Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

After 30 years, TowBoatUS Oyster Bay, N.Y., has a new owner

by BoatUS 27 Jul 2023 12:04 PDT
TowBoatUS Oyster Bay provides professional on-water assistance 24/7 including towing, soft ungrounding, battery jump and fuel drop-off services © Scott Croft

TowBoatUS Oyster Bay, a 24/7 provider of on-water towing and assistance for recreational boaters with additional locations in Huntington, New York, and Norwalk, Connecticut, recently celebrated three decades in business. Now former owner Capt. Mitch Kramer has stepped aside with a new owner at the helm, Tom Vetere.

Kramer isn't going too far, however. He's staying aboard along with other familiar faces including Capt. Jay Wigginton at TowBoatUS Norwalk, Capt. Steve Morlock at TowBoatUS Huntington, and deckhand Nick Casella. Newly joining the company are Port Captain John Testa who will oversee day-to-day operations, and Capt. Mike Callesano.

"I became interested in TowBoatUS because it's a business that puts people first," says Vetere, who has a background in running small companies. "Mitch takes pride in his work, and we are going to build upon his incredible 30-year track record of providing great customer service. I am also excited that John and Mike have come aboard. We've got a talented team in place." All the company's captains are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed.

The company's presence on both Long Island's North Shore and Connecticut includes four red response vessels that are part of a nationwide network of more than 600 response vessels and more than 300 locations that respond to more than 90,000 requests for routine assistance each year. "We have a very active boating area with locals as well as those transiting through," adds Vetere. Most requests for assistance are a result of unexpected troubles such as an engine breakdown or running up on a shoal. In addition to towing and soft ungrounding, the company provides battery jumps, fuel drop-offs and prop disentanglement services. Separate from BoatUS on-water towing, the company offers boat salvage services.

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 $165 per year. 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.

The fastest way to request assistance from TowBoatUS Oyster Bay is to download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain. Additionally, the company can be reached at 516-702-9791, 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

New Online BoatUS Foundation Course
Taking on Biggest Cause of Accidents: Distracted Boating A quick look at the annual U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating accident statistics shows “operator inattention” and “improper lookout” to be perennial placeholders in the top five primary contributing factors in boating accidents. Posted on 8 Jul
TowBoatUS Sacramento opens in Delta Region
Provides 24/7 on-water assistance to recreational boaters California's Delta region, an incredible boating paradise and home to more than 700 miles of navigable waterways and thousands of recreational vessels, now has professional on-water assistance available with the opening of TowBoatUS Sacramento. Posted on 3 Jul
Capt. Doug & Melanie open TowBoatUS Rocky Point
Capt. Doug & Melanie Nelson open TowBoatUS Rocky Point, Minnesota Straddling the U.S.-Canada border, Lake of the Woods is a vast expanse of pristine waters more than 70 miles wide with an incredible 65,000 miles of shoreline and nearly 15,000 islands. Posted on 12 Jun
Kathy Sinnett honored with Women's Sailing Award
Continuing the tradition in epitomizing the leadership to promote chances for women Since 1999, the BoatUS/NWSA Leadership in Women's Sailing Award has recognized extraordinary women who have inspired, educated and enriched the lives of women through sailing. Posted on 11 Jun
All the hurricane preparation info boaters need
Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 Recreational boaters whose vessels have been impacted by a hurricane and came out relatively unscathed know it all starts with a plan. Posted on 29 May
Capt. Anthony new owner of TowBoatUS Santa Cruz
Capt. Anthony Capriccio is the new owner of the company that provides 24/7 on-water towing A former employee and captain for TowBoatUS Santa Cruz, an on-water towing and assistance company for boaters, has stepped up into the ownership role at the company. Posted on 25 May
Douglass Marine expands on East End
With the opening of TowBoatUS Orient, New York A long-standing East End family business providing boat service, repair and storage on the tip of Long Island's North Fork is growing. Posted on 16 May
TowBoatUS Pittsburgh ready to assist boaters
New owners for TowBoatUS Lake Anna, VA The 24/7 on-water towing and assistance service for recreational boaters with ties to nationwide fleet of more than 600 towboats has come to Pittsburgh's Three Rivers. Posted on 8 May
TowBoatUS adds port in the Big Apple
Miller's launch opens its second TowBoatUS on-water towing port on Staten Island Miller's Launch, a commercial marine service provider on Staten Island's northeastern Stapleton waterfront has opened it's second on-water towing and assistance port for recreational boaters, TowBoatUS Staten Island. Posted on 3 May
Three TowBoatUS Ports under new ownership
Assisting boaters from Sandusky River to Fairport, Ohio On Lake Erie's West/Central Basin, TowBoatUS Sandusky owners Capts. Jimmer Kennedy, D.J. Huntley and Jason Majoy are new owners of TowBoatUS locations in Vermillion, Lorain, and Cleveland. Posted on 1 May
Maritimo M50RS Sailing 2021 - FOOTERCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER