Capt. Chris Parker now owns TowBoatUS ports on both sides of the Chesapeake
by BoatUS 9 Jun 2023 18:25 BST
(L to R) Katie Parker and Capt. Christopher Parker aboard a TowBoatUS Reedville response vessel © Scott Croft
For more than a decade, Capt. Chris Parker has been helping recreational boaters on the Chesapeake Bay get home, first as a hired captain and later a port manager of several TowBoatUS on-water towing ports in the Tidewater region. Wanting his own TowBoatUS on-water towing and assistance company, he journeyed east across the bay in 2019 to open TowBoatUS Crisfeld in Maryland. Now on the bay's western shore, the captain is new owner of TowBoatUS Reedville, Virginia, essentially bookending both shores with his company's TowBoatUS coverage.
When asked how he manages the challenge of owning two on-water assistance locations on either side of the bay, Parker said, "I've got really good crew who do their jobs extremely well." All of the company's captains are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed. Joining Parker is his wife, Katie, who handles 24/7 dispatch and business operations. "She's a key part of my team," he added.
TowBoatUS provides professional on-water towing, battery jumpstart, vessel ungrounding and fuel drop-off services. Parker's company has five red TowBoatUS towboats from 20- to 27-feet that are part of a nationwide fleet of more than 600 red TowBoatUS response vessels.
TowBoatUS dispatchers received more than 90,000 requests for routine on-water assistance from boat owners last year. In the Tidewater, Parker says, "If your boat breaks down here, conditions, especially at the mouth of the Potomac, can get pretty rough," he added. "We'll get you home."
Separate from TowBoatUS services, the locations offer salvage and environmental remediation services. Parker also continues to manage TowBoatUS ports in Upper Rappahannock and Gwynn's Island.
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. Included are more than 25 Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS benefits and discounts, a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.
The fastest way to request assistance from TowBoatUS Reedville is to download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain. Additionally, the company can be reached at 804-286-9386, 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.