About Us

Captain Derek DeBord owns and operates the local on-the-water boat towing companies, TowBoatUS Lake Norman amd  TowBoatU.S. Mt. Island Lake, which offers boaters 24/7 non-emergency assistance with breakdowns, running out of fuel or running aground. The USCG-licensed DeBord, brings multiple years of experience handling complex situations serving 6 years on a rescue squad and 15 years and counting as a sworn Deputy Sheriff. Derek is joined at the company by his wife, Cheryl, who handles the company’s accounting and is an experienced First Mate. “She goes on towing calls every chance she gets,” said Capt. DeBord.

Just Like AAA for cars, TowBoatU.S. offers on-the-water towing plans for freshwater boaters for just $109 a year, which includes BoatU.S. membership. Boaters without a towing plan face costs that nationally average $600 per incident. “That’s why signing up for just $109 a year makes a lot of sense,” added DeBord. His company is also part of BoatU.S. Towing Services; the world’s largest on the water towing network with over 300 waterfront locations and over 600 towing assistance vessels — three times larger than the closest competitor.

TowBoatU.S. Lake Norman and Mt. Island has SIX boats servicing the lakes: 3 - 22-foot Twin Vee catamarans, 1 - 22-foot Pro Sports Prokat catamaran, 1- 20-foot Nautico catamaran, 1 - 19-foot Stratos center console, . The fleet’s seven towboats are painted a distinctive red with "TowBoatU.S." in white letters along their sides and are fully rigged for towing and salvage work, carrying extra fuel, pumps, dive gear and battery "jump packs". TowBoatUS Lake Norman and Mt. Island lake combined have a total ten licensed captain’s working for the company so that service can be quick and efficient.

​Our mission is to be North and South Carolina's most experience leader of Towing, Re-Floating, Recovery and Wreck Removal by providing experienced personal and professional services that establish the best reputation while ensuring the safety of our people, the public and the environment.