TowBoatUS expands on Washington's Olympic Peninsula with New Port Angeles Location

U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain Rebecca Close and deckhand Christa Goddard of TowBoatUS Port Angeles © BoatUS

Boaters cruising the Salish Sea off Washington's northern Olympic Peninsula this summer will benefit from the opening of TowBoatUS Port Angeles, a 24/7 on-water towing and assistance company that provides professional towing, soft ungrounding, battery jump, and fuel drop-off services. The new TowBoatUS towing port brings the total on the peninsula to four, with a grand total of 14 across the U.S./Canada Pacific Northwest.

The new port is owned by Capt. Roger Slade, who has been assisting boaters providing routine on-water help since 2001 and is the long-time owner of TowBoatUS locations in Port Ludlow, Port Townsend and Hood Canal. "We've served a wide range of boaters over the years, from local cruisers to summer passagemakers, as well as helping out our vibrant boatbuilding community. We look forward to shortening on-water response times and saving our customers money."

Managing port operations for Capt. Slade are the U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains Rebecca Close and Karl Schwab. The three first met a few years ago in 2022 when Close and Schwab's sailboat was struck by lightning - and Slade responded to the couple's request for TowBoatUS assistance. "I'm really excited about Rebecca and Karl," added Slade. "They are real go-getters and valuable assets to my team. I'm proud to say Rebecca was my first TowBoatUS captain who I have trained from start to finish." Capts. Close and Schwab operate a red, 26-foot TowBoatUS response vessel that recently completed an extensive refit. The vessel is homeported at Boat Haven Marina.

Slade's TowBoatUS locations are part of a network of more than 600 red towboats at 300-plus locations across the country that responded to more than 90,000 requests from boaters last year. 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.

TowBoatUS Port Angeles recently hip-towed this sailing vessel from outside the Port Angeles Coast Guard Station into Port Angeles Marina and placed safely to her slip – all covered by the vessel owner's BoatUS Unlimited Towing Membership - photo © BoatUS

Towing, ungrounding, battery jumps and fuel drop-offs are all included along with more than 25 BoatUS benefits. Also offered with membership is a subscription to award-winning BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.

Separate from BoatUS on-water towing services, the company offers vessel salvage and environmental mitigation services.

The fastest way to request on-water assistance is to download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain. Additionally, TowBoatUS Port Angeles can be reached at 360-531-4837. The BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center is 800-391-4869.

For more, go to www.BoatUS.com/Towing or call 800-888-4869.