Water Experience
The Great Loop
Started in Grand Haven, Michigan.
Crossed Lake Michigan, traveled down the inland rivers (Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland, Tombigbee, Mobile River), out at Mobile Bay, Alabama.
Crossed Mobile Bay to the ICW from Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Destin, Panama City, to Port Saint Joe.
Did the gulf crossing from Port Saint Joe, FL to Clearwater, FL - 220 nm.
Then down around Florida to Key West, then up the east coast to Fort Lauderdale, Saint Augustine, Jacksonville, to the Carolinas.
From Beaufort, NC traveled on the ICW north to Norfolk, VA.
Then ocean travel to Maryland, New Jersey, to arrive at NYC.
Traveled up the Hudson River to the Erie Canal and Oswego Canal, to exit into Lake Ontario.
From Lake Ontario, went up the Welland Canal in Canada to arrive in Lake Erie.
Crossed Lake Erie, through the Detroit river, Lake Saint Clair, and the Lake Saint Clair River to flow into Lake Huron.
Up Lake Huron to Mackinac Island to continue down and to cross our wake in Lake Michigan.
This trip consisted of over 100 locks, some anchorages, and many many Marinas later.
Separate Trip
Crossed Lake Michigan for a round trip from Grand Haven, MI to Chicago, IL.
Transit Run
Trip is from Grand Haven, Michigan to Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Started on Lake Michigan up to Lake Huron with a side trip up the Saint Mary’s River in Canada to Sault Ste Marie.
Lake Huron to Lake Saint Clair, Detroit River into Lake Erie.
Crossed Lake Erie to travel downbound on the Welland Canal in Canada.
Exiting the canal, traveled across Lake Ontario, to the Oswego Canal.
Completed the Oswego Canal to the Erie Canal out into the Hudson River.
Down the Hudson River to the Atlantic Ocean.
Traveled down the east coast of New Jersey, Maryland to enter into the Chesapeake Bay.
Norfolk up the Chesapeake Bay to the Potomac River.
Side trip up the Potomac River to Washington DC.
Then down the river back to Norfolk, Chesapeake Bay.
Entered the ICW of the Chesapeake Canal to the North Carolina Cut of Coinjock Bay, North River to Pungo River, Alligator River Canal to Belhaven, and down the AICW to Beaufort, North Carolina.
Continued down the ICW to Georgetown, SC.
Then an ocean jump to Charleston, SC.
Back out on the Atlantic Ocean for 160 nm run to Fernandina Beach, FL on the Amelia River.
Left Fernandina Beach to stop in Jacksonville, FL.
Entered the Saint Johns River from the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville.
Traveled Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale via Intracoastal Waterways.
The trip consisted of multiple locks on the Welland Canal, Oswego Canal, Erie Canal, and Great Bridge Lock on the Chesapeake Canal, with multiple bridge lifts and multiple marina stops.
Cruise Line Days
The coastal Atlantic Ocean, Narragansett, Delaware and Chesapeake Bays and Rhode Island Sound.
The Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts Bay, Gulf of Maine, Casco Bay, the Fox Islands thoroughfare between Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine.
The Lower Mississippi River.
The Chesapeake Bay and the coastal Atlantic Ocean and IntraCoastal Waterway between Norfolk, VA and Charleston, SC.
The Columbia and Snake Rivers in Oregon/Washington.
Other Recorational
My maritime experience spans both coasts and continents. Along the Pacific Coast, I regularly sailed between Ventura and San Diego Counties aboard my uncle's 36-foot Catalina sailboat, which was berthed in Marina Del Rey, California. Our annual voyages to Catalina Island became a cherished tradition.
In the American Midwest, I gained extensive experience operating various watercraft on Michigan and Indiana's inland lakes. My expertise extends to piloting speedboats, pontoons, fishing vessels, sailboats, and personal watercraft.
My international boating experience includes navigating the pristine waters of France's Gorges du Verdon, departing from Lake Sainte-Croix. I also had the privilege of exploring the Mediterranean Sea.