Sea Tow Celebrates 40 Years

Sea Tow, the nation’s leading on-water marine assistance provider, is marking its 40th anniversary in business in 2023.

In 1983, the late Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer Jr. established the company in Southold, New York, when Congress enacted a law that directed the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard to make full use of all available and qualified resources in rendering aid in non-emergency boating calls. Sea Tow had just two boats back then.

Today, Sea Tow is the premier provider of non-emergency on-water assistance including towing, fuel delivery, battery jumps and ungroundings, as well as salvage and recovery services, including response to catastrophic events and marine spill response. Sea Tow has more than 500 ports nationwide, more than 500 boats, and more than 700 captains and crew.

The second-generation, family-owned company is led by Captain Frohnhoefer’s son, CEO Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer III, and daughter, President Kristen Frohnhoefer.

“Forty years ago, our father founded Sea Tow to break barriers and pioneer an ‘industry’ that did not previously exist,” Kristen says. “What hasn’t changed in that time is a Sea Tow member having peace of mind by receiving priority service and knowing that a Sea Tow captain in a distinctive yellow Sea Tow boat is coming to assist them.”

Visit seatow.com to learn more.