Moving a trawler to my home

[TomandJo]

I'm looking at a trawler in Homestead Florida. If We buy this trawler and get a captain to sail it to Washington NC, I would want to accompany the captain and get familiar with the vessel.
Does this sound like a reasonable request?
I have prior experience with sailboats and sailed to the Bahamas 25 years ago.

 

[READY]

Very reasonable request.

 

[FWT]

It does to me, never having done it.

Just remember who the Captain is. And if you get resistance, make sure he knows that you know.

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard. Certainly can be done that way. You could learn about the trawler and if your insurance company wants you to get training with a captain it would kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

 

[mvweebles]

I delivered trawler yachts for about 5 years. Well over half my deliveries were with owner aboard, often the owner was new to boating.

Some captains prefer not having the owner aboard, which I understand. On longer deliveries, it puts a lot more pressure on the captain because he can't boss around the crew in the same way he can a $100/day deck-ape (slight exaggeration).

Other captains may be good captains, but not great teachers. They simply do not know the different ways people learn and absorb information. I viewed my role more as mentor and coach - find ways for people to fail safely. Men learn differently than women and you have to adjust.

Regardless, take your time finding the right captain. Don't trust the resume they give you - puffery is endemic. Make sure the experience they give is as master, not just crew.

Good luck

Peter

 

[Blissboat]

Other captains may be good captains, but not great teachers. They simply do not know the different ways people learn and absorb information . . . take your time finding the right captain.

Great, insightful advice. When accumulating sea-service time to extend the tonnage limit on my USCG Master's License, I learned a lot from a skipper who combined life-long experience with instinctive boat handling skills, but he taught me practically nothing. I learned by watching and listening closely, over an extended period of months and in lots of different situations and conditions.

 

[tiltrider1]

Most delivery captains I know are happy to have a new owner onboard as crew. Makes it much easier to explain to the owner why certain expenses are necessary.

 

[2savage]

The request is reasonable BUT it must be agreed up front that the Captains decisions always overrule those of the owner. Without this agreed upon hierarchy you could easily put the boat and lives in danger.

 

[PM]

Great plan. It would kill three birds with one stone, boat delivery, tutoring and a shake down cruise.

Let us know how it goes.

pete

 

[CamoPirate]

Currently delivering a trawler Fort Lauderdale to Australia, owner on board.
I’d guess 25% of of our deliveries the owner is aboard,

 

[DavidM]

I am an unpaid amateur delivery guy that always makes clear to the owner that he is the “captain”. I will give him my best advice, but he makes the decisions. That way hopefully I am not liable for any problems.

Wishful thinking, I suspect.

David

 

[Delta Riverat]

Excellent plan! I would search out a good "teacher" and even spend the dough for an extra day if needed. Cover close in handling, anchoring and docking. Which also makes sure all this stuff works properly.

Until we did the anchoring training I didn't know if the windlass worked properly.

 

[Fish53]

I've done many deliveries over forty years and in the beginning I willingly took owners. Soon however I discovered that I didn't like having the additional responsibility of also being a teacher. You have to weigh the issue of whether you want a captains time spent teaching and operating your vessel or if you want his/her attention entirely on the safe delivery of your expensive property.

 

[mvweebles]

I've done many deliveries over forty years and in the beginning I willingly took owners. Soon however I discovered that I didn't like having the additional responsibility of also being a teacher. You have to weigh the issue of whether you want a captains time spent teaching and operating your vessel or if you want his/her attention entirely on the safe delivery of your expensive property.

For me, I didn't find having owners aboard a safety issue. I might lower the bar for acceptable weather, but I don't feel safety was compromised with owners aboard.

I found owners to be motivated and absolute sponges for knowledge. They were unusually interesting people who often had an interesting path to success that allowed them to purchase a boat.

It was a different trip though. I recall one couple on a new N47 on our way to Portland OR from Dana Point. The husband really wanted to stop and take a break in Coos Bay OR. However, stopping would mean wx window would close and we'd be there for at least a few days. His wife was a trooper and could have kept going. So we stopped, but there's no way I would have stopped had the owners not been aboard. Turns out I was able to leave and move another boat and return a few days later so my fees were paused.

I fully understand why some skippers don't want owners aboard. Its a different trip and if youre not a 'people person' or something, definitely shy away from owner-accompanied deliveries.

Peter

 

[Fish53]

I must admit I'm not much of a people person and I have more of task focus personality. I guess this is why eventually I dropped all delivery work outside of commercial vessels. Now that I'm retired I have taken a few purely teaching situations on a day basis and generally enjoyed it, but the focus was teaching not trying to get somewhere in a safe and timely fashion.

 

[Blissboat]

Recreational boat owners who choose to pay a professional delivery captain, and who then accompany the delivery in order to learn are, as a group, probably people who self-select for characteristics like safety consciousness, common sense and self awareness. In other words, decent shipmates.

No doubt there are those who accompany their paid skipper with no intention of learning anything from the experience. That's a different story.

 

[Fish53]

Recreational boat owners who choose to pay a professional delivery captain, and who then accompany the delivery in order to learn are, as a group, probably people who self-select for characteristics like safety consciousness, common sense and self awareness. In other words, decent shipmates.

No doubt there are those who accompany their paid skipper with no intention of learning anything from the experience. That's a different story.

Decent "shipmates" maybe but by self admission lacking experience and most skills. Great guest perhaps but the word shipmate denotes a member of the crew. When I did deliveries I brought my crew. Please realize this is my opinion and isn't meant to imply others are in error.

 

[SIBERNUT]

As a licensed Captain, I once declined an (UNPAID) invitation to bring a 43 Vike from Fladda to MD with the owner/friend . I was concerned that as the most knowledgeable person onboard, even though not acting as "Captain" I would be liable.

 

[mvweebles]

As a licensed Captain, I once declined an (UNPAID) invitation to bring a 43 Vike from Fladda to MD with the owner/friend . I was concerned that as the most knowledgeable person onboard, even though not acting as "Captain" I would be liable.

Yikes! If being a licensed USCG Master keeps you off the water, maybe consider hanging up your ticket?

Peter

 

[SIBERNUT]

I did. But because of all the BS they keep coming up with to keep it. CPR. ARPA, KMAES&D, ETC
No, but a long offshore on a new-to-owner trip has unexpected happenings. Remember, unpaid. Besides, he didn't want to make the trip wo a working shower. What a candy-a$$

 

[Fish53]

As a licensed Captain, I once declined an (UNPAID) invitation to bring a 43 Vike from Fladda to MD with the owner/friend . I was concerned that as the most knowledgeable person onboard, even though not acting as "Captain" I would be liable.

While you may not be the captain it may be hoped you would intervene if you had the chance to avoid an incident. Doing so however may expose you to some liability. Standing by and doing nothing may also do the same, damned if you do and damned if you don't.

 

[Fish53]

I did. But because of all the BS they keep coming up with to keep it. CPR. ARPA, KMAES&D, ETC
No, but a long offshore on a new-to-owner trip has unexpected happenings. Remember, unpaid. Besides, he didn't want to make the trip wo a working shower. What a candy-a$$

At least you won't be much competition for other captains seeking work, and experience.

 

[Captain Doug]

If I deliver a boat with owners aboard it becomes a training mission on top of a delivery and I charge more for that. Also, you may become an employee and expected to cater to the owner. Discuss this prior to making the deal.

 

[mvweebles]

I think y'all are over-thinking this. If moving a boat with the owner aboard is not your cup of tea- regardless of the reason, then don't do it. This stuff about 'more work' and 'liability' and 'who's in charge' and 'distraction to safety' is subterfuge. As I said earlier, some skippers don't like having owners aboard. Nothing wrong with that. No oddball excuses of outlandishly improbable legal liability necessary.

To the OP (who has not posted again): chose wisely. You are seeking a coach, a mentor. Not a Capt Bligh type with hard/fast rules of engagement. If someone wants you sign a crazy document, run (don't walk).

Good luck

Peter

 

[guy with a boat]

I think y'all are over-thinking this. If moving a boat with the owner aboard is not your cup of tea- regardless of the reason, then don't do it. This stuff about 'more work' and 'liability' and 'who's in charge' and 'distraction to safety' is subterfuge. As I said earlier, some skippers don't like having owners aboard. Nothing wrong with that. No oddball excuses of outlandishly improbable legal liability necessary.

To the OP (who has not posted again): chose wisely. You are seeking a coach, a mentor. Not a Capt Bligh type with hard/fast rules of engagement. If someone wants you sign a crazy document, run (don't walk).

Good luck

Peter

Seconded on all counts.

 

[tiltrider1]

I think y'all are over-thinking this. If moving a boat with the owner aboard is not your cup of tea- regardless of the reason, then don't do it. This stuff about 'more work' and 'liability' and 'who's in charge' and 'distraction to safety' is subterfuge. As I said earlier, some skippers don't like having owners aboard. Nothing wrong with that. No oddball excuses of outlandishly improbable legal liability necessary.

To the OP (who has not posted again): chose wisely. You are seeking a coach, a mentor. Not a Capt Bligh type with hard/fast rules of engagement. If someone wants you sign a crazy document, run (don't walk).

Good luck

Peter

In agreement.

All the Delivery Captains that I know and work with are happy to have owners onboard. Sure there was that one owner somewhere once who was an idiot but that's the exception and not the rule. Most owners make very competent crew. Either they really know the boat which is a big help or they know nothing and do exactly what they are told. What is not the rule is competent delivery skippers.

As Peter said, choose wisely.

 

[2savage]

I am an unpaid amateur delivery guy that always makes clear to the owner that he is the “captain”. I will give him my best advice, but he makes the decisions. That way hopefully I am not liable for any problems.

Wishful thinking, I suspect.

David

Hmmm, That is a quandary and potential legal quagmire. I suggest that you 'sign on' as crew/advisor and forget the word 'Captain', which, with the owner calling the shots, you are not.

 

[Northern Spy]

Hmmm, That is a quandary and potential legal quagmire. I suggest that you 'sign on' as crew/advisor and forget the word 'Captain', which, with the owner calling the shots, you are not.

"mission specialist"

[emoji57]