Sea Tow celebrates 40 years
Sea Tow, an on-water marine assistance provider, is marking its 40th anniversary in business in 2023. Sea Tow is a 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.
At the forefront of on-water assistance since 1983, with more than 500+ ports nationwide including the continental U.S., Alaska and Puerto Rico, Sea Tow is a member-driven, franchise-based business. The late Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer Jr. established the company in Southold, N.Y., 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. What began with just two boats on the water in the North Fork of Long Island, has grown into a network of more than 110 franchise operated areas with more than 500 boats and 700 captains and crew nationwide.
Today, the second generation, family-owned company is led by Captain Frohnhoefer’s son, CEO Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer III and daughter, President Kristen Frohnhoefer. Sea Tow focuses on its many available services, franchise network, philanthropy and the embrace of technology as the industry continues to evolve.
With philanthropy as a focus, Captain Joe Frohnhoefer Jr. established the Sea Tow Foundation in 2006 after he witnessed too many preventable accidents and fatalities on the water. Today, the Foundation continues to work with boating communities across the country to provide access to education, tools, and resources in order to eliminate preventable boating accidents and deaths. In fall 2022, the Foundation opened its 1,000th life jacket loaner station and now has more than 1300 throughout all 50 states.