Captain Mark graduated with a Professional  Mariners Training Degree at one of the most recognized schools of seamanship in the United States.  The Chapman School of Seamanship in Stewart, Fl., and then went on to obtain a 100 Ton U.S. Coast Guard Master License.  Also, licensed for On Water Commercial Towing and holds a Marine Radio Operators Permit registered with the FCC. 

Mark has been on the water all of his life and has enjoyed every hour of time spent on the water. (Now you know where the name Hour Time comes from).  Mark & Rita filled their calendar with yacht deliveries from the East Coast to the Great Lakes in between charter fishing and professional tournament fishing on Lake Michigan. 

Several years ago, Mark & Rita took a fishing sabbatical when they picked up their new 56’ Viking at New Gretna, NJ (near Atlantic City, where Viking Yachts are manufactured).  The boat headed South instead of north on its maiden voyage and ending up in the Yucatan Peninsula, just north of Cancun, Mexico.  Five weeks of fishing they tallied and released  78 sailfish, 8 White Marlin and one Blue Marlin (Rita caught the Blue Marlin). We also had many catches of tuna and Mahi Mahi which made wonderful table fare.  We then took a new way home to Sturgeon Bay, WI; going to Mobile, Alabama and entered the Tom Bigby Waterway north to the Ohio River and continuing on to the Mississippi and then to the Illinois River.  After going through downtown Chicago, we entered Lake Michigan and headed north to Sturgeon Bay.  It was a trip of a lifetime for Mark & Rita.  Even though that was a great trip, we still enjoy fishing Salmon and Trout on Lake Michigan.

Rita also has a boating degree from the Chapman School of Seamanship.  She has been boating over 20 years and has boated and fished in 5 different countries.  Rita bites into tournament fishing like a pit bull that won’t let go.  She is the main rod angler when we tournament fish and does a great job at getting the fish to the back of the boat.  It always seems that she will come up with a big ladies Pro division win, almost every year.  Rita runs the back deck when charter fishing and has some of the best tackle on Lake Michigan to use (Mark prefers not to get in her way, so he usually stays on the bridge).  Rita is a very sociable person that will help you in every way to land your fish and answer any questions that you will have.  You may want to check out Rita’s Recipes here on our website, she is also one of the best chefs on Lake Michigan!

Hour TIme is a Drug Free Vessel – Captain and crew are enlisted in a Without Notice Drug Testing Program.  These tests are also done annually to insure a drug free vessel.