That’s right, folks, I am the Captain now. I took the Coast Guard OUPV Captain’s license test and passed it September of 2025. Did the drug test and all the paperwork back then as well. Thanks to government shut downs, some Catch 22 nonsense with the paperwork, and some misinformation from the place I took my lessons from, it took this long to get it in hand. But I was relentless. I corrected paperwork multiple times, even when it was correct and I had to make it fit what the Coast Guard wanted, rather than reality. I sent emails, I asked questions, and I clung on to this project like a pitbull to an ankle. And finally, halfway through our trip, today I got my email confirmation. I started studying in July of 2025. Perseverance pays off!
Not that it really matters a whole lot, (we might get a break on our boat insurance) since it doesn’t make me a safer operator of a boat. That comes from paying attention and wanting to be better. I don’t ‘think’ I want to deliver any more boats, unless it’s just for fun, so I won’t use it that way. I just wanted to top off this trip and my turning 70 with the maraschino cherry of being a card-carrying Coast Guard licensed Captain!
“And though thy soul sail leagues and leagues beyond – still, leagues beyond those leagues, there is more sea.”
You are anything but persistent! Way to go Captain!
Don’t you mean nothing but persistent? 🙂
Captain Butch! That has a nice ring to it!!👍
Congrats on your Captain license.
Congrats! You could run a charter business on Lake Michigan!
I see you are very close to Annapolis. You should stroll over to the old part of the city and check out the history and some fine seafood restaurants.
Pay Attention. You sure do that. 👍
Oh Captain my Captain.
Be on the lookout for mutinous crew! Do you have a plank handy?
I am so proud of you!!!! My nephew….the Captain!!!