Captain Eric T. Mein is a maritime professional with a passion for all things on the water. He is a certified US Powerboater & National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) Instructor.  He holds a USCG Masters Captains License.

Captain Eric's love for the water began at a young age, as he explored the remarkable waterways of the San Francisco Bay Area, Southern California, Lake Tahoe, and spent extensive time in Florida (from Miami to the Keys), as well as navigating the waters of the Princess Louisa in Canada's North West. Boating isn't merely a pastime for him; it's an inherited passion coursing through his veins. Growing up, his father's fervor for boating was contagious. They were fortunate to embark on numerous adventures aboard various vessels, ranging from a 13-ft Boston Whaler to a 60-ft Hatteras, throughout his youth. His very first boating experience involved an inflatable Avon, powered by a modest 2HP Evinrude outboard. While his father busied himself with their larger vessel, he navigated this small boat around the harbor, even starting a mini-business ferrying people across the Alameda Estuary in the San Francisco Bay in exchange for a box of Raisinets. By the age of 18, he had honed his skills enough to confidently handle vessels ranging from 10 to 60 feet. However, this journey wasn't always smooth sailing. Boating, he realized, came with its challenges and a sometimes steep learning curve. In 2008, these experiences led Eric to become a licensed United States Coast Guard Captain.

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In 2023, he took the exciting leap into full-time captaincy, ending nearly 30 years of splitting his time between weekend captain duties and his full-time professional career as a technology executive.

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Captain Eric is an avid outdoorsman who thrives in challenging environments. When he's not on the water, you can find him actively pursuing a variety of activities, including backcountry skiing, hunting & fishing, and ranching cattle in Bakersfield.  Captain Eric's passion for fishing is broad, ranging from fly fishing in streams to deep-sea salmon fishing. His enthusiasm for the outdoors is complemented by his background as a collegiate water polo player at USC and his extensive water polo coaching experience at the high school level.

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Captain Eric is now devoted full-time to sharing his love for boating and inspiring others to embrace its wonders as he does. His vision is to offer guidance, especially to women, in a calm and confidently manner teaching them to navigating their own vessels. Emotions and interpersonal dynamics are crucial on a boat, where maintaining a positive demeanor is paramount. Prioritizing safety while savoring the experience is essential.

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Letter of Recognition United States Air Force