SERVICE AREA
Captain Services in Grosse Ile, Michigan
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training — based right here on Thorofare Road, at the south end of the Detroit River.
SERVICE AREA
Captain Services in Grosse Ile, Michigan
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training — based right here on Thorofare Road, at the south end of the Detroit River.
SERVICE AREA
Captain Services in Grosse Ile, Michigan
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training — based right here on Thorofare Road, at the south end of the Detroit River.
USCG Master 100 GRT
GREAT LAKES & INLAND WATERS
USCG Master 50 GRT
NEAR COASTAL
Commercial Towing Assistance
Endorsement
B.S. Mechanical Eng.
U of M Dearborn
Past Commodore
Ford Yacht Club · 2004–2006
USCG Master 100 GRT
GREAT LAKES & INLAND WATERS
USCG Master 50 GRT
NEAR COASTAL
Commercial Towing Assistance
Endorsement
B.S. Mechanical Eng.
U of M Dearborn
Past Commodore
Ford Yacht Club · 2004–2006
WHERE WE OPERATE
Home Waters
Offshore Captain Services is headquartered on Grosse Ile — the largest island in the Detroit River, sitting at the river's mouth where it opens into Lake Erie. If you keep your boat at any of the marinas on the island, on the Trenton Channel, or on the lower Detroit River, you're in my backyard. I run these waters constantly. That matters more than it sounds. A captain who's worked your specific channel knows where the current grabs you coming out of the slip, which markers the freighters cut close to, and which bridges run on which schedules. Local water knowledge isn't something you can substitute with general experience.
WHERE WE OPERATE
Home Waters
Offshore Captain Services is headquartered on Grosse Ile — the largest island in the Detroit River, sitting at the river's mouth where it opens into Lake Erie. If you keep your boat at any of the marinas on the island, on the Trenton Channel, or on the lower Detroit River, you're in my backyard. I run these waters constantly. That matters more than it sounds. A captain who's worked your specific channel knows where the current grabs you coming out of the slip, which markers the freighters cut close to, and which bridges run on which schedules. Local water knowledge isn't something you can substitute with general experience.
WHERE WE OPERATE
Home Waters
Offshore Captain Services is headquartered on Grosse Ile — the largest island in the Detroit River, sitting at the river's mouth where it opens into Lake Erie. If you keep your boat at any of the marinas on the island, on the Trenton Channel, or on the lower Detroit River, you're in my backyard. I run these waters constantly. That matters more than it sounds. A captain who's worked your specific channel knows where the current grabs you coming out of the slip, which markers the freighters cut close to, and which bridges run on which schedules. Local water knowledge isn't something you can substitute with general experience.
WHAT I DO
What I do for Grosse Ile boat owners.
My work with Grosse Ile owners falls into a few categories.
WHAT I DO
What I do for Grosse Ile boat owners.
My work with Grosse Ile owners falls into a few categories.
WHAT TO KNOW
What you should know about boating from Grosse Ile.
A few things I'd tell any new owner keeping a boat on the island:
01
The Trenton Channel runs fast.
It's the narrow western channel between Grosse Ile and the Michigan shore, and the current can be deceptive — especially when Detroit Edison's Trenton Channel power plant water flow shifts. New owners regularly underestimate how much the current is doing for them on the way out and against them on the way back. It's the single most common thing we work on in coaching sessions.
02
Lower Detroit River freighter traffic is constant.
03
Lake Erie weather changes fast.
04
The bridges have schedules.
WHAT TO KNOW
What you should know about boating from Grosse Ile.
A few things I'd tell any new owner keeping a boat on the island:
01
The Trenton Channel runs fast.
It's the narrow western channel between Grosse Ile and the Michigan shore, and the current can be deceptive — especially when Detroit Edison's Trenton Channel power plant water flow shifts. New owners regularly underestimate how much the current is doing for them on the way out and against them on the way back. It's the single most common thing we work on in coaching sessions.
02
Lower Detroit River freighter traffic is constant.
03
Lake Erie weather changes fast.
04
The bridges have schedules.
WHAT TO KNOW
What you should know about boating from Grosse Ile.
A few things I'd tell any new owner keeping a boat on the island:
01
The Trenton Channel runs fast.
It's the narrow western channel between Grosse Ile and the Michigan shore, and the current can be deceptive — especially when Detroit Edison's Trenton Channel power plant water flow shifts. New owners regularly underestimate how much the current is doing for them on the way out and against them on the way back. It's the single most common thing we work on in coaching sessions.
02
Lower Detroit River freighter traffic is constant.
03
Lake Erie weather changes fast.
04
The bridges have schedules.
Local marinas I work with.
I've delivered boats to and from most of the marinas on and around Grosse Ile, including:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat lives at any of these — or you're considering moving it to one — I can speak to the dockage, the approaches, and the local quirks from direct experience.
Local marinas I work with.
I've delivered boats to and from most of the marinas on and around Grosse Ile, including:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat lives at any of these — or you're considering moving it to one — I can speak to the dockage, the approaches, and the local quirks from direct experience.
Local marinas I work with.
I've delivered boats to and from most of the marinas on and around Grosse Ile, including:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat lives at any of these — or you're considering moving it to one — I can speak to the dockage, the approaches, and the local quirks from direct experience.
WHAT TO KNOW
Why Grosse Ile owners hire a professional captain.
A few reasons that come up most often:
01
The boat is bigger than the last one.
Stepping up from a 24-foot runabout to a 36-foot cruiser changes everything — momentum, blind spots, dock approach speed. Coaching is the fastest way to get comfortable without putting the gel coat at risk.
02
You bought the boat somewhere else.
03
You want your spouse or partner ready.
04
Insurance asked for a captain.
EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM
The First Mate Coaching Package
Deck leadership, dock lines, VHF radio, trip planning, and what to do in the terrifying event that your own captain has been injured or suffers a medical emergency. Your decisions and actions as the First Mate matter.
Let OCS bolster your knowledge and confidence. The only program of its kind on the Great Lakes.
WHAT TO KNOW
Why Grosse Ile owners hire a professional captain.
A few reasons that come up most often:
01
The boat is bigger than the last one.
Stepping up from a 24-foot runabout to a 36-foot cruiser changes everything — momentum, blind spots, dock approach speed. Coaching is the fastest way to get comfortable without putting the gel coat at risk.
02
You bought the boat somewhere else.
03
You want your spouse or partner ready.
04
Insurance asked for a captain.
EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM
The First Mate Coaching Package
Deck leadership, dock lines, VHF radio, trip planning, and what to do in the terrifying event that your own captain has been injured or suffers a medical emergency. Your decisions and actions as the First Mate matter.
Let OCS bolster your knowledge and confidence. The only program of its kind on the Great Lakes.
WHAT TO KNOW
Why Grosse Ile owners hire a professional captain.
A few reasons that come up most often:
01
The boat is bigger than the last one.
Stepping up from a 24-foot runabout to a 36-foot cruiser changes everything — momentum, blind spots, dock approach speed. Coaching is the fastest way to get comfortable without putting the gel coat at risk.
02
You bought the boat somewhere else.
03
You want your spouse or partner ready.
04
Insurance asked for a captain.
EXCLUSIVE PROGRAM
The First Mate Coaching Package
Deck leadership, dock lines, VHF radio, trip planning, and what to do in the terrifying event that your own captain has been injured or suffers a medical emergency. Your decisions and actions as the First Mate matter.
Let OCS bolster your knowledge and confidence. The only program of its kind on the Great Lakes.
ABOUT CAPTAIN TOM
Professionally licensed, with 36 years of context you can put to work.
I live on Grosse Ile. I've been on these waters since I was a kid, spent six years working in a marina here in SE Michigan, served three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, and was Commodore of FYC from 2004 to 2006. I'm currently President of the Ford Yacht Club Past Commodores. I hold a USCG Master 100 GRT license for the Great Lakes and Inland Waters, plus a 50 GRT Near Coastal Master, both with Commercial Towing endorsement. USCG Mariner Reference Number 2913289. If you're keeping a boat on Grosse Ile or anywhere on the lower Detroit River, we're neighbors. Let's talk.
Tom Ketelhut
Owner, Offshore Captain Services
ABOUT CAPTAIN TOM
Professionally licensed, with 36 years of context you can put to work.
I live on Grosse Ile. I've been on these waters since I was a kid, spent six years working in a marina here in SE Michigan, served three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, and was Commodore of FYC from 2004 to 2006. I'm currently President of the Ford Yacht Club Past Commodores. I hold a USCG Master 100 GRT license for the Great Lakes and Inland Waters, plus a 50 GRT Near Coastal Master, both with Commercial Towing endorsement. USCG Mariner Reference Number 2913289. If you're keeping a boat on Grosse Ile or anywhere on the lower Detroit River, we're neighbors. Let's talk.
Tom Ketelhut
Owner, Offshore Captain Services
ABOUT CAPTAIN TOM
Professionally licensed, with 36 years of context you can put to work.
I live on Grosse Ile. I've been on these waters since I was a kid, spent six years working in a marina here in SE Michigan, served three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, and was Commodore of FYC from 2004 to 2006. I'm currently President of the Ford Yacht Club Past Commodores. I hold a USCG Master 100 GRT license for the Great Lakes and Inland Waters, plus a 50 GRT Near Coastal Master, both with Commercial Towing endorsement. USCG Mariner Reference Number 2913289. If you're keeping a boat on Grosse Ile or anywhere on the lower Detroit River, we're neighbors. Let's talk.
Tom Ketelhut
Owner, Offshore Captain Services
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with Grosse Ile boats?
No. Grosse Ile is home base, but I work with owners across SE Michigan — Wyandotte, Trenton, Riverview, Gibraltar, Grosse Pointe, the Lake St. Clair shoreline, and up into the St. Clair River and Lake Huron. For deliveries, I'll go wherever your boat needs to go.
Will you come to my marina for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is done on your boat, in your home waters. If your slip is on Grosse Ile or anywhere within reasonable reach of the lower Detroit River, I come to you. For coaching outside SE Michigan, travel costs are factored into the engagement.
What size vessel do you handle?
My licensing covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons, which covers the vast majority of recreational boats on the Great Lakes. Most of my coaching work is on 30- to 65-foot cruisers and sportfish. For deliveries I'll handle anything from a 25-foot center console to the upper end of my license.
Are you available year-round?
On the water, no — the Great Lakes don't allow it. But the planning work for spring deliveries, coaching engagements, and seasonal moves happens in the off-season. If you're thinking about hiring a captain for next season, the right time to schedule the conversation is December through March.
How do I know my insurance will cover a captain you hire?
That's a paperwork conversation we have early. I provide my credentials and Mariner Reference Number to your carrier, and they issue a rider or written confirmation. I have a standard professional mariner credential submission form for this purpose.
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with Grosse Ile boats?
No. Grosse Ile is home base, but I work with owners across SE Michigan — Wyandotte, Trenton, Riverview, Gibraltar, Grosse Pointe, the Lake St. Clair shoreline, and up into the St. Clair River and Lake Huron. For deliveries, I'll go wherever your boat needs to go.
Will you come to my marina for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is done on your boat, in your home waters. If your slip is on Grosse Ile or anywhere within reasonable reach of the lower Detroit River, I come to you. For coaching outside SE Michigan, travel costs are factored into the engagement.
What size vessel do you handle?
My licensing covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons, which covers the vast majority of recreational boats on the Great Lakes. Most of my coaching work is on 30- to 65-foot cruisers and sportfish. For deliveries I'll handle anything from a 25-foot center console to the upper end of my license.
Are you available year-round?
On the water, no — the Great Lakes don't allow it. But the planning work for spring deliveries, coaching engagements, and seasonal moves happens in the off-season. If you're thinking about hiring a captain for next season, the right time to schedule the conversation is December through March.
How do I know my insurance will cover a captain you hire?
That's a paperwork conversation we have early. I provide my credentials and Mariner Reference Number to your carrier, and they issue a rider or written confirmation. I have a standard professional mariner credential submission form for this purpose.
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with Grosse Ile boats?
No. Grosse Ile is home base, but I work with owners across SE Michigan — Wyandotte, Trenton, Riverview, Gibraltar, Grosse Pointe, the Lake St. Clair shoreline, and up into the St. Clair River and Lake Huron. For deliveries, I'll go wherever your boat needs to go.
Will you come to my marina for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is done on your boat, in your home waters. If your slip is on Grosse Ile or anywhere within reasonable reach of the lower Detroit River, I come to you. For coaching outside SE Michigan, travel costs are factored into the engagement.
What size vessel do you handle?
My licensing covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons, which covers the vast majority of recreational boats on the Great Lakes. Most of my coaching work is on 30- to 65-foot cruisers and sportfish. For deliveries I'll handle anything from a 25-foot center console to the upper end of my license.
Are you available year-round?
On the water, no — the Great Lakes don't allow it. But the planning work for spring deliveries, coaching engagements, and seasonal moves happens in the off-season. If you're thinking about hiring a captain for next season, the right time to schedule the conversation is December through March.
How do I know my insurance will cover a captain you hire?
That's a paperwork conversation we have early. I provide my credentials and Mariner Reference Number to your carrier, and they issue a rider or written confirmation. I have a standard professional mariner credential submission form for this purpose.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Let's talk about your boat.
Every engagement starts with a conversation. Tell me about your vessel, your waters, and what you're working toward.
Or give me a call at (248)-497-5791. If I'm on the water, I'll call you back same day.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Let's talk about your boat.
Every engagement starts with a conversation. Tell me about your vessel, your waters, and what you're working toward.
Or give me a call at (248)-497-5791. If I'm on the water, I'll call you back same day.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Let's talk about your boat.
Every engagement starts with a conversation. Tell me about your vessel, your waters, and what you're working toward.
Or give me a call at (248)-497-5791. If I'm on the water, I'll call you back same day.
Explore
©️ 2026 Offshore Captain Services LLC · All rights reserved
USCG Mariner Reference #2913289
Explore
©️ 2026 Offshore Captain Services LLC · All rights reserved
USCG Mariner Reference #2913289
Explore
©️ 2026 Offshore Captain Services LLC · All rights reserved
USCG Mariner Reference #2913289