We are long time boaters having cut our teeth on sailboats at the marina for almost 10 years. John grew up on sailing at the San Diego Yacht Club. We switched to power boats when our kids did not have the time for boating and we needed to "just get there." We had small power boats on trailers for another 10 years before finding the Ranger 25. After the Laurie Ann, we would have a Ranger Tug 29, a Kadey Krogen 39 Pilothouse trawler and a Ranger Tug 27
Our homeport is Everett, Washington and we frequently launch at the cadillac of all boat ramps in Puget Sound, the 10th Street Boat Launch in Everett. Some of our most challenging water is not far from the ramp where the Snohomish River meets Puget Sound. Our next most popular ramp is in Bellingham, Washington because of its closeness to the San Juan Islands. We have trailered to Port Alberni on Vancouver Island and to Lund, British Columbia, at the end of Highway 101, that is next door to Desolation Sound.
But our longest trailer trip and longest boating trip in this boat was to do Part One of the Great Circle Loop, launching in Iowa and ending at Mobile Bay, Alabama.
We are semi-retired. Laurie's passion is education and teaching kids about science and history. A former National Park Ranger, she has a teaching credential and has taught for a large public utility district and a first-class children's museum. John worked for 30 years in policing. Twelve of those years was as a police chief and he enjoyed a great profession with amazing people and had the blessing of working for city, county and federal agencies in both urban and rural areas. Together, they worked for a company that created and administered promotional tests to police agencies for positions in management and supervision. He still dabbles in the field, teaching, doing seminars, publishing articles and helps with personnel issues and personnel related services. John used the boating experience from 7 recreational boats to earn his Captain license. He loves to help boaters gain more confidence and be more comfortable cruising.
We are do-it-yourself'ers who make, fabricate, create, design and cajole others to help us where our skills are lacking. The Laurie Ann is chock full of our modifications; the factory made a great platform to work with.
If we can help you, contact us. When you see us on the water, at the marina or at the ramp, give us a wave or stop on by. We love to chat about boating.
Check out our other websites: www.tribute-kadeykrogen39.com We are full-time cruisers on this boat. This website also has the adventures of our other boat, a Ranger Tug 27. www.andiamo-ranger29.com This is about our Great Loop adventure on America's inland waterways: 6,000 miles and 10 months of boating. www.jlgraycompany.com This is our business website about seminars we do, and products that we sell.