The Captain’s Coach

03/22/2026

Share if you agree this is always a problem on the water.

03/08/2026

Tara killed it on her 32 Intrepid today. She nailed the lift perfectly. We’ve been working with the entire Chamberlain Family with this boat for the last month. Dad, Mom, 4 brothers and their spouses.

03/05/2026

Want to find out how well your boat handles? Find a line crab traps. Increase throttle to a safe speed and weave through them. You’ll get a better understanding on how your vessel turns at speed.

03/03/2026

Back in December, I had the opportunity to help Todd and Amy relocate their 54’ Sea Ray from Columbus, Mississippi to Tampa, Florida over the course of seven days. Completely new to boating and eager to learn, they immersed themselves in the process. Together, we navigated more than ten locks, multiple marinas, diverse river systems, the ICW, and even completed a challenging overnight Gulf crossing in four-foot seas.

Todd, an FAA instructor, came exceptionally well prepared. Still, as with many aviators transitioning to the water, he quickly discovered that boating demands a different mindset and skill set than aviation. Over time, however, both he and Amy gained confidence and competence through consistent, fundamentals-based training.

This past Sunday, I joined them for a 30-mile run down to Egmont Key for a beach anchoring refresher and some exploration of the shallower areas around St. Pete. Aside from the anchoring lesson, the day required no instruction at all. I found myself simply observing—watching them apply what they had learned over the past few months with ease and assurance.

There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the results of strong foundational training. If you feel stressed, anxious, or unable to enjoy your boat each time you head out, it’s worth reevaluating your approach. Invest the time in proper training so you can relax at the helm. Boating becomes truly enjoyable when you’ve put in the work to do it right.

02/26/2026

When a keeper Grouper comes off the hook at the surface, you go get it.

02/24/2026

Love the sound of an L6 400 Throttling Up

02/22/2026

Couple of beautiful boats this week. Marlow 57E Sarasota to Mississippi and a Prestige 630 training from Jupiter to Daytona. All trips went extremely smooth. Back home this week for some local work.

02/16/2026

St. Pete to Gulfport, Miss. Marlow 57E coming up.

02/11/2026

01/22/2026

Playing with the negative tide on a 40’ with IPS drives. Made it out without a scratch.