Boat Show University Course Descriptions:
Friday, January 25, 2013 9am - Noon $39
Using New Technology for Navigation and Cruising - Mark Bunzel
iPad, iPhone, Smartphones - The best apps, software and tools
During the last two years there have been amazing advances in new technology for smart phones and tablets with many new apps for use on a boat. Waggoner Cruising Guide Editor Mark Bunzel will demonstrate and show the full range of low-cost apps now available for cruise planning and navigation. He will show you the differences between apps and how you can choose the right apps for your use. He will also show how your entire boat can be networked to allow you to view critical engine and navigation data from all your devices anywhere on your boat. New NMEA bluetooth and Wi-Fi bridges can even allow you control your autopilot and steer your boat directly from your iPad or smartphone.
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Friday, January 25, 2013 12:30pm - 3:30pm $39
Keeping it Alive: Marine Systems - Michael Beemer
Modern cruising boats have numerous systems that we rely on every day. While these systems are remarkably reliable they are also increasingly complex. The corrosive salt water marine environment, constant motion, and seasonal use of boats constantly threaten our boat’s systems. In some of the remote cruising areas along the Inside Passage you may be unable to summon a mechanic or call for help. How do we keep these critical systems alive? This course goes beyond the basics in understanding how to find and fix problems aboard a vessel. Topics will include:
- Knowing, understanding & maintaining critical systems for the safety and comfort of the captain and crew
- Planning what to check, inspect, and look for to prevent break-downs while passage making
- Techniques for troubleshooting systems
- Hands-on activities to learn important lessons about using a multi-meter for troubleshooting
- Practical tips for temporary repairs of key systems
We’ll end this session with a list of proven maintenance items you will want on a boat that will help you “Keep it Alive” during your cruise.
Friday, January 25, 2013 3:30pm - 7:00pm $39
Keeping it Alive: Diesel Engines - Michael Beemer
The modern diesel engine is relied upon by both sailboaters and powerboaters. With proper maintenance these engines run for thousands of hours. Understanding the nuts and bolts of the diesel engine and how to perform routine maintenance will keep you out on the water. This course is not specific to one brand, but will cover most engine manufacturers common in the industry. Topics will include:
- Understanding starting and charging circuits
- Service intervals and schedules
- The importance of the cooling system and how to prevent overheating
- Troubleshooting techniques
- New technologies and tips for easier and cleaner maintenance and repairs
Saturday, January 26, 2013 9am - Noon $39
Cruising from Washington through the Lower Half of British Columbia - Captain Linda Lewis
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Saturday, January 26, 2013 12:30pm - 3:30pm $39
Top Ten Upgrades: What You Need and Want to Know - Michael Beemer
The marine world is constantly evolving, and getting better! Technology is helping us with upgrades and improvements for our cruising vessels. Most of us always have a boat project in the works or planned, some may even be doing complete refits. What works? What should you purchase? Learn from an expert who isn’t a salesperson or earning commissions. Michael Beemer the lead systems instructor from Skagit Valley College' Marine Technology Center in Anacortes will help you navigate many of the most cost effective new technologies you can put on your vessel.
Saturday, January 26, 2013 4:00pm - 7:00pm $39
Cruising in the Upper Half of British Columbia and Into Ketchikan, AK - Captain Linda Lewis
You finally have the time to live the dream and cruise the Inside Passage towards Southeast Alaska. This seminar will give you the information you need to have a safe and fun cruise from the top of Vancouver Island, across Queen Charlotte Sound through the upper half of British Columbia all the way into Ketchikan, AK. Topics will include: Topics include: route planning; strategies for crossing the Strait of Georgia; strategies for managing the tidal rapids; weather/wind/seas decision making; books and charts; electronics/internet access; anchorages and moorages; fuel & repairs; water & provisions; cell/WiFi communications. Clearing customs at Ketchikan and Prince Rupert will also be covered. This is your opportunity to learn how you can explore this unique cruising area.
Sunday, January 27, 2013 9am - Noon $39
Cruising in Southeast Alaska - Captain Linda Lewis
The dream is here. You’re in Southeast Alaska at your starting point in Ketchikan! Figure out where to go, what to do, how to stay safe and have a great time. Topics will include: anchoring in deeper waters; trip planning; routing alternatives; anchorages & moorages; water & provisions; fuel & repair; cell/WiFi communications; weather/wind/seas; winter boat storage ptions; detailed information on permits and cruising in Glacier Bay National Park; Sawyer Glacier; and favorite locations, like Anan Bay Bear Observatory, Elfin Cove, and Fords Terror. You’ll likely need more than one cruising season for the many adventure opportunities in this glorious cruising ground. This seminar will help you begin making your choices and start planning.
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Sunday, January 27, 2013 12:30pm - 3:30pm $39
Circumnavigating Vancouver Island - Liza Copeland
Join circumnavigator Liza Copeland as she brings alive voyaging around Vancouver Island and its spectacular cruising grounds that are both close to home among the best anywhere in the world. This seminar will maximize the potential of cruising both the Vancouver Island and mainland coasts when heading north through Desolation Sound and the Broughton Group. We’ll discuss strategies for rounding Cape Scott and cruising the many islands and inlets of Vancouver Island’s West Coast. Route planning and weather, piloting, currents and tides, pass management and other hazards will be presented, along with the joys of coast cultures and characters, wildlife, seafood and history. Boat organization on deck and below will be covered including safety gear, self-sufficiency, communications, provisioning, storage and additional desirable equipment will be discusses. This is the ideal seminar for cruisers using the west coast as an introduction to Bluewater cruising before heading offshore.
Sunday, January 27, 2013 4:00pm - 7:00pm $39
Secrets of a Detailer: Making Your Boat Look Great - Jeff Paxson
Keep your boat looking its best. Jeff Paxson, owner of Marine Detail Specialists will give a comprehensive presentation covering the who, what, where, when, how and why of maintaining a beautiful boat in the Pacific Northwest. He will also answer some of the biggest boat cleaning mysteries, such as: What are those pink spots on my boat cushions? How can I get those water spots off my windows? And how do I make my boat smell better? How can I make my boat shine inside and out?All attendees will be given a comprehensive guide to Cosmetic Yacht Maintenance as well as a free product sample from IMAR Products. Attendees will also be entered to win a $250 gift certificate for detailing service from Marine Detail Specialists or a complete detailing kit.
Exit after the Sunday 4pm Boat Show University will be through the Concourse Doors Only, as the public hours for the Seattle Boat Show end at 6pm that day.
Monday 1/28/13
[no class Scheduled]
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 9am - 5pm $195
OUPV/Master 100-Ton License Renewal Course - Captain Skip Anderson
This is an official USCG-approved, industry-grade course that fulfills the requirement for professional mariners wishing to renew their licenses where they do not have the required underway sea service per 46 CFR 10.209 (c)(i). Captain’s licenses are good for five years, followed by a one year administrative grace period, so each year this course is an imperative for a substantial percentage of the licensed captains in the region. The renewal process will be briefed in detail, followed by a robust day full of instruction. Two USCG-approved examinations will be administered late in the afternoon, with USCG-required completion certificates presented for those that pass the exams.
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013 9am - 5pm $195
Introduction To Developing Self Reliance in Marine Weather & Forecasting - Lee Chesneau
The course begins with the all-important discussion of the marine advisory and warnings system of the National Weather Service-NWS -(Small Craft Advisories (SCA), Gale, Storm, and Hurricane Force Warnings). Never leave the dock without knowing which one applies to your vessel.
Then the course will look at “scales of weather systems” (global scale; jet stream; synoptic scale; lows & highs on the meso-scale; squall lines on the micro scale;. thunderstorms/micro-bursts/waterspouts). The global scale is about “global pressure & wind belts”, such as those that prevail in the “trade wind belt”.
The course will work its way to the meat and potatoes of the course: “synoptic scale weather systems”, especially those dominant in the middle latitudes between 30N and 60N, because they significantly impact the Pacific Northwest. The impact of middle latitude “low & high pressure systems” and their associated “synoptic scale features” such as fronts (cold, warm, occluded, & stationary), troughs, & ridges will be discussed. Next, the course will cover the identifiable applied symbols as they are depicted on surface pressure charts prepared by the Ocean Prediction Center. The course will cover the marine forecast products and services provided by the local NWS office in Seattle for local weather for the islands and Inside Passage cruising.
Lee will show you the comparison of forecasts (48-96 hours surface pressure forecasts) to current surface pressure analysis charts to illustrate how systems develop and move across the Pacific and impact Inside Passage waters.
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Thursday, January 31, 2013 9am - 5pm $195
Advanced Marine Weather Training for Self Reliance for Forecasting & Routing - Lee Chesneau
This course will continue from the Wednesday program with an introduction to upper air weather charts and a discussion of 500-Mb basics and their relationship with surface pressure systems highs and lows. This will include a discussion of upper level flow patterns (including the “Perfect Storm”), trough dynamics and behavior and vorticity (the basis of the dashed lines on the Ocean Prediction Center 500 Mb charts. The class will offer numerous examples of weather system progression and expand on introductory vessel routing and heavy weather avoidance using 500 Mb Charts. The topic will then move to an introduction to wind wave and swell formation, propagation, and decay concepts with examples of wind and wave analysis and forecast charts.
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Friday, February 1, 2013 9am - 5pm $195
Long Distance Cruising Master Class with Jimmy Cornell - Jimmy Cornell
Spend a full day with Jimmy Cornell as he provides a wealth of practical advice to offer anyone planning a voyage. His first-hand knowledge and experience will provide participants with a well-rounded approach to long distance cruising. Topics will include:
- Voyage planning in the age of electronic charts Even in today's world of sophisticated aids to navigation, anyone planning a long voyage, or even a shorter offshore passage, needs to draw on sources whose importance and usefulness have not diminished over the years, such as paper charts and pilot charts.
- Planning your dream voyage - Planning a voyage starting from the US west coast and sailing to the South Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe, and all the way around the world. Main subjects include: routing suggestions, weather routing, prevailing winds, tropical storm areas and seasons, climate change and its possible effects.
- Practical aspects of long distance cruising - Formalities and documents, communications, downwind sails, cruising in the tropics, cruising around the world in stages, and yacht transport will be covered.
- Offshore routines - Life on board, daily routines including meals, maintenance, self steering gear and autopilots, provisions, fuel and water, electricity consumption and generation, watch systems, fishing, diving, and photography.
- Main voyage planning considerations - Heavy weather, safety concerns and piracy, common failures, dealing with emergencies.
- The main factors that can affect the successful outcome of a voyage - Essential features on an offshore cruising boat, financial considerations, crew and problems that should be avoided, self-sufficiency, global safety situation, the right attitude: expectations to reality
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Saturday, February 2, 2013 9:00am - 12:00pm $39
World Cruising Today - Jimmy Cornell
An overview of the current global cruising scene with particular emphasis on the current concerns among sailors planning a longer voyage (personal safety, piracy, climate change, economic uncertainty), what can be done to avoid them and still enjoy the unique rewards provided by sailing the world on your own boat. Also an analysis of current sailing trends and the global movement of cruising boats, with specific numbers of boats in the more popular cruising destinations.
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Saturday, February 2, 2013 12:30pm - 3:30pm $39
Navigating the Tides and Currents - Kevin Monahan
Understanding the tides and currents of the Pacific Northwest is key to successful and comfortable boating experiences. In this session, we will begin with learning how the lunar cycles create water movement and the various stages of the tidal cycles - in short, the conditions for Slack can mean different things based on the lunar cycle, the winds and even the geography. The course will explore the many gates that are keys points in travel and understand the key concepts of vertical movement (tides) and horizontal movement (current) of water. Additional topics will include local knowledge, wind against water, timing of water exchange, and how to safely navigate and plan for your trip.
Saturday, February 2, 2013 4:00pm - 7:00pm $39
Radar for Collision Avoidance - Kevin Monahan
Radar is one of the most versatile systems of all of the marine electronics on your boat. Most only know how to use about 10% of the capabilities of their marine radar. The manuals that come with a radar system tell you what the buttons do, but not how to confidently use radar for both collision avoidance and navigation. In addition to learning the basics of radar operation participants will also learn:
- How to use your marine radar system while underway
- Basic radar tuning and how to set up your system
- How to interpret the screen display and how to correlate it to navigational charts, the surrounding area, and other vessels around you
Sunday, February 3, 2013 9:00pm - 12:00pm $39
Options for Boat Ownership: Charter and Fractional Ownership - Nathan Martin & Brian Pemberton
Low available time and the high cost of boat ownership hold back many from owning their own boat. There are other options. Fractional ownership of a boat, or placing a boat into charter can reduce the cost of boating and provide more flexibility through professional management of your boat. Through either charter or fractional ownership you can use the benefits of working with a professional to reduce costs and improve your time on the water. Some boats in charter can even return a positive cash-flow.
This course will discuss advantages and relative costs of:
- Ownership of a vessel
- Sole ownership
- Partnership & Fractional Ownership
- Charter
- Bare boat charter
- Guided flotilla charters
- Tax implications
Additionally, we will be looking at the key ingredients for successful partnerships, the regulatory environment, and the realistic net costs after revenue from charter and fractional ownership.
Note: 9am Classes begin before the Boat Show opens. Use the 2nd Floor Entrance off the CenturyLink Parking Garage, on the south end of the building. The Boat Show University class room is just inside the entrance. Please arrive at least :10 before class is to begin.
Sunday, February 3, 2013 12:30pm - 3:30pm $39
Navigation—From Paper to Electronics - Mark Tilden
This hands-on course starts with the basic concepts of navigation. The course will cover interpreting chart symbols, finding and properly expressing positions on a chart, measuring distance, and plotting courses. The basic concepts will be applied to real-world exercises on a chart of local waters using traditional navigation tools and techniques. We'll also demonstrate similar concepts using computer-based charting system as well as state-of-the-art electronic chart plotters. Participants will work individually, and in pairs, to complete the charting exercises. The course will also touch on more advanced topics such as dealing with currents and the Vessel Traffic System (VTS).
The following tools and supplies are required for the class:
- A set of parallel rules
- Example: https://www.fisheriessupply.com/weems-and-plath-parallel-rulers-145
- A set of dividers
- Example: https://www.fisheriessupply.com/weems-and-plath-ultralight-dividers-compass
- A copy of NOAA chart #18400
- Two sharp #2 pencils or a mechanical pencil with #2 lead
Seattle Boat Show University Faculty Bios:
Captain Skip Anderson
Captain Anderson is USCG Licensed Master and the founder and chief instructor for Flagship Maritime, preparing and certifying mariners for careers as licensed maritime industry professionals. Anderson’s naval career spanned twenty-four years, including service around the globe, and aboard three destroyers, one frigate, three aircraft carriers, and one battleship. He holds a B.S. in Operations Analysis from the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, and a M.S. in Command, Control and Communications from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He was a letter-winner on the U.S. Naval Academy Varsity Sailing Team, and went on to compete in several national and North American championships, plus one Olympic Trials. He is a certified US Sailing Club Race Officer, a certified ASA sailing instructor, vice chair of the Washington Boating Alliance, lifetime member of the US Naval Institute, founder of the Tacoma Tall Ships Society, and a resource regarding all matters maritime throughout the region.
Flagship Maritime is a USCG-approved vocational school licensed by the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board as an Eligible Training Provider.
Michael Beemer
Michael is a Marine Technology instructor at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy in Anacortes, WA. He has been instrumental in developing the marine programs for the Academy that bridge both the high school/college programs with the industry needs. In the cruising community, Michael is well known as “The Boat Doctor” who can diagnose and fix almost anything on a vessel. Along with the Academy he teaches for Skagit Valley College in the marine systems program, including ABYC certification courses. Mike grew up as the son of a master mechanic. This experience included learning all things mechanical including motorcycles, automobiles, and boats. He has operated his own successful boat repair businesses and has moved into the marine systems consulting field. Michael has presented programs such as Keeping Your Diesel Alive and maintenance courses covering water-making systems, gensets, steering and control systems, marine electrical systems, boat freshwater and gray water plumbing, and freshwater pump systems. Mike’s specialty is the new technology systems now coming on-line for boats in power generation, water systems and propulsion.
Mark Bunzel
Mark is an experienced boater having cruised extensively in the Pacific Northwest, the Inside Passage and throughout Alaska on assignment while writing and photographing beautiful locations for magazines and to update the books he publishes. In addition, he has chartered cruised the Chesapeake and the Intercoastal Waterway, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Canal du Midi, Greece, Honduras, and he lead the first American charter crew to sail the coast of Vietnam. He is the principal owner of Fine Edge Nautical Publishing and the co-Author of Cruising the Virgin Islands, the most popular cruising guide for the Virgin Islands. He is now the Editor and Publisher of the Waggoner Cruising Guide and is responsible for the annual research for all of the marinas and anchorages between Olympia and Ketchikan, Alaska. Mark’s articles and photography have appeared in magazines including Northwest Yachting, Dockside, Latitudes and Attitudes, Power Cruising, Soundings and Pacific Yachting. Mark holds a U.S. Coast Guard Masters rating and is a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA), the presenters of the Seattle Boat Show. Mark is the chairman of the Seattle Boat Show Committee for the NMTA and the founder of Seattle Boat Show University.
Lee Chesneau
Lee is a highly experienced professional meteorologist on land & at sea (with over 70,000 miles under his keel), a retired naval officer, author, & dynamic instructor and lecturer. He has an ongoing distinguished 40-year career, during which he received a number of awards and recognition. Lee’s career includes service with the U.S. Navy, the National Weather Service (NWS), & the private sector, specializing in maritime weather forecasting & ship routing. Lee is also the author of the book, “Heavy Weather Avoidance,” and has written numerous magazine articles. He is a speaker at a number of Safety at Sea Seminar Symposiums (SASS), marine trade, & boat shows. As a certified approved U.S. Coast Guard instructor for five maritime schools teaching Standards Training Certification, and Watch-Standing for Seafarers (STCW) for Basic and Advanced Meteorology. Each is a five-day course for professional mariners. Lee has a version of each course tailored to the commercial fishing and recreational communities in both one and two-day courses. Lee is dedicated to educating and training every seagoing mariner on self-reliance for their own marine weather & forecasting, strategic routing, emphasizing prudent independent decision making. He has his own company, Lee Chesneau’s Marine Weather www.marineweatherbylee.com and can be reached by e-mail at lee@chesneaumarineweather.com.
Liza Copeland
Liza is a lifelong sailboat cruiser and racer. After marrying husband Andy aboard the classic yacht Ticonderoga, they explored the world together, including a 6-year circumnavigation with their three children. Their Beneteau Bagheera has now taken them 116,000 nautical miles to 114 countries.
Jimmy Cornell
Jimmy is an accomplished sailor, author of the well-known books “World Cruising Routes,” “World Cruising Destinations,” “World Voyage Planner,” and “Cornell’s Ocean Atlas.” He is the founder of the ARC and noonsite.com. In the last four decades Jimmy has sailed 200,000 miles in all of the oceans of the world, including three circumnavigations and voyages to the Arctic and Antarctic. He has a wealth of practical advice to offer anyone planning a voyage. His knowledge is based not only on his personal sailing experiences, but also as the organizer of 24 transatlantic and five round the world rallies attended by some 12,000 sailors and 3,000 boats. Jimmy’s excellent photographs of many of the world’s most beautiful cruising areas will be used to illustrate his seminar. .
Captain Linda Lewis
Capt. Linda Lewis holds a USCG 100-Ton Masters license and provides customized, private instruction on-the-water, on-your-boat – for individuals and couples (www.privateboatinginstruction.com). Formerly a University of Washington Associate Professor of Nursing, she now focuses her teaching and speaking on recreational boating. Linda teaches a 12-week Navigation course twice a year to the public for the USCG Auxiliary; she has been bringing her practical cruising experience to this course for nine years. She also speaks at yacht clubs and boating seminars and was the editor of the 2007 Douglass cruising guide: Exploring Southeast Alaska. An avid boater for 40 years (sail & power), Linda cruises the Inside Passage every summer with her husband on their 45' trawler-style vessel. They trade the role of Captain yearly and share on a 50-50 basis all docking, navigation, and boat handling. Her Inside Passage cruising photo-blog can be found at www.FineEdge.com.
Nathan Martin
Nate Martin grew up in the Puget Sound area and has experience boating in many areas of the Pacific Northwest. The vision for fractional ownership first came to Nate while in college, simultaneously finishing business and aviation degrees, and teaching aviation for Louisiana Tech University.
Upon exiting active duty as a pilot for the U.S. Air Force, he earned a Masters Degrees in Aviation Operations and Management and Fractional Ownership was the thesis for his Master’s Research Paper. He used his experience to found Alliance Airgroup, Inc., an aircraft management company and went on to pilot Boeing 737's for Alaska Airlines. Since his retirement from flying for the airlines, Nate wrote the book “Flight to Financial Freedom”. More recently, Nate founded Gateway Yachts specializing in fractional ownership and charter of the advanced and efficient Aspen power catamarans and Jeanneau Sailboats from their primary base in Anacortes and new bases in San Diego, Kona and La Paz.
Kevin Monahan
Kevin has spent most of his career on the British Columbia coast, first as a fisherman, then as a Canadian Coast Guard patrol boat skipper, and later as the Pacific Region Manager of the Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety. Kevin, just recently retired from Transport Canada national HQ in Ottawa where he worked on marine regulation and safety issues. Kevin is the author of "The Radar Book"' "GPS-Instant Navigation" and "Local Knowledge-A Skipper's Reference". His books and presentations have helped boaters get the most out of their boats and their equipment so they can manage their boat confidently and enjoy the cruising experience.
Jeff Paxson
Jeff is the owner of Marine Detail Specialists, a full service marine detailing company in the Pacific Northwest. This company is run by the husband and wife team of Jeff and Anya Paxson. Jeff has been around boats his entire life. He began detailing at the age of 15 and has expanded his knowledge and expertise over the years. He is passionate about his work and the relationships with his clients. Jeff brings with him the expertise and knowledge to help Boat Show U. participants understand the secrets of making their own boat look great and retaining its value.
Brian Pemberton
For over 40 years, Brian has owned and/or operated both sailboats and powerboats. He has had extensive cruising experience in Puget Sound, Canadian and Alaskan waters, including three off-shore trips from Puget Sound to Southern California, through the Sea of Cortez, and from La Rochelle, France to Gibraltar. Brian has a US Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer license, a 50 gross ton license first issued in 1962, as well as a current 200 gross ton license.
A long time Grand Banks enthusiast, Brian’s current Grand Banks 49, “Deception”, has been in the NW Explorations charter fleet since 2001 and is used as the lead boat for his well-known “Mother Goose Flotillas” up the Inside Passage and throughout Southeast Alaska. Brian regularly works with Grand Banks owners on the economics of charter operations.
Mark Tilden
Mark's love affair with boats started in his youth. He grew up as the son of a Coast Guard officer, and built his first boat, an 8 foot plywood sailing pram, in the 8th grade wood shop. He began sailing competitively in the late 1970’s, and has competed in two Pacific Cup sailing races from San Francisco to Hawaii, as well as dozens of other coastal and offshore races. Mark holds a 100-ton USCG Master's license with a sailing endorsement. He and his wife currently own a 60' trawler and a 20' sailboat, based in Gig Harbor.
Mark has published several articles in “PassageMaker” magazine. He is also the creator and developer of the Selene Owner's web site (www.seleneowners.org) and is an investor and board member of an Internet software business he co-founded called FlightStats (www.flightstats.com). Mark does consulting for new boat build projects and some yacht deliveries on the west coast. Mark can be reached at mark@mdt-consulting.com