TowBoatUS adds 9th location to the Texas Coast
by BoatUS 6 Jun 2024 21:15 UTC
(L to R) Bo and Chelsi Clayton of TowBoatUS Sabine Lake, Texas © BoatUS
Two partners at the opposite ends of the Texas Gulf Coast have teamed up to open the ninth TowBoatUS port on the Gulf, TowBoatUS Sabine Lake on the Texas/Louisiana border. Capt. Justin Nesloney, owner of TowBoatUS Port Aransas and North Padre Island has teamed up with Bo Clayton, a Port Arthur-based airboat builder and founder of Southeast Texas Airboats, an 11,000-member Facebook group that meets regularly for rides and fundraisers. Clayton is the towing port's full-time manager.
Because of his long-running work in the local airboat community, Clayton is known as the "go-to guy" for on-water troubles - willing to lend a good Samaritan hand to bring boaters home after a breakdown or running aground.
"I've always wanted to help out where I could," said Clayton. "Now we're able to provide professional TowBoatUS assistance 24/7 on Sabine and Calcasieu lakes and in the back bays and marshes of our border region."
The port's bright red 18-foot TowBoatUS airboat response vessel, which draws just inches of water, is stationed at Inland Boat Works and kept on a trailer to allow rapid response throughout the Texas/Louisiana coastline. A 25-foot, shallow draft Hynie and 28-foot Prokat catamaran round out the towing fleet.
The newest TowBoatUS location is 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. Towing, soft 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 BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.
All company captains are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed. Separate from BoatUS on-water towing services, the company offers vessel salvage and environmental remediation 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. TowBoatUS Sabine Lake can also be reached at 409-338-9910. 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.