It probably wasn’t something they planned when they first became friends in college at UNC-Wilmington, but on April 6, Brooks Bridges and Matt Wild purchased the TowBoatUS franchise at Wrightsville Beach.
Bridges and Wild have boating backgrounds that extend into their childhoods. Bridges began boating with his family at age six and has held various deck positions on local head boats and private charter vessels from Atlantic Beach to New Bern.
Wild didn’t discover boating until his teen years, but has owned many different ones since then and earned his captain’s license. The years of experience, plus their passion for the water, especially surfing and diving make Bridges and Wild naturals for this job.
“As a boater, I’ve experienced every mechanical problem myself,” Wild said. “I’ve had many boats over the years and most were not in the best condition. I’ve even had to call BoatUS in the past for assistance.”
Bridges said he and Wild jumped at the opportunity to purchase the established business from Capt. George Bruton, who remains with the company as a towboat captain. Capt. Tom Morgan will also remain with the company as the primary towing captain.
“It was a unique opportunity to pursue a joint business venture which involved doing what we both truly enjoy—helping friends and family enjoy the coastal lifestyle as much as we do,” said Bridges.
TowBoatUS Wrightsville Beach is located near the Wrightsville Beach drawbridge, with an “extended” service area that covers 75 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean. They have three boats, which can easily be identified by their distinctive red hulls, white bow stripes and “TowBoatUS” lettering along their sides. Each boat carries a full complement of towing and salvage equipment, including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, scuba gear and a battery “jump pack” to handle dead batteries.
“This business entails dangerous and challenging work but we really enjoy it,” Bridges said. “How many people can say that their office is located anywhere between shore and dozens of miles out?”
TowBoatUS services include on-the-water assistance day and night. Dead batteries, jump starts, fuel drop offs, ungrounding services and tows back to a launch ramp are the most common requests.
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