TowBoatUS expands to Lay Lake, Alabama
by BoatUS 30 Aug 09:03 PDT
Matthew and Tami Kronen, owners of the recently opened TowBoatUS Lay Lake and TowBoatUS Logan Martin Lake © BoatUS
Professional, 24/7 on-water towing, soft ungrounding, battery jump and fuel drop-off assistance for recreational boaters and anglers has come Lay Lake. Capt. Matthew Kronen, owner of the nearby TowBoatUS Logan Martin Lake, has opened TowBoatUS Lay Lake, part of a nationwide network of more than 300 TowBoatUS ports and more than 600 red response vessels.
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.
However, on Lay Lake, a 12,000 acre hydroelectric reservoir on the Coosa River uniquely known for its flooded timber and earning the nickname “stumpfest” from local boaters, striking submerged objects shares the top reason for requesting on-water assistance. “We have vast fields of underwater timber that snag unsuspecting boaters,” said Kronen.
That also means lots of great fishing, making the lake popular with anglers. Kronen says he decided to open TowBoatUS Lay Lake based on the volume of requests for assistance he was receiving. “There is a strong need on the lake for on-water help with the unexpected,” he adds. Assistance calls were previously responded to by trailering from Logan Martin. A red, 20-foot response vessel is now homeported at La Coosa Marina.
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 freshwater boaters and anglers for just $109 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.
Separate from BoatUS on-water towing, the company offers boat salvage and spill cleanup services.
To request on-water assistance, boaters can call the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, call the ports directly at 205-362-9895, or hail on VHF radio Ch. 16.