Welcome to Boating Adventures with Captain Mike Dodd

Hi, I am Captain Mike Dodd. I have lived around the Chesapeake Bay my entire life. My interest in boating began as a youngster when my father exposed me to the beauty and enjoyment of water activities on the Bay. My earliest recollection was spending days and nights on a charter boat where my brother, sister, and I slept on board with my parents for up to a week at a time. It was my favorite vacation.

Each overnight was a unique experience—sometimes at a marina, sometimes at a yacht club, sometimes at a community pier near my cousin’s home, sometimes at anchor. We usually prepared meals on board, but occasionally visited a local restaurant or enjoyed a cookout with our cousins.

In these idealized memories of boating vacations, I don’t recall any foul weather or bad storms. Certainly, there must have been periods of inclement weather, but I seemed to recall only the beautiful days. We took these trips over three summers, but my memory suggests it was more frequent. We swam off the stern, went fishing, played football and volleyball on the beach, plotted courses, checked the engine oil, and took turns at the wheel. We were having fun, and we were learning at the same time.

The cozy warmth of the sun, the cool breezes, the ever-changing scenery, and the perpetual movement of the waves with sparkling reflections somehow entranced me. Other boaters and yachtsmen understand this attraction and share these special feelings. Landlubbers have no clue.

So, if you are getting the urge to try out this unique experience and participate in the world of boating, join me on this expedition. Start off with small steps, and if all goes well and it works for you, then you can advance. There is no limit.

My plan is to compose a new blog at least biweekly, starting with basic boating issues and progressing to more advanced topics, such as purchasing your ideal boat. I will emphasize safety from the outset.

In my next blog, I will tell a bit about my background and make suggestions for how to take your initial step into the world of boating.

Captain Mike