An image of Travis Basom, operating partner at TowBoatUS Percy Priest 

PERCY PRIEST LAKE, Tenn. – May 7, 2026 – Capt. Rob Butler has spent more than four decades in the boating industry. From starting his career owning a fishing charter boat in the 1980s to later owning and operating one of the first TowBoatUS locations in the TowBoatUS fleet (formerly known as Vessel Assist San Diego). Rob has built his career on experience, dedication, and service. At the heart of it all is his commitment to running a family‑owned and operated business. 

Building on the success of TowBoatUS Old Hickory Lake and TowBoatUS San Diego, Rob is expanding his Tennessee operations with TowBoatUS Percy Priest. This location will assist recreational boaters with services such as on-water towing assistance, fuel delivery, soft ungroundings, and battery jumps.  

“We love serving the local boating community and being a dependable call when boaters need help. Whether it’s dock‑to‑dock towing or on‑water fuel delivery to get them moving again, we’re always just one phone call away,” said Butler, managing partner and owner of TowBoatUS Percy Priest.   

TowBoatUS Percy Priest will operate a 23-foot Parker and a 24‑foot Edgewater center‑console. Both vessels will be crewed by U.S. Coast Guard‑licensed captains and homeported at Nashville Shores Marina. 

“I’m excited to lead operations and support boaters on Percy Priest Lake,” said Travis Basom, operating partner at TowBoatUS Percy Priest as well as Rob’s nephew. “We focus on safe towing practices, clear communication, and careful handling, so when a day on the water doesn’t go as planned, boaters can count on us to help them get home safely.” 

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 Percy Priest directly at (615)- 917-1131 or hail on VHF radio Ch.16.  

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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 TowBoatUS member, visit BoatUS.com/Towing and to find a TowBoatUS location closest to you, visit BoatUS.com/ServiceLocator