Author Archives: The Captain

Little Trawler vs. the Great Big Loop

Hello Captain Bob,
Remember big things come in little packages! That’s our Trawler.

You are right.  After we completed our training with you, Alice and I purchased a 25 foot Ranger Tug in the Fall of 2012 on Lake Champlain.  We had a few days cruising before it went into hibernation.  In May of 2013 we cruised South to our home port of Hyde Park, NY.  We then started the Great Loop on June 1, 2013. Since the Erie Canal was closed, we took the long way, back up the Champlain valley and Canada to Sorel and the St. Lawrence. Continued up river to the Thousand Islands and then through the Trent Severn Waterway to Georgian Bay and the North Channel.  Returned to USA and got to Lake Michigan.  We left the boat,”Red Ranger” on July 29, in Holland, MI for the winter. On June 1, 2014 we started the second leg of our Loop.  Chicago was some experience, seeing the heart of the city as we started the river route South to the Gulf of Mexico.  We followed the Florida panhandle and then South to Tampa.  We had Red Ranger dry-docked in Palmetto, FL.  We plan on starting the last leg of the Loop in early April.  We should finish the Loop sometime in the middle of July, 2015.
If you have a float plan, with your tentative dates and marinas, available to send me, it would be neat if we could visit with you along the way.
Very Happy Students
Alice & Cornell

A Week Full of Discovery & Learning

Hi Captain Bob,

After serving 27 years in the US Coast Guard as an engineer, split between sea duty and marine safety from the east, west, and Gulf coasts, including two years in Vietnam, I retired as a CW04 in my home state of Florida. The very next day I took a position as a port engineer with internal ship management, managing sulfur ships, grain ships, and ocean going tugs & barges. After 22 years with the company as VP I am “semi-retired.”

My wife and I are both native Floridians and love the water where we seem to be spending more and more time; with that in mind our interest has turned to larger vessels such as trawlers. After surfing the internet and reading various boat magazines we discovered “Captain Bob’s Trawler School Charters” which has turned out to be a week of learning, “by hands on experience,” beautiful scenery, enjoyable company, and great food.

Capt. Bob splits education between classes and hands on- with time for relaxing stops at such places as “Boca Chita Island” I did not know such places existed.

Capt. Bob passes on his experience and knowledge in navigation and boat handling in a very understandable manner. The experience you gain in docking a single screw vessel will be a valuable asset in your future. And, don’t be surprised if you gain a few pounds from “cabin boy” Bob’s chef capabilities. After watching Capt. Bob eyeing my intrinsically safe flash light during the voyage, I left it among his various gadgets.

Capt. Bob, Thanks for a wonderful week. In addition to the operational skills learned we appreciated the knowledge passed on in the ABC’s of Trawlers- good luck with your hip.

Betty & Jerry – San Antonio, FL

Where do We Begin?

Captain Bob                                         2 — 23  —  2 — 27 — 2015

Where do we begin? Coming from  -7 degree’s in Chicago to Southern Florida to attend your Trawler school has been more rewarding than we could ever have imagined. From the moment we stepped aboard the Miami Mermaid we have learned not only how to navigate but everything we need to know about handling a trawler. Safety, “woman over board and saving” Wilma (Blow up doll), that was fun!

What type of trawler to look for, advice on whether to buy or charter at this point in our lives (still working) and the wonderful community of boaters out there and why it is such a big draw for so many.

You have been an exceptional host, and now a friend. I hope someday to find you out there cruising the around the intracoastal on our own trawler, once we retire. We will have a toast to all your help and guidance.

This has been one of our fondest experiences on the water. Thank you so very much. We will miss Wilma.

Glen & Debbie
Medinah, IL.

Turning the Big 6-0

Captain Bob,                                 Feb 18 — 21

It was great cruising with you on your birthday 2-19 turning the big 60. You surpassed our expectations on two objectives, among many. One was how to buy a trawler, what size and what model would best fit our needs. The other was building our confidence in being able to handle a trawler.

Added benefits were how nice your boat was and the great meals you prepared for us.

Your Alabama friends
Bob & Gina L.
Huntsville, AL
P.S. Look for something in the mail for your galley.

How Captain Bob Helped Us Find the Right Trawler

Captain Bob,

My wife and I attended your Trawler School last year at Memorial Day.  We are Tom and Doris.  We are the people who were going to name our boat “SeaNile”.  I contacted you via email and also phone conversation with questions about boats and I found your advice to be very helpful.

We bought a boat last August – a 1999 Mainship 350 (picture attached).  We used a lot of the information we got in your class during the purchase process and we feel that we got a great boat at a good price.  Most of all, we followed your advice and got a boat that was comfortable for us without worrying about potential guests.  The boat was in Bradenton, FL when we bought her, and she is still there for the time being.  We have been exploring the area and have gained a great deal of confidence in handling her – so far so good.

In Feb. or March we are going to leave Bradenton and start a trip that will eventually end up on the GA or SC coast.  We will probably break the trip up into 2 or 3 segments leaving the boat in a marina somewhere between segments.  I’m wondering if the marina at Dania Beach would be a good place for us to leave her for about a month.  Do you have any thoughts on that or recommendations of other marinas in the area?  I would appreciate any advice you could give me on that subject.

At any rate, we’ll try to contact you as we come through your area, we’d love to see you again.
Again, thanks for all your help.
Tom and Doris
SC
PS  The boat’s name is “Sweet Caroline” – we haven’t renamed her SeaNile yet.  We may just stick with Sweet Caroline.

mainship 350

A Lot, in So Little Time

Captain Bob.                           Jan 25 — 28 — 2015
We had a great time onboard the Miami Mermaid, thanks for everything these past few days. It’s a great start to our cruising adventures. We are ready to go!

We are so happy we attended Trawler School, learned a lot in so little time.

See you on the waterway
Leigh & Wendy
Atlanta, GA

We Now are Educated Potential Buyers

Captain Bob,                                              Jan 20 — 23 –2015
Thanks a lot Captain Bob learned a great deal about piloting a trawler and a real lot about information on finding and buying a trawler. With all your experience as a past leading trawler broker we now are educated potential buyers. As a newcomer to handling larger boats our confidence has exceeded what we came to learn.

Best wishes
Eugene (Solo 2 Days 3 nights)
Greenbay WI

New Year’s Eve on the Miami Mermaid

A vacation with an education!

Ahoy Captain Bob

What a great way to spend “New Years. This was our first time on a trawler so we were looking for one part learning, one part hands on training and the rest our vacation. As far as learning and hands on training & education went, Captain Bob provided everything we came to Trawler School for. We definitely have a better understanding of the trawler lifestyle now. As far as the vacation goes we spent 3 days 4 nights on the Miami Mermaid and saw terrific scenery… Islands, coves, dolphins, manatees, and many $$$$ mansions & boats.

News Years Eve was the best ever, watching 360 degrees fireworks at 12:00 from downtown Miami all the way to South Beach, and we had front row seats onboard the Mermaid. Pitbull was hosting Miami New Years, it all happened right in front of us, and we had a 25″ TV on the flybridge not to miss a thing. Happy New Years. Incredible night…. Midnight swim & blowing the LOUDEST horn in the harbor.

Very Memorable, Jim

Thanks for the wonderful cruise and the experience of a lifetime. I will always remember bringing in 2015 with a big smile on my face.

Happy New Years, Captain Bob,
Susan & Jim M.
El Paso, TX

Blowing the Outlaw Horn

Hello Captain Bob & the Miami Mermaid,

A very good trip (cruise), it was our first cruise on a trawler and we learned a lot. Gained quite a bit of hands-on experience and the ins and outs of cruising. We got a lot of wonderful ideas on how to operate, maintain, and buy a trawler. Thank you Captain Bob, for a unique learning experience.

P.S. Flo had fun blowing your Outlaw train horn. Wow what a blast…(ha ha)
Sea U
Gene & Flo C.
Springfield, VA

The Website Leaves a Lot Out

Trawler School’s website does not describe 20% of the experience, knowledge and fun we had on our trip!

Captain Bob,

We are so excited about the knowledge on your training program how to keep it simple! This was an amazing school with beautiful Southeast Florida scenery. We were the first to hear your new air horn, wow… remember, “Don’t blow your cool, blow your air horn!”

We will remember our good times on the Miami Mermaid with you and Wilma (she said you pushed her overboard) blow up doll used for woman over board drill. Our new  memories on our new trawler “Latitude”  will begin soon for us. Happy Trawling. Jackie

Captain Bob,
Many thanks for the lesson’s learned and knowledge gained on this trip. The confidence I now have will will be applied handling Latitude. We are now very prepared on how to set up our new trawler. Your website dose not describe 20% of the experience, knowledge and fun we had on our trip. For those who are thinking of attending do not miss the boat!