Capt. Kurt Gradel helms TowBoatUS Sodus Bay’s 23-foot Maritime Patriot response vessel.

July 16, 2024

Port again assisting boaters after unexpected closure – TowBoatUS Sodus Point, the 24/7 on-water towing and assistance service for recreational boaters, is back in operation under the new ownership of Capt. Grant and Karla Langheinrich, owners of TowBoatUS locations in Rochester, Oneida Lake and Clayton, New York.

Shortly before COVID, the port’s former owners unexpectedly had to cease operations. “Since then, we’ve had overwhelming requests for TowBoatUS to come back,” said Grant. “We appreciated BoatUS members who reached out to us as well as many folks in the marine community asking me to grow my business here. That enthusiasm really helped us make the decision to reopen the port, and we look forward helping boaters on the bay and lake.”

The company provides round-the-clock, professional on-water assistance for recreational boaters including towing, battery jumps, soft ungroundings and fuel drop-offs, and is part of a nationwide TowBoatUS fleet with more than 300 locations and 600 response vessels.

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 USD 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.

The company’s red 23-foot Maritime Patriot response vessel, which is fully outfitted for towing and salvage, homeports at Katlynn Marine in Sodus Point. All the company’s captains are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed. Separate from BoatUS on-water towing, the company offers boat salvage services.

The fastest way to request assistance from TowBoatUS Sodus Bay is to download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain. Additionally, the company can be reached at 315-292-0330 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.