4/14 – 4/18/2008
Great training, great information, great food and a great time and great scenery! Capt. Bob (a.k.a. Cabin Boy Bob) provided them all. Mary and I feel confident that cruising is for us and that we are capable of doing it! The scenery from Boca Chita to Jimbo’s was great! Thanks Captain, what a terrific experience!
Thom & Mary
4/28 – 5/1/2008
Capt. Bob,
You are the greatest! No B.S., no stuffy habits, just no nonsense instructions of how to operate a boat. What a delight. From engine care to night navigation, you make it easy & enjoyable.
If that wasn’t enough, you saved me thousands of $$$ by steering me away from the wrong boat to purchase. My inclination towards a Grand Banks was for all the wrong reasons. Now I know better.
From Boca Chita to No Name Harbour to Marine Stadium you have the most beautiful anchorages on the Intracoastal.
I know that I’m a better captain and a more informed buyer than before your classes. All that and a good time!! Thanks, Bill – St. Louis, MO
5/2 – 5/5/2008
This was one special weekend of great weather, power boat training, and pure fun. Even with little experience in boating, Capt. Bob presented the material in a way that highlighted the important bits and made us feel comfortable right from the first night. Since this was a weekend trip, we got a taste of how to navigate through the congested party areas along the ICW. Capt. Bob’s practical valuates on looking for and buying a boat was very detailed and much appreciated. We look forward to adding experience to what we learned through a new cruising lifestyle. Thanks again, Capt. Bob, and good luck during your trip to the Far East.
Cheers! Ken & Yvonne, MD
5/19 – 5/24/2008
This was a trip of a lifetime. I loved every day. Thanks Capt. Bob for everything.
Kay & Ronnie
5/26 – 5/29/2006
When Capt. Bob greeted us aboard, we learned fast that this trip will be different. All those questions! Crazy accent! and Christa afraid to move around the boat. This all changed quickly. Capt. Bob’s experience helped us calm down, the classes were extremely informative, and- we had a wonderful time. Navigation started to be fine (for Christa); all in all we had a blast!
Thank you, Werner & Christa, Pittsburgh, PA
9/15 – 9/19/2008
We had beautiful weather all week, almost too hot!! We left Dania Beach Monday evening for a blissfully uneventful first cruise; anchoring in Hollywood Marina for the night. Tuesday, we began our 6 hour cruise to Boca Chita. Besides getting a lot of good, simple instruction from Capt. Bob, we also got stopped with the Indian Creek police boat because our bow was riding low in the water. When the surly officer boarded the boat I (Kim) started picturing how I would look in stripes. This guy was incredibly intimidating! After seeing Capt. Bob’s chain in the bow he let us go. Phew!! No Stripes! We cruised on and fueled at the barge (really cool) , then shortly after got swamped by a 60 mph express cruiser. He came to our port side way too close and way too fast- nothing we could do. We were rocking and rolling! Good lesson on always putting things in a safe place! We cruised on over to Boca Chita without any other problems. We fell in love with the auto pilot today. Dave already had a clue about how simple boating could be and after Capt Bob’s instruction on the charts, GPS, and auto pilot made me believe for the first time that trawlering was something I could do and enjoy it! Thanks Capt. Bob!! We arrived at Boca Chita in time for beaching and happy hour. What an awesome time we had here! Only 1 glitch: the generator wouldn’t work, so no AC. Wednesday we cruised to No Name Harbor- had a good day and then did night navigation to Marine Stadium- wow, wow, and wow! The night cruise and the anchorage viewing the Miami skyline were fantastic. Thursday we cruised to Jimbo’s. Oh my! We left there in the afternoon and arrived back to Dania Beach as knowledgeable and experienced sea dogs. What a ride this week has been! We had an adventure in knowledge and fun that only Capt and Cabin Boy Bob could have delivered! His approach to teaching and living were exactly right for us. This trip was Dave’s 50th birthday present and it exceeded all our expectations. We can’t wait to charter some trawler trips! Thanks Capt. Bob for the experience of a lifetime!
Kim & Dave, Roanoke, VA
12/18/2008
We came down here trying to figure out what to do next? We own a 38 Catalina sailboat, that is in charter on the Chesapeake Bay. When it’s time to buy a new boat, sail or trawler?As of tonight we haven’t decided, but we came away with a lot of new knowledge. Also, corrected some bad habits. We had a great time with Capt. Bob, we learned so much. One of the highlights at least for the guys was when we happened upon a nude photo shoot at Jimbo’s. We now know the proper way to tie off a boat. How to spin the boat and navigate at night.
Rick & Carol, Philly, PA
1/8 – 1/11/2008
Unusual classes with an unusual captain! He has a great sense of humor. Dinner by candlelight, cruising the Intracoastal, Capt. Bob’s stories of all his travel adventures … we wish you many years of happy charters!
Tom & Karen, Swartz Creek, MI
1/21 – 1/24/2008
What we learned: 1) how far an anchor can drag in two hours in 35 mph winds. 2) how to troubleshoot an overheated engine (thanks Capt. Bob for realizing it was too hot, the crew missed it) 3) how not to flush a toilet (thanks about going the extra mile for his shipmates, thanks again, Capt. Bob) 4) how to destress & relax in the Florida Keys 5) just how much fun Capt. Bob can be, and finally 6) how to steer that trawler and use the damn chart plotter (yes, I will keep it simple). Take your book learning from US Power Squadron classes, but get your hands on training (real life) from Capt. Bob.
Jim & Sue, New Orleans, LA
2/3 – 2/7/2008
Just what we were looking for: an introduction to life on the water and solid education to help us make good choices. We are looking forward to our next step (charter). Great job teaching us the basics and then some.
Pete & Joanne, Atlanta, GA
2/18 – 2/21/2008
I would recommend Capt. Bob to anyone, his personality, sense of humor, and sincere wish that his clients learn the best way to navigate. All his meals were delicious. Charly and I felt so comfortable and relaxed the entire trip. We enjoyed Capt. Bob’s company very much.
Charles & Nancy, NY
3/7/2008
What an experience! “Fire and Ice,” a broken wine drinking record, dancing with a drunken Rod Stewart, the revenge of Mrs. Honeywell (mosquito bites), tag team napping, outstanding food, finding Capt. Bob’s electric whip … but most important – a great learning experience. Now I (Penny) know we can do it. Thanks for everything!!
George & Penny
3/28/2008
From 3 foot snow banks to 3 foot waves (well, I exaggerated about the waves). Capt. Bob doesn’t do himself justice on the website. What a ride! “Stay in the damn channel!!!” Even though I didn’t read the engine book, forgot to buy the “Capt. Bob anchorage book” and therefore was not prepared for school, Bob was the best hands-on experience we could have hoped for. Low key, lots of fun, great weather. Oh, by the way, if you are a vegetarian, it helps to let him know ahead of time. Makes the meals much easier to prepare. Thanks Bob!
Mike & Sharon, Way upstate NY
4/10/2008
Initially the “Tiger” but turned out to be a “pussycat.” Has a great teaching technique – KISS – “keep it simple, stupid.” Great combination of learning and touring. Capt. Bob has picked great anchorages- Boca Chita- and the ghost of Mrs. Honeywell, No Name Harbor- great Cuban restaurant and beach, Hurricane Harbor, great homes, Marine Stadium rock and roll ghosts of the 70’s and Miami skyline, and last, but not least- Jimbo’s. Thanks for arranging the fun and we will not forget, like previous students, “stay in the damn channel” and “which yellow boat to head for?” Thankfull, Don docked the boat successfully at Jimbo’s without destroying boat or dock. This course was a test to see if we liked “trawlering.” We are still on course to find “our own” trawler. Thanks for everything Capt. Bob.
Don & Charlene, Guelph, Ontario, CANADA
3/31 – 4/3/2008
“Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice” that was our fist lesson! What sacrifice? We wined and dined, cruised and camped in wonderful surroundings, with great meals, no cooking, no cleaning, for the three plus full days. If that’s sacrifice, then we want more! After all these lessons, nearly running aground (our fault), bouncing off the dock (our fault), not keeping to the center (our fault), we finally feel we can handle, and make plans to purchase, our own trawler. Thanks, Bob
Pauline & Rod, Perth, Australia