Captain Services

Let an experienced Great Loop cruiser and US Coast Guard-certificated Captain move your boat, teach you how to safely operate your boat, or help you prepare for and get started on your first Great Loop adventure.

On this page, you’ll find a complete list of my captain services. I’m flexible and can customize any service to meet your needs.

Boat Delivery

Need to move your power boat* from one place to another along America’s waterways? I can do it for you, either alone, with another qualified captain, or with you on board.

I have extensive experience along the Great Loop, as well as in Washington’s Puget Sound. I also have the qualifications to move boats up to 50 feet in size in near coastal waterways and the Great Lakes.

Give me a call to chat about how I can get your boat where you need it to be.

Ranger Tug Hands On Training

Ranger Tug
Anchoring and launching your dinghy are just two skills I help you learn in my Ranger Tug Hands On Training classes.

One of the drawbacks to buying a used Ranger Tug or not being able to take advantage of factory training is that you often wind up with a new-to-you boat that you don’t know much about. I know exactly the position you’re in because I was there, too! And I can tell you firsthand that working with a Captain who is unfamiliar with Ranger Tugs is not the best way to learn about yours.

Since buying my 2019 Ranger Tug R-29 CB in September 2022, I have taken it more than 8,500 nautical miles over 1100 hours of active cruising time in all kinds of conditions and all kinds of waterways. I know my boat inside and out and can help you learn all about yours.

Whether you’re brand new to boating or just new to your Ranger Tug, I can help you be a smarter, safer boater. I’ll help you with your Classic R-27 (pre 2018 model year), R-29, or R-31. One day, two days, or several days on a cruise — we’ll do the amount of training you want or need. Give me a call and let’s get this done!

Learn How to Single-Hand a Small Trawler

Yes, you can do the Loop — or go anywhere else you like — solo in your own boat. I can show you how.

One-Day Seminar with 2-3 Hours of Cruising

This seminar, for experienced boaters, assumes you already know a lot about your boat and boating. I start by explaining the special considerations you’ll need to be aware of for solo cruising. Then I explain how I handle challenges like docking, casting off, anchoring out, and taking care of business while under way. I’ll focus on how you can use onboard tools like chart plotters, autopilot, sonar, and radar to stay on track and maintain situational awareness. We’ll go out in your boat or mine for demonstrations and hands on practice.

Class lasts 6 to 8 hours, including 2-3 hours of cruising. Printed handouts, including sample check lists, are included.

Multi-day Hands On Solo Cruising Course

Take a trip with me along a portion of the Great Loop for some hands-on experience while under way. We can do it in your boat or mine with a three to seven day trip. Includes everything in the One-Day Seminar with a lot more training and practice. This class is suitable for beginner to intermediate boaters.

Great Loop Training and Cruising Services

Want to get on the Great Loop but you’re not quite sure what it entails? Or maybe you’re determined to get started on the Great Loop on your own boat but you’re looking for an experienced Great Loop captain to show you the ropes and get you started? Or maybe you just want some training with an experienced captain to polish your trip planning, docking, and anchoring skills?

I can help.

With nearly 10,000 nautical miles on the Great Loop — solo, with crew members, and with other captains — I have the experience you can rely on to help you understand what Great Loop cruising is all about. In addition to the Learn How to Single-Hand a Small Trawler course discussed above, I offer two other hands-on training options in your boat:

Being the Best First Mate

Will you be stepping into the role of First Mate on your Loop cruise? If so, let me teach you the things you need to know to assist the Captain when he or she needs it. We’ll talk about trip planning, understanding charts, and handling lines and anchor rode. I’ll also tell you what you need to know to take control if the Captain becomes incapacitated and you need to get help. We can do this in one to two days, but additional days can be arranged.

Start Your Great Loop with a Pro!

Take me along with you as you start your own Great Loop cruise. I am currently available from October 15 through April 15 for one-, two-, or three-week cruises. Learn more here.

Rates and Fees

My rates depend on whether we cruise in your boat or mine.

I accept payment by cash, credit card, or Venmo. I require prepayment for any travel expenses involving nonrefundable airplane fares, as well as at least two days at my daily rate for any trips requiring travel.

*In Your Boat

If repositioning or training in your boat, it must be properly registered/documented and seaworthy, with all systems fully functioning. Please have manuals on board for any systems you don’t know inside and out. I also request that it has passed a Coast Guard safety inspection within the past 24 months and has all required safety equipment on board.

Please contact me to discuss the kind of boat you have, including its specifications and accommodations.

(Note that I charge the same daily rate to reposition your boat, with or without you on board, as I charge for training on your boat. To reposition twin engine boats or those longer than 45 feet, I may need a co-captain, which I can provide at an additional cost.)

  • Daily Rate: $300/calendar day, including any days I am at the boat but it does not move.
  • Travel Expenses: Actual cost of airfare, ground transportation, and out-of-pocket expenses directly related to travel to and from your location.
  • Meals: If meals are not provided, a meal allowance of $100/calendar day.

In My Boat

I am prepared to do training for individuals in my 2019 Ranger Tug R-29 CB. This “pocket yacht” has two helms — upstairs on the open command bridge and downstairs inside the main cabin — and both are equipped with Garmin chartplotters, autopilot, radar, sonar, VHF radio, AIS receive/transmit, bow and stern thrusters, and an integrated engine computer system.

Overnight accommodations will be in the secondary berth under the dining area, often referred to as “the cave.” This space, which is suitable for just one person, is the size of a full-sized bed. Although you can sit up in this space, you cannot stand in it. It includes AC and DC power, lighting, and shelf storage space. The boat has just one shared head.

The rate for enroute training on my boat $300/day. This includes daily breakfast, lunch when traveling, and dinner when at anchor. It does not include lunch or dinner while at a marina or any transportation to or from the boat. You’ll need to get to where I am at the start of the trip; for cruises more than 3 days long, the starting and ending points may not be the same.