SERVICE AREA
Captain Services on Lake Huron
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training for Lake Huron boat owners — Port Huron, the Thumb coast, and the routes north to Mackinac.
SERVICE AREA
Captain Services on Lake Huron
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training for Lake Huron boat owners — Port Huron, the Thumb coast, and the routes north to Mackinac.
SERVICE AREA
Captain Services on Lake Huron
USCG-licensed vessel deliveries, captain's coaching, and First Mate training for Lake Huron boat owners — Port Huron, the Thumb coast, and the routes north to Mackinac.
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
The southern end of Lake Huron is roughly 60 miles north of my office on Grosse Ile, up the St. Clair River. From Port Huron at the bottom of the lake, north along the Thumb coast through Lexington, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Caseville, and Port Austin, and up into the deeper water heading toward Mackinac — these are regular operating waters. If you keep your boat in Port Huron, on the Thumb coast, or at one of the upper Lake Huron destinations, I work this water. Deliveries between Lake Huron and the lower lakes — both directions — are some of the most common engagements I run. Lake Huron is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by surface area and a fundamentally different water from the southern lakes. It's deeper, colder, less weather-volatile in the short term, but more demanding when the weather does come. Owners moving up from Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie often need a season to recalibrate.
WHERE WE OPERATE
Home Waters
The southern end of Lake Huron is roughly 60 miles north of my office on Grosse Ile, up the St. Clair River. From Port Huron at the bottom of the lake, north along the Thumb coast through Lexington, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Caseville, and Port Austin, and up into the deeper water heading toward Mackinac — these are regular operating waters. If you keep your boat in Port Huron, on the Thumb coast, or at one of the upper Lake Huron destinations, I work this water. Deliveries between Lake Huron and the lower lakes — both directions — are some of the most common engagements I run. Lake Huron is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by surface area and a fundamentally different water from the southern lakes. It's deeper, colder, less weather-volatile in the short term, but more demanding when the weather does come. Owners moving up from Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie often need a season to recalibrate.
WHERE WE OPERATE
Home Waters
The southern end of Lake Huron is roughly 60 miles north of my office on Grosse Ile, up the St. Clair River. From Port Huron at the bottom of the lake, north along the Thumb coast through Lexington, Port Sanilac, Harbor Beach, Caseville, and Port Austin, and up into the deeper water heading toward Mackinac — these are regular operating waters. If you keep your boat in Port Huron, on the Thumb coast, or at one of the upper Lake Huron destinations, I work this water. Deliveries between Lake Huron and the lower lakes — both directions — are some of the most common engagements I run. Lake Huron is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by surface area and a fundamentally different water from the southern lakes. It's deeper, colder, less weather-volatile in the short term, but more demanding when the weather does come. Owners moving up from Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie often need a season to recalibrate.
WHAT I DO
What I do for Lake Huron boat owners.
The full menu of services applies on Lake Huron. The most common engagements:
WHAT I DO
What I do for Lake Huron boat owners.
The full menu of services applies on Lake Huron. The most common engagements:
WHAT TO KNOW
What you should know about boating on Lake Huron.
A few things I'd tell any new owner running this water.
01
The lake is colder than you expect, longer than you expect.
Lake Huron's average depth is 195 feet. Surface water temperatures stay cooler later into the summer than Erie or St. Clair, and the lake holds cold water deeper longer. That has practical implications: fog forms easier and lasts longer, hypothermia risk on a man-overboard situation is real even in July, and the seasonal swing for engine cooling and live-well operation is wider than in the southern lakes.
02
The weather is bigger when it comes.
03
Harbors of refuge are spaced further apart.
04
The Bluewater Bridge marks the start.
05
Port Huron is the entry point for most southern Michigan owners.
WHAT TO KNOW
What you should know about boating on Lake Huron.
A few things I'd tell any new owner running this water.
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 on Lake Huron.
A few things I'd tell any new owner running this water.
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 and ports I work with.
I've worked with owners based at most of the major Lake Huron ports, including:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat lives at any of these — or anywhere else along the Lake Huron shoreline — I can speak to the dockage, the approaches, and the local quirks from direct experience.
Local marinas and ports I work with.
I've worked with owners based at most of the major Lake Huron ports, including:
MARINAS (NOT LIMITED TO)
If your boat lives at any of these — or anywhere else along the Lake Huron shoreline — I can speak to the dockage, the approaches, and the local quirks from direct experience.
Local marinas and ports 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 anywhere else along the Lake Huron shoreline — I can speak to the dockage, the approaches, and the local quirks from direct experience.
WHAT TO KNOW
Why Lake Huron owners hire a professional captain.
The reasons that come up most often:
01
You're moving up from the southern lakes.
Owners who've run Lake St. Clair or the Detroit River for years often find that Lake Huron's openness, weather scale, and harbor spacing genuinely change how they have to think. Coaching on Lake Huron's terms — not just on your previous boat's terms — is the fastest way to get comfortable.
02
The run from SE Michigan is its own delivery.
03
You're planning the run to Mackinac, the North Channel, or Georgian Bay.
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 Lake Huron owners hire a professional captain.
The reasons that come up most often:
01
You're moving up from the southern lakes.
Owners who've run Lake St. Clair or the Detroit River for years often find that Lake Huron's openness, weather scale, and harbor spacing genuinely change how they have to think. Coaching on Lake Huron's terms — not just on your previous boat's terms — is the fastest way to get comfortable.
02
The run from SE Michigan is its own delivery.
03
You're planning the run to Mackinac, the North Channel, or Georgian Bay.
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 Lake Huron owners hire a professional captain.
The reasons that come up most often:
01
You're moving up from the southern lakes.
Owners who've run Lake St. Clair or the Detroit River for years often find that Lake Huron's openness, weather scale, and harbor spacing genuinely change how they have to think. Coaching on Lake Huron's terms — not just on your previous boat's terms — is the fastest way to get comfortable.
02
The run from SE Michigan is its own delivery.
03
You're planning the run to Mackinac, the North Channel, or Georgian Bay.
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 running between the southern Great Lakes and Lake Huron for decades. The St. Clair River climb to the Bluewater Bridge is in the regular rotation; the Thumb coast and the run to Mackinac are part of any cruising captain's working knowledge. Three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, Commodore from 2004 to 2006. 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 anywhere on Lake Huron — Port Huron, the Thumb coast, the upper lake — 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 running between the southern Great Lakes and Lake Huron for decades. The St. Clair River climb to the Bluewater Bridge is in the regular rotation; the Thumb coast and the run to Mackinac are part of any cruising captain's working knowledge. Three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, Commodore from 2004 to 2006. 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 anywhere on Lake Huron — Port Huron, the Thumb coast, the upper lake — 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 running between the southern Great Lakes and Lake Huron for decades. The St. Clair River climb to the Bluewater Bridge is in the regular rotation; the Thumb coast and the run to Mackinac are part of any cruising captain's working knowledge. Three years on the Ford Yacht Club Board of Directors, Commodore from 2004 to 2006. 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 anywhere on Lake Huron — Port Huron, the Thumb coast, the upper lake — let's talk.
Tom Ketelhut
Owner, Offshore Captain Services
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with southern Lake Huron boats?
No. While Port Huron and the Thumb coast are my most common Lake Huron operating areas, I work with owners based further north — Caseville, Port Austin, and into upper Lake Huron — and I run deliveries throughout the lake.
Will you come to my marina for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is conducted on your boat, in your home waters. For Lake Huron slips, I come to you with travel built into the engagement.
What size vessel do you handle?
My USCG license covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons. Most coaching and delivery work on Lake Huron is on 35- to 65-foot cruisers — the size range where Lake Huron's open-water character really starts to matter.
Can you help me run the St. Clair River between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair?
Yes — that's one of the most common deliveries I run. The river has its own currents, traffic patterns, and bridge timing. I run both directions regularly and can either deliver the boat directly or coach you through the route on your own vessel.
Can you help me plan a run to Mackinac or beyond?
Yes. Trip planning, route consultation, and either coaching or owner-assisted delivery for Mackinac, the North Channel, and Georgian Bay runs are all engagements I take on regularly. These are some of the most rewarding trips on the Great Lakes, and the right preparation makes the difference between a memorable trip and a stressful one.
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. I have a standard professional mariner credential submission form for this purpose. Most carriers process it in a day or two.
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with southern Lake Huron boats?
No. While Port Huron and the Thumb coast are my most common Lake Huron operating areas, I work with owners based further north — Caseville, Port Austin, and into upper Lake Huron — and I run deliveries throughout the lake.
Will you come to my marina for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is conducted on your boat, in your home waters. For Lake Huron slips, I come to you with travel built into the engagement.
What size vessel do you handle?
My USCG license covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons. Most coaching and delivery work on Lake Huron is on 35- to 65-foot cruisers — the size range where Lake Huron's open-water character really starts to matter.
Can you help me run the St. Clair River between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair?
Yes — that's one of the most common deliveries I run. The river has its own currents, traffic patterns, and bridge timing. I run both directions regularly and can either deliver the boat directly or coach you through the route on your own vessel.
Can you help me plan a run to Mackinac or beyond?
Yes. Trip planning, route consultation, and either coaching or owner-assisted delivery for Mackinac, the North Channel, and Georgian Bay runs are all engagements I take on regularly. These are some of the most rewarding trips on the Great Lakes, and the right preparation makes the difference between a memorable trip and a stressful one.
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. I have a standard professional mariner credential submission form for this purpose. Most carriers process it in a day or two.
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only work with southern Lake Huron boats?
No. While Port Huron and the Thumb coast are my most common Lake Huron operating areas, I work with owners based further north — Caseville, Port Austin, and into upper Lake Huron — and I run deliveries throughout the lake.
Will you come to my marina for coaching?
Yes. All coaching is conducted on your boat, in your home waters. For Lake Huron slips, I come to you with travel built into the engagement.
What size vessel do you handle?
My USCG license covers vessels up to 100 Gross Register Tons. Most coaching and delivery work on Lake Huron is on 35- to 65-foot cruisers — the size range where Lake Huron's open-water character really starts to matter.
Can you help me run the St. Clair River between Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair?
Yes — that's one of the most common deliveries I run. The river has its own currents, traffic patterns, and bridge timing. I run both directions regularly and can either deliver the boat directly or coach you through the route on your own vessel.
Can you help me plan a run to Mackinac or beyond?
Yes. Trip planning, route consultation, and either coaching or owner-assisted delivery for Mackinac, the North Channel, and Georgian Bay runs are all engagements I take on regularly. These are some of the most rewarding trips on the Great Lakes, and the right preparation makes the difference between a memorable trip and a stressful one.
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. I have a standard professional mariner credential submission form for this purpose. 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