PORTSMOUTH — Sea Tow Rhode Island has been providing on-water assistance to the boating community of Mt. Hope, Narraganset and Greenwich bays and beyond since 1989. Earlier this month, the franchise announced new ownership of the location.

Capt. Ramsey Chason, a network veteran, took to the helm of Sea Tow Rhode Island at the start of May 2019. Chason is also the owner and head captain at Sea Tow Cape & Islands, serving Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod. Prior to joining Sea Tow, Chason had worked as a tow boat and sportfishing captain early in his career.

“Being aboard a boat is where I feel most at home,” Mr. Chason said. “I grew up boating in the Outer Banks in North Carolina and these days I take that experience to boaters all throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It’s been a joy owning my first location in Cape Cod and I can’t wait to bring that same passion to the boaters of Rhode Island.”

In addition to on-water assistance, the Sea Tow network handles salvage and recovery missions and responds to natural disasters, environmental hazards and oil spill cleanups. Sea Tow also offers boat insurance thought Sea Insure and promotes boating safety, the mission of its nonprofit organization, the Sea Tow Foundation. 

One of Mr. Chason’s first acts as owner of the Rhode Island franchise was to upgrade the business’s base of operations, moving its headquarters from North Kingstown across the bay to Hinkley Yacht Services in Portsmouth. At the new location, Mr. Chason and his fleet of distinctive yellow boats have access to fuel on-site, allowing his captains to quickly re-fuel their vessels and respond to calls faster and more efficiently.

“Relocating to the new headquarters in Portsmouth opens up a lot of doors for us,” Mr. Chason said. “We’re now better situated to increase daily patrols, expand our reach and further improve our response times. Even members in North Kingstown will see quicker response times because the new location allows us to more strategically position boats throughout the area in anticipation for calls. It’s a major step forward.”

Other benefits

Mr. Chason said the benefits of the new location in Portsmouth go beyond logistical efficiency. Hinckley Yacht Services, where Sea Tow boats will now be stationed, will be offering a 10-cent discount on fuel to all Sea Tow members in conjunction with the franchise’s relocation.

“The move to Hinckley is not only good for us, but also for our members,” he said. “Portsmouth is located in the dead center of Narragansett Bay, and with this new location, we’re not only strategically positioned to respond to calls, but we’re also in a yard that allows us to handle boats of all sizes. Combine that with the fuel discounts Hinckley is offering, and it’s a real win-win for everyone.”

Currently, Sea Tow Rhode Island has a crew of six captains and fleet of four boats. However, Mr. Chason said he has plans to continue to grow the franchise.

“We have big plans in store for our members,” he said. “We’re excited to continue to grow and build our relationships with the loyal member base that the previous ownership established. We’re always looking out to the horizon and beyond, and I can’t wait to show boaters all throughout Rhode Island what we have in store.”

Visit seatow.com to learn more.