Lake Pleasant, Ariz., July 22, 2009 – Capt. Ross Baker has opened Vessel Assist Lake Pleasant, AZ, an on-the-water towing company that recreational boaters and anglers can call to get reliable assistance and tows back to a launch ramp, marina or service facility. Battery jump starts, fuel drop offs, and ungrounding services are some of the more common reasons boaters call for assistance, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Vessel Assist Lake Pleasant is located at Scorpion Bay Marina and Yacht Club. Capt. Baker has a 23-foot Parker response vessel at the port rigged for marine towing including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, dive gear, and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries.  The vessel can be identified by its distinctive red hull, white bow stripes and “Vessel Assist” lettering along its side. 

Baker originally hails from southern California where he worked in the sportfishing industry for 15 years, and was second captain on two sportfishing vessels.  He is also currently a Vessel Assist towboat captain on Lake Havasu and the Colorado River.  Baker and his captain, Merrill Demeritt who hails from the Phoenix area, have a combined 20 years of commercial diving and salvage experience, and both are licensed by the US Coast Guard.

The new company is also HAZMAT certified.

The new port joins a nationwide fleet of over 600 towboats which are part of BoatUS – Boat Owners Association of The United States – the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services.

BoatUS offers "Unlimited" on-the-water towing plans for inland fresh waters for just $53 a year, which includes BoatUS membership .  Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident.  Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach Vessel Assist Lake Pleasant by calling the company directly at 623-261-3662; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869.

Visit www.BoatUS.com/towing for more information.

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About BoatUS Towing Services:

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with a wide array of consumer services, including on-the-water towing assistance provided by TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist Pacific. Combined, these two towing fleets offer North American boaters the largest network of US, Canadian and Bahamian towing ports with over 290 locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels — more than double that of any other service provider.