Professional Captains Training You on YOUR Boat, at YOUR Dock, on YOUR Waterway

CAPT. RUSS COHEN

Capt Russ Cohen has always had a passion for the water and the boating lifestyle. As a child, he spent each season on a beautifully restored 42´ 1957 Maine built Lobster Boat named the “Elaine”. He learned by the age of 6 how important safety and boat handling are to having a "Fun" time on the water while cruising with his family up and down the Northeast Coast, the Jersey Shore, and the Chesapeake Bay. His father, Izzy, used phone books propped on the helm seat to teach Russ boat handling, explaining how important it is to use the wind and current to control the boat and always being aware of your surroundings. His father used to say, "Wind is so powerful and yet you can’t even see it".

In his teens, Russ learned to perform maintenance on the "Elaine" from painting and caulking to electrical and mechanical work on the Detroit Diesels. Russ began to master piloting, navigating, running inlets and close quarter handling. In fact, he helped dock dozens of boats coming into port with the various Yacht Clubs in which his father was a member. While attending the University of Miami, Russ worked part-time at Crandon Park Marina as a dockhand, first mate, and hoist operator, giving him a start in the marine industry. He worked on several boats in Miami and Marco Island, FL - from being a deckhand to piloting the boats. He chartered his father´s 1978 22´ Chris Craft CC Outboard occasionally for friends out of Marco Island, where his parents retired. In 1986, Russ became Capt Russ after obtaining his license at the USCG Baltimore Station. He currently holds a USCG 50 Ton Master’s Captain´s License upon Near Coastal Waters along with a Commercial Assistance Towing endorsement.

While attending Rutgers´s University, Capt Russ held various part-time positions as a USCG Captain with The Charter Club, Philadelphia Water Taxi and E&B Marine (West Marine). He continued in the marine industry in the 90´s working for Maurice Sporting Goods, Unified Marine, Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC), Lightning Jack´s Marina and C Service Marine Group, Inc. These multi-faceted positions allowed him to hone his skills and gain extensive knowledge in marketing & sales, product manufacturing, marina & dealer operations and understanding the boating business. Capt Russ realized one of the biggest issues facing the marine industry was lack of education, and the lack of the manufacturers and dealers working together to promote the boating lifestyle.

In January of 2001, Boatboy Marine Training (BMT) was born! Capt Russ knew there was a need to train the recreational boater. He states, "Boaters need to learn how to handle a vessel, on their boat, at their dock, and on their waterway. This is the best way a new boater can truly learn how to enjoy their boat". BMT caters to the typical recreational boat buyer who purchases a Bayliner, Sea Ray, Maxum or small fishing boat and simply wants a 4+ hour training session on their boat in order to gain important safety knowledge, close quarter handling ability, docking, and confidence on the water. Our goal is to offer the best, most comprehensive Hands-On Training to the recreational boater on their boat at their dock in their waterway.

Thanks, take care and as always, we´ll see Ya On The Water!

Capt Russ Cohen, Founder & President
BOATBOY MARINE TRAINING