Boaters can enjoy peace of mind every time they take to the water thanks to a new marine assistance company which offers everything from refuelling to towing services to stranded vessels.

Sea Assist Ltd., which was originally launched by owner and operator Chris Maughan in May 2008, works on an annual membership fee basis offering basic, extended and premium packages.

And the company has joined forces with Ralph Richardson, Commodore of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, who will be offering a free copy of his book The Bermuda Boater to new members who sign up to the premium level.

Membership to Sea Assist includes towing, gas and oil drops, soft grounds (on a reef or sand bar) and battery jumps, and with Hurricane Bill on its way, the company will be sending out boats stocked with battery packs, water pumps, fuel and oil, and tow lines to help those in need after the storm has passed.

The basic package costs $175 and covers on shore, harbours and bays, the extended package costs $250 and covers up to the reef beacon markers, and the premium deal is $350 and encompasses both of the first two packages, as well as off shore coverage and twice-monthly boat checks to make sure bilge pumps and other equipment is working properly.

The company is run by three full-time staff, who are all US Coast Guard trained and certified in risk assessment and towing, and has four boats at its disposal, with plans to expand to nine fully trained staff by the end of next month.

Mr. Richardson, who has been promoting water safety and teaching boat courses for the past 25 years, said he only recently heard about the new service, but signed up straight away because of the value for money it offered.

"I have always been concerned that we needed this type of service and all of a sudden I found out about it," he said.

"I bought a boat this year and immediately signed up for the service.

"I think it is the best money spent when you consider there are 10,000 boats out there off the coast of Bermuda at any time and if there is nobody available and the local authorities like the police are tied up on another incident there is nobody coming to get you, so it is invaluable."

Mr. Richardson, who will be offering a complimentary copy of his book (which retails at $32) to anyone who signs up for the premium package, said that Sea Assist was the equivalent to the American Automobile Association in terms of the level of service offered and would be an even better deal with the more members who signed up to use it.

Meanwhile, he said Argus, BF&M and Freisenbruch-Meyer would all be offering 10 percent or the value of premium package membership off the cost of boat insurance as an incentive for boaters to join.

Mr. Richardson, who previously worked as a loss adjustor at an insurance company, said the twice-monthly boat checks also represented a sound investment, with the majority of claims being made on vessels that sink at their moorings in his experience.

He also reckons the new service is easy-to-use online, whether it is making bank wire transfers via the website or email correspondence to let boat owners know their vessels have passed the inspection tests or need work carrying out on them.

Mr. Maughan, who said membership was currently up at 150, said Sea Assist operated 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, with all boat checks being logged in a database, while encouraging members to file a float plan with the company before going off shore.

"One of the main reasons we set up was to increase boat safety and awareness," he said.

"It is about making boating more affordable and safer all round - we work very closely with Bermuda Radio and respond to a lot of calls to go out.

"For example, we had to take fuel to somebody who had run out off St. David's Head the other day and it was a $350 to $400 job, whereas if they had membership they would have been covered for that."

To book your membership or for more information contact 300-8692, email contact@seaassistbermuda.com or visit the website at www.seaassistbermuda.com