Captain Fred Swisher
USCG Licensed Master
200 GRT/500GT (ITC)
Currently Master of the 85' Pacific
Mariner M/Y "Luck-a-Lee IV"  (Boca
Raton, FL. based) cruising extensively
in the Keys, Bahamas, and Gulf.

She is hull #7, and I was able to monitor
her build in the Seattle area from prior
to engine-set thru final assembly.

Following sea trials in November '06, I
accompanied her on Dockwise from
Vancouver, B.C. to Ft Lauderdale.

After an abbreviated winter season,
summer of '07 was spent addressing
warranty issues & installing upgrades.

We thoroughly enjoyed the full '07-'08
winter season, with Summer of '08  
devoted to more warranty & upgrades.

The '08-'09 winter season was great,
covering the Islands, Keys, and Gulf
Coast.
Nassau Sunset
A deserted beach in the Exumas
Highborn Cay, Exumas
M/Y "Melanie" awaiting
Customs in the Bahamas
Breakers @ Nassau Hbr Entrance
Breakers on the N. Jetty at
entrance to Nassau Harbor
George & YoYo with a lively
Wahoo
Offering over 30 years' experience:

  • Gulf & Atlantic waters from
    Corpus Christi, TX to  
    Jacksonville, FL. & NYC to Maine
  • Okeechobee Waterway
  • Florida Keys
  • Bahamas
  • Great Lakes
Isla Mujeres, off Cancun
Just 360nm from Key West!
A recent command.  The
"Driven" is #15 on the list of
Chicago's 50 largest yachts.
Professional Credentials:
  • USCG 200 GRT/500 GT (ITC) Master’s License w/Assistance Towing endorsement, STCW & TWIC
  • Current USCG Physical, Drug Test, CPR, First Aid, & US Passport.
  • FCC and BVI Marine Radio Operator Permits.
  • FCC Ship's Station License ("Portable" license--valid on any vessel I operate).

Underway Sea Time:
  • In excess of 2400 days, both gas and diesel, single and twin.

Geographic Areas of Experience:
  • Gulf Coastal Waters:  Corpus Christi, TX. to New Orleans, LA. and Tarpon Springs, FL to Key West
    including Galveston Bay and Tampa Bay.
  • Atlantic Coastal Waters:  Jacksonville, FL to Marquesas,  & NYC to Maine (incl Long Island Sound)
  • Bahamian Waters:  Grand Bahama (incl Lucayan waterway), Bimini, Cat Cay, Chubb, Nassau, the
    Abacos, the Exumas and Eleuthera.
  • 9 transits, Okeechobee Waterway.
  • Great Lakes

Recent Vessel Experience:
  • M/Y Luck-a-Lee IV:  85' Pacific Mariner:  twin MTU 12V2000 (2 x 1500 Hp/DDEC), 33Kw and 25Kw
    Northern Lights gensets, NAIAD hydraulic bow and stern thrusters, NAIAD multi-axis stabilizers, 9 zone
    chilled water A/C, 1400 gpd Watermaker, Radar, Autopilot, redundant GPS/Chartplotters, VHF, GPIRB,
     SATphone, Jacuzzi, etc in Atlantic, Gulf, and Bahamian waters.
  • M/Y Luck-a-Lee II:  68' Azimut. twin MTU 183TE93 (2 x 1150 Hp), twin 21.5Kw Kohlers, bow and stern
    thrusters, 7 zone direct expansion A/C, Radar, Autopilot, GPS/Chartplotter, VHF, in Atlantic, Gulf, and
    Bahamian waters
  • M/Y Driven (recently re-named Andiamo):  70' Neptunus, twin 3412E CATS (2x 1400 Hp), twin 25Kw
    Westerbekes, bow and stern thrusters, 6-zone chilled water A/C, Radar, Infrared Night Vision,
    Autopilot, GPS/Chartplotter, VHF, in Great Lakes waters.
  • M/Y (new/not named) 60' Bluewater, twin 450-C Cummins, 13.5Kw Onan, bow thruster, A/C, Radar,
    Autopilot, GPS/Chartplotter, VHF, in Atlantic waters.
  • M/Y Melanie:  twin 3196B CATS, 10Kw Westerbeke, 4-zone A/C, Radar, GPS, Autopilot, Chart Plotter,
    Chart Recorder, VHF, in Gulf, Atlantic, and Bahamian waters.
  • M/V Playtoy:  twin FWC inboards, 6.5Kw Kohler, A/C,  Radar, GPS, Autopilot, Chart Recorder, VHF,
    GPIRB, in Atlantic, Gulf, and Bahamian waters.

Maintenance Related Experience:
  • Installation,setup/adjustment, and maintenance of the full range of marine electronics including Radar,
    GPS, VHF/SSB, Autopilots, Fishfinders, Plotters, SAT-TV, Stereo equipment, and Computers.
  • Maintenance and repair of mechanical, electrical, fuel, cooling, refrigeration, and hydraulic systems
    on mains and gensets, gas or diesel.

Other:
  • Accident and violation free.
  • Business management background.
  • Security/personal protection training.
  • Excellent references.

Best Fit With The Private Owner Who :
  • Likes to cruise and entertain informally, perhaps in combination with recreational fishing and/or other
    water sports.
  • Values the maturity, judgment, and discretion resulting from 30+ years’ experience cruising and
    fishing Gulf, Atlantic, Bahamian, and Great Lakes waters.
  • Appreciates a broad skill-set coupled to an energetic, flexible attitude.
Luck a Lee IV at Ocean Reef Club
My current command, the new
Luck a Lee IV, berthed at Pacific
Mariner's docks prior to sea trials
in the Seattle area.
  • As your Captain, my priorities are (1) The safety of everyone on board;  (2) Protection of your asset via
    prudent operation and sound maintenance; (3) Ensuring everyone has a great time; (4) Making #1 and
    #2 "transparent" to your guests wherever possible.
  • As your Captain, I will strive for a relationship wherein you may communicate your needs or wishes and
    then forget about them......confident they WILL be handled, to your complete satisfaction.  
  • My hands-on maintenance skills will save you significant $$ compared to today's contractor and yard
    rates.  More importantly, the work gets done on our schedule, not theirs.  
  • Owner instruction and/or assisted passage situations?  Special needs?  No problem! My role as Captain
    is to meet your needs, not re-define them! .
  • Free to travel as needed.  Complete scheduling flexibility.  
  • AVAILABLE JULY THRU SEPTEMBER FOR short term ASSIGNMENTS.
PO Box 1851
Dania Beach, FL 33004
(305) 815-6496
Fred@yacht-captain.com
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(Last Updated 03 July 09)