Left to right: Tapestry Dalrymple (office manager), Ann Merritt (Captain and co-owner/manager), and Bill Merritt
RIDGE, Md. – April 17, 2020 – If you’re ever in need of assistance in Southern Maryland, whether it be by road or by sea, there’s only one man to call – Capt. Bill Merritt.
Capt. Bill has been in the towing industry for nearly four decades. Over the last 15-years, he has been serving boaters throughout Chesapeake Bay and other nearby waterways as owner and head captain at Sea Tow Southern Maryland – a locally-owned on-water assistance franchise providing tows, jump starts, fuel deliveries and more to area boaters – is celebrating its 15th anniversary of business this month.
“I’ve always been in the business of helping people,” said Capt. Merritt. That commitment is what first drew him to Sea Tow’s distinctive yellow fleet. “When the opportunity to own my own Sea Tow franchise came up, it just made too much sense. I had to jump on it.”
He and his crew are available 24/7/365 to provide on-water assistance. Just as his boats are, his fleet of trucks are on-call and ready to help whenever a driver is stuck on the side of the road. He has owned and operated a AAA-licensed towing business, providing roadside assistance throughout the southern peninsula of Maryland for more than 35-years.
Naturally, the transition from tow truck operator to tow boat captain came with its own unique set of challenges, but Capt. Merritt’s dedication to top-notch customer service and worry-free peace of mind has set up the Southern Maryland franchise for years of success.
“Towing cars and towing boats are two different beasts,” said Capt. Merritt. “But at the heart of it, is treating each client and their vehicle or vessel with the respect and care they deserve. It doesn’t matter if you drive a car, truck, or a boat, getting stuck is a stressful, and can even be a scary, situation. It’s my job to relieve that stress and get you back to where you need to be.”
While many things may have changed over the course of the past 15 years, one thing has remained constant… and that is Capt. Merritt and his Sea Tow crew are always standing-by to help boaters of Southern Maryland when they need it most.