New boat towing service comes to Lake Granbury

A Granbury resident with a long history on the water, has partnered with the largest towing boat service for Lake Granbury boaters.

Captain Tray Hudgens moved to Granbury about five years ago and has been on the water ever since. He had been an independent tower and freelance boat captain for about two years before becoming a part of TowBoatUS in June.

He currently is a private charter captain, a tiki hit dinner cruise captain, and a boat rental operator all while running the towing service.

He most notably earned his US Coast Guard license and earned his master’s license. He described getting his US Coast Guard license as a lengthy process. Hudgens had to track all his hours of operating a boat as a captain as a requirement of the Coast Guard. The master’s license is the highest license you can earn for water operations. Hudgens was required to become CPR certified as well as

Before Hudgens became a full-time worker on the water, he was a UPS driver and safety trainer for the freight division for 32 years. Hudgens has owned boats throughout his adult life and always had a love for the water. After retiring he knew he didn’t want to just sit around and so he decided to pursue working full time on the water.

“Now with this new career, it’s like you don’t work a day in your life. You love what you do, and you don’t mind going to work,” Hudgens said. “I’ve always had a passion for helping other boaters. I love the boating community and going out there and talking to friends and cruising around the lake.”

The business operates with a 19-foot-long response vessel. Hudges is a one-man show running the entirety of his business along with friend helping from time to time. Hudgen’s wife, LaDonna works at Carey and Sons Marine boat dealership here in Granbury.

Hudgen’s partnership is a big success for the captain as TowBoatUS is the largest towing boat service in the United States. The towing service operates 24/7 as a one man show run by Hudgens.

Through TowBoatUS, Hudgens provides not only towing services but also, soft ungroundings, battery jumps and fuel delivery. The company also offers salvage assistance including recovery of property and refloating the vessel. They also have equipment to contain spills of fuel or oil and even arrange local transportation to take customers to their destination.

Hudgens average about two to three calls a week from boaters who need towing usually because of engine failure or hitting tree stumps.

Hudges gave his most important safety tips for those going out on the lake in a boat, “stay hydrated, make sure to top of your gas before heading out to the water, stay by the channel markers, and keep your eyes moving constantly.”

When it comes to the future, Hudgens is hoping to keep growing the business as much as he can to be able to get a second response boat as well as another captain to help take on the workload.

For information on services provided or prices visit their website https://www.boatus.com/towboatus/lake-granbury or call 817-992-9116.