About Pitman Marine

Capt. Dan Pitman, USCG-licensed delivery skipper up to 50 tons

A USCG 50-ton Master with an auxiliary sail endorsement, and a retired Army Chief Warrant Officer who spent 25 years as a diesel and power generation mechanic, operations supervisor and communications officer. One captain, accountable for your boat from the first call to the handover.

History

Built on the Chesapeake since 2014

Dan learned to sail keelboats while stationed in New England, using the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island as his home port, and has spent more than 20 years sailing the U.S. East Coast from Florida to New England, both inside and outside the ICW. He has also skippered boats in the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Belize.

After retiring from the Army in 2014, Dan launched Pitman Marine, first as Pitman Marine and Lantern, offering nautical gear and off-grid lighting alongside yacht deliveries. Today the focus is entirely on delivery: moving newly bought sailboats and trawlers to their owners' home water, and running boats north in spring and south to Florida and the Bahamas in fall.

Home port is the Upper Chesapeake Bay, right in the middle of the East Coast, with most local work on the Eastern Shore. Dan has also written for Cruising Outpost magazine (now Latitudes & Attitudes) and for sailing forums and owner groups.

Sextant, dividers, parallel rule and watch laid on a paper nautical chart for passage planning
Credentials

Licensed, experienced and accountable

A delivery captain holds your boat, your insurance and your crew's safety in his hands. Here is what stands behind Pitman Marine.

Copies of my license are available on request, and I'll send my credentials to your insurer so approval is in place before we sign.

Request credentials

American Professional Captains Association (APCA) member, U.S. Coast Guard licensed captainAmerican Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) Member
Capt. Daniel PitmanPitman Marine
USCG license
Master, 50 gross tonsWith auxiliary sail endorsement
Military
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3), retired25 years, 1989–2014. Diesel and power generation mechanic, operations supervisor and communications officer. Honorably discharged.
Communications
Marine VHF, SSB and satellite communicationsHands-on with Iridium and Starlink aboard my own vessel. Also an FCC-licensed General Class amateur radio operator (KB3LVB); amateur radio is never used for business traffic, but the license reflects my radio training and FCC licensing.
Marine systems
ABYC memberTrained on American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) marine systems standards. Diesel, power generation, charging and lithium battery systems.
Sailing
Learned keelboat sailing in New EnglandHome port while stationed there: Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
Experience
20+ years on the U.S. East CoastFlorida to New England, inside and outside the ICW. Also the Bahamas, BVI, Grenada, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Belize.
Memberships
American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC)American Professional Captains Association · Seven Seas Cruising Association · America's Great Loop Cruisers' Association
Published
Cruising Outpost magazineNow Latitudes & Attitudes, plus sailing forums and owner groups
Background

From the engine room to the helm

  1. 1989

    Joins the U.S. Army

    Starts a 25-year career as a diesel and power generation mechanic, later serving as an operations supervisor and communications officer.

  2. 2014

    Retires as a CW3

    Leaves the Army in November as a Chief Warrant Officer 3, honorably discharged.

  3. 2014

    Launches Pitman Marine

    Starts delivering sailboats and trawlers along the Chesapeake and East Coast.

  4. Today

    Chesapeake to the Bahamas

    Post-purchase, seasonal and Bahamas deliveries from a home port on the Upper Chesapeake.

How I run a delivery

Three rules I don't bend

Weather decides the schedule

I leave when the window is right, not when the calendar says so. A lay day costs far less than a damaged boat.

You always know where she is

A position update every day underway, with conditions, fuel and any issues found, sent by cell near the coast and by satellite offshore. Plus a call before every offshore leg.

Your boat, treated as mine

Checklists before departure, engine checks every watch, and a clean boat and complete logbook at handover.

Next step

Let's talk about your passage

Tell me the boat, the route and when you need her there. I'll tell you plainly what it takes.

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