Please select your home edition
Edition
April May June Leaderboard Q2 2023

Capt. Chris Day's new businesses are ready to help Neely Henry Lake Boaters

by BoatUS 26 Apr 20:55 UTC
Capt. Chris Day, owner of TowBoatUS Neely Henry Lake and Georgia Boat Safety Training © BoatUS

Capt. Chris Day has spent a lot of time on the water. The owner of two TowBoatUS on-water boat towing ports on nearby Logan Martin Lake and Weiss Lake, boating safety instructor, life jacket advocate and former water patrol officer, Day will be spending more time on Neely Henry Lake this summer after opening TowBoatUS Neely Henry Lake, a professional 24/7 on-water towing and assistance service for boaters.

Also on Neely Henry, Day has opened a location of Georgia Boat Safety Training, his on-water training company, which is partnering with the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water this summer to offer affordable three-hour powerboat training courses for beginners as well as those looking to improve docking skills. Women-only courses, "Women Making Waves," are also slated.

The goal of the two companies, says Day, is to increase the number of Neely Henry Lake boaters confident in their boat handling skills, and give them a hand with a tow, battery jump, fuel drop or ungrounding when they need the help the most.

"We want to be good stewards of boating safety," said Day. "We also want to be there for you when the unexpected happens."

TowBoatUS Neely Henry Lake:

The company's red 24-foot response vessel is stationed at Bucks Island Marina in Southside. It's part of a nationwide network of more than 600 TowBoatUS towboats that responded to more than 90,000 requests for assistance last year.

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 $99 per year. This includes more than 25 BoatUS benefits including discounts on transient slips and fuel, exclusive savings from national partners, a subscription to BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration and more.

The fastest way to request assistance from TowBoatUS Neely Henry Lake is to download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain. Additionally, the port can be reached at 800-821-9620, or by phoning the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869.

Georgia Boat Safety Training:

All of Georgia Boat Safety Training's instruction is offered aboard an 18-foot single-engine powerboat that departs out of the company's location at 721 Pier 77 Lane, Southside. Three-hour on-water boat handling courses are offered at 9 a.m. on select Saturdays through July. Courses are priced at an affordable $175 per person. Class size is limited to four students per vessel, ensuring each student gets sufficient time at the helm under the watchful eye of a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain certified to teach the National Safe Boating Council modular curriculum.

The "Intro to Boating" course covers centering the wheel, shifting gears, predeparture checklist and station holding, or staying in one place while wind or current effect the boat. "Women Making Waves" offers the same curriculum and is the perfect opportunity to spend a half-day learning boat-handling techniques in a supportive environment.

Precision Docking & Boat Handling includes 180-degree turns, docking on port and starboard, dock departures and learning the SCAN method to help navigate safely.

The minimum age to participate is 15 years old. BoatUS Foundation On-Water Training programs are offered at 18 locations. Sign-up at BoatUS.org/NeelyHenry.

Related Articles

Are you ready for Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don & Emily
2023 Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1; get time-tested preparation tips from the experts Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily are the first five names NOAA will deploy for incoming storms this Atlantic hurricane season that begins June 1 and runs through November 30. Posted on 1 Jun
How to avoid a misfuel mishap in your boat
Regular 88,' an E15 fuel, is prohibited for use in recreational boats Today's gas station pumps no longer provide clear and transparent information to help consumers make the right fuel choice. Posted on 23 May
5 ways to be seen and heard when you need help
National Safe Boating Week is May 21–27 When you have an emergency on the water, how do you get help? For National Safe Boating Week, the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is reminding boaters that having the ability to be seen and heard is critically important. Posted on 16 May
On-water, 3-hour powerboat handling courses
Become more confident at the helm at 31st Street Harbor Driver's education - or sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle, safely navigating streets and roads with a professional instructor at your side - is an important step in becoming a safe driver. Posted on 12 Apr
Why boats fail a no-penalty vessel safety check
Don't hit the water this summer without a no-cost, no-penalty vessel safety check How do you know your boat is ready for a safe summer boating season and complies with new U.S. Coast Guard regulations? A no-cost, no-penalty vessel safety check from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons/America's Boating Club can help. Posted on 5 Apr
Top 3 mistakes boaters make when using VHF Radios
Help ensure you're heard every time with held from the BoatUS Foundation For most recreational boaters, VHF radios are a better lifesaving tool than the omnipresent cellphone, even as more boaters use cellphones for emergency on-water communications. Posted on 30 Mar
Spring Commissioning Checklist from BoatUS
More than 800,000 members are about to hit the nation's waterways; make sure your boat is ready The recreational boat owner's advocacy, services and safety group, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), has more than 800,000 members about to return to the nation's waterways for boating season. Posted on 8 Mar
Is everyone paying their fair share?
Boaters pay for launch ramps, safety, conservation and more, but is everyone paying their fair share When it comes to those who recreate on the water together nonmotorized and motorized vessel operators who mutually benefit from the use of launch ramps, boating safety programs, conservation efforts, a U.S. GAO study says that answer remains unclear. Posted on 25 Jan
Top 10 BoatUS videos of 2022
Backing a boat trailer, using outboard tilt/trim, new extinguisher regulations top list of subjects BoatUS Magazine, the membership publication of the Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), continued to grow its educational boating video library on YouTube during 2022 by earning nearly 2 million views Posted on 29 Dec 2022
You bought a boat. What now?
Here's some help to operate it safely A recent spike in boat sales has brought many new boaters to the water, but are these new owners prepared? Posted on 23 Dec 2022