Sea Tow Member Survey: Getting Back on the Water in 2022
Marine-towing service Sea Tow released the findings from its spring 2022 annual member survey and despite rising fuel costs and inflation, more than 50% of the 7,800 respondents plan to be back on the water this summer. More than 51% also said they have a vacation by boat planned or are seriously considering it.
A Closer Look
Only 10% said rising fuel costs could be a deterrent to using their boats, while more than 65% do not plan to make any renovations or improvements to their boats. An overwhelming majority (85%) said they prioritize time on the water either fishing or cruising.
Sea Tow is a subscription service and more than 56% of the members ranked free boating (no-charge towing and responses) as “the most valued aspect of membership services.” The members said their greatest concern is engine failure.
Sea Tow said the survey results help the company tailor services, resources and education to new and established members. The service was established in 1983 by Captain Joseph Fronhoefer in Southold, NY when the United States Coast Guard stopped responding to non-emergency calls. Today, Sea Tow has more than 500 ports in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to on-water assistance, the service handles salvage and recovery missions and responds to natural disasters, environmental hazards and oil-spill cleanups.
“At Sea Tow, we value our members’ feedback and with this valuable insight, we can better target our services while continuing to provide a superior level of customer service,” said Sea Tow President Kristen Frohnhoefer. “Our member survey has proven to be an effective way to communicate with members and allows us to best anticipate these needs now and into the future.”
With a Sea Tow membership, boaters pay an annual rate. The service has boats on the water with 24/7 dispatch. Sea Tow offers members free boat towing in their home area, unlimited dock-to-dock towing on all boats, alternatives to towing like battery jumps and fuel delivery, nationwide offshore coverage, and can provide other on-water services including boat salvage and recovery, vessel for hire, and more.