Local Marina Operator Expands Business With Purchase of On-the-Water Towing Company
August 2007
News
Eric Williams, owner of Holiday Harbor Marina and Resort has expanded his service offerings to boaters with the purchase of TowBoatU.S. Allatoona, GA. Located at Holiday Harbor, near Acworth, GA, the operation was previously owned by Barkley Geib, who will continue to operate another TowBoatU.S. port on nearby Lake Lanier.
TowBoatU.S. Lake Allatoona is equipped with two response vessels, a 36-foot Privateer and a 19-foot Whittley. Both boats can be identified by their distinctive red hulls with white bow stripes and "TowBoatU.S." lettering along their sides. Onboard each is a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, engine fluids, pumps, and battery "jump packs" to handle every breakdown from running out of fuel to running aground.
For Williams, the new business brings him ever closer to his goal of being a one-stop shop for boaters on Lake Allatoona. "If someone asks, `Where can I go for anything with my boat?'" says Williams, "I tell them it's all right here."
"With water levels that fluctuate 18-feet, boaters sometimes run aground and need to call us for a gentle pull off a shoal," says Williams. "The most requests for assistance, however, are for fuel drop offs, or related to engine or battery problems," he adds.
Williams is a Georgia native and a Southern Tech grad. Both he and his wife, Angela, have three children age 11 months to six years. Like his young family, Williams has rapidly grown Holiday Harbor from a 200-slip marina since purchasing it just six year ago to a 400-slip, full-service facility with dry and wet storage, 24-hour fuel, restaurant, campground, cabin and boat rentals. In 2003 Williams joined with a long-time college friend to open Georgia Boat Sales.
As a BoatU.S. Cooperating Marina, Holiday Harbor offers BoatU.S. members a 10¢ per gallon discount on fuel. Williams is also a member of the Lake Allatoona Marina Association, the Acworth Business Association, a church volunteer and a board member on the newly formed Lake Allatoona Association.
Similar to a roadside auto club, BoatU.S. offers on-the-water assistance plans starting at around $37 a year. Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident. Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatU.S. Lake Allatoona by calling the company directly at 770-974-4456; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatU.S. toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869 or visit http://www.BoatUS.com/Towing for more information.