U.S. Powerboat - about Captain Tripper, marine services.

About Us

U.S. Powerboat is America's leading professional alliance dedicated exclusively to provide a full range of marine information, education, empowerment and value added services.

The powerboat community is a highly diverse array of manufacturers, brokers, dealers, retailers, suppliers, and owners brought together in the single pursuit of providing enjoyment from sea to shining sea.

Captain Tripper and Joe Vincent

At U.S. Powerboat we add value to the proposition of enjoyment through our commitment to and focus on professionalism. U.S. Powerboat has invested a life at sea to understand the value of your investment in the pleasure of powerboating. U.S. Powerboat has further committed to offer competitive affordability in each of our services, but not at the expense of lower standards, safety or professionalism. Every service we offer, every product we sell, and every commitment we make is backed by our 110% quality guarantee.

When we provide training for our clients they can be assured of 110% satisfaction.... guaranteed.
When we deliver a yacht our client owners and their brokers receive a detailed and comprehensive transit report providing 110% satisfaction.... guaranteed.
When we insure a clients vessel we are there to serve foul weather as well as fair providing 110% satisfaction--guaranteed.
When our clients present their U.S. Powerboat certification card to rent a vessel, everyone is 110% satisfied. The U.S. Powerboat certification represents a skilled, knowledgeable, capable and empowered operator--guaranteed.

The key to the success of a safe and pleasurable passage is professionalism.

At U.S. Powerboat --
PROFESSIONALISM IS #1--110% guaranteed.

Every member of the U.S. Powerboat bridge and crew is a leading professional in their field--110% satisfaction guaranteed.

First let us review the background and genesis of powerboating to understand the growth, the defining issues and need for a professional marine service and alliance like U.S. Powerboat.

Power boating is uniquely an American creation. From the first screw-propelled vessel the "Little Julianna", which was launched in 1804, to the domination of our wild western rivers with steam-powered Paddlewheelers providing western expansion, powerboating reflected the American dream of independence and personal freedom. The first power boat to make an ocean voyage in 1809 was the U.S. built steamboat "Phoenix". The United States took control of the seas during the Industrial Age with her Great White Fleet of power-driven vessels, and still today maintains that control pre-eminence through our naval power. As of 1996, there were more than 16,000,000 privately owned boats registered in the U.S., establishing America as not only the leader of the free world, but the leader in enjoying our power boat weekends, holidays, vacations, and retirements as well.

OK, America rules when it comes to pleasure craft such as powerboats, but what is a powerboat and how does it differ from a yacht or a ship? Well, the old mariners adage defining the difference between boats and ships still holds true; a boat can sit on a ship, but a ship cannot sit on a boat!

Well, then what is the difference between a boat and a yacht?

A boat is any form of vessel designed to operate on a small body of water.
A yacht is any private vessel used for pleasure but designed for crossing large bodies of water.

Of course, there is Dennis Mahoney's highly regarded definition in explaining the difference between a boat and a yacht which is published in the November 1998 issue of Latitude 38 magazine:

"When your wife's divorce attorney finds out about it, it's a yacht."
"When the owner offers you a Bud, it's a boat."
When it's half full of fuel and you fill up for $30.00, it's a boat."
When it's half full of fuel and you fill up for $2,000.00, it's a yacht."
"When the owner says while leaving the dock, 'We're outta here,' it's a boat."
"When the guy driving says, 'Engine room stand by to answer all bells,' it's a yacht."

And finally there is the definition of a ship:

A ship is any commercial vessel capable of crossing a large body of water.

With the history, size and number of powerboats, yachts and ships expanding dramatically, where will the growing numbers of owners, operators and vessels receive the training, knowledge, empowerment, care, protection, and services to enjoy and continue to fuel the powerboating boom?
Powerboat, marine services
Captain Tripper and Joan Vincent

Enter U.S. Powerboat, Inc. It is precisely this need to teach, train, coach, educate, and provide a series of professional services ranging from yacht deliveries by U.S. Powerboat certified captains to comprehensive marine insurance to marine enterprise strategic planning which built the U.S. Powerboat alliance.

We welcome you to inspect our web harbor service slip by service slip to find out more about U.S. Powerboat.