SpinSheet Century Club member Jim Townsend logged 100 days on the water last year by paddling and sailing. This year, he added significant days to his log by powerboating through PowerTime Annapolis. We caught up with Jim in late September to learn more about his journey:
You’ve logged 88 days so far. Do you think you will reach 100?
I am confident I will complete the Century Club challenge. October is a great month to be on the water.
Why did you choose PowerTime over boat ownership?
As a novice powerboater, I needed some experience to determine how much I enjoyed powerboating and what kind of boat would suit my needs. The slip fees, insurance, and depreciation for a boat would likely exceed my membership costs, not to mention the unknowns of maintenance costs for a used boat. PowerTime offered training to get us started and answers to all our questions.
I think I ended up boating more than many boat owners typically do in a season. I see so many boats that rarely venture from their docks. Some of this could be my enthusiasm as a novice, but I suspect some boats lay idle due to maintenance issues.
Tell us about the powerboat you use.
Our boat is a Beneteau Flyer 9 Sundeck, a nine-meter boat equipped with twin Mercury 250-hp outboards. It is primarily a day boat but also sleeps four if you want to cruise. The Flyer 9 has a comfortable head and shower which is important to many guests. The Flyer 9 is way more boat than I would buy as a first-time powerboater. It’s an ideal size for the Chesapeake Bay, large enough for guests to be comfortable, yet fast, nimble, and easy to dock. I enjoy features like the shade of the hard top, the bow thrusters, and advanced Navionics.
What do you like most about PowerTime?
PowerTime is a great group of people, from the owners Todd and Tammy Hess to fleet technician Silas Denton and the members. They make us feel welcome and supported. Compared to other boat clubs, I like using the same boat each time so that I can become more familiar with it over the season.
Can you name three of your favorite days on the water this season?
Two of my favorite days on the water were trips from Eastport to Rock Hall. The first was for lunch at Harbor Shack, where I tasted Chesapeake snakehead for the first time. Later in the season I ferried one of my buddies and his crew to pick up a sailboat at a marina in Rock Hall. Both times we had excellent weather, and the distance is enough to feel like you have been somewhere without wearing out your guests. The third memorable cruise was to Historic London Town and Gardens, a great destination overlooking the South River.
Did you encounter any scary, intimidating, or otherwise surprising days on the water?
Changing Bay weather can raise your pulse. I had days when the wind would pick up late in the afternoon, creating chop that guests didn’t enjoy and making docking challenging.
Did you have any memorable wildlife sightings?
This year I have seen ospreys, eagles, blue herons, green herons, egrets, ducks, geese, cormorants, gulls, terns, and songbirds while on the water. The kayak is better than the powerboat for wildlife viewing and gets me to small water such as Blackwalnut Creek. The most memorable sight was from the powerboat: dozens of cownose rays near the water’s surface.
For boaters considering joining the Century Club, what would your advice be?
I wholeheartedly recommend joining the Century Club. It’s great to have a challenge that might encourage you to get out on the water. It costs nothing to join this club, and you may get a chance to attend a party with fellow boaters to swap stories. We are fortunate to have so many experiences waiting for us in the Chesapeake Bay. Once I embark, I’m always glad I did.
Learn how you can join the Century Club at spinsheet.com/100-days. All boaters are welcome to our free, inclusive club.