to respond more quickly to calls, which gives us the opportunity to help even more boaters. You can’t put a price on that.”

As the Ocean Isle franchise’s reach has grown over the past several months, so too has its relationship with the local community. In July, Captain Clay and his crew helped save a family of four whose boat had overturned and sunk near Shallotte Inlet. The crew’s swift and efficient response continues to strengthen the Ocean Isle franchise’s relationship with the local Coast Guard and other emergency services.

“We received tons of positive feedback and ‘atta boys’ from the local community,” Captain Clay added. “We’re here to help people, and to make boating fun and safe.”

In his free time, Captain Clay enjoys fishing and spending time with his family. Just last month, he checked off an item on his “bucket list” by catching a 400-pound bluefin tuna in the Outer Banks.

Captain Clay’s 14-year-old son, Parker recently drew an interest in sailing after reading several books about solo, around-the-world sailing races. This lead to Captain Clay purchasing a 25-foot Catalina sailboat, which the family enjoys on the weekends.

Ultimately, that sense of family togetherness is something Captain Clay and his wife want to spread to the local boating community.

The Ocean Isle franchise currently operates nine Life Jacket Loaner Stations across their service area and are hoping to increase that number in the coming months. They also help out in the local school system and with fishing tournaments. Captain Clay is even on the foundation board for his local hospital.

“We love this community, so we try to take every opportunity we can to help it grow and prosper,” he said. “Our county is the fastest-growing county in the state. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

MEMBER BENEFITS BEYOND 24/7 TOWING

As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive the most comprehensive benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own or rent. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Team at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post Captain’s Corner: Clay Hughes, Sea Tow Ocean Isle appeared first on Sea Tow.

Though technology has dramatically changed over three decades, two things haven’t: Capt. Tom’s ironclad commitment to priority service and his unwavering leadership in mentoring the next generation of boaters.

“This is an impressive milestone for Capt. Tom and one we’re proud to celebrate with him,” said Sea Tow CEO Capt. Joseph Frohnhoefer III. “His focus and dedication to helping individuals and families enjoy boating is why he has been successful over the last 30 years. The programs and relationships he has developed locally are a testament to his commitment to the community he serves.”

Capt. Kehlenbach’s team, comprised of active-duty and retired first responders, patrols 75 miles of coastline with a fleet of custom-rigged Boston Whalers strategically located throughout the area. Sea Tow Central Connecticut’s response time averages 30 minutes or less, a metric that reflects Tom’s own expectation for service.

“Families, especially those with small children, need to know we’ll be there in a timely manner no matter what,” he said. “It’s our goal to always respond within an hour of receiving a call.”

Capt. Tom’s team has responded to more than 15,000 boaters over three decades of being on the water and helped countless more over the VHF radio, phone, or at the dock.

Equally important to Kehlenbach is promoting boating safety and education. Sea Tow Central Connecticut maintains 14 Life Jacket Loaner Stations that cover Branford, Westbrook, and Old Saybrook areas.

Capt. Tom also advocates that individuals and families should start boating education early. Sea Tow Central Connecticut offers a popular three-day course, dubbed “Hands on the Helm Boating University,” giving teens 20 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction every summer. Born from his own daughter’s desire to know more about her dad’s passion, the course covers such topics as knot tying, flare, and fire extinguisher use, VHF radio use, docking procedures, boating etiquette, and map and chart reading.

“These kids are the future of boating,” Capt. Tom said. “They will be able to use what they learn here for the rest of their lives.”

For Capt. Tom, who got his introduction to Sea Tow at the Norwalk Boat Show, business is a family affair. His wife, an accountant, handles the books, and his (now) college-age daughter has been cleaning boats since she was 15. He counts his captains as extended family.

“After 30 years of serving boaters in the Central Connecticut area, much has changed – but Capt. Tom’s commitment to helping the community has stayed the same,” Frohnhoefer added. “We’re proud to have Tom and his team wear Sea Tow yellow.”

The post Priority Response, Commitment and Next-Gen Education appeared first on Sea Tow.

Fortunately, a large adventure catamaran was passing nearby. Crew members from the catamaran pulled the two from the water while their boat circled furiously with no one at the helm.

An unmanned vessel is extremely dangerous to swimmers, other boaters, marine animals, and property. Unsure of what to do, the catamaran crew members contacted Sea Tow Palm Beach and asked for their assistance. Will Beck, owner and captain of Sea Tow Palm Beach, answered the call, notified authorities and proceeded to the site with Capt. Chris Allen to assist.

Gaining control of the vessel was no easy task. The captains first attempted to get alongside the boat and match speed with it. But, with the boat at full throttle making tight turns, it became nearly impossible. Both captains were determined and moved to plan B. Capt. Beck threw ropes into the oncoming path of the boat to catch the propeller, ultimately jamming the engine. The rope slowed the boat down enough so that Capt. Beck was able to hop on board and stop it.

Moral of the story? ALWAYS connect your boat’s engine cut-off switch while your boat is underway. It could save your life or the lives of others.

The post Sea Tow Palm Beach Captains Stop Out-of-Control Boat appeared first on Sea Tow.

Growing up just miles away from the Sea Tow franchise location, Captain Nik always had a love for the water. Whether it was surfing, boating or just being on the beach, he has always felt most at home with saltwater in the air.

When he first graduated from the University of Florida, Nik took a job 200 miles south of his hometown as a sales rep in West Palm Beach. It didn’t take long for him to realize he belonged elsewhere.

“The idea of being in a suit and tie every day haunted me,” he said. “I’ve always loved the idea of helping people on the water. I knew I didn’t want a desk job.”

When the opportunity arose to take over his hometown Sea Tow franchise, Nik didn’t hesitate.

Since taking ownership, Captain Nik and his wife Ashley have helped grow the Sea Tow Daytona/Ponce/New Smyrna franchise into the local boating staple it is today. Helping people just runs in their genes. Outside of Sea Tow, Ashley works as a guidance counselor at a charter school and Nik serves as a lifeguard on the local Daytona beaches. But they’re not stopping there.

“We’re always trying to help the community in whatever ways we can,” Nik said. “Whether that’s through toy drives, fishing seminars or helping the thousands of boaters that grace our waterways, we do it to give back to our hometown.”

With Daytona’s popularity among tourists and other weekend warriors, there’s never a dull moment at Sea Tow Daytona, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s fulfilling to turn someone’s bad day into a good one,” Nik added. “I may not get much free time, but you just can’t beat that feeling.”

MEMBER BENEFITS BEYOND 24/7 TOWING

As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive the most comprehensive benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent lease or bareboat charter. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Team at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post Get to Know Sea Tow Daytona appeared first on Sea Tow.

Captains Matt and Bruce have owned Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast since early 2015. Since day one, their combined experience has been a match made in heaven. Prior to Sea Tow, Capt. Matt worked in the passenger vessel business for 20 years and brings extensive industry knowledge to the partnership. Capt. Bruce came in knowing exactly what it takes to own a successful business after running his own construction remodeling company for over 25 years. In addition, Capt. Bruce has served as a volunteer fire captain, harbormaster, and school board member, so his connection with the local community runs deep.

While their extensive experience is what prepared the two captains for a successful beginning as co-owners of the Portland-based franchise, it was fate that originally brought the two together.

“Bruce and I were doing a winter job together in a boat building shop and got to talking about owning a business,” Capt. Matt said. “It just so happened that the local Sea Tow franchise was up for sale and we had both been looking into it independently, so we decided to go into it together. It couldn’t have worked out any better.”

Since then, Matt and Bruce have formed quite a versatile team. The two captains alternate time on the water and take on other roles, which allows a sort of flexibility that the typical franchise doesn’t get to experience.

“We make a great tag team,” Capt. Matt said about the dynamic the two have created as head captains. “Some days, Bruce will be running the show from dispatch and he’ll call me and say, ‘go here or go there,’ and then we’ll switch roles the next day. It’s nice to be able to put on different hats.”

Speaking of wearing different hats, the duo has many.

In addition to covered services like towing, fuel delivery, and jumpstarts, Bruce and Matt have taken part in some of the most unique jobs Sea Tow Captains have ever undertaken.

The new, state-of-the-art Zumwalt-class U.S. Navy stealth destroyers – built at nearby Bath Iron Works – are certainly the most cutting-edge vessels ever to be assisted by one of Sea Tow’s signature bright yellow boats.

“Our relationship with Bath Iron Works has been unique,” Capt. Matt said. “Whenever they launch a Zumwalt for sea trials, they hire us for support. Whenever they need to run parts or personnel out to the ship, they call us. It’s been a really cool experience.”

But for Capt. Bruce, the job that sticks out most isn’t the $7.5 billion, 600-foot advanced fighting machine, but rather something much smaller and far less expensive.

One day, in the middle of winter, Capt. Bruce received a call from a local insurance company the franchise had worked with many times. About 90 minutes from the franchise’s home port, a snowmobile had fallen through the ice and needed to be pulled out. Not many boat towing captains have the wherewithal to take on such a unique job, but Bruce and Matt didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t think many Sea Tow captains can say they’ve ever recovered a snowmobile,” Capt. Bruce said. “As a company, Sea Tow has helped salvage countless boats, but that was definitely a first.”

In addition to the unique jobs Bruce and Matt undertake, Sea Tow Portland/Midcoast is heavily involved in the local community. For years, the franchise has partnered with the nonprofit Maine Island Trails Association by providing free memberships to each of the volunteer organization’s nine boats. The franchise also operates a water taxi service called Sea Taxi Portland, which launched last spring.

In all, the two captains say they love their jobs and relish the opportunity to spend every day on the water interacting with local boaters and helping in any way they can.

“We stay busy,” Capt. Bruce noted. “We have quite an area to cover with beaches, bold shore, hundreds of islands, and the Kennebec River, but we manage to cover everyone and do it well. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

MEMBER BENEFITS BEYOND 24/7 TOWING

As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive the most comprehensive benefits available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent lease or bareboat charter. Learn more about our membership options today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use our service locator or call our Customer Care Team at 800-4-SEATOW.

The post Bruce White and Matt Wilder Have Seen It All appeared first on Sea Tow.

The sun had finally peeked through the clouds after days of wind and stormy seas. A young man spotted a blue speck in the distance after searching the Atlantic for days from a seaplane. He zoomed in closer and he saw it. His home, his sailboat, the Eclipse. After three long days of searching, there she was. Perfectly upright and resting in the mud a short distance from the shore.

It is not every day that Sea Tow Key Biscayne Captains are called because of a missing sailboat. Their most common calls are for tows, jump starts, and fuel deliveries. However, with more boaters out on the water than ever, especially newer boaters, there is much to be learned about safety and protocol while at the helm.

Just three days earlier the wind was whipping across the ocean water, sending salty sprays onto a young Phil Gutowski’s face as he walked to the marina where his Tayana 42, Eclipse, was moored. But while on the tender heading towards mooring #91, where the bright blue hull of Eclipse would peak through – he saw nothing. The boat was gone.

To read the full story, visit Sail World Magazine online and click here.

The post The Missing Sailboat and Its Bold Recovery appeared first on Sea Tow.

“Being a Sea Tow franchise owner is no small job,” Capt. Dan said. “It requires knowledge, commitment, passion, and drive. Our job is to provide our members with Peace of Mind on the Water. We do much more than provide on-water assistance services. Boaters rely on us for our on-water know-how.”

The thought of a 24/7/365 commitment can be intimidating, but it is one that motivates Capt. Dan daily. Sea Tow Naples covers a large part of the Collier County Florida coastline and isles. His experience is invaluable and is what has helped him navigate the highs and lows throughout the years, from recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma in 2017 to closing out one of the busiest seasons on record in 2020.

His dedication for his work extends through his love of his community. Capt. Dan and his team help with the local annual Christmas boat parade, provide assistance to marinas in hosting events, host Sea Tow Foundation Life Jacket Loaner Stations, and much more. In the end, he credits his successes to one person.

“I could not do this job without my compassionate wife, Martha, or ‘Lupe’ as everyone likes to call her,” Capt. Dan said. “With the business running out of our home, it has taken a while to get used to the hustle and bustle that is required. It is a team effort and I could not have been this successful without her.”

When he does get a chance to take a break from work, he finds himself the lifestyle he serves with his family. A few iced teas and waters in the cooler and the Mercier family is off to Keewaydin Island to relax on the sandy beaches where his two young grandsons can play.

The post Living the Sea Tow Lifestyle appeared first on Sea Tow.