Vessel Assist renamed as TowBoatU.S. on West Coast

SAN DIEGO — Same boat. New name. BoatU.S. announced it will continue to operate its water towing service on the West Coast but under a new moniker. The national boating organization officially renamed its Vessel Assist brand to TowBoatU.S. during a press event in San Diego on June 16. According to BoatU.S., the name shift streamlines its national brand with the former West Coast-based towing fleet. The transition from Vessel Assist to TowBoatU..S should be completed by early 2016. “Other than a new name on the side of the towboat, BoatU..S members and boaters needing assistance 24 hours a day will continue to get the same great, helpful and professional service from our local captains.” BoatU.S. President Margaret Podlich said. “There are no pricing changes for any of our annual on water towing plans.” Recreational boaters in five West Coast states and one Canadian province will receive the same branded towing services as their counterparts east of the Rockies. All red boats under the former Vessel Assist brand in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada, will now sail under the TowBoatU.S. banner. TowBoatU.S. will continue to offer its 600 towing vessels at 300 West Coast locations to BoatU.S.’s members for service...