A message from Capt. Rick Frye~
Yes, some things should go without saying.
I can't stress enough that THIS is NOT one of those things...
The premium we've all got to pay for our pleasure is RESPONSIBILITY. I know, I know: I sound like one of those PSAs. I can tell you that with over 40 years experience on the water, I'm qualified to offer testimonial.
I'd put money on it: You'd be hard pressed to find anyone interested in spending their time sharing the water with someone who doesn't know the difference between the wheel and a keel. Or someone with such limited education/experience/sense as to believe a wet/dry vac is a useful tool for clean-up of a diesel leak in the bilge. Don't scoff - there are honest mistakes.
In all seriousness - boating safety ought to be more than your $50 at the door, 2-hour course, open-book test certification. It's more than just telling your 13-year-old to put on her life vest, or sticking to the shore at night as a navigation technique. Quite simply, and though it plays a great part in it, it's more than common sense.
I've heard tell lately of some "approved" Boating Safety Course providers cutting corners on the letter of the new law. Please know that paragraph 2 of the applicable statute, NJSA 12:7-60 states the following with regard to the Boating Safety Certification Course:
Approved boat safety courses.
...the regulations shall require at least eight hours of instruction, with a minimum of six hours of classroom instruction, or, if the boat safety course is offered via the Internet, require at least the equivalent of eight hours of instruction; whether offered in a classroom or via the Internet, the boat safety course shall conclude with a closed-book written examination administered by an instructor in person and present with the person taking the written examination.
For the mutual benefit of everyone on the water, I would like to urge everyone to - at an absolute minimum - meet this requirement with their training, be it through Capt. Ricks Marine Services, LLC or another "approved" and established provider of the Boating Safety Certification Course. Please encourage everyone you know to do the same.
It is our policy, it is our commitment - and our pleasure - to educate NJ boaters.
 
Here is where you'll find all of our "retired" content. I'm not one for clutter, so think of this page as a shoe box in the rafters of our basement: still useful stuff, just a little dusty from sitting out. Visit this every so-often to remind you of what turned you on to it the first time.
Caterina D.
Although it makes me feel good to help the Bureau of Fisheries replenish the reefs off the Jersey shore, I always have mixed emotions. I’ve spent too many years trying to keep boats afloat and it goes against my instincts to just stand by and watch one sink. I always want to grab a pump and try to save her. This one was no exception. She came down from Gloucester Mass. in early April, spent a few days in Belford being prepped and inspected, then, early on the 29th, we sunk her on the reef. She seemed to not want to go. Catarina D sat high in the water until we opened the sea cocks. Even then, there was no appreciable change in her draft for about 30 minutes. She settled slowly but in perfect trim till the decks were awash an hour and a half later. Then she was gone.
The big wheel of life keeps turning though. Caterina D., whose entire purpose, from the day her keel was laid, was to serve fisherman, will continue to serve. She will now provide habitat for Black Bass and other species of fish off the New Jersey coast. I guess, in the long run, her life mirrors that of most fishermen. She worked hard all her life in the commercial fishing industry. Now that she’s retired, she’ll play a part in the recreational fishing program. Enjoy your retirement Caterina...
and thanks.
In Memoriam
Capt. Rick, with sincere sympathy shared by his staff, would like to express deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Merrell Rubert and Mark Drayton of the 40' Scalloper Mary James of Point Pleasant, NJ for the tragic deaths suffered as a result of her apparent sinking late Sunday, May 20. This photo of her empty slip next to her sister ship the Nautilus was taken by Capt. Rick.
"I met Jim (Elliot, owner of the Mary James) a few weeks back; he struck me as a concerned and conscientious owner and all around good guy.
"I did not know the two men well at all, but I did have the pleasure of having met them a few weeks ago, too. Nice guys. This is a terrible loss to the fishing community.
"I gotta tell you, it was a pretty emotional thing, seeing that empty slip."
POLICY CHANGE: DEPOSIT REQUIRED
Hello, all~
I wanted to take up some space here to touch on a new policy change that’s gone into effect. We’ve been getting increasingly more no-shows for courses that were reserved. Many people don’t know that Capt. Rick will bend over backward to accomodate requests for private courses; this becomes a problem when someone reserves a private course on a handshake and then fails to show up. This is course time that could have been promised to someone else. And then we’re left with Capt. Rick, alone, with neither a deposit nor a pupil. Sure, he enjoys the time spent on his boat (often where he teaches his courses) waiting for his student to arrive just the same. Still, that time could have been spent more productively and, frankly, he kinda resembles one of those old Labrador Retrievers that lays on the rug by the front door, waiting for his master to come home and scratch him; that’s just sad.
So, from now on, we require a 50% deposit upon registering for a course. We know that this policy poses a risk; we do hope it will not discourage new students from reserving course space. However, we feel it is counter-productive to continue reserving full course spaces for which, it turns out, we have no students to teach and that is what we’re here to do.
Thank you for your understanding. Safe Boating!
~Melissa
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Where in the world...?
Okay, obviously it's a light house, but where? It’s in the Caribbean. Not Nassau... Not Puerto Rico... Not Saint anything...
ANSWER:
Thanks to all for your guesses! This little gem - actually part of the Westin Hotel's Lighthouse Pointe - is located in Port Lucaya, Grand Bahama Island. And what a sight it is...
Previous Polls:
Do you remember...
- Ulrichsen Sea Skiffs?
- Kofoed Sea Skiffs? [and the name of Harold own boat?]
- Steam Boat Docks in Keyport, NJ?
NEWS
Assembly Committee OKs Artificial Reef Access Bill [read the 5/23/07 full John Geiser story at the Asbury Park Press online edition]
The bill that would return access to the state's artificial reefs to recreational fishermen and divers advanced Monday...
PROCEDURE UPDATE!
In as early as January of 2008, those successfully completing the NJ Safe Boating Course will have s shorter wait time for the return of their permanent Certificate. Instead of months, as is currently the case, Certificates will be mailed within weeks!
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Here're some of the photos which have appeared on this site, along with some that didn't actually make first-string.
   
   
All photos are property of Capt. Rick, Capt. Ricks Marine Services, LLC, CaptainRicksMarine.com or some combination thereof. If there's a photo of which you'd like a copy, contact us. Additionally, if I've neglected to post a photo on this ARCHIVES page that you've seen on the site in the past, contact the webmaster with a description of the photo; I'm sure I've just left it in my other pants.
Look for updated photos on our Gallery page each month!
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Quotes of the month:
April (and May; tough to keep up)
Never navigate where the gulls walk!
~Rick Frye
June
You're gonna need a bigger boat.
~Chief Brody (Roy Scheider) in the classic Peter Benchley movie "Jaws", though oft' repeated by boat owners with five foot-itis
August (...through October. Okay, so we were a bit behind on the quotes...)
My boat is over 30 feet long. It’s not considered 'small craft'.
~Famous last wordsGuess what? Anything less than 160 feet is defined as small craft by both the US Coast Guard and Navy. When the warnings are up, stay at the dock. Avoid a tragedy like that of July 4, 2007 off Good Luck Point. Even the Bay can get ugly in a twenty-five knot south wind.
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Member Marine Trades Association of New Jersey