SERVICE AREA
Captain Services in Grosse Pointe, Michigan
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training for Grosse Pointe boat owners on Lake St. Clair's western shore.
SERVICE AREA
Captain Services in Grosse Pointe, Michigan
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training for Grosse Pointe boat owners on Lake St. Clair's western shore.
SERVICE AREA
Captain Services in Grosse Pointe, Michigan
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training for Grosse Pointe boat owners on Lake St. Clair's western shore.
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
Grosse Pointe sits on Lake St. Clair's western shore, north of Detroit and south of St. Clair Shores. The five Grosse Pointe communities — Park, City, Farms, Shores, and Woods — collectively represent one of the most established boating cultures in the Midwest. The yacht clubs here are old, the boats are well-cared-for, and the community on the water is tight. If you keep your boat at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Crescent Sail Yacht Club, or one of the smaller facilities along the Lake Shore Drive corridor, you're in regular territory for me. Lake St. Clair is one of the waters I run most often, and the Grosse Pointe shore is part of that working area. The Grosse Pointe stretch of Lake St. Clair has its own character — affluent, established, traditional in the best sense. It's the part of the lake where boating culture is least transactional and most about long relationships with vessels, marinas, and other owners.
WHERE WE OPERATE
Home Waters
Grosse Pointe sits on Lake St. Clair's western shore, north of Detroit and south of St. Clair Shores. The five Grosse Pointe communities — Park, City, Farms, Shores, and Woods — collectively represent one of the most established boating cultures in the Midwest. The yacht clubs here are old, the boats are well-cared-for, and the community on the water is tight. If you keep your boat at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Crescent Sail Yacht Club, or one of the smaller facilities along the Lake Shore Drive corridor, you're in regular territory for me. Lake St. Clair is one of the waters I run most often, and the Grosse Pointe shore is part of that working area. The Grosse Pointe stretch of Lake St. Clair has its own character — affluent, established, traditional in the best sense. It's the part of the lake where boating culture is least transactional and most about long relationships with vessels, marinas, and other owners.
WHERE WE OPERATE
Home Waters
Grosse Pointe sits on Lake St. Clair's western shore, north of Detroit and south of St. Clair Shores. The five Grosse Pointe communities — Park, City, Farms, Shores, and Woods — collectively represent one of the most established boating cultures in the Midwest. The yacht clubs here are old, the boats are well-cared-for, and the community on the water is tight. If you keep your boat at Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Crescent Sail Yacht Club, or one of the smaller facilities along the Lake Shore Drive corridor, you're in regular territory for me. Lake St. Clair is one of the waters I run most often, and the Grosse Pointe shore is part of that working area. The Grosse Pointe stretch of Lake St. Clair has its own character — affluent, established, traditional in the best sense. It's the part of the lake where boating culture is least transactional and most about long relationships with vessels, marinas, and other owners.
WHAT I DO
What I do for Grosse Pointe boat owners.
The full menu of services applies. The most common engagements:
WHAT I DO
What I do for Grosse Pointe boat owners.
The full menu of services applies. The most common engagements:
WHAT TO KNOW
What you should know about boating from Grosse Pointe.
A few things specific to the Grosse Pointe shoreline.
01
Shoals extend further from shore than newcomers expect.
The Michigan side of Lake St. Clair has shallow water reaching well offshore, including along the Grosse Pointe shoreline. Stay at least a half mile off any shore unless you're in a marked channel. The harbors of refuge are well-marked, but the open lake has shoaling that can surprise owners who haven't run this water before.
02
The yacht clubs run their own protocols.
03
Lake St. Clair shows its real character offshore.
04
Crossing to the Canadian side is straightforward but real.
05
The shipping channel runs through the middle.
WHAT TO KNOW
What you should know about boating from Grosse Pointe.
A few things specific to the Grosse Pointe shoreline.
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 Pointe.
A few things specific to the Grosse Pointe shoreline.
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 yacht clubs and marinas.
I work with members and owners at:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat is housed at any of these clubs — or if you're considering joining one — I can speak to the dock layouts, approach quirks, and member expectations from direct experience.
Local yacht clubs and marinas.
I work with members and owners at:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat is housed at any of these clubs — or if you're considering joining one — I can speak to the dock layouts, approach quirks, and member expectations from direct experience.
Local yacht clubs and marinas.
I've delivered boats to and from most of the marinas on and around Grosse Ile, including:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat is housed at any of these clubs — or if you're considering joining one — I can speak to the dock layouts, approach quirks, and member expectations from direct experience.
WHAT TO KNOW
Why Grosse Pointe owners hire a professional captain.
A few reasons that come up most often:
01
The boat just got bigger.
Grosse Pointe is a community where owners regularly step up — from a 32-footer to a 42-footer to a 55-footer over a decade. Each step changes the dock math and the lake math. Coaching is the fastest way to get genuinely comfortable on the new vessel.
02
You want your spouse or partner ready.
03
You bought the boat somewhere else.
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 Pointe owners hire a professional captain.
A few reasons that come up most often:
01
The boat just got bigger.
Grosse Pointe is a community where owners regularly step up — from a 32-footer to a 42-footer to a 55-footer over a decade. Each step changes the dock math and the lake math. Coaching is the fastest way to get genuinely comfortable on the new vessel.
02
You want your spouse or partner ready.
03
You bought the boat somewhere else.
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 Pointe owners hire a professional captain.
A few reasons that come up most often:
01
The boat just got bigger.
Grosse Pointe is a community where owners regularly step up — from a 32-footer to a 42-footer to a 55-footer over a decade. Each step changes the dock math and the lake math. Coaching is the fastest way to get genuinely comfortable on the new vessel.
02
You want your spouse or partner ready.
03
You bought the boat somewhere else.
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've been on Lake St. Clair since I was a kid. Three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, Commodore from 2004 to 2006. Currently President of the Ford Yacht Club Past Commodores. My office is on Grosse Ile, but Lake St. Clair — including the Grosse Pointe shoreline — is regular working territory. 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 in Grosse Pointe, 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've been on Lake St. Clair since I was a kid. Three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, Commodore from 2004 to 2006. Currently President of the Ford Yacht Club Past Commodores. My office is on Grosse Ile, but Lake St. Clair — including the Grosse Pointe shoreline — is regular working territory. 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 in Grosse Pointe, 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've been on Lake St. Clair since I was a kid. Three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, Commodore from 2004 to 2006. Currently President of the Ford Yacht Club Past Commodores. My office is on Grosse Ile, but Lake St. Clair — including the Grosse Pointe shoreline — is regular working territory. 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 in Grosse Pointe, let's talk.
Tom Ketelhut
Owner, Offshore Captain Services
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with Grosse Pointe boats?
No. Grosse Pointe is regular territory but I work with owners across SE Michigan and the Great Lakes.
Will you come to my yacht club for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is conducted on your boat, in your home waters. For Grosse Pointe yacht clubs, I come to you and respect the club's visitor and dockmaster protocols.
What size vessel do you handle?
My USCG license covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons. Most coaching work in Grosse Pointe is on 35- to 65-foot cruisers and motor yachts.
Can you help with deliveries from Florida or other long-distance origins?
Yes — Grosse Pointe is a community where many vessels come from elsewhere. Long-distance delivery work, including the Florida-to-Great Lakes seasonal corridor, is a regular service.
How does insurance coverage work?
I provide my USCG credentials and Mariner Reference Number 2913289 to your carrier, and the carrier issues a rider or written confirmation. Most carriers process it in a day or two.
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with Grosse Pointe boats?
No. Grosse Pointe is regular territory but I work with owners across SE Michigan and the Great Lakes.
Will you come to my yacht club for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is conducted on your boat, in your home waters. For Grosse Pointe yacht clubs, I come to you and respect the club's visitor and dockmaster protocols.
What size vessel do you handle?
My USCG license covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons. Most coaching work in Grosse Pointe is on 35- to 65-foot cruisers and motor yachts.
Can you help with deliveries from Florida or other long-distance origins?
Yes — Grosse Pointe is a community where many vessels come from elsewhere. Long-distance delivery work, including the Florida-to-Great Lakes seasonal corridor, is a regular service.
How does insurance coverage work?
I provide my USCG credentials and Mariner Reference Number 2913289 to your carrier, and the carrier issues a rider or written confirmation. Most carriers process it in a day or two.
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with Grosse Pointe boats?
No. Grosse Pointe is regular territory but I work with owners across SE Michigan and the Great Lakes.
Will you come to my yacht club for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is conducted on your boat, in your home waters. For Grosse Pointe yacht clubs, I come to you and respect the club's visitor and dockmaster protocols.
What size vessel do you handle?
My USCG license covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons. Most coaching work in Grosse Pointe is on 35- to 65-foot cruisers and motor yachts.
Can you help with deliveries from Florida or other long-distance origins?
Yes — Grosse Pointe is a community where many vessels come from elsewhere. Long-distance delivery work, including the Florida-to-Great Lakes seasonal corridor, is a regular service.
How does insurance coverage work?
I provide my USCG credentials and Mariner Reference Number 2913289 to your carrier, and the carrier issues a rider or written confirmation. Most carriers process it in a day or two.
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