Captain Ethan Maass © Sea Tow® Boston

International marine assistance provider Sea Tow has confirmed the acquisition of Sea Tow Boston by MaassMarine, Inc.

MaassMarine is owned and operated by Captain Ethan Maass, who is also the owner of Sea Tow South Shore based in Marshfield, MA.

With this expansion, the number of ports serviced by Captain Maass and his team has doubled. Located in East Boston, Sea Tow Boston’s territory includes Gloucester Harbor, the Marblehead area, Boston Harbor, Quincy, Hingham and Hull.

Captain Maass has owned and operated Sea Tow South Shore, based in Marshfield, MA, since 2004. Sea Tow South Shore is one of the oldest established independently-owned franchise locations in the Sea Tow network. It provides professional on-water assistance around Cape Cod Bay from its base in Green Harbor.

While Sea Tow Boston is under new ownership, several former captains will stay on, maintaining their current roles.

Prior to the acquisition, Sea Tow Boston was owned by brothers David and Steve Winkler for over 30 years. Winkler sadly passed away in 2021.

“I’m grateful for Steve and David, who gave me my start in the industry when I began working for them in Boston Harbor in 2002,” says Captain Maass. “As I take over the reins at Sea Tow Boston, I look forward to continuing the Winklers’ legacy of top-notch customer service to Boston-area boaters.”

“We are thrilled to have Captain Maass take the helm,” says Sea Tow CEO Captain Joseph Frohnhoefer III. “With this acquisition, Boston boaters can expect the same level of extraordinary service and can continue to count on Sea Tow for all their towing and salvage needs.”

Sea Tow, which is headquartered in Southold, New York, was founded in 1983 and marked its 40th anniversary in business in 2023. The franchise-based business now has more than 500 ports across the continental US, Alaska and Puerto Rico.

The new ownership coincides with the Discover Boating New England Boat Show taking place at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from January 10-14, 2024, where Sea Tow is exhibiting at booth 104.

Main image: Captain Ethan Maass. Image courtesy of Sea Tow Boston.

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