An image of David Granstaff, owner and operator of TowBoatUS Aurora

AURORA, KY – May 15, 2026 – TowBoatUS, North America’s largest network of towing ports, today announced the opening of TowBoatUS Aurora, a new location designed to improve response times and expand coverage for recreational boaters on Kentucky Lake. 

Owned and operated by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain David Granstaff, TowBoatUS Aurora is his second TowBoatUS port, complementing existing operations at TowBoatUS Grand Rivers. The new location was established to improve response times and provide more comprehensive coverage for boaters navigating the region’s busy waterways. 

TowBoatUS Aurora serves Kentucky Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes in the eastern United States, supporting a wide range of recreational boaters who travel from across the region, including St. Louis, Memphis and Nashville. The port also plays a key role along the popular Great Loop route, assisting hundreds of transient boaters each fall. 

“Kentucky Lake is a special place for boaters, and we take pride in serving the people who travel here every season,” said Granstaff. “We see boaters coming through all season long, including those making their way along the Great Loop. Opening in Aurora allows us to stay close to that traffic, respond faster and continue building on the strong relationships we’ve anchored here.” 

TowBoatUS Aurora is based at Ken Lake Marina and operates a 25-foot Metal Shark response vessel powered by a 450-horsepower engine. The port is staffed by four U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains and provides towing, fuel delivery, jump-starts, repair services, and assistance for boats that run aground. Ken Lake Marina also provides added value for BoatUS members, including discounted fuel, with members receiving 10 cents off per gallon. 

Granstaff brings years of experience on the water to the role, having started his career in the yachting industry towing vessels in South Florida before transitioning into marina ownership in Kentucky. He acquired TowBoatUS Grand Rivers as part of the purchase of Ken Lake Marina and has continued to grow his operations, with plans for further expansion in the coming years. 

Much like an auto club for recreational boat owners, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers on-water towing memberships for $130/year for freshwater. In addition to a BoatUS Towing Membership, members also receive more than 25 valuable BoatUS benefits including a subscription to award-winning BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.   

To request on-water assistance, boaters can call the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain, call TowBoatUS Aurora directly at (270) 508-2330 or hail on VHF radio Ch. 16. 

About TowBoatUS 

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation's leading advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters. We provide more than 740,000 members with a wide array of helpful services, including 24-hour on-water towing that gets boaters safely home when their boat won’t, as well as jump-starts, fuel delivery, and soft ungroundings. The TowBoatUS towing fleet is North America’s largest network of towing ports with more than 330 locations and over 630 red towboats, responding to more than 110,000 requests for assistance each year. To learn more about becoming a BoatUS member, visit BoatUS.com/Towing and to find a TowBoatUS location closest to you, visit BoatUS.com/ServiceLocator.