TowBoatUS Ventura & Channel Islands

Gotta give the boss some credit too! From a recent member’s review: The tow captain, Paul, went above and beyond to make our trip easy and comfortable. It was a long tow home, and there was nothing but good attitudes along the way. Paul was great, can't thank him enough!

When things go wrong, that’s when we get the call even on land. This powerboat and trailer went 200ft down the sloped road before overturning in a ravine. The insurance company hired us to provide expertise to remove the vessel with no additional damage. Working with Legacy Crane, who keeps a rig in Ventura Harbor, we recovered the vessel and delivered it for repairs back in Ventura.

When a solo-sailor passed away at sea offshore of San Francisco and after the deceased was removed by U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco helicopter, our team stepped up to the challenge of recovering this unmanned sailboat as it continued making way down the coast and further out to sea. Teaming up with Curtin Maritime, Corp., two of our captains departed Long Beach on a 90-foot tugboat to make the 300 nautical mile trip. The two captains were transferred over to the 41’ sailboat in very rough seas where they then sailed the vessel back to Ventura Harbor. Our condolences go out to the family of the person who passed while doing something he loved.

A Good Samaritan vessel reported this 23’ skiff beached in the surf on Anacapa Island on Sunday. Retriever with Captains Carson and John responded with Channel Islands National Park rangers and deployed Capt John to swim a tow line through the surf. The vessel was removed and towed back into the harbor before any significant damage or pollution could occur inside the Channel Islands National Park / NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. It appears that while the vessel was operating near shore, they were hit by a breaking wave which propelled them into the surf, swamped the vessel, thus disabling the engine, and pushed them aground.

Not the way to start your day, but no worries, TowBoatUS is on the way

Dock to dock tows to a boatyard for repairs are just another benefit of an Unlimited Gold membership. Any size, we’ll be by your side

Towing into 2021. Happy New Years from the TowBoatUS Ventura crew! @jamie_cowan_

We hope everyone is getting a chance to relax after the holidays, just like our Captains after completing this 35 hour tow! This 41’ sailboat ran out of wind and their motor wouldn’t start up near Point Conception. With a mid-trip resupply from a towboat responding to a different case, the Captains got this member back to his home slip in Long Beach.

This just-purchased 24’ sailboat was trying to motor from Marina Del Rey to Channel Islands Harbor when they experienced strong winds and started having engine issues. Because of numerous issues and for the safety of the 2 adults and 2 kids on board, the Coast Guard was notified of the situation and U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands as well as a helicopter responded. The Coast Guard small boat arrived on scene and ensured the mariners would be ok for the addition coupl...e minutes for us to arrive and get the vessel in tow. They endured strong winds and big waves for the 18 mile tow back into the harbor. Once into the harbor, 12 hours after departing Marina Del Rey, they were assessed, treated, and released for minor hypothermia and seasickness by Ventura County Harbor Patrol, Oxnard Fire Department, and Gold Coast Ambulance. This could have ended up being a much worse situation! PLEASE check the weather before you leave: There has been a small craft advisory in place all day. The BoatUS app is a great tool to quickly check weather and see if any advisories are in place. Also, make sure your vessel is equipped for a long distance trip like this one before you head out. This vessel did not have navigational lights or radar and would be cutting it on daylight hours even if they had no issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz5yPJfRecQ Video Credit: Joshua Smith, National Park Service Ranger

The sun might be going away for the night but our captains certainly are not! 24/7/365

Start to finish it was friendly, efficient and professional. I was also very impressed with the skipper’s skills. That always let's me relax and know my boat is in good hands and I don't need to worry or get involved. Don't leave port without it.

Shortly after 11pm last night, the operator aboard this 57’ motor yacht put out a mayday call with his VHF marine radio advising they were hard aground on the beach and in the surf just west of the Channel Islands Harbor entrance. Channel Islands Harbor Patrol (Ventura County Harbor Patrol) as well as resources from Oxnard, Ventura City and Ventura County Fire Departments responded to safely transfer the 11 people ashore. The vessel was on its way back into Channel Islands Ha...rbor from Santa Cruz Island and reported in excess of 200 gallons of diesel on board. TowBoatUS Ventura immediately mobilized a salvage response by water and land to recover the vessel before any major damage or pollution occurred. The vessel was safely removed and returned back to her home slip.

We transported a construction crew to Scorpion Ranch this morning. It looks like all the new pier pilling work is done and work is continuing on the deck, which they indicated would go quickly.

A Good Samaritan vessel reported a sailboat adrift with no one aboard in the north bound shipping lanes off of Anacapa Island. We responded, inspected the vessel and confirmed no one was on it! The 30’ Catalina was towed back to and stored in Ventura until the owner could come recover it. After some work by the Coast Guard, the owner was located and said it must have broken free from his Santa Barbara anchorage, about 30 miles away! We recently had another boat break free from the anchorage... it’s fate was not as fortunate.

Earlier this month, we mobilized a truck and Retriever to recover a ski boat off of Lake Nacimiento. This rental boat was underway at full speed when it hit and glided onto a bar. Dropping water levels in the lake took away much of the water surrounding the vessel and left a small window of opportunity to recover the vessel out of the mud and shallow waters. Captains Paul and Carson made the 340 mile round trip drive and successfully got the boat back to the owner right as the sun was going down. Carson enjoyed the 84 degree water as he had to walk to the boat and they even got a home cooked meal at a friends house before they had to drive back to Ventura.

This 18’ powerboat began taking on water off of Point Mugu this afternoon. Capt Carson immediately responded aboard Retriever and arrived shortly after Coast Guard Station Channel Islands. Retriever passed over a dewatering pump and transferred the panicked and cold wife onto Retriever, a more stable and comfortable platform. Once the water was under control, the remaining two victims were brought aboard and the vessel was put in tow for Channel Islands Harbor. Capt Randy, aboard Assist Channel Islands, relieved the tow so Retriever could get the cold victims back to warmth and a cup of coffee quickly. Once the vessel was hauled out on the owner’s trailer, the cause of the distress became obvious... a missing stern plug.

At around 7:35pm Friday, we responded to an uncorrelated mayday distress call off of the Ormond Beach Power Plant. Shortly after, we were advised that this 23’ Aquasport was beached in the surf and the one victim was being pulled off by Coast Guard helicopter. The uninsured mariner refused our services and said he would get it removed on his own. The next day, Ventura Sheriff contacted us for it’s removal from the beach, which is a sensitive nesting habitat for federally endangered and federally threatened birds. After sitting in the surf overnight, the vessel filled with water and some sand but she was removed without incident and sits impounded at our office.

We are honored to have been a part of this memorial and to have provided transportation for the non-diving family members to take part in this special event (check out our previous post for full details).

This morning we had the privilege to participate with the families and other first responders in a memorial for the 34 victims of the Conception dive boat fire, which occurred 1 year ago today at Platts Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. A memorial rock with a plaque listing the 34 victims has been placed at the sea floor where the Conception came to rest. Malibu Divers organized a dive trip aboard the Spectre Dive Boat to allow family and friends of the victims the opportunity to d...ive at the site. TowBoatUS Ventura / Channel Watch Marine had the honor to charter the Condor Express Whale Watching to allow non-diving family members, close friends, and first responders, including Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, the opportunity to participate in the event. The Condor Express, Spectre, and towboat Retriever were also joined by Channel Island Harbor's Ventura County Harbor Patrol, Ventura Harbor Patrol, Channel Islands National Park, NOAA Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, CA Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The song written by Matt Lum and played and sung by David Segall is called Mahasamadhi which is "Where one experiences the perfect union of the individual soul with infinite spirit when leaving the earthy body. It is an experience of divine bliss and ecstacy where the soul merges with universal consciousness. Thank you to the Condor Express for helping us make this possible. We mourn the 34 lives lost and our hearts go out to all those who continue suffering the loss of their loved ones.

After one year, a virtual commemoration is held for the 34 victims who died in the Conception dive boat fire off the coast of Santa Cruz Island

A recent member in need of assistance said this about Captain Carson: Professional service. The TowBoatUS Captain handled the tow to my slip with precision. I have new found reassurance knowing that TOWBOATUS is just a call away.