Steve Kasten was enjoying a peaceful day on the Lake, cruising with his girlfriend and other lifelong friends. It was Memorial Day Weekend, 2026.

The group had made it all the way down to Flower Pot Cove at the 9 MM of the Glaize Arm, where they floated in the water for about an hour just enjoying the breeze and company. But things soon went from picturesque to downright ugly.

The boat broke down, but thanks to Steve's XTow membership, their ride home — pulled by a towboat — was a sunset cruise they'll never forget! And it was free.

Steve's story continues below...

Flash Sale Alert! XTow Is Just $79 For A Year — Offer Ends Labor Day!

Join the XTow Captain's Club (new members only) for $79 — that's 50% off — and ensure 365 days of worry-free boating.

Captain's Club members get free towing if they break down anywhere on the water, and they save 10¢/gallon at our Partner Marinas around the Lake.

Sale ends soon — Join XTow Now!

(Questions? Visit LakeXTow.com and send a message, or email us at support@lakextow.com. Memberships renew at $159/yr.)

Once everyone was aboard and ready to make the trip home from Flower Pot Cove, Steve started the engines.

Quickly, the heat warning light kicked on.

He cut the motors and opened up the engine compartment to take a look. Bad news: a water hose had blown.

Steve knew it wasn't worth trying to make it home with a potential engine overheat. And as an XTow Captain's Club member, he knew what to do: Steve called the XTow member dispatch line.

“No panic. We just relaxed and enjoyed the evening and waited for our tow man to show up,” Steve said.

The towboat captain arrived in about 40 minutes with all of the proper equipment for the job. And this was a big one: Steve's boat weighs about 40,000 pounds. Before getting started, the tow captain explained exactly how he planned to handle the large boat.

“He was very professional. He told me what he was gonna do and how he was gonna do it, and I didn't have any questions. I had a lot of confidence in him,” Steve said.

The tow back to Steve's dock at the 21 MM took a couple of hours, but instead of spending that time stressed, Steve and his friends sat at the back of the boat and chatted as the sun began to set. All things considered, he said they really enjoyed their towed-cruise home.

“Oh, it was beautiful, it was a sunset. It was a beautiful day with beautiful friends and it was real relaxing and we really enjoyed it,” he said.

The tow boat operator safely delivered the very large boat and the group back to Steve's dock. 

“No scares, no bumps, no scratches,” Steve said.

Steve had been an XTow member for five years, and before Memorial Day 2026 he had never needed a tow. But one unexpected issue showed him what the membership was really worth.

Because of the boat's size, the distance of the tow, and it being a holiday, his tow would have been many times more than the cost of his yearly XTow fee.

“That it's well worth the money,” he said.

After that Flower Pot Cove breakdown and the sunset tow, Steve plans to remain a loyal XTow member, and he continues to recommend XTow to his friends and family.

“I'm tickled to death with the response and the service,” he said.

You never know when the boat is going to break down, and that is the whole point of an XTow Captain’s Club membership: you hope you never need it, but you are sure glad you have it when you do.

Plus, in what other situation could something so frustrating — a boat breakdown — end with something so wonderful as a sunset cruise?

XTow members also receive 10¢-per-gallon discounts at Partner Marinas, helping the membership pay for itself through fuel savings.

Join the XTow Captain’s Club today and boat worry-free.

Don’t Worry, Boat Happy! 

Offer Ends Labor Day!

Join the XTow Captain's Club (new members only) for $79 — that's 50% off — and ensure 365-days of worry-free boating.

Captain's Club members get free towing if they break down anywhere on the water, and they save 10¢/gallon at our Partner Marinas around the Lake.

Sale ends soon — Join XTow Now!

(Questions? Visit LakeXTow.com and send a message, or email us at support@lakextow.com. Memberships renew at $159/yr.)