Captain James Lowe
USCG 200 Ton Licensed Master
(727) 236-1385

Typical Delivery Summary

The client initiates contact through either the contact form or a phone call. Using the contact form as the initial point of contact is recommended since the information provided in the form is crucial for generating an accurate quote. Following the form submission, I will promptly respond with an email estimate to the address provided.

I calculate the distance based on boat speed and various variables to generate a quote for you. Upon your agreement with the quote, you will need to send the required deposit. This deposit is essential for securing your spot on our calendar and confirming our service booking. Subsequently, I arrange the crew for the required days and make the necessary travel arrangements for myself and any additional crew members.

Travel Day:
As the departure date nears, we typically travel the boat using rental cars or trains. This choice is primarily influenced by the significant amount of baggage we need to transport. Flying is usually impractical due to the sheer volume of equipment, supplies, and provisions we carry. This includes items like clothing, chartbooks, spare electronics, bedding, as well as tools and supplies or other essentials such as food, water, and galley items like coffee pots or frying pans.

If possible we meet with you at the boat. If not possible we will speak via phone and proceed with our pre-departure vessel and engine checks, as well as vessel familiarization. If everything checks out as expected, we head to the local grocery store to stock the boat with the necessary food and water supplies for the crew during the estimated days onboard. Once all provisions are onboard, we return the rental car and use UBER to get back to the marina and the boat.

DEPARTURE (Booked Crew Days Start Now)

I try to time everything so we can leave early the first morning, by having everything but the fueling done the night before. When it's time to depart we go to the fuel dock and bunker fuel to capacity including any Jerrycans we have available, if needed. While fueling, we talk to the fuel dock hands and other boaters to obtain as much local knowledge as possible for the area we are in. Once the fueling is done, we consult the charts again, confirm course and get underway.

We will stay underway all day and into the night until we either get to the marina or anchorage we desire. When underway at night in an intercoastal or inland waterway, the deckhand is on watch with me looking for markers, boats, crab traps or any other obstacles. The deckhand does assist in anchoring and weighing anchor. When docking, the deck hand will have the mooring lines ready and the fenders out prior to getting to the dock. Once at the dock, we secure the vessel, tying it up, making sure the fenders are placed appropriately.

sun The following day, we begin our preparations very early, even before sunrise. We start by making coffee and then we proceed to check the engine oil, gear oils, coolant levels, and belts. This morning routine is essential because engines can become too hot to check after running all day.
Once our checks are complete, we get underway again at the first light of day. If we were anchored overnight, we assess whether we need to refuel and determine our stopping points. If we opted to stop at a marina, our procedure is simpler – we head to the fuel dock, refill the fuel tank, and pump out any sewage from the boat as needed.

There is normally 2 people up and on watch at almost all times.The captain and the deckhand. Few exceptions are made except for long offshore crossings that take more than 24hrs. (extended offshore runs would require an extra crew person).

Occasionally, we may have to wait or slow down to arrive at the inlet, marina or channel at the appropriate time for a tidal change in order to get in or out safely.
Almost every delivery either starts, stops or transits at some point on an inland or intercostal waterway. So it's very common to have to time bridge openings assuming the vessel we are on is ICW compliant, 64 vertical feet or less. Than we should be able to get under MOST fixed bridges, but not ALL are 65 feet. The rest of the bridges must be opened to pass even for power boats. Some bridges just open on request, others on the hour, half hour, every twenty minutes or every quarter hour IT'S A PAIN! The Idea is to arrive at a bridge (locks too), just before the schedule opening time.

DESTINATION
At our destination point of arrival we will put the boat in the slip, tie it off, put fenders/bumpers out, remove all trash and leftover food. Clean inside of vessel, put away sails, replace sail covers and neatly stow lines and hose off the outside of boat if hose is available.

DELIVERY COMPLETE (pay stops)
At this point we like the balance of our payment due..... SMILES!!!
But we're not done YET! We STILL need to get home.....the adventure continues! So bags in hand we call a taxi / UBER and either get a rental car or jump on a train.
At our home city we take an taxi / UBER AGAIN from car drop or train station or airport to crew members individual homes.