CARIBEX MARINE INC.
ABOUT US
CAPTAIN ROBERT FIRTH
Captain Firth began sailing in competitive racing with the BBYRA (Barnegat Bay N.J.) During his years at the University of Pennsylvania he studied civil engineering and worked summers in heavy construction. During these years Captain Firth delivered yachts for a local vendor from Toms River NJ to NYC, Connecticut and South Carolina. He also regularly piloted a 42' Owens Flag Ship and at 18, sailed a 52' schooner solo from Toms River NJ to Florida.
In Vietnam Captain Firth worked for an agency of the US Gov as a pilot for 3 years during which he also sailed as navigator on ocean going tugs between Saigon and Danang as well as south to Singapore. In 1968 Captain Firth was the master on a 30m Junk sailing from Hong Kong. He obtained a Commonwealth Blue Water Masters License valid up to 1600T.
In the 70's Captain Firth sailed the 35m' schooner Double Eagle in charter from Port Everglades Florida making passages to the American Virgin islands and into the Florida Keys with up to 16 passengers and a crew of four. The Double Eagle is a wooden ship built from Abaco Pine in the 1940's. She is 140T, with a draft of 3m' and a beam of 8m'. The Eagle has only blocks- no mechanical winches for the sheets or halyards. She was navigated by the sun and stars, a sextant and the HO tables. Captain Firth did indeed learn his craft in the days of iron men and wooden ships. In these days of GPS and autopilots, Captain Firth's training remains truly unique- making him one of the very few professionals tutored in the old ways of the sea.
Throughout Captain's Firth's sailing days he maintained a position as an airline pilot flying thousands of hours into every country in the world in both the oldest and newest aircraft. He is familiar with the latest navigation and automated gear much of which is similar to that installed aboard many ships.
For many years Captain Firth lived aboard an aft-cabin motorsailer which he piloted on charter and single handed throughout the Caribbean and the Bahamas.
Captain Firth has many times rebuilt Diesel and gas engines and re-engined, re-plumbed and rewired the Double Eagle with a V-671 and two gensets. He has repaired fiberglass, steel and wooden boats, made sail repairs and developed valuable experience on many levels. During his sailing days he has had to deal with a ruptured hull stove in at night in the Gulfstream as well as weathering numerous squalls at sea as well as in port. Both as an aircraft pilot and seaman, Captain Firth is a conscientious professional who leaves nothing to chance.
On any voyage, long or short, Captain Firth works from professional sail plans and budgets covering every possible overhead and consideration. He keeps accurate logs and records. Captain Firth is financially independent with no debt. He enjoys excellent health, is married with no children and lives in Boca Raton Florida. He is occupied with Caribex Marine performing audits, surveys and inspections as well as vetting of crews for the insurance industry.
Captain Firth has expertise in inspections and surveying for yachts, ships and aircraft. He has written books on inspections and training and is available to captain or deliver yachts and ships to any location worldwide.
CARIBEX MARINE INC.
Robert J. Firth
rjfirth@caribexmarine.com
Office 561 852 3989 - cell ph 954 683 0824