I see both sea tow and Tow Boat US way out in the big blue three or four days a week ..Saturday about noon a Tow Boat US 26 foot inflatable with twin e-tech's flew by us at the big rock which is 34 miles out and over the years I've called in maydays and towing assist requests for idiots without radios a number of times and they ALWAYS come out and if they dont they lose their CG rating even though they might end up in court to get paid ...They both stage several sized boats in the marsh behind the beaufort turning basin to BS and wait for calls and I know captains from both companies... How much either one charges depends on what coverage you have or whether or not its a salvage or a soft grounding etc etc etc, a mayday or Coast Guard or Marine Patrol call. The virginia chesapeake bay is for sure a different critter as I used to run a charter boat there in the mid 80's and its different regarding towing insurance coverage as opposed to he ocean. All the tow boat guys in the bay in those days had to have a 6 pack then they changed it to a 100 ton Coast Guard inland masters licence but it stopped at the ocean . Coastal ocean tow captains also must have a 100 ton coastal with intracoastal water way riders and a towing endorsement which now means going to south carolina for two days to get it added..A lot of what you hear about tow companies is urban legend but to be sure there are some sharks in the business and its always best to read the fine print..Frank