Santa has arrived early at this boat club

Santa dropped of some new goodies for The Navigator Club yesterday. Nothing special...but some stuff that will definitely make taking care of the boats a lot easier.

1) Mighty Mac oil suction device with slick Yamaha adapter. Makes changing the oil easy & clean
2) Yamaha fourstroke cover for the Grady White
3) Yamaha Saltwater Series cover for the Boston Whaler

Soon, I will be ordering the Yamaha Diagnostic Software (YDS) which will help us keep those Yamahas running in top condition.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.
40 Warren Steet
Charlestown, MA 02129
www.thenavigatorclub.com

The Navigator Club final fishing report of 2009

As stated in my previous blog report, now that the Navigator Club - Boston's premier boat club - is closed for the season I decided to go out fishing with my friend Nick for one last trip of the season on Wednesday, October 21. We started out the day at 6:00 am at the ramp in Gloucester. Headed out to the same spot where we caught bait for the bachelor party....and almost 2 hours later we finally had 8-9 baits in the livewell. With the baits, we steamed 13 miles offshore to Northwest corner of Stellwagen and deployed them. It was lifeless out there....no whales, no birds, nada. I know we missed the early morning bait, due to the 2 hour delay caused by getting the uncooperative bait.

As we continue to fish and hope for the best, we hear reports from friends that they are landing fish on livebait down on the southwest corner (off Provincetown) so we decide to pack up and head there (maybe another 15 miles south...probably more?). On the way down, we make a stop or two and deploy the baits and Nick starts jigging a hammered finish diamond like jig on light tackle while the baits are swimming around. Nick gets hit and the line pops in about 45 seconds.

We decide to move around a bit, but the dogfish are relentless, so we meet up with a friend about 2-3 miles off the beach in P-town where the water drops off to about 200 feet. Nick and I are jigging again, but now with 50lb class gear, and he gets a hit and immediately we know it is a tuna.

I clear the lines and he settles in for the fight. About 20 minutes later, the fish comes to the surface and I harpoon her on the second attempt....clean shot right through the gill plate and into the head. I tail rope her and bleed her out, and haul her on board. She is just over 55 inches long and approximately 140-150 lbs.

It is now 3:15pm and we decide that we went to get some cod before calling it a day even though the spot is over an hour away - 23 miles east of Gloucester in no mans land. So, I steer his small boat toward the waypoint while Nick guts and cleans the tuna. We arrive there around 4:45 pm and start jigging. About 15 minutes in we have one cusk and one cod on board. Then, Nick lands a 20 lb cod and I get another keeper or two. It is now 5:15ish, the sun is low on the horizon and the winds are picking up. So we decide to call it a day and I turn the 20 footer west and start making the 23 mile run back to Gloucester Harbor while Nick cleans the fish. The ride was pretty uneventful arrive and after picking our way through some lobster pots, we arrive back at the ramp at 6:35 in complete darkness.

After 12 hours on the water, we were both exhausted but happy to end the fishing season on a great note. I have posted some pictures of the fish for your enjoyment.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.

40 Warren Street

Charlestown, MA 02129

http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

617-880-2525

"Boston's premier boating club"

One last trip...didn't I say that last week?

I am headed out for one last trip tomorrow....aboard my buddies boat. The goal is to target any remaining tuna in the morning and then head east with the tide swing and try and jig up some cod and haddock.

Stopped by Fishing Fanatics in Everett today to pick up some last minute gear. Pete Santini was very helpful. The old world italian music playing in the background is quite nostalgic too. If he had a plate of ziti and homemade meatballs on the counter I would have thought I was at my grandmothers house in 1978.

This will be the last trip, I promise but will gladly post pictures afterward.

One last thing....since we sold out of memberships in 2009, we are now taking names for memberships for the 2010 season. If you are interested in becoming a member of the club for the 2010 season, now is the time to get on the list. Any questions....call the office at 617-880-2525.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
www.thenavigatorclub.com
617-880-2525

Gloucester tuna trip

A few weeks back, a bunch of the guys went out on a tuna fishing trip aboard the Karen Lynn out of Gloucester. In attendance were Jodi "Did I ever tell you this story" Wilkinson, Nick " Pass me another jig" Fondulis, Dick "I look good in a harness" Mantz, Doug "Gail, I don't recall inviting you to dinner" Mantz, Ed "Mr. Senior Nantucket" Mancini, Chris 'I took too much dramamine" Mancini, and Ed " I think I am going to fall over" Mancini.

The seas started out calm but by 2:00 pm...they were 4 to 6 feet and building. The fishing was a slow for the first 6 hours and we must have looked like a bunch of sad sacks. However, lady luck shined upon us....and within the last 10 minutes of the charter, we had a school bluefin tuna hit a live mackeral.

Here are some pics. Enjoy.

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.

40 Warren Street

Charlestown, MA 02129

617-880-2525

http://www.thenavigatorclub.com

New fuel flow meter installed, pulling the boats

Took advantage of the good weather the other day, and decided to pull the boats. Once I pulled them out of the water I washed them down thoroughly and hauled them to the winter storage yard.

On the way to the storage yard, I dropped off the Whaler at Voyager Marine Electronics and had the new Lowrance fuel flow meter installed. Jon Schimoler is a great guy to work and his crew did a neat, professional job. Now all of the club boats have Lowrance fuel flow meters installed and we will better able to track fuel consumption.

Will be winterizing and wrapping them this coming week. Will post some of the progress pictures..

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com

Prospective member appointment

I just received a call from another prosective member who is interested in our boat club membership. I set an appointment with him to view the boats and tour the marina this afternoon. I believe he is a referral from some of our existing members and is anxious to see our boats before we haul them for the winter.

I must say that referrals are our best source for new boat club members. I think in the past six months alone, we've had seven new boating club members via referrals.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
www.thenavigatorclub.com
617-880-2525

Dinner in the North End and a night on the Grady

After a delicious meal of homemade cannelloni (almost as good as my grandmothers) in the North End, we spent the night aboard the Grady White at the marina. The crisp fall air, and first rate accomodations at Constitution Marina made for a pleasurable evening.

Looking forward to doing it again.


Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com

Enjoying the sunny, fall days.

In a little bit, I will be heading down to The Navigator Club as we have some boat club members heading out at 2:00 pm. At this time of year, it is important to take advantage of good weather like we are having today.

Last Thursday, I ran a 2007 36' Chris Craft Corsair from Boston to Padanaram. It was a choppy and cold, but still quite enjoyable, especially in that boat. The owner is a client of ours who relies on us to move the boat to various ports of call throughout the season. Yet, another growing facet of our business.

This Saturday, the boys and I will be heading on an offshore tuna charter aboard the Karen Lynn out of Gloucester. The Karen Lynn in a 43' Lowell Brothers downeast that has the latest equipment and technology. I will make sure to take pictures of any tuna, cod and haddock we catch.

Enjoy the day,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

Another new member....

We've had another successful week here at The Navigator Club. We signed up another new member....a young entrepreneur from Cambridge. Welcome aboard Michael. It's really amazing that even in this turbulent economy, we've been able to double our membership in the last 6 months and our retention rate of existing members is north of 75%. It goes to show that our members really do value our superior location, high quality boats and our attention to customer service.


We'll I am heading out the door to get ready for our third training session with Michael. Today we will focus on docking and navigating around Boston Harbor.


Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
www.thenavigatorclub.com

The Navigator Club in today's Salem Evening News

Deadliest catch

Capt. Ed Mancini of Salem, who founded The Navigator Club, a private boating club in Charlestown, was in Gloucester the other day for a Little League fundraiser.
At the event, he ran into some of the cast members of "The Deadliest Catch," that wild Discovery Channel show about the men who often risk their lives catching Alaskan king crabs in the Bering Sea. If they want a real scare, they ought to try fishing in the North River.

http://www.salemnews.com/punews/local_story_247002820.html?keyword=topstory

Offshore Tuna Trip

Went offshore on the 25' Grady White looking for the elusive bluefin tuna the other day. Seas were flat calm and the sun was shining bright.

Timed the trip to fish the afternoon slack tide. Upon arriving at the "spot", we were treated with an incredible whale show, and much to our surprise...only a couple of other boats. So, we threw in our two lines and began to troll.

To be continued.....

Hazy, hot and HUMID! Maui Jim spotted?

This is the weather that I wait for all year long. I love being out in the hot sun...especially if I am on a boat. Can you think of a better way to cool off than aboard a Navigator Club boat?

Speaking of being cool, the Maui Jim sunglasses have been ordered and are expected to be in soon. By this time next week, a bunch of Navigator Club members will be sporting, the latest Maui Jim shades.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
www.thenavigatorclub.com

Back from the Vineyard, new boat?

Returned from the Vineyard this afternoon with the 60'. Had a fun and exciting time. Being the captain of such a fine vessel, definitely has me spoiled. However, let's just say that I much rather prefer to be on the water during a hurricane than riding a moped from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown.

This week is another busy one. Have a new member training session tomorrow at noon and then I will be spending time looking at a new boat for the club.

Off to get some ZZZZZ'sssssss,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

Another beautiful weekend on the water

Beautiful weekend on the water. Ran the 60' down to Provincetown and back on Saturday and then to Newburyport and back on Sunday. I may be running a boat up from New York Harbor next week and am also planning another trip down to Florida in late September.

The last few weeks down at the club have been extremely busy. Several new members have signed up and we have been spending a lot of time with them doing on-the-water training. In fact, we have a training session today at 11:00 am.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

Fundraiser, good times, Deadliest Catch

Took a ride up to the Gloucester House the other night to attend this years Little League Fundraiser. Besides the $15 door charge, numerous items were auctioned off including prints, clothing and memorabilia. There was also a $500 50/50 raffle. All proceeds were donated to the Gloucester Little League.

At this years, event...we had the opportunity to meet Capt. Andy Hillstrand, Capt. Johnathan Hillstrand and deckhand, Josh Harris. I must admit that these guys are really down to earth...which is a blessing in this day and age. They were swamped with groupies...but since a friend is running the pr for the event, we had an opportunity to meet the gang and get a photo op.

Yesterday, I spent the day driving around looking at boats. We are getting ready to add a third boat and I wanted to take a look and see what is available so that when the time comes, we can move quickly.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini

The Navigator Club

40 Warren Street

Charlestown, MA 02129

http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

Member boat club tours, good weather and tuna fishing?

We had a couple of prospective members who had appointments at 10:30 am and 1:00 pm to find out more about The Navigator Club and what is included in our boat club memberships. Then I am heading up to Beverly to run the yacht that I am the captain of. Tomorrow a.m some of the staff and members will head out of the boat club to do some tuna fishing if the weather allows.

Yesterday was another good day. Morning was beautiful....and in the afternoon we had a couple of members go out including one who brought along a fellow doctor that is suffering from Parkinson's disease. This chap has done a fair amount of boating throughout his life, but our member thought it would be good to get him out again before the disease progresses too far. Judging by the ear to ear smile on his face upon their return, I would have to say that this fellow really enjoyed himself.

Enjoy the day, folks....


Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

new member tour, P-town video and pictures

Yesterday was quiet down at The Navigator Club due to the variable weather. Only one member went out of the boat club. However, we did sign up a new member and I am meeting with another prospect today at 2:30 pm. Overall, activity has been very brisk the last two weeks.

Regarding the Saturday trip to P-town, I will post the whale pictures and video as soon as I can get them upload to my hard drive. I have seen a lot of whales over the years, but I must say that having two 40 foot whales 20 feet off the port side was a treat for everyone on board.

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com

Great weather, whales and a trip to Provincetown

Today was by the far the best day of the summer.

Started out the morning by arriving at The Navigator Club at 8:00 am. Me and our dockmaster, Chris Haight, ran the boats over to the fuel dock and got them ready for the day. After fueling them up, we returned to the boat club and then headed up the club house to meet a prospective member. We gave him a tour, followed by a quick boat ride around the harbor and then after a few questions, he signed up. That makes two new members this week alone.

At 11:00 am, I left Chris at the club, jumped in my truck and headed north to Beverly. The owner and family were already aboard, so I fired up the twin Man diesels on the 60' and cleared the harbor. At the last minute, I decided to forgo the trip to Newburyport and instead I turned her south and plotted a course to Provincetown. Running around 27 knots, we made it to the Race Point area in about 90 minutes. Upon arriving at Race Point, we were treated to a spectacular whale show (I have pictures and a video that I will post in the next day or two). Everyone on board was so excited. After about a half hour, we decided to head into the harbor, grab a mooring, and find a good place to eat.

Starting to fade....will finish post tomorrow. Have a good night.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com

Tall Ships, Open House & Interesting Charter

As promised, here are numerous pictures from Sail Boston 2009 (July 8 through July 18) and from The Navigator Club open house (July 22) on the deck at Constitution Marina. Both events were huge successes and the weather cooperated, which is no small feat this summer.

On another note, I had an interesting charter yesterday. Instead of handling the normal boat club operations, I spent the entire morning ferrying a film crew around the harbor that is producing a documentary. It was a lot of fun...but normally when I look over my shoulder I am looking to see if a tuna swallowed a squid bar. Its weird looking over your shoulder and seeing a HD camera on a tripod, a sound guy with a boom and a producer giving directions.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini

The Navigator Club

40 Warren Street

Charlestown, MA 02129

617-880-2525

http://www.thenavigatorclub.com

Tall Ships, 4th of July, Open House

Well, we just finished the busiest two week stretch since the club started in 2008. The Tall Ships event, combined with the 4th of July festivities the week before, made for some very fun and exciting days.

Each one of our members was able to get out on the water and view the Tall Ships procession at least once, some were able to even get out twice. I have numerous photos of the entire event that I will gladly post once I get camera back.

In addition, we have several new members that signed up over the last two weeks. We would like to thank them for their business and extend a warm welcome. In fact, I am heading out around 2:00 pm this afternoon to do a close quarters boat handling lesson with one of them.

Lastly, I wanted to remind everyone that The Navigator Club open house is being held next Wednesday, July 22nd from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Constitution Marina in Charlestown. Mark your calendars and please RSVP to 617.880.2525 or by email to memberships@thenavigatorclub.com


Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617.880.2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com

Fireworks

Wow, did I have a great time last night. A couple of us jumped on the boat, and ran over to Swampscott around 8:00 pm, anchored up, shared some great food and sat tight waiting for the fireworks. Around 9:15 pm the sky lit up and we were treated to a front row view of a great fireworks show.

Attached are some pictures courtesy of Swapscott Fireworks23.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini

The Navigator Club

www.thenavigatorclub.com

Got back from Florida late last night. We left Boston at 5:30 am , arrived in Florida around 10:00 am and were back in Boston around 10:00....total bonazai run. Needless to say we took care of the business we needed to complete.

Switching gears, do you know that it is only 8 days before the Tall Ships arrive in Boston again? It should be an exciting event and we have a fewsightseeing charters still available for non-members. If you are interested in booking one of the remaining spots, give us a call at the office.

On another note, I did get to install the Lowrance LMF200 Fuel Flow computer in the Grady. Once I was able to get a set of accurate directions, the install was not too bad. Now I just need to find some time to sit down and program it.

Well, I am off to the marina. Have a good day.


Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

What a beautiful day on the water

Busy, busy day.

Spent the morning training some new members. We headed out into Boston Harbor, showed them some of the typical areas to avoid (lower middle, 5A can, rams head flats), went over to Spectable Island Marina...and then headed back to to the marina to practice docking and maneuvering in tight quarters. This new member did a great job...and is really a fast learner. We will be taking them out again (3rd time) for some additional training. Practice, practice, practice.

Shifting gears a bit.........Around noon, I interviewed a candidate for our Sunday dockmaster position and I am happy to announce that Mike Primpas of Milton, a junior at Mass. Maritime Academy is the latest addition to the Navigator Club team. Mike is another lifelong boater and will be a valuable source of knowledge. Say hi to him when you're down on the docks on Sundays.

And to close out the day, I headed up to North Shore to skipper a 60' private yacht on a whale watch cruise. Lots of birds, whales, bait and TUNA on Stellwagen. What a pleasure it was being out there today. Thank the gods that the forty days and nights of rain seem to be behind us.

Well, it's now 9:00 pm and time to sign off and get some chow.


Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com


The Navigator Club is Boston's premier, private boating club. Located in the Charlestown Navy Yard, the Navigator Club provides it members with top quality boats, expert training and a superb location.

Preseason update

Well folks, after a long, long winter....I am happy to report that the boating season is here and our members are out and enjoying the club's boats on a daily basis.

We opened officially for the season the first week of May and shortly thereafter, members started heading out into Boston Harbor and the surrounding waters. Those members who went out early were treated to spectacular views of the sailboats competing in the Volvo Ocean Race. The sailing teams raced here from Rio De Janiero, stayed in Boston for about 2-3 weeks and then raced the final leg across the Atlantic to Galway. Team Puma (the local syndicate) by far had the coolest looking boats. I can't tell you how many support vessels I saw with a red puma stripe on them....great marketing technique.

On Sunday, June 7th....Constitution Marina had their annual kickoff party and judging by the crowd it was a huge success. Numerous Navigator Club members were in attendance and everyone was able to enjoy some good food and drink, while making a few new friends.

Shifting gears a little bit, I am happy to announce a new addition to The Navigator Club team. Chris Haight, a sophomore at Boston College and a native of Beverly Farms will be our Saturday dockmaster. Chris is a lifelong boater and is excited to be a part of the team and help members during the check in and check out process.

Before I sign off, I wanted to mention one other upcoming event. On Wednesday, July 22nd from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm...The Navigator Club and Hartwick College (my alma mater) will be hosting a party on the deck at the marina. All Navigator Club members are encouraged to attend.

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com
617.880.2525

Fatal boating accident report

Below is an article from a Tampa newspaper outlining the Coast Guard's report regarding the fatal boating accident involving some NFL players. The bottom line is that an anchor should never be tied off the stern (back of the boat) and if an anchor becomes stuck and you are in danger, the anchor line should be cut immediately.

Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com
617-880-2525


Report Reveals Causes of Boat Tragedy

TAMPA, Fla. (March 27) - An agency investigating a deadly boating accident involving two NFL players and their friends in the Gulf of Mexico has concluded it was caused when the vessel was improperly anchored and the boat capsized after one of them tried to throttle forward to pry loose the anchor.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's investigation also cited carelessness and operator inexperience as contributing factors. The combination of errors came at the time a storm front was moving in, making conditions on the water very rough.Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith, and former University of South Florida players William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler departed from Clearwater Pass, Fla., early Feb. 28 to go offshore fishing for amberjack.
Schuyler, found clinging to the boat two days later, was the lone survivor. The other three men have not been found.

In an in-depth interview with the agency, Schuyler gave this account of the accident:
Early that morning, the men went more than 50 miles offshore in Cooper's 21-foot vessel. It was loaded with two large coolers filled with ice, drinks, food and beer. All of the friends were dressed in warm clothes, sweat suits and jackets.

Around 5:30 p.m., they went to pull up the anchor and head back to port, but the anchor was stuck. Bleakley suggested they tie it to the transom and use the boat's motor to pull it loose.
When Cooper tried to thrust the boat forward, the vessel became submerged and capsized, tossing the men overboard. All four tried uprighting the boat by standing on one side of the overturned vessel. When that didn't work, Bleakley swam underneath and was able to retrieve three life vests, a large cooler and a portable, cushion-type flotation device. Bleakley, who Schuyler has credited with saving his life, used the makeshift flotation device, which has been described previously as a cushion. The other three wore the vests.

The men appear to have tried everything in their power to rescue themselves: Schuyler told the agency they tried retrieving and using flares, but they were wet, agency Investigator Jim Manson said. They got their cell phones, which were in plastic baggies, but there was no signal.
They knew how many hours were passing because Schuyler had a watch with a light on and was able to keep track of the time. He said that around 5:30 a.m. the next day, Cooper became unresponsive. Schuyler and Bleakley tried to revive him without success. Cooper's flotation device was removed and Bleakley put it on. The Oakland Raiders linebacker then became separated from the boat.

About an hour later, Smith started to show "possible extreme symptoms of hypothermia." He removed his flotation device and also became separated from the boat.The two college teammates were the only ones left. They hung on together for about 24 hours, until Bleakley grew weak and removed his life vest as well. Schuyler said that his friend appeared to die as he was holding onto him. He let his friend go and Bleakley drifted away.

Manson said moving the anchor line to the stern, or back of the boat, contributed to the vessel's instability and flooding when they tried to free it. He described it as a mistake that probably happens every day, but one that a more experienced boater would be aware of and could handle.
Manson recommended cutting the line if boaters are not able to easily free their anchor. The agency advises boaters to take a boating safety course and leave a detailed float plan with friends or family.

Cooper, the boat's owner, had more than 100 hours of boating experience but no formal education, and had been drinking, according to the report.
"Overall, it's just a mistake in anchoring," Manson said.

The Coast Guard released its records on the accident last week. According to the agency, Schuyler told them the boat capsized after their anchor got caught in a reef. The accuracy of that account was somewhat unclear because Schuyler was suffering from hypothermia and spoke to them shortly after he was pulled from the boat. His doctor said he probably could have only lived another five to 10 hours.

The Coast Guard called off its search after three days of scouring 24,000 miles of ocean.

Boat Show Setup Completed

Just thought I would post a quick update. We finished setting up our booth at the boat show this evening and it looks great. The new backdrop with a picture of Minots Light in the background and a Grady White in the foreground looks incredible. Would like to publicly thank the guys at White Light Digital Media in Beverly, MA for making it happen.

I will take some pictures tomorrow and will post them.

Hope to see you all at the show.

Time to get some ZZZZZ's,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club, Inc.
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

The Navigator Club is the Boston area's premier, private boat club catering to people who do not own a boat; both novice and experienced mariners are welcome at our boat club. Based at the award winning Constitution Marina on Boston Harbor in Charlestown, MA, The Navigator Club provides boat club members with the finest powerboats, unparalleled customer service and first class facilities.

New England Boat Show

The 2009 New England Boat Show is coming up quickly. This years show will be held on February 14 through February 22 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The Navigator Club will be exhibiting at booth #423, so be sure to stop by and introduce yourself. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have as well as go over our membership options.

Also, The Navigator Club was recently featured in three more publications.

Points East Magazine, Fall 2008
Anchorline - The Grady White Owners Newsletter, December 2008
Pallium - The Canterbury School Magazine, January 2009

To read each article in its entirety, click on the link below.

http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/news.html


Regards,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street, 3rd Floor
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

The Navigator Club is the Boston area's premier, private boat club catering to people who do not own a boat; both novice and experienced mariners are welcome at our boat club. Based at the award winning Constitution Marina on Boston Harbor in Charlestown, MA, The Navigator Club provides boat club members with the finest powerboats, unparalleled customer service and first class facilities.

Floating your way to Freedom

Floating your way to Freedom

Cruising the coastal waters aboard a boat is a great way to spend time with family and friends, relieve some stress, explore new ports of call and if you are so inclined, do a little fishing. The eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine and points in between offer many exciting and interesting places to go boating. Some are well known and others, are closely guarded secrets that are waiting to be explored.

For many years, if you wanted to go boating you either had to buy a boat, charter a boat or if you were lucky, befriend someone who owned a boat. Chartering or befriending a boat owner are fantastic ways to get out on the water and get introduced to boating. It is great for those of you who only want to go out on occasion and/or prefer to sit back and let someone else handle the responsibility of operating the vessel. Charter captains know their local waters intimately and are not only good at finding fish, but most also make excellent on-the-water tour guides too. There are many talented charter captains out there. To find a well respected, licensed captain in your area, contact the Northeast Charter Captains Association at http://www.northeastcharterboatcaptainsassociation.com/ or your local charter boat captains association.

However, if you’re like me and enjoy being behind the helm and desire the freedom and challenge associated with it, you basically have two options. You can go buy your own boat or you can join a local boating club which allow members to use the club’s boats.

If you have a good understanding of what is required and have ample free time, boat ownership can be a very rewarding experience. As someone who has owned numerous boats and sold countless others to buyers, I know what it feels like to desire to own a boat. Boat ownership offers freedom, adventure and a lot of fun. Whether its heading over to the local sandbar to spend an afternoon soaking up some sun with friends or planning a weekend excursion to a new port of call, having your own boat allows you to go just about wherever you want, whenever you want - weather permitting of course.

However, as with most large purchases, owning a boat also requires time, responsibility and a fair amount of disposable income to not only purchase the boat, but maintain it as well. Many first-time boat buyers often make the mistake of spending their entire budget on purchasing the boat, leaving little left over to maintain it. Unlike automobiles, boats are hand-made machines and are exposed to a wide variety of environments and forces and as such, they need to be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis or they will fall into disrepair, regardless of the brand.
Based on my personal and professional experience, the best way to determine how much a boat is going to cost you to maintain on a yearly basis in your area, is to ask an experienced boater from a local marina who owns a similar boat. Cost of ownership calculations should include dockage fees, insurance, spring commissioning, winterization, incidental repairs, storage, fuel, depreciation and future resale value. Once you have calculated annual cost of ownership and determined your total boat buying budget, you are now ready to start shopping for a boat that will fit your requirements. When determining which style of boat is for you, you need to consider your experience level, boating interests, body of water and time availability. where vessel will be used whether you primarily plan to go out for the day or for long excursions you are looking for a new boat, the National Marine Manufacturers Association maintains a list of certified, well respected boat dealers in your area. To find a dealer near you, go to http://www.discoverboating.com/ .

If you are considering purchasing a pre-owned boat, which can be an attractive option, you should consider having the boat surveyed prior to buying. The cost to survey the boat is nominal and is money well spent. To find a competent surveyor in your area, log on to http://www.marinesurvey.org/ .

Unfortunately, with ever increasing demands on time from careers and family obligations, many folks feel that they just don’t have the time or the desire to own a boat, but yet still want to get out on the water on a regular basis. Or, what about those folks who have always wanted to get into boating, don’t have any experience and are unsure where to start? For those of you who fall into this category, a membership in a boating club is ideal.

What is a boat club? Although there are variations, a typical boat club is a membership based club where members get to use club owned boats on reservation basis. In addition to buying the boats, the club normally pays for a comprehensive training program as well as slip fees, insurance, cleaning, and maintenance. In addition, luxury level clubs, also offer access to premium brand boats, as well as pools, sun decks and locker rooms and discounts on restaurants, yacht charters and boating related items like foul-weather gear, and sunglasses .
As far as usage is concerned, membership allows a member to reserve a boat(s) for a predetermined number of outings per month. In addition, clubs even offer “standby” usage options for those spur of the moment decisions when the local weatherman calls for a torrential downpour when it actually turns out to be 85 degrees and sunny.

Membership based boat clubs are not entirely new. However, they have become very popular recently, mostly due to the fact that over the last ten years consumers have less free time available and as a result, they have become more comfortable with leasing and fractional usage arrangements made popular by the automobile and aviation industries.

Is a boat club membership right for everyone? Probably, not. If you are the type of person who wants to go out all weekend, every weekend, or you’re planning a three week cruise up to Maine or maybe you just like to sit around and oil the teak while tied up at the dock, you’re better off buying your own boat . However, if you lead a busy lifestyle and find that between work and family obligations, not to mention the infamous honey-do list, you have a limited amount of free time, then a boat club membership may be just the right thing for you.

There are numerous boat clubs throughout the country. To find a club near you, do a search on the web, for “boat clubs” or log on to www.discoverboating.com/boating/boatingclubs.aspx

Happy Boating,

Capt. Ed Mancini
President and Founder
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street, 3rd Floor
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

The Navigator Club is the Boston area's premier, private boat club catering to people who do not own a boat; both novice and experienced mariners are welcome at our boating club. Based at the award winning Constitution Marina on Boston Harbor in Charlestown, MA, The Navigator Club provides boat club members with the finest powerboats, unparalleled customer service and first class facilities.

Welcome

Welcome to the official blog of The Navigator Club, Boston's premier boat club. This blog was created to not only talk about the club and provide updates to our members, but also to provide a public forum where people can discuss all things boating related including boat ownership, boat repairs and maintenance, fishing and even things to do and see around the Greater Boston area.

I am definitely not a jack of all trades (nor a master of none) but I can promise you that between my friends and colleagues we should be able to answer most questions related to boats, motors and fishing.

Welcome aboard!


Sincerely,

Capt. Ed Mancini
The Navigator Club
40 Warren Street
Charlestown, MA 02129
617-880-2525
http://www.thenavigatorclub.com/

The Navigator Club is the Boston area's premier, private boat club catering to people who do not own a boat; both novice and experienced mariners are welcome at our boat club. Based at the award winning Constitution Marina on Boston Harbor in Charlestown, MA, The Navigator Club provides boat club members with the finest powerboats, unparalleled customer service and first class facilities.