Captain Kujo

[WildHawg]

I wrote this just in time to get locked out of the tread--I'm gonna post it here instead.

Captain Kujo,
My name's Charlie--and I an adrenalinaholic. I think I see the signs in you too. I will not tell war stories here, but I understand your confidence in your equipment, the superior quality of that equipment, and your years of experience tackling treacherous conditions.
I'd ride with ya anytime, and brave whatever you decided you could handle with a smile and a HOOOOOOOAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We know the risks, we take the chances right?
The only problem is the ocean doesn't give a rats arse, and you are likely riding with a far less experienced crew of adrenaline junkies than you and I.
Bar closing aside, ya really gotta make sure you know what kind of people you have riding with you when you run in marginal conditions. I know you try to screen, but when it's extra rough--personalities change.
As a licensed Master/Near Coastal Charter Captain, even an "unsinkable" one, the last thing you OR the other Charter Captains out there need is an accident.
My personal opinion would be that you have the experience and knowledge of your vessel enough to have made that run safely. Still, the Coast Guard errs on the side of caution, and they set limits that do not include exceptions unless you are an inspected passenger vessel.
I understand your frustration, and respect your skills, but why not just wait the extra few hours for the bar to open, then race out there in 45 minutes, pick up your fish, and race back in before any of the bigger boats anyway. I guess I just don't consider a few hours inconvenience to be worth getting quite so worked up about.
Slow down a bit my friend--you are stil the baddest and the fastest **** around--even if you're late.
Ya know, none of us would even bother posting if we didn't care about ya. Please remember that as you read these posts.

[CAPT KUJO]

Thanks for the post.
Let me tell you there's is not one day I have ever been on the ocean that I'm not scared! That's means I evaluate conditions very carefully! If you read any information on my adventure charter service you will find this disclaimer "USIA reserves the right to determine your fitness and stamina for ANY of our off shore operations" And I mean that part of the evaluation includes the customers of the day! If I don't think they can handle or are uncomfortable with an open bar, believe me they can ride with someone else. I DON'T DO THIS FOR MONEY! I love riding the high seas...period. So not just anybody is "accepted" on the BLACK ROCKET. I make that determination and I have the final word. But again, thank you for your post and support.

CAPT KUJO

[seastripes]

Wildhawg:Speaking from one of captain Kujo's passengers in his defense and mine, firstly, object to being categorized and pigeonholed into an extremeeoholic category. I did careful research before I pursued a ride on his craft. How I did this was experienced similar seas on a pleasure craft with 1/4 the capabilities of the rocket (and that's being nice) for an entire ifishing season and most of the time at my extreme hesitence. The more I learned about the sea the more hesitant I became about going out in them. Especially bar crossings. I couldn't do the math on why the window the crack of dawn bar crossing thing....

It came to a point in my past voyages where I'd insist on a guarantee of a combined sea of no more than 8 ft and those days are impossible to guarantee and the bar thing... Something I need to learn more about is bar crossings and still do is
Why risk one at the crack of dawn when safer passage is more assured and hour or two later??
Why do they do that... Oh wait, I digress, I'm still I'm rippin into you.

Anyways, Captn Kujo has a lot of testosteronies but he also has his altogethers. One way
to take a 3 ft day with no wind and turn it into a perfect storm is to ride with captain with a stress
disorder.... But if you see Sir Kujo with a lookin at ya with a wicked gleam in his eye
he's just askin' if yur ready to taker for a fast spin.... But he won't do it unless you
flash him back a quick okay with smile attached to it.
Really he makes me feel safe compared to where I've been. And, With the provided warm and
toasty suit, all's I needed was a helmit and a steel neck to be guarateed survival...

Yeah. My stripes aren't military, they are self assigned. They symbolize something to me
even though self earned. Oh yeah, I was going to let the militaries on the same trip off
the hook but 'they' were they ones they said 'they' had to share turns doing the 'technicolor yawn'. Lession learned, never drink the night before and NEVER EVER UNERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE
BLACK ROCKET. ( I think I made myself seagiant (1 more stripe) that day) But 1 more thing, I couldn't beat you trained men (retired or otherwise) at anthing at any given momemt 1/1000th of the time and anything less would be wishful thinking, so here's back at ya boys. You're doing a great job.

Not bad for a girl yes???

My piece said and thanks for caring.

Part I of my Intro Post.

[WildHawg]

I'll give you a pass--cause you obviously didn't read my post.
Rip into me all you want, but at leat do so intelligently. I believe Captain Kujo may be THE best equippped Captain on the water from a safety standpoint, and I alluded to that in my post.
I never suggested anyone was an adrenaline junky but CK and I. I don't think he would object.
As for testosterone...you wouldn't understand.
I am military--and one should never party before deployment into a hostile environment.
And as for guaranteed survival--all it takes is 2 teaspoons of water and you drown. If you are an inexperienced swimmer in the water for any time--this is a real threat.
I am very envious of KJ's job--I'd love to be in his shoes. I'm just sharing a few years experience with another Captain, so cool your jets sister...this is man talk :tongue: :grin:

[ 05-19-2003, 07:57 PM: Message edited by: WildHawg ]

[seastripes]

[img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] rggggk (2 tsps goin down). Boy do I feel stoopid!!!!! ...and one of these :tongue:

[ 05-19-2003, 08:19 PM: Message edited by: seastripes ]

[WildHawg]

No need seastripes. I'm a bit harsh at times. If you were my client, I couldn't be more proud of you!

[Pilar]

I'm sorry KJ, you deserve an explanation. I closed the other thread because of the whole questioning authority tone regarding the Coast Guard.

You have a story to tell and a problem to solve. Many heads are better than one. Put the dogs to work thinking and maybe even acting to make it possible for you to operate in rough conditions with the blessing of the CG. What I am saying to you is that you should try to explain ...

1) What happened.
2) Why your boat(s)are classified the way they are by the CG.
3) What you can do to get your craft reclassified or evaluated by the CG so you can run to your full capabilities.

Just think of the power of advertising what you build as having properties and capabilities that are recognized by the CG and allowed to operate in conditions that keep most other craft in port.

Just do it with some respect for the guys who SAR and who us ordinary boaters expect ... no we know they will answer any call and take any risk to save the imperiled at sea.

Are you in Kim?

[seastripes]

May I edit my earlier post and add the brave women also? I keep forgetting they play a powerful part in a lot of our front line military Operations these days. I guess I'm an old dog now. Sorry sisters.

[ 05-19-2003, 09:14 PM: Message edited by: seastripes ]

Build a bigger rocket. 35' long, 10' beam, deep "V", with a small turbine (or two if you want 3000hp :grin: ) and a variable pitch prop.

[OceanBlue]

Keta probably has the parts in his barn...

[seastripes]

hose down the barn real good and clear it of all hay debris and all barn particles not to exclude dried animal excrements, heck wet ones too, before firing that thing off.

[CAPT KUJO]

Originally posted by Pilar:
I'm sorry KJ, you deserve an explanation. I closed the other thread because of the whole questioning authority tone regarding the Coast Guard.

You have a story to tell and a problem to solve. Many heads are better than one. Put the dogs to work thinking and maybe even acting to make it possible for you to operate in rough conditions with the blessing of the CG. What I am saying to you is that you should try to explain ...

1) What happened.
2) Why your boat(s)are classified the way they are by the CG.
3) What you can do to get your craft reclassified or evaluated by the CG so you can run to your full capabilities.

Just think of the power of advertising what you build as having properties and capabilities that are recognized by the CG and allowed to operate in conditions that keep most other craft in port.

Just do it with some respect for the guys who SAR and who us ordinary boaters expect ... no we know they will answer any call and take any risk to save the imperiled at sea.

Are you in Kim?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Sorry for taking so long to response. I just don't want to inflamed this discussion. 1st I would like to apologize to all who thought I am slamming the Coast Guard. Please know I'm a proud member of the United States Coast Guard Aux. and a certified USCG NREMT-B with authorization to assist in emergencies upon the request of the Commanding Officers from Yaquina Bay, Cape Dissapointment and Gray's Harbor. Also know the BLACK ROCKET is an operational facility certified for use by any station commander of the USCG and I'm a certified USCG AUX coxswain. Also know that in 1988 while on a sail boat 20 mile off cape foul weather a fire broke out and I was hit by a boom, knocked off the deck and floated until picked up by my sailing bro in a life raft. I was rescue from the scene by a United States Coast Guard Aircrew from North Bend and flown to the hospital in Newport, where I was treated for my injuries and release ALIVE, to be able to tell this story today. So please don't get me wrong about not having respect for the USCG. I truely love the "operators" of that organization.

That morning I proceeded out across the Yaquina Bay Bar, I just took 2 huge breaker over the front tof the boat and had two feet of standing water flushing throught the deck of the boat. I was passed the most "dagerous part" when the Coast Guard Cutter singled me to turn back, I couldn't understand that when I saw what appeared to be a broken down ugly blue fishing vessel going by and a couple of commercial charter boats pass me as I was coming back. I had three "paying passengers on the boat who had traveled down from Tacoma and have been out with me and had all the confidence in myself and equipment. So that's sets up my morning flustrations. I admit I might have came off a little harsh on the CG community in general and I'm sorry to all the "DOGS" for the misunderstanding.

The only way for me to comply with the Coast Guard to be able to make the call on "my terms" in to have the BLACK ROCKET become an "inspected vessel". But that's only for operations that will carry mmore than 6 passengers for hire. I will not carry over 5 passengers, because of comfort of my customers. I think I mentioned before, I DON"T DO THIS FOR MONEY its strictly for fun, and I maintain a masters license and a uninspected passenger (six-pack) endorsement to satisy the "legal requirements". So in short I don't want to take my operation to the "next level". I'll just follow the recommendations ( as I did that morning) and bite my tounge.

I hope this helped explain why I "vented" a little on the board. I'm sorry agin for the misunderstanding. PLease let's not drag out this issue any further on the Board. All you dogs have made your point and I believe I have made mine. If you feel you need to response to this post, please do it to me privately at kim@usia.com.

Thank you again.

CAPT KUJO [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

[Pilar]

Thanks KJ.

Ok everybody lets leave this alone now, K?

[CAPT KUJO]

Originally posted by CAPT KUJO:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="verdana,arial,helv">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Originally posted by Pilar:
I'm sorry KJ, you deserve an explanation. I closed the other thread because of the whole questioning authority tone regarding the Coast Guard.

You have a story to tell and a problem to solve. Many heads are better than one. Put the dogs to work thinking and maybe even acting to make it possible for you to operate in rough conditions with the blessing of the CG. What I am saying to you is that you should try to explain ...

1) What happened.
2) Why your boat(s)are classified the way they are by the CG.
3) What you can do to get your craft reclassified or evaluated by the CG so you can run to your full capabilities.

Just think of the power of advertising what you build as having properties and capabilities that are recognized by the CG and allowed to operate in conditions that keep most other craft in port.

Just do it with some respect for the guys who SAR and who us ordinary boaters expect ... no we know they will answer any call and take any risk to save the imperiled at sea.

Are you in Kim?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">Sorry for taking so long to respond. I just don't want to inflame this discussion. 1st I would like to apologize to all who thought I am slamming the Coast Guard. Please know I'm a proud member of the United States Coast Guard Aux. and a certified USCG NREMT-B with authorization to assist in emergencies upon the request of the Commanding Officers from Yaquina Bay, Cape Dissapointment and Gray's Harbor. Also know the BLACK ROCKET is an operational facility certified for use by any station commander of the USCG and I'm a certified USCG AUX coxswain. Also know that in 1988 while on a sail boat 20 mile off cape foul weather a fire broke out and I was hit by a boom, knocked off the deck, the sailboat burned and sank and I floated until picked up by my sailing bro in a life raft. I was rescue from the scene by a United States Coast Guard Aircrew from North Bend and flown to the hospital in Newport, where I was treated for my injuries and release ALIVE, to be able to tell this story today. So please don't get me wrong about not having respect for the USCG. I truely love the "operators" of that organization.

That morning I proceeded out across the Yaquina Bay Bar, I just took 2 huge breaker over the front tof the boat and had two feet of standing water flushing throught the deck of the boat. I was passed the most "dagerous part" when the Coast Guard Cutter singled me to turn back, I couldn't understand that when I saw what appeared to be a broken down ugly blue fishing vessel going by and a couple of commercial charter boats pass me as I was coming back. I had three "paying passengers on the boat who had traveled down from Tacoma and have been out with me and had all the confidence in myself and equipment. So that's sets up my morning flustrations. I admit I might have came off a little harsh on the CG community in general and I'm sorry to all the "DOGS" for the misunderstanding.

The only way for me to comply with the Coast Guard to be able to make the call on "my terms" in to have the BLACK ROCKET become an "inspected vessel". But that's only for operations that will carry mmore than 6 passengers for hire. I will not carry over 5 passengers, because of comfort of my customers. I think I mentioned before, I DON"T DO THIS FOR MONEY its strictly for fun, and I maintain a masters license and a uninspected passenger (six-pack) endorsement to satisy the "legal requirements". So in short I don't want to take my operation to the "next level". I'll just follow the recommendations ( as I did that morning) and bite my tounge.

I hope this helped explain why I "vented" a little on the board. I'm sorry agin for the misunderstanding. PLease let's not drag out this issue any further on the Board. All you dogs have made your point and I believe I have made mine. If you feel you need to response to this post, please do it to me privately at kim@usia.com.

Thank you again.

CAPT KUJO [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">

[fish_on]

Sounds like fun, I'll ride with you anytime.

[WaterDog]

Kim - much better :smile: [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

You know who to call if you need a seat filled. I'm good to go anytime, anywhere.