An image of Capt. Travis Coleman

WARSAW, Mo. - June 9, 2026 – TowBoatUS, North America’s largest network of on-water towing ports, today announced the opening of TowBoatUS Truman Lake, marking a significant expansion of on-water towing and response services for Missouri’s recreational boaters. 

Owned and operated by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed captain Travis Coleman, TowBoatUS Truman Lake is Coleman’s second TowBoatUS port, complementing existing operations at TowBoatUS Lake of the Ozarks. The location was designed around Truman Lake’s expansive layout, with a new response vessel operating across long stretches of water where marinas and service access points can be miles apart. 

“Truman Lake is a beautiful place to boat, and we take pride in making sure help is available when boaters need it,” said Coleman. “With long stretches between marinas and a large area to cover, having dedicated on-water assistance can make a real difference when something unexpected happens. I’m proud to be serving the boating community here and continuing to build support for Show-Me-State residents and our neighbors.” 

Situated between Kansas City and St. Louis, Truman Lake features nearly 1,000 miles of shorelines. The lake draws visitors from across Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma and has continued to grow as a destination for boating, fishing, and outdoor recreation. 

TowBoatUS Truman Lake operates a 26-foot Boston Whaler based at Truman State Park Marina and is strategically positioned to support boaters across the lake. Staffed by U.S. Coast Guard-licensed Captain Ken Dunlap who brings years of experience both on the Osage river and Truman Reservoir, the port provides towing, fuel delivery, battery jump-starts, and assistance for boats that run soft aground. 

Coleman brings decades of boating experience to the role, having grown up boating throughout Oklahoma and spending significant time on Grand Lake. In addition to owning several marine-industry businesses, he acquired TowBoatUS Lake of the Ozarks from a longtime operator who retired after 20 years running the port. Coleman and his team have also worked closely with Missouri law enforcement and Water Patrol officials in support of on-water response efforts. 

Much like an auto club for recreational boat owners, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers on-water towing memberships for $130/year for freshwater. In addition to a BoatUS Towing Membership, members also receive more than 25 valuable BoatUS benefits including a subscription to award-winning BoatUS Magazine, free DSC-VHF radio registration, and more. 

To request on-water assistance, boaters can call the BoatUS toll-free 24/7 Dispatch Center at 800-391-4869, download the free BoatUS App, which connects boaters to the closest local towing captain, call TowBoatUS Truman Lake directly at 573-216-4701, or hail on VHF radio Ch. 16. 

About TowBoatUS 

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation's leading advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters. We provide more than 740,000 members with a wide array of helpful services, including 24-hour on-water towing that gets boaters safely home when their boat won’t, as well as jump-starts, fuel delivery, and soft ungroundings. The TowBoatUS towing fleet is North America’s largest network of towing ports with more than 330 locations and over 630 red towboats, responding to more than 110,000 requests for assistance each year. To learn more about becoming a BoatUS member, visit BoatUS.com/Towing and to find a TowBoatUS location closest to you, visit BoatUS.com/ServiceLocator.