Jeremy Thompson Helps Boaters Get Safely Home

Jeremy Thompson, a local entrepreneur who owns a yacht charter service, Luxury Yacht Charters, and is also the founder of a Charlotte-based bus transportation company has opened a full-time, on-the-water towing service for recreational boaters, TowBoatUS Lake Norman. The new towing port, located at Kings Point Marina in Cornelius, is part of the nation’s largest on-the-water towing and assistance service, TowBoatUS.

Thompson has equipped TowBoatUS Lake Norman with a 21-foot Mako response vessel, which can be identified by its distinctive red hull with white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along its side. Onboard is a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, pumps, airbags and battery “jump packs” to handle every breakdown from running out of fuel to running aground. A complete set of dive gear is also aboard.

The more common requests for on-the-water assistance happen when boaters venture outside the main channels of the lake, particularly at mid- to low-pond, when shoals and tree stumps are near the surface. “Groundings are common as well as damaged props and running gear,” said Thompson, “That’s where we can give you a gentle tug to help get you off the bottom, or get you home safely if you have damage.”

Thompson is also active in the local community, having participated on several Cornelius City Planning and Development Committees, and is a member of the Riverkeepers/Island Adoption Organization.

Similar to a roadside auto club, BoatUS offers on-the-water assistance plans starting at around $37 a year. Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident. Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Lake Norman by calling the company directly at 704-200-1930; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869 or visit http://www.BoatUS.com/Towing for more information.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 650,000 members with a wide array of consumer services, including on-the-water towing assistance provided by TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist. These two towing fleets combined offer North American boaters the largest network of US, Canadian and Bahamian towing ports with over 280 locations and nearly 500 towing assistance vessels - twice that of any other service provider.