Captain Jack
I am a 3rd generation sailor and captain, as well as a Gainesville local of 10 years. Growing up in Sarasota, Florida, I spent most of my time on the water racing sailboats and running powerboats, large and small. I spent many years as a sailing instructor including a few summer seasons coaching competitive racing teams in the Boston area. Through my time in undergrad at UF I competed with the UF sailing team (yes, UF has a sailing team) and helped take us all the way to the national championships, twice.
During graduate school, and early in the Covid-19 pandemic, I purchased Bar Crawl, a 14ft fiberglass skiff, with the intention of getting out and really exploring the lakes and rivers around Gainesville. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have made at the time. In the ensuing years I have, with friends, made many memories and had incredible experiences on these cypress-lined waters. It is such a joy for me to bring new people to these places in an intimate and nature-oriented way – I look forward to every trip.
Cypress Trees
The name Cypress Waters came to me because it describes the unique aspect of these northern Florida inland waterways – they are surrounded by cypress trees. As a major defining feature, cypress trees are both beautiful and stoic as well as a crucial component of our ecosystem.
Cypresses live in wet, swampy areas, and their complex root systems, famous for their “knees,” offer an important habitat for many species while also helping to slow erosion and even improve water quality. These trees can live for hundreds of years and can grow to be 150ft tall and 6ft or more in diameter. Some old-growth cypresses in Florida are over 500 years old! Up until a tragic fire burned it down in 2012, the 12th oldest tree in the world was a bald cypress in Florida that was estimated to be 3500 years old.
Newnans Lake
One of the largest bodies of water in Alachua County, Newnans Lake is about 15 minutes outside of downtown Gainesville and is an incredible home to native wildlife and an important part of our local watershed. It’s known history, as part of indigenous cultures, dates to about 5000 years ago. It has been an important part of this region’s communities to present day. In March 2001, the area was added to the US National Register of Historic Places.
Originally known as Lake Pithlachocco, it is thought to have been a literal watering hole for multiple native peoples. After a drought period in early 2000, the low water level of the lake exposed remains of over 100 dugout canoes – one of the largest discoveries of these craft in the region. The canoes were built from the trunks of trees, mostly from yellow pine, but a few from cypress. After being cut down, fire was used to burn and carve out the trunks and even to help shape the exterior. A recreation of one of these dugout canoes and more history of the archeological site can be found on the Lake Pithlachocco Trail in the Newnans Lake State Forest on the northwest edge of the lake.
The Boat
Bar Crawl is 14 feet long, powered by a 25 horsepower Yamaha outboard motor. She seats three to four people comfortably, including myself. She is equipped with a jack-plate to help get into shallow water, a bimini-top for a little shade on those hot days, and of course, a Bluetooth speaker. A cooler with ice is available to anyone on board, and I keep a few cushions onboard for extra comfort in desired. Cruising speed is about 20-25 mph and with the relatively new and efficient motor, range is about 60 miles on a single tank of fuel.
This boat is not just a tool for taking people on the water, it is my personal vessel that I still enjoy all the time on my own. I maintain the boat, motor, trailer, and accessory items to the highest degree and take pride in offering a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience every time. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to send me a message!