Lessons Lost, Never Offered

In spite of photos showing a dinghy on Captain Bob’s web site, there is no dinghy stowed aft, stowed atop the sundeck, stowed across the bow. Nothing, nada, no dinghy. Yet his photo archives clearly show a dinghy, even one couple smiling from the dinghy. Hmmm….Captain Bob needs to update his web site to reflect reality; otherwise, a claim of false advertising is entirely justified.

Not only that, Captain Bob’s log book includes plenty of testimonials from his early years, perhaps the years when the trawler was in tip-top shape, but the most recent log book entry is from 2009. Under the link entitled “Trawler Book,” you will find copies of two testimonials submitted to periodicals. These date from 2010, and they are glowing.

Our experience differs markedly. Trawler School Charters promises to instruct students in (taken directly from www.trawlerschoolcharters.com):

Various Trawler Subjects will be Covered

1. Models & Layouts

• Different Models: (Trunk, Sundeck, Sedan or Pilothouse) - Whichever model fits your needs.
• Layouts Master/Guest; Stateroom, Salon, Galley Up or Down ... and
• The right size trawler for your cruising needs

2. The Trawler Market

• Researching, how to locate a trawler
• The right price: getting the biggest bang for your buck
• Buying and fixing up a cheap and tired trawler
• Keeping up with your investment
• Resale Value 1 year - 3 years - 5 years

3. The Contract

• The Art of Negotiation
• Understanding a binding contract/deposit
• Working with brokers, private sellers and surveyors
• Survey and sea trial: haul out
• How to read the survey
• Addressing deficiencies found on a survey.

4. Single Engine Vs. Twin

• Engine Room Set Up
• Personal Inspection dockside, underway
• Cleanliness is next to Godliness
• Fool proofing your engine room
• Troubleshooting; and
• Repairs, Spares & Tools

 5. Maintenance Tips

• Exterior and Interior.
• The Engine Room
• Mechanical Operating Systems/Generator
• Cosmetics
• Locating & Fixing Leaks
• Plumbing

6. Electrical System

• Balanced 12V Battery System
• Electronics
• Refrigeration System

7. Living Aboard/ Cruising

• Long Range Cruising
• Equipping your boat
• Safety & Security
• Finding marinas and their prices
• Intracoastal dockage and anchoring

8. Art of Seamanship

• Navigation
• Rules of the Road
• Anchoring
• Communications
• Docking and line handling
• Weather
• Night Maneuvers

As you can easily see, Trawler School Charters promises to cover eight categories and 41 sub-topics within those 8 categories. We received instruction and experience in 4:

·      Direct experience with the improved maneuverability of twin engines (after Captain Brian had great difficulty pulling out of the slip on the morning of the first full day of cruising instruction)

·      Navigation (red and green markers about which we had already read in Quimby’s)

·      Rules of the Road

·      Communicating with a bridge regarding opening

Yet, Captain Bob asserted that we had received some instruction and were therefore not entitled to any additional refund when we found it unwise to continue. Here’s why we found it unwise to continue.

On the morning of the first full day of cruising instruction (about 6 hours on Tuesday, May 24), Captain Brian had a tough time backing out of the slip. He moved back and forward, making slight angular adjustments, repeatedly. The bow of the boat in the next slip (the pulpit) endangered the starboard side of Miami Mermaid. Only sheer physical force and our hands prevented real damage to either vessel. My husband and I had to push against the other vessel to keep it from gouging the Mermaid.

This debacle was witnessed by two live-aboard individuals with alarm, judging by their facial expressions and arm gestures, especially when the woman wiped imaginary sweat from her brow as we finally were away clear. Someone reported this episode to the dockmaster who asked Captain Brian to be “less dramatic” the following morning. Captain Brian blamed the “drama” upon us as incompetent newbies, thereby causing him to do “everything by himself.”

We cannot say with certainty that alcohol played any part in Captain Brian’s exit that morning. His drink smelled like Pepsi as the day began. Later, it did not, and we could smell alcohol on his breath. We were uncomfortable with this behavior, but he was sure-footed when he climbed up and down steps and his speech was not slurred. He also did not lose track of his thoughts or conversation. Those behaviors would show themselves on the next, even shorter day.

We only cruised north and back on the intercoastal waterway for about four hours on Wednesday. During this time, Captain Brian grew more boastful about his experience and qualifications while becoming less guarded about what he said. He recounted a story about a verbal dust-up in a bar wherein Blacks were not represented well. He grew misogynistic, yet all too familiar and chummy with my husband.

Brian also left the helm about every hour to conduct an engine check. He always returned with a full plastic glass of a beverage, and his breath smelled stronger and stronger of alcohol. We no longer felt safe to be aboard under his tutelage and did not return on Thursday.

Tomorrow: Onboard Safety and the Coast Guard