Dear Capt. Bob,
We had a fantastic experience with you on the Miami Mermaid. Thank you for giving us a real “hands-on” look at operating a trawler and navigating our way through the Intercoastal Waterway. We both feel like we learned so much. And we had fun, too! Thanks for showing us to stop & smell the roses. Your food was very good and very healthy, too. You’ve got a great thing going. We will speak of you fondly for many years! Thanks again for everything,
Captain Mark & “Sunshine”
Made port yesterday, Thanksgiving, after a great few days learning the “Art of Trawlering.” Capt. Bob does a great job of teaching you “what you need to know.” We have been contemplating the trawler lifestyle as a potential retirement option in a few years. This course was just what we needed to get a taste of what it is, and what it is not, plus gaining the confidence to go to the next step of a bareboat charter. The ports of call are great, and all offer a different aspect of trawler cruising.
The added treat of a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner at “Chez Susan” with all the trimmings and then some, was a great way to end up our adventure. We will definitely be making the next step toward out own “final solution!”
Thanks for everything! (Sorry about lightening your pockets after dinner!)
Take care Capt. Bob & Susan,
Roger & Lynn
Rochester, NY & Atlanta, GA
November 2010
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There is Bushido, the “way” of the Samurai.
There is Karate, the “way” of the empty hand.
Then there is Capt. Bob’s “way,” the true way to learn seamanship, boating, and the trawler way. Matilde and I decided to get a trawler & began searching. We believed that it would take a year to find the perfect one. So, we, in May of 2010 engaged a Trawler School Charter for 15-Nov-2010, believing our training would be done far ahead of our trawler purchase. Ha! We found our boat in July, and Capt. Bob’s book was a Godsend, an invaluable guide during our purchase. Now, what to do with our Trawler School Charter? Cancel? No. We decided that ICW training would be valuable as we intended to make our first long trip from Houston, TX to the Bahamas.
Little did we know that ICW training would be 10 times as valuable as we thought! In fact, one of the many benefits of Capt. Bob’s training is that it greatly facilitated communications between Matilde & me (each of us has difficulty accepting instruction from the other). The highlights for me were the training segments on Electronics (I have not been able to get from the instruction manuals how to operate our chartplotter – I now feel completely comfortable with electronic navigation). Anchoring, engine (air, water, fuel – so simple really, and now I can outthink problems), electrics (now I am completely confident with 120 & 12V alternating and direct current systems and how they interact on a trawler).
But, here’s the icing on the cake: Capt. Bob suggested that before crossing the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas we do what he calls the “Little Loop,” Houston to the Big Ditch by the ICW, Big Ditch to Okeechobee, to Atlantic ICW, to Miami, to Key West, To Big Ditch, to Houston. Ideal! all near the service & spares we might need to shake down our vessel and prepare for foreign exploits. It has been a great experience for us, and meeting Capt. Bob’s charming Susan was a joy! Getting to know the “Way” of Captain Bob has been the best use of our time and money that we can imagine.
Thank you Capt.!
Phil & Matilde
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Hey Bob,
Thanks for the birthday Mermaid & card – the cake, champagne and flowers weren’t bad either!! The weather was great and the food good. I know so much more now then I did then.
Sandra
An excellent introduction to Southern Florida waters and what a “Big Boat” experience is all about. Boca Chita was a trip! Thanks Capt. Bob.
John
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Captain Bob,
Being a long-time boater and boat-owner – starting off ironically in the Miami area in the 60’s & 70’s I thought I was “Mr. Know-it-all” when it came to boating!
Always dreaming of living on a boat nad exploring different parts of the world, while living in our home on the water. Now – how to convince my wife of almost 40 years? We married young – she was 19 and I was 21 … may take some outside help? After reading about Captain Bob and his “Miami Mermaid” in PassageMaker m agazine – I gave the Captain a call. Suffice it to say, we both learned a lot, ever after a life-time of boating experience!
Captain Bob filters out what you really need to know in a common-sense, not too techy fashion. Even if you’re not interested in living onboard a trawler (or for that matter any other floating home). We would highly recommend going onboard for the scenery, historical and entertainment value! My wife is now much more informed and confident regarding handling a large boat and the Captain’s method of “Hands-on” and “hands-off-do-it-yourself” teaching was terrific! She is just upset to learn she’s not the only “sunshine” on these cruises :-)! We could write a whole book on the places we visited and all that we learned. If you’re looking for a “final-solution” you will find it on the Miami Mermaid w/you Captain Bob!
Thanks again, Rudi (aka “The Flying Dutchman”) and Debbie
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Thanks for everything! It is hard to believe that we could learn so much, and have so much fun in only 3 days. I can’t wait to ply my new trade back in NC (assuming I can find a trawler with all my parameters).
Learning by doing was just what I needed, hard to believe that the engine class was so accessible (even in 90 degree heat) and I finally understand how it all works and how to keep it working. Who could believe that it can be so easy to sleep easy at night.
Speaking of night, the night manoeuver training was fantastic! The water is so peaceful at night and the Miami skyline was gorgeous! Next time I will sleep on the deck (next to my safety noodle).
Thanks again for making this so easy, helpful and FUN!
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Captain Bob,
You’ve packed a great deal of knowledge, skill and joy into three days. This experience ranks high on my list of wonderful life moments – those that we often remember and cherish. Our journeys were fun and our destinations eclectic and beautiful, from sophisticated Hurricane Harbor to unique Jimbo’s place. Let’s not neglect the quaint Boca Chita Key, the historical lighthouse in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, and the night view of the Miami skyline. Hard to pick a favorite! Glad you didn’t ask us to do that, rather, showed us the way and pretty soon we were finding these places and getting their on our own.
The lessons were timely, tailored to the trip and destinations, smartly arranged to help but not overwhelm. I was mostly impressed with our ability to manouever and dock a 40-foot boat within inches, gently and safely, with only a couple of guided trials. Navigation, engine rooms, rules of the road, it all come in at the right time and place, between snorkeling, sightseeing, relaxing on beautiful beaches, and fine dining a “Chez Bob” = our great chef and attentive host. Theank you for giving us 110% and a marvelous experience!
Aldo
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Dear TMCA Trawler Owners and Future Trawler Owners,
I am writing to you to relate a very satisfying experience: being tutored in the art of trawler cruising (and being roundly entertained and well fed) by Capt. Bob Hamilton, aboard the Miami Mermaid, during a 4-day Trawler School Charter.
In May of 2010 my wife Matilde and I decided to buy a small trawler for cruising in retirement. We believed that it would take us a year to find the perfect boat, so we reserved the first available slot on the calendar of Trawler School Charters, namely November 15-19, 2010. We wanted to get some professional instruction in our new cruising environment prior to setting sail on our own. Well, it only took two months to find our 1994 Island Gypsy 32 Europa “Awesome 1”, and we were then in a dilemma about whether or not to cancel our Charter.
Am I glad we did NOT cancel? And How!
We concluded that there is always more to learn, and we needed some vacation in clear waters. We proceeded with the refurbishment of our boat and took part in several very enjoyable TMCA cruises. When the time came to fly to Ft. Lauderdale for the Charter, we were pretty cocky about our abilities and did not expect to learn a great deal at the School.
Indeed! We learned a TON. Capt. Bob took into account our level of knowledge, and he poured on the coals, testing us to the limit and greatly adding to our stores of know-how. He did this all with good humor, care, and all the patience an ex-Marine can muster. Matilde and I came away from the School with a much, much higher level of confidence, savvy, and skills.
There were daily, morning, hands on classes in engine care, maintenance and repair, electronic navigation, seamanship, anchoring, piloting, docking practice, Intracoastal Waterway tips and guidelines, how to find and use sources of valuable cruising information, boat care, Rules of the Road, etc., etc. This was followed by full days of Matilde and I conning the boat from Dania Beach, just south of Ft. Lauderdale to Boca Chita Key and back. We also anchored in Hurricane Harbor, Marine Stadium cove, and No Name Harbor, where we had a sensational Cuban style lunch and a dip in the Atlantic.
Capt. Bob even went over the details of our boat with us and made many valuable suggestions. Here are two examples: our generator is started by the house batteries – not good, because if the house batteries are drawn down neither the propulsion engine nor the generator will start!! Recommendation: install a small generator starting battery, maintained by the genset’s alternator; another: instead of bothering with anchor line/chain markers, measure the length of chain set out per second by the windlass, and count off the seconds of windlass operation to provide the anchoring scope you need for the depth you are anchoring in. Very practical stuff, and much, much more.
Docking practice was terrific, and by the time we merited Capt. Bob’s blessing we could horse that 40 foot Miami Mermaid around like a runabout. It is a single engine, sundeck style trawler, and we are perfectly comfortable, now, with the effective use of prop walk. One engine or two? Our boat has one, and this worried me until Capt. Bob related the following statistics: over 98% of all professional commercial boats are single engine; 90% of all diesel engine failures are due to water or dirt/algae in the fuel (easily avoidable, and the second engine would stop, also, if the fuel is dirty); 9% are due to hoses, belts, water pump impellers, and plugged filters (easily avoidable with preventative maintenance); 1% are due to catastrophic failure (extremely rare in marine diesels.) My mind is at rest with my single engine, and I am dedicated to preventive maintenance – the key to single engine reliability. I am all for the ample engine accessibility and low cost provided by a single propulsion engine in the engine room.
If you are thinking of the purchase of a trawler or a similar craft, a Trawler School Charter can verify that it will be good for you or help you avoid a costly mistake.
Personally, I would recommend Capt. Bob’s services highly enough. If more information would be of interest please visit Capt. Bob’s website at www.trawlerschoolcharters.com, or send me a message.
Kindest regards,
Phil & Matilde, satisfied customers
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July 28, 2011
Hi Captain Bob,
Thought you might like to see what became of your two (very white) NY students from Albany. In June we plunged and bought a 32 Grand Banks. We took her for a shakedown cruise when we drove her from Connecticut down the Long Island sound, through NY Harbor, and up the Hudson, where she now is at home in Ravenna, just south of Albany. Notice in the photo that, like your boat, she sits forward a bit because of excessive anchor and chain. We’ll keep it that way, though, with the currents on the Hudson.****
The experience on your boat and the instruction in boat selection and buying were very helpful. We think we got a great boat in good shape at a good price. Thanks!****
Bill and Tine
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July 6th — July 10th 2011
Thanks Captain Bob for teaching us everything we need to know to go to the next step……..You taught us from scratch how to navigate and drive a single engine 40′ trawler. You also taught me the difference between an alternator and a inverter plus….the four rules……………stay in your lane, cock-a-doodle-do, 360 degrees and 45 degree’s into the wake. The one thing you could not teach me is how to tie a knot, but with patience I’ll eventually get it. Anyway, the next step is for Sunshine and me is to charter something on our own. The boating world will never be the same. Maybe we will even make to down to Jimbo’s one day…..
Yours,
Martin & Anne aka Sunshine
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