Please select your home edition
Edition
Upffront 2020 Foredeck Club SW LEADERBOARD

What's Your Dream Job? TowBoatUS Capt. Mike Blunt just got his

by BoatUS 8 Feb 15:14 PST
Capt. Mike Blunt, new owner of the on-water towing and assistance companies for boaters, TowBoatUS Sarasota and TowBoatUS Manatee River © Scott Croft

By the time Maine Maritime College student Mike Blunt had become the youngest towing captain employed at a recreational boat towing company in his home town of San Diego in 1998, he had already worked on a fuel dock, held jobs in the sportfishing fleet, and was a certified rescue diver. That's when, he says, he cultivated his passion for the sea and set a goal: By age 50, he wanted to own his own recreational marine boat towing business.

After a false start or two, he's now gotten his dream job as the new owner of TowBoatUS Sarasota and TowBoatUS Manatee River, Florida, two of more than 300 TowBoatUS locations across the country that provide on-water towing, ungrounding, battery jump and fuel drop-off services to recreational boaters 24/7. All TowBoatUS companies are locally owned and operated.

Soon after the fateful summer job and while still in college, Capt. Blunt made his first attempt at purchasing a local TowBoatUS company on the California coast, but funding proved to be elusive. He later moved to the Tampa region and for the last 19 years has been working in the maritime shipping industry. Three years ago he came close to purchasing another red-boat location, but the sellers had a last-minute change of plan. Other prospects also didn't pan out - until now.

"I'm so excited to have my own TowBoatUS territory!" said Blunt. "I love being able to help boaters and make their day better." The company's dispatcher, Ray Sickles, who, for more than 21 years, has helped boaters get the on water help they need, remains with the business.

Much like an auto club for recreational boat owners, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers on-water Unlimited Towing Memberships for Florida boaters and anglers for just $165 per year. Included with Unlimited Towing membership are more than 25 Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) benefits and discounts, a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration, and more.

Blunt has three red TowBoatUS response vessels and he plans to add a fourth. All of the company's captains are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed. Separate from BoatUS on-water towing, the company offers boat salvage and environmental remediation services.

The fastest way to request assistance is to download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain. Additionally, both TowBoatUS locations can be reached at 941-228-8684, 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.

Related Articles

TowBoatUS Portland Oregon reopens at new location
24/7 on-water towing and assistance for recreational boaters at Fred's Marina After a short hiatus, the 24/7 on-water towing and assistance company for recreational boaters, TowBoatUS Portland Oregon, is back and reopened at Fred's Marina on the Multnomah Channel. Posted on 14 Mar
TowBoatUS Long Beach earns Tower of the Year Honor
At the annual gathering of the TowBoatUS fleet in New Orleans TowBoatUS Long Bech, a towing and assistance company much like an on-water auto club that helps boat owners get home after a boat breakdown, was awarded Tower of the Year at the annual gathering of the TowBoatUS fleet in New Orleans. Posted on 22 Jan
5 TowBoatUS Captains honored for Lifesaving Acts
TowBoatUS responds more than 90,000 requests from boaters for routine on-water assistance each year TowBoatUS responds more than 90,000 requests from boaters for routine on-water assistance each year - towing, ungroundings, battery jumps and fuel drop-offs. Posted on 22 Jan
West Coast's Sailing Convention for Women returns
BoatUS has sponsored the event for nearly three decades After a Covid hiatus the Sailing Convention for Women is back with full sails and expanded learning opportunities and slated for Saturday, April 1, 2023. Posted on 8 Dec 2022
New owner of TowBoatUS Guntersville Lake
Professional service provides 24/7 on-water assistance in Alabama 880,000: That's the number of sea miles former commercial fishing and charter Captain Stephen Clark has under the keel, an incredible distance earned over 40 years of chasing fish on Pacific Ocean from Southern California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Posted on 15 Nov 2022
BoatUS East Coast alerts by Mel and Tom Neale
Every fall, a migration occurs along America's East Coast Every fall, a migration occurs along America's East Coast, but it's not of the avian type. Hundreds of cruisers aboard recreational boats (nicknamed "snowbirds") load up with crew in an effort to seek out warmer climates Posted on 19 Oct 2022
TowBoatUS comes to Crappie Capital of the World
24/7 professional on-water assistance on Weiss Lake, Alabama “Red is Ready” on Alabama's Weiss Lake with the opening of TowBoatUS Weiss Lake. Located on the Coosa River Chain, the lake is known by many as the “Crappie Capital of the World.” Posted on 12 Oct 2022
Logan Thomas is new owner of TowBoatUS Lake Wylie
On-water towing, jump-start, soft ungrounding, fuel-drop service for recreational boaters Capt. Logan Thomas is the third generation of his family to grow up on Lake Wylie, forever exploring the waterway's 325 miles of shoreline, inlets and coves that straddle the border of North and South Carolina. Posted on 15 Sep 2022
Moving on up
Capt. Shaun Curtis is new owner of TowBoatUS Mobile, Alabama Raised on a houseboat in a family without a lot of money, Capt. Shaun Curtis initially was unsure of his career path. Posted on 6 Aug 2022
New TowBoatUS location serves Tappahannock region
An underserved portion of the Rappahannock River now has professional 24/7 coverage An underserved portion of the Rappahannock River now has professional 24/7 on-water towing and assistance coverage with the opening of TowBoatUS Upper Rappahannock. Posted on 5 Aug 2022
Marine Resources 2022 Salary Survey FOOTERRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERRooster 2020 - Impact BA - FOOTER