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

— WHAT'S INCLUDED

What We Can Help With

Consulting engagements are open-ended by design. There's no fixed curriculum and no predetermined outcome. You bring the question, Captain Tom brings the experience.

01

Boat purchases

Pre-purchase evaluation, what to look for at survey, understanding what a vessel's condition and history actually mean, and whether a deal is worth making.

02

Travel planning

03

Seamanship questions

04

Vessel systems and maintenance

05

General guidance

GET IN TOUCH

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.

INQUIRE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM →

— WHAT'S INCLUDED

What We Can Help With

Consulting engagements are open-ended by design. There's no fixed curriculum and no predetermined outcome. You bring the question, Captain Tom brings the experience.

01

Boat purchases

Pre-purchase evaluation, what to look for at survey, understanding what a vessel's condition and history actually mean, and whether a deal is worth making.

02

Travel planning

03

Seamanship questions

04

Vessel systems and maintenance

05

General guidance

GET IN TOUCH

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.

INQUIRE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM →

— WHAT'S INCLUDED

What We Can Help With

Consulting engagements are open-ended by design. There's no fixed curriculum and no predetermined outcome. You bring the question, Captain Tom brings the experience.

01

Boat purchases

Pre-purchase evaluation, what to look for at survey, understanding what a vessel's condition and history actually mean, and whether a deal is worth making.

02

Travel planning

03

Seamanship questions

04

Vessel systems and maintenance

05

General guidance

GET IN TOUCH

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.

INQUIRE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM →

HOW IT WORKS

How It Works

Our delivery process is simple and transparent:

Reach Out

Tell us what you're working through and we'll determine whether a consulting engagement is the right fit.

Connect

Captain Tom sits down with you, in person or remotely, to understand your situation in full before offering any direction.

Get Answers

You leave the conversation with clear, honest guidance grounded in decades of hands-on marine industry experience.

GET IN TOUCH

HOW IT WORKS

How It Works

Our delivery process is simple and transparent:

Reach Out

Tell us what you're working through and we'll determine whether a consulting engagement is the right fit.

Connect

Captain Tom sits down with you, in person or remotely, to understand your situation in full before offering any direction.

Get Answers

You leave the conversation with clear, honest guidance grounded in decades of hands-on marine industry experience.

GET IN TOUCH

ABOUT CAPTAIN TOM

Professionally licensed, with 36 years of context you can put to work.

Some questions don't fit into a coaching program or a delivery contract. Should I buy this boat or wait for the next one? Is this survey finding a dealbreaker or a negotiating point? Can I actually make that trip in a single season? Those are the conversations I enjoy most — because they're the ones where experience actually matters. I grew up on the water. Six years working in a marina before I had a real job title. 36 years in the automotive and marine supply industry. Thinking like a mechanical engineer about why boats behave the way they do. I've run every mile of water from Lake Erie to Lake Huron, and I've been involved in more boat deals, repowers, surveys, and travel plans than I could list. Bring me your question. I'll give you a straight answer.

Tom Ketelhut

Owner, Offshore Captain Services

ABOUT CAPTAIN TOM

Professionally licensed, with 36 years of context you can put to work.

Some questions don't fit into a coaching program or a delivery contract. Should I buy this boat or wait for the next one? Is this survey finding a dealbreaker or a negotiating point? Can I actually make that trip in a single season? Those are the conversations I enjoy most — because they're the ones where experience actually matters. I grew up on the water. Six years working in a marina before I had a real job title. 36 years in the automotive and marine supply industry. Thinking like a mechanical engineer about why boats behave the way they do. I've run every mile of water from Lake Erie to Lake Huron, and I've been involved in more boat deals, repowers, surveys, and travel plans than I could list. Bring me your question. I'll give you a straight answer.

Tom Ketelhut

Owner, Offshore Captain Services

ABOUT CAPTAIN TOM

Professionally licensed, with 36 years of context you can put to work.

Some questions don't fit into a coaching program or a delivery contract. Should I buy this boat or wait for the next one? Is this survey finding a dealbreaker or a negotiating point? Can I actually make that trip in a single season? Those are the conversations I enjoy most — because they're the ones where experience actually matters. I grew up on the water. Six years working in a marina before I had a real job title. 36 years in the automotive and marine supply industry. Thinking like a mechanical engineer about why boats behave the way they do. I've run every mile of water from Lake Erie to Lake Huron, and I've been involved in more boat deals, repowers, surveys, and travel plans than I could list. Bring me your question. I'll give you a straight answer.

Tom Ketelhut

Owner, Offshore Captain Services

LEARN MORE

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of questions do people actually bring to you?

Boat purchase decisions, more than anything else. Whether a specific listing is worth pursuing. What to look for at survey. What a given repair will actually cost. Whether a planned trip is realistic for the boat they own. Sometimes it's a question about how to handle a specific marina or a specific stretch of water. There's no fixed curriculum — if it's a boating question and you need a straight answer, it's probably a fit.

Do I need to own a boat to consult with you?

Not at all. A meaningful portion of consulting engagements are pre-purchase — owners trying to decide whether to buy, which boat to buy, or whether a specific deal makes sense. Getting advice before you sign is almost always cheaper than getting it after.

Is this a one-time call or an ongoing relationship?

Both formats work. Some owners book a single focused session to work through a specific decision. Others keep Captain Tom on retainer for a season to have someone to call when questions come up. We'll figure out what fits on our first conversation.

Can consulting happen remotely or does it need to be in person?

Both. Phone, video, or in person — whatever the situation calls for. Pre-purchase surveys and vessel walkthroughs happen in person. Trip planning and general advice often happens by phone. We'll match the format to the question.

How is this different from talking to a broker?

A broker is paid by the sale. Captain Tom is paid for his time and his judgment — not for getting you into a specific boat. That independence is the whole point.

What does a typical consulting engagement cost?

Pricing is always discussed upon request and tailored to the scope of what you need. A focused one-hour phone consult is priced very differently from a full-day pre-purchase walkthrough and sea trial. Reach out and we'll talk through what makes sense.

LEARN MORE

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of questions do people actually bring to you?

Boat purchase decisions, more than anything else. Whether a specific listing is worth pursuing. What to look for at survey. What a given repair will actually cost. Whether a planned trip is realistic for the boat they own. Sometimes it's a question about how to handle a specific marina or a specific stretch of water. There's no fixed curriculum — if it's a boating question and you need a straight answer, it's probably a fit.

Do I need to own a boat to consult with you?

Not at all. A meaningful portion of consulting engagements are pre-purchase — owners trying to decide whether to buy, which boat to buy, or whether a specific deal makes sense. Getting advice before you sign is almost always cheaper than getting it after.

Is this a one-time call or an ongoing relationship?

Both formats work. Some owners book a single focused session to work through a specific decision. Others keep Captain Tom on retainer for a season to have someone to call when questions come up. We'll figure out what fits on our first conversation.

Can consulting happen remotely or does it need to be in person?

Both. Phone, video, or in person — whatever the situation calls for. Pre-purchase surveys and vessel walkthroughs happen in person. Trip planning and general advice often happens by phone. We'll match the format to the question.

How is this different from talking to a broker?

A broker is paid by the sale. Captain Tom is paid for his time and his judgment — not for getting you into a specific boat. That independence is the whole point.

What does a typical consulting engagement cost?

Pricing is always discussed upon request and tailored to the scope of what you need. A focused one-hour phone consult is priced very differently from a full-day pre-purchase walkthrough and sea trial. Reach out and we'll talk through what makes sense.

LEARN MORE

Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of questions do people actually bring to you?

Boat purchase decisions, more than anything else. Whether a specific listing is worth pursuing. What to look for at survey. What a given repair will actually cost. Whether a planned trip is realistic for the boat they own. Sometimes it's a question about how to handle a specific marina or a specific stretch of water. There's no fixed curriculum — if it's a boating question and you need a straight answer, it's probably a fit.

Do I need to own a boat to consult with you?

Not at all. A meaningful portion of consulting engagements are pre-purchase — owners trying to decide whether to buy, which boat to buy, or whether a specific deal makes sense. Getting advice before you sign is almost always cheaper than getting it after.

Is this a one-time call or an ongoing relationship?

Both formats work. Some owners book a single focused session to work through a specific decision. Others keep Captain Tom on retainer for a season to have someone to call when questions come up. We'll figure out what fits on our first conversation.

Can consulting happen remotely or does it need to be in person?

Both. Phone, video, or in person — whatever the situation calls for. Pre-purchase surveys and vessel walkthroughs happen in person. Trip planning and general advice often happens by phone. We'll match the format to the question.

How is this different from talking to a broker?

A broker is paid by the sale. Captain Tom is paid for his time and his judgment — not for getting you into a specific boat. That independence is the whole point.

What does a typical consulting engagement cost?

Pricing is always discussed upon request and tailored to the scope of what you need. A focused one-hour phone consult is priced very differently from a full-day pre-purchase walkthrough and sea trial. Reach out and we'll talk through what makes sense.

READY TO GET STARTED?