Hello from Nevada! I need some experience.

[Nevada Mike]

Hi All,

I have been lurking here for a while. I retired in 2012 and my wife will be working about 4 more years while our last child finishes school. We know we want a boat but thats about it. We have extensive on the water experience in fishing boats at our cabin in Southeast Alaska. We reside in Northern Nevada. I am looking for the best way to gain experience. Is there a suggested method for getting on a boat that is being ferried from one west coast place to another? Is this an odd request?

I am a young a young(48) healthy paramedic and would cover all of my own expenses. Most importantly, I understand boats don't just travel through the water without a lot of work going on in the background. I am not looking to join a family vacation but rather join the owner moving his or her boat from one place to another and participate in all of the chores associated with the move. I have a good knowledge of electrical and mechanical systems but admittedly not trawler specific.

Thanks for the wealth of knowledge previously posted on the site.

Mike

[Crusty Chief]

Welcome Mike!

Glad to see another Nevada guy onboard! Best of luck on your search, we are closing in on ours. Should be making an offer soon! Six more days and I'm retired again. Now the downsizing starts.

John

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Welcome aboard. What a wonderful opportunity for a PNW old geezer to have onboard medical crew.

[Donsan]

How come I couldn't retire at 45???

You might try to hitch up with a delivery captain.

[Nevada Mike]

Congrats Crusty Chief!

RT Firefly I am always "on duty"

Donsan - Is there a forum or a place to find delivery captains?

[Donsan]

Originally Posted by Nevada Mike

Donsan - Is there a forum or a place to find delivery captains?

Believe there are several west coast delivery captains on this forum but other than that, I am not aware of one.

[caltexflanc]

Try Club Nautique down in Alameda, Ca for rental trawlers and a great seamanship and cruising classes. Better yet, the various charter companies up in Anacortes and Bellingham.

[JohnWms]

If your "retirement" is the sort that you have a bit of time on your hands how about getting an STCW cert (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) and a TWIC card (if you don't already have one)? With those credentials plus your paramedic experience you would likely be in demand as paid crew under real captains.

Unfortunately it's still somewhat a "who you know" situation. Perhaps make friends somewhere like YachtForums.com?

[Nevada Mike]

Thanks everyone for the advise. I intend on taking the classes for various certifications beginning this year. We are also scheduling our first charter in BVI next fall. I want our first trip to be as warm and easy as possible. I don't want her worrying about watching for logs after a huge tide on the Inside passage. I would like to charter more in the mean time but the Admiral will not have any part of me "off on a charter" while she is still putting in her time. Going to Alaska a few times a year without her is about all she is willing to take.

I just put the paramedics information in there thinking someone crossing big water might think to himself ," I guess it can't hurt to have this guy along." My medical certifications will be expiring soon anyway. I have no interest in a paid position on a boat. I want to gain experience that will keep my wife and I safe.


After reading this post again I am now more aware of how it sounds. I am really not expecting the captain of a new Nordhavn to need the hassle of a rookie onboard asking lots of questions. That being said, there is no substitute or certificate that can replace time on the water. That is especially true when things are not going according to plan or the weather turns. Just being on Clarence Straights every summer for the last 20 years I realize how much more there is to learn. I experience something new every summer.

Thanks again everyone!

[cardude01]

I've been listening to this guys podcasts-- seems like an interesting dude IMO.

I would consider doing this for some offshore experience, and a fun trip.

http://59-north.com/events/

[Diesel Duck]

You might try this site:

https://www.findacrew.net

Also, I'm aware that on the Nordhavn web site they have a page for people looking to crew on a Nordhavn along with Nordhavn owners looking for crew.

Here's the link" http://www.nordhavn.com/resources/crew/

Welcome Aboard!

[Nevada Mike]

Thanks cardude01 and Diesel duck492. Diesel Duck that is a beautiful boat. I was on the Seahorse marine site last night and read some of the stories of bringing them over. With my limited knowledge so far that is the ultimate vessel.

[Diesel Duck]

If you haven't already read this one, here's a great blog about a Diesel Duck owner who took delivery in China and brought his boat home to the Seattle area:


http://www.sailblogs.com/member/mvshearwater/

[Old deckhand]

Hi Mike,

We have a 22 ocean pro that we use for quick fishing trips. We really like the Hewes. Modified it with a self bailing deck, stand up head and Wallas heater. What model is your Hewes?

Ken

[Diesel Duck]

My guess would be that he's got an Ocean Pro also.

[Old deckhand]

Originally Posted by Diesel Duck 492

My guess would be that he's got an Ocean Pro also.

Agree, does look like an ocean pro, but may be a Sea Runner.

[Nevada Mike]

I have the Ocean Pro. Good eye. I love that boat but a self bailing deck would be nice. I saw an owner that modified his on the Hewes forum. Was that you Ken?

[Marin]

Originally Posted by Nevada Mike

Hi All,
We have extensive on the water experience in fishing boats at our cabin in Southeast Alaska. We reside in Northern Nevada. I am looking for the best way to gain experience.

Mike

While your "ride along" idea is a good one, given the boating experience you already have, I suggest you think about chartering a cruiser as a next step. There are charter companies which will provide instruction or even provide a captain if you like. But I think you're at the point where you need to run a boat yourselves, not just lend a hand.

We went from the boat pictured below (which we still have and use) to a Grand Banks diesel cruiser. We did this by chartering one first to see if we even liked the cruising experience. We did, so in 1998 we bought our own.

The PNW is a great region in which to charter and cruise.

PS-- Just read where you have already scheduled a charter. Good idea. With regards to your wife's not wanting you off chartering on your own, unless she teaches summer school I would think you can charter one or more times in July or August. You're reasonably close to the PNW or San Francisco Bay, which could be another potential chartering opportunity, both of them probably less expensive than schlepping down to Florida, etc.

[Nevada Mike]

Marin We usually spend 4-6 weeks in Alaska usually starting late June. That is the time we really get to enjoy the Alaskan summer. We usually have plenty of friends and family that are able to join us at the same time. Watching all of our "dream boats" pass by at the same time adds to the magic.

Maybe I'm trying to get started just a little prematurely. I seem to be full of excuses. Being in Nevada most of the year, I can't really go down to the marina and kick the tires so to speak or go to boat shows where there are lots of trawlers open for inspection. I just know I love being on the water and while the Hewes is a great boat her legs are not very long.

[Marin]

I'm only familiar with SE Alaska, and that from flying a floatplane there, never running a boat. I don't know where in Alaska you go, but is there a possibility of chartering a cruiser up there?