Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-09-2013, 09:20 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
rjtrane's Avatar
 
City: Palmetto Bay
Vessel Name: Sunshine
Vessel Model: Island Pilot DSe 12m Hybrid
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 268
Long Time Boater - Newbie TF Member

I've been boating quite a while, starting at age 9 with canoe camp. Next was coastal cruising with my parents on their 50' Chris Craft Constellation in the 50s. On to sailing and cruising my own boats, then in 1980, forming my first boating venture, Florida Bay Boat Company, and introduced the "Marsh Hen," a 17' "camp-cruiser" sharpie sailing boat fashioned after William Gardner's "June Bug."

Building the Hens for several years led me to large steel trawlers, the Florida Bay Coasters, designed by Jay Benford and myself. After building 10 Coasters, I joined forces with James Krogen and was the founding president of Krogen Express. With his death, I moved on to work with Ken Fickett in Gainseville developing the Great Harbour trawlers.

In 2004, I formed Island Pilot and partnering with Hershine Marine, introduced the Island Pilot IP395 which evolved into the IP435. We also made the Island Pilot DSe 12m Hybrid, a 12 meter (39'6") power cat that can run on electric or diesel propulsion, capturing energy from the grid, her two generators and the 6 kW solar array on the roof.

I found the forum yesterday when I got a Google Alerts email saying that there was a posting here regarding the Island Pilots. What a great find it is! I hope I can be a helpful, contributing, although "Newbie," member.
__________________
Reuben Trane
"Sunshine" - Island Pilot DSe 12m
rjtrane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2013, 09:31 AM   #2
Guru
 
Moonstruck's Avatar
 
City: Hailing Port: Charleston, SC
Vessel Name: Moonstruck
Vessel Model: Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,276
Reuben, welcome to you and your extensive experience. I think that you will indeed prove a valuable addition to this forum.

The picture in your avatar looks like possibly the boat we were tied up behind at the Coral Reef Yacht Club in 11-08. I think they were doing some magazine stories on it running out into Biscayne Bay. I was fascinated with it.
__________________
Don on Moonstruck
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
When cruising life is simpler, but on a grander scale (author unknown)
https://moonstruckblog.wordpress.com/
Moonstruck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2013, 09:48 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
rjtrane's Avatar
 
City: Palmetto Bay
Vessel Name: Sunshine
Vessel Model: Island Pilot DSe 12m Hybrid
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 268
Thanks for your welcome!

You have a good memory - we were there after the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show doing a photo shoot for Power and Motoryacht.

Timing wasn't the best - introducing a radical (and expensive) yacht soon after the economy collapsed. Luckily, we love our Sunshine, keeping her at Ocean Reef during the season.
__________________
Reuben Trane
"Sunshine" - Island Pilot DSe 12m
rjtrane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-09-2013, 10:01 AM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
jwnall's Avatar
 
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
Glad to have you join us. Just having a new person on here is good, and having a new person who brings with him the experience that you have is double good. :-)

John
jwnall is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dse, hybrid, island pilot, reuben, trane

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:16 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012