Capt. Jimmy Mason of TowBoatUS Pickwick Lake helps boaters with unexpected issues on the water, 24/7.
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FLORENCE, Ala., Sept. 3, 2025 – The nationwide on-water towing service for boaters with more than 300 ports across the country has returned to Pickwick Lake after a previous owner closed the location last year. Long-time local guide and professional angler Capt. Jimmy Mason has re-opened TowBoatUS Pickwick Lake, which provides professional, 24/7 on-water assistance for boaters experiencing unexpected issues, including engine trouble, running aground and running out of fuel.

Long before opening the towing port, Mason joined BoatUS in 2010 when he purchased his first annual Towing Membership along with TRAILER ASSIST roadside assistance for his boat trailer. Being on the professional fishing tournament circuit meant a lot of time running boats on the water and driving to events, and he needed to a backup plan. “I really believe in the product,” said Mason, “because I’ve had to use it in the past to get home safely, both on the water and on the road.”

The native Alabamian and former Bassmaster Elite level competitor who still guides and fishes local tournaments, says he’s spent “tons of time” over the years on the 70-mile lake in search of prized smallmouth. No doubt this local knowledge helps him safely navigate his TowBoatUS response vessel quickly to boaters in need of routine help and supports the lake’s sizable transient boating population who may not be familiar with local waters.

Last year, the nationwide on-water assistance service responded to more than 110,000 requests for routine assistance from boaters experiencing mechanical breakdown (e.g., engine, transmission, drives), the No. 1 cause of calls.

Much like an auto club for recreational boat owners, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers on-water Unlimited Towing Memberships for freshwater boaters and anglers for just $109 per year. Membership comes with more than 25 valuable BoatUS benefits including a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.

Adding the $15 BoatUS Unlimited TRAILER ASSIST roadside coverage to a membership provides towing up to a 100 miles for both a disabled boat trailer and its tow vehicle. This gets your towing rig to the nearest repair shop or safe area with no out-of-pocket expense. Also included are flat tire labor assistance, jump-starts, lockout service and 24-hour dispatch.

TowBoatUS Pickwick Lake has two 19-foot red TowBoatUS response vessels homeported at Florence Harbor Marina and J.P. Coleman State Park in Mississippi and expects to add a third towboat later this summer. All of the company’s captains are U.S. Coast Guard-licensed.

Separate from BoatUS on-water towing, TowBoatUS Pickwick Lake also offers boat salvage and spill response services.

To request on-water assistance, boaters can call the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, call the port directly at 256-762-0014, 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 are the Boat Owners Auto Club™ and provide our more than 725,000 members with a wide array of helpful services, including 24-hour on-water towing that gets you safely home when your boat won’t, jump-starts, fuel delivery, and soft ungroundings. The TowBoatUS towing fleet is North America’s largest network of towing ports with more than 300 locations and over 600 red towboats, responding to more than 110,000 requests for assistance each year. The BoatUS App (BoatUS.com/App) makes it easy to summon water and roadside assistance 24/7 and can speed response times. For more information go to BoatUS.com/Towing.