South Florida has a large boating community, so finding a captain shouldn’t be that difficult. However, finding the right captain for you might be harder than you would think. Whether you are looking for delivery services for your new boat, or a captain you can use on an as needed basis to take your family out, there are a few key things to look for when choosing the best captain to meet your needs.
Experience – having a captain’s license does not always mean you are a good fit for every captain job. If you are looking for a delivery captain, make sure that person has done deliveries that match what your delivery task is. For example, if you are having your boat delivered from New Jersey to Florida, then the captain should have made that trip before to know what to expect and how to price the job properly. If you are looking for a part-time captain to take out your family on your personal cruiser, make sure that captain has inland waterway and ocean navigation experience. If you are looking for a fishing captain, check out their social media for pictures of them fishing.
Referrals – the best way to get a good captain’s name is through a referral. Reach out to a local yacht broker, tackle shop or marina and ask if they recommend anyone in the area for your specific captain needs.
Personality – not all captains have a personality that will mesh with you and your family. Make sure to meet with your captain personally so that you can get a read on how they may act in certain situations.
Values – while values might not be top on your captain priority list, it is an important characteristic when choosing anyone to work with. Will this person treat my boat like it is theirs? Will they treat my family with respect and courtesy? Those questions should be important when choosing a captain, especially since boats are not only expensive, but dangerous and should be treated as such.
Captain Chris Thompson, from FL Boating Services, is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran with hundreds of hours on small vessels, in both inland and ocean waters. After the Coast Guard, he focused on boating safety, where he began teaching boat owners and their families how to safely navigate and drive their own personal vessels. He has also competed in a ton of fishing tournaments and personal offshore fishing trips over the last 20 years. His large array of experience makes him a versatile captain for several different situations.