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Alexandria, VA
– Early in his tournament fishing career, Virginia pro Kurt Dove experienced every boat owner's nightmare.
"I was towing my boat home and I lost a tire on the trailer," he said. "I had to leave my boat on the side of the road and go to get the parts to fix it and hope it was still there."
Whether you tow 25,000 miles a year like Dove or just occasionally head to the local lake, he said you can avoid such stressful circumstances with the help of one of his newly acquired sponsors, Boat US.
"They offer a neat service that no one else really has. It's basically like AAA for your boat."
For annual dues of $19, the company provides both on the water towing and on-road towing. "If you were a member of another type of auto club and you broke down, they'd only cover your auto, not your trailer. Boat US will cover and angler's tow vehicle and trailer, they won't just leave your trailer sitting by the side of the road."
The organization is located fairly close to his home in Fairfax, Va., and Dove contacted Mike Pellerin, the Director of Boat US Angler last year. "They were primarily in the coastal market, their towing service and insurance, but they felt they were lacking in getting a grip on the inland waterways. The people who fish on inland waters could be new prospects for them. I got with Mike and let him know that I fish the Elite Series and could help him get the word out to fishermen."
Within a few months, they reached an agreement, and Dove is excited about the opportunities that he can give a company that's based near his home. "We've talked about doing some things close to their headquarters and we're looking into print advertising. We're also going to implement web-based advice, tips and techniques, and provide people with information about waters near their homes and local guides they can contact."
He's also excited about the insurance plans they offer that take the concerns of tournament anglers into consideration. A policy with Boat US automatically insures tackle for up to $5,000 per incident (instead of needing a rider, as with most companies) and is unique in that it will reimburse tournament entry fees for events missed due to certain specified causes.
"They have unparalleled coverage compared to other companies. They'll even cover inland guides. They also provide a theft recovery reward program, along with discounts at marinas, on fuel and boat repairs, as well as boat financing.
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