Fred's Marina is located on the Multnomah Channel. 

While it can certainly be a lot of fun, boating can also be hazardous.

There’s sandbars, vegetation and other hazards to avoid. There’s the weather, which can change suddenly in springtime, as any longtime Oregonian knows. And then there’s mechanical issues, from a blown motor to just plain running out of gas, that can leave a boat quite literally dead in the water.

Recreational boaters who ply the Columbia River, however, may get more peace of mind knowing that TowBoatUS Portland is back in operation, offering 24/7 on-water towing and assistance.

The company, based at Fred’s Marina on the Multnomah Channel — right across from the southern tip of Sauvie Island — serves a long stretch of the Columbia River from the Bonneville Dam to Astoria, including the Multnomah Channel that separates Sauvie Island from Scappoose and St. Helens.

TowBoatUS will also respond to calls on the Willamette River south to Oregon City.

U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captains man two 26-foot red TowBoatUS response vessels.

After a hiatus, the towboat captains are now continuing a service that was formerly provided by Capt. Ted Carr, who retired in 2021.

Much like an auto club, such as the American Automobile Association, TowBoatUS Portland provides services including boat towing, jump starts and fuel delivery.

As an example, Capt. Richard Rich said his service has come to the rescue at Sand Island in St. Helens. The island can only be reached by boat.

“I’ve towed a lot of them off Sand Island and off the dock,” Rich said. “We’ve had several un-groundings on the outside of Sand Island, where the ships and tugs are pretty close to the island. The guys beached their boats and the weight from the commercial traffic just throws them right up on the beach.”

TowBoatUS has a nationwide fleet of more than 600 red assistance vessels that respond to more than 90,000 requests for routine assistance each year.

On the Columbia and Willamette rivers, engine failures and engines that won’t start due to drained batteries top the list of reasons TowBoatUS is called.

Given his occupation, Rich needs to be ready to assist at any moment.

“I live on the water, work on the water, play in the water, so it’s really quick for me,” he said. “I can be dead asleep, get dressed and be on the boat in full throttle in 15 minutes.”

Being out on the water so much of his life, Rich said he’s had the chance to meet a lot of people along the way.

“Boating is a very tight community,” Rich said. “I’ve met a lot of good people doing this.”

Boat Owners Association of the United States offers on-water unlimited towing memberships for freshwater boaters and anglers for $99 per year. Visit boatus.com to learn more.