Embedded Files
I've run power boats commercially, taught scuba and worked on the water for a long time. Power boats and diving have turned into a job, but I've managed to keep sailing separate and fun.
I've run power boats commercially, taught scuba and worked on the water for a long time. Power boats and diving have turned into a job, but I've managed to keep sailing separate and fun.
I currently work at Portland Spirit. I been there nearly 20 years and still enjoy the boats and crews.
Kahanu Ola was the second boat I skippered. In 1988, she was owned by Leeward Dive Shop in Waianae and we ran dive trips to the Mahi, Makaha Caves, the airplane wreck and Ammo Reef. She is a Radon stretched to 36 feet and carried 16 divers and 4 crew. Today she works on the Big Island.
I ran five or six Nordic Ascenders in both Guam and Hawaii from 1988 to 1993. Parasailing is a tough job that takes all of your attention. It always felt like driving a car on two wheels
In 1991, Typhoon Russ closed the Cocos Island Resort. I found myself out of work, but found a job at Micronesian Divers Association. Pete is a good man to work for and I enjoyed my time on the Sea Odysseys and Sea Fantasy.
In 1991, I started running the ferry for Atlantis Guam.
I loved working at Atlantis. The team was talented, committed and we had every tool we needed. By necessity, we did all of our maintenance in-house. The boats ran all day and we worked on them all night.
Flipper would need new engines every two years and we could swap one out in 12 hours.
The sub was hauled every couple of years for two weeks. Every system would be overhauled, tested and reassembled.
Flipper ran wide open all day carrying passengers to the submarine in Apra Harbor. She was built on Guam by Joe Alonzo and was powered by a pair of Volvo 41's.
In 1995, after a time as copilot, I qualified to operate Atlantis V. The Atlantis class submersible is rated to 150 feet and carries 48 passengers and 3 crew. The crew consisted of pilots, co-pilots, tour guides, divers, boat captains and deckhands. Eventually, I supervised the offshore operation as Senior Pilot.
I've worked two jobs for as long as I can remember. We worked a 4/4 rotation at Atlantis and that gave me lots of time to pick up other work. I ran several Delta dive boats for Brian, a couple of high speed 28' inflatables, Umibuta and Fat Cat II were watersports operations that offered snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing.
I qualified on Sound of Pacific and ran a few cruises with her before she left Guam for Japan. She was nearly new and made 25 knots with a pair of 2000 horsepower MTU's driving jets. We'd fly kites behind the boat racing down the coast.
In the mid 90's, I bought a small Bayliner fishing boat. I worked part time for Real World Diving and could charter my small six-pack boat to them. It was a great way to get someone else to pay for the boat and fuel. Tanks and weights are hard on a deck, but that Bayliner did the job. We managed to do some fun diving, fishing and several inter-island trips to Rota and Saipan. I really miss the fishing.
I ran several boats for Real World and took 1997 off of Atlantis to launch the business. Toninos is the last boat I ran for Bob
I found a Yamaha 25 for sail on the Navy base in Apra Harbor. My wife agreed we would buy the boat, but only on the condition that she name her.
Here you can see her at the helm of SV Sleepy Bear.
My daughter should have been wearing a life jacket, but in those days, we didn't know any better
Sunshine was a storm damaged Yamaha 33 in Sumay Cove. She was on the hard and needed a refit. Several friends from Atlantis offered to help with the work. Steve, Shane, Audrey and Bob got that boat rebuilt and launched
Sunshine was built for the Japanese domestic market and arrived in the Osaka-Guam race in the late 80's. These versions of the Y33 offered a lower coach roof, an aft engine and twin quarterberths
I sold Sleepy Bear and bought Sunshine on the same day
Steve and Shane are both talented shipwrights. Steve is laying a primer coat and the boat looked great
I really miss those guys and the talent they have
Ichiro, Naoko, Mizuho, Kana and I enjoyed many memorable days on Sunshine. We would sail out to some lee, then swim dive, fish and savor the sunsets.
In 2000, we moved to Portland, Oregon. We had sold Sunshine and a boat didn't seem to make sense in the suburbs. Still, I couldn't resist owning an Oday Daysailer, and an Nacra 5.2
I kept Samba at Captain's Moorage in North Portland Harbor. The Ranger 25 is a nice, small quarter tonner and we had plenty of fun with the boat. This is the bigger version of the more popular Ranger 20.
The outboard is in a well and was pretty noisy. Samba was a stout little yacht.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse