Boaters on Pennsylvania's three rivers have TowBoatUS 24/7 on-water help for unexpected breakdowns
by BoatUS 8 May 2025 08:45 PDT
(L to R) Capts. Jack Novak, Winslow Taylor and Chris Parker of TowBoatUS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and TowBoatUS Lake Anna, Virginia © BoatUS
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. Captains Jack Novak, Winslow Taylor and Chris Parker have opened the TowBoatUS port just in time for boating season.
TowBoatUS Pittsburgh is the first TowBoatUS location on waters in Pennsylvania's western inland regions. Capt. Novak said there's an unmet need for 24/7 on-water towing, soft ungrounding, battery jump and fuel drop services.
"We're glad to be here," said Capt. Novak, who formerly managed three TowBoatUS ports on the Chesapeake Bay. "We know we have quite a few BoatUS members in these regions who need reliable, professional help for unexpected issues. We're ready day or night, just a phone call away."
The company has red response vessels fully rigged for towing and salvage, and offers a 25-mile service area that includes the Pittsburgh pool: Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. Service is also available outside locks.
Novak, Taylor and Parker are also new owners of TowBoatUS Lake Anna in Virginia.
Last year, the nationwide on-water assistance service responded to more than 110,000 requests for routine assistance from boaters experiencing mechanical breakdown (e.g., engine, transmission, drives), the No. 1 cause of calls.
Much like an auto club for recreational boat owners, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers on-water Unlimited Towing Memberships for freshwater boaters and anglers for just $109 per year. Membership comes with more than 25 valuable BoatUS benefits, including discounts at local fuel docks and transient slips at marinas. Also included are a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.
Separate from BoatUS on-water towing, the company also offers boat salvage, environmental remediation and dive services.
To request on-water assistance, boaters can call the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, call TowBoatUS Pittsburgh or TowBoatUS Lake Anna directly at 412-800-2628, or hail on VHF radio Ch. 16.