It’s the journey, not the destination
Steve Reinecke
Current Boat: M/V Dilly Dally (Great Harbour 47’)
Home Port: Sarnia, Ont.
Joined GLCC: 2009
Current: Port Captain: Bad River, Ont. (GB-46)
Previous: Director and Rear Commodore
Director/Port Captain Dee McClure: Each month Lifeline interviews a GLCC member to gain insight into their favorite cruising grounds and perspectives. We caught up with Steve Reinecke, liveaboard, active cruiser and Port Captain of Bad River, Ont. (GB-46). Steve, his wife, Brenda, and their two children, Trevor (now in the Canadian Navy) and Emily have cruised Georgian Bay extensively. Steve shares with us some insights into boat requirements for liveaboards, some unique “must haves” and a side gig connecting boaters in an anchorage.
Lifeline: When did you get into boating?
I grew up fishing and boating on a small lake campground near Wiarton, Ont., on the southwest side of Georgian Bay. I was fortunate to be introduced to boating in my childhood.
Lifeline: What types of boats (manufacturers and length) have you owned?
Brenda and I started boat camping on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay on a 18’ Bayliner. After our family grew with a second child, our boat needed to grow as well. Our first “big boat” was a 34’ Bayliner and then a twin- engine Mainship 43 Pilot which we brought up from Florida. When we decided to go all in and move on a boat full-time, we looked for a boat that had all the trappings of a house. This led us to M/V Dilly Dally, a Great Harbour GH47 trawler that we purchased in 2020.
This boat has everything. Three staterooms and three heads, washer/dryer, dishwasher, trash compactor, 1400 watts of solar, fuel polishing system, a Seakeeper and tons of storage. She’s 37 tons, 53’ LOA with 1,000 gallon fuel tank, 1,250 gallons of water, 250 gallons holding tank and twin 75hp Yanmar engines. She is built for long distance with cruising speed of 6.5 knots while just “sipping” fuel.
A great backstory on M/V Dilly Dally: Before we purchased her, the boat was used on the Discovery TV show Dark Waters that told the story of a double murder aboard Premium Time. After we purchased the boat, we found a script left behind. How fun is that!
Lifeline: How is day to day life being a “liveaboard” – especially in the Canadian winter?
We use a different terminology. We view ourselves as “Cruisers who live aboard a boat in the winter.” You’ve probably seen liveaboards; the boats don’t ever leave the marina. That’s not us. We are actively cruising in Georgian Bay and the North Channel in the summer. We are one of only a few liveaboards at our home berthing port – Bridgeview Marina.
We are not wanting for many amenities. M/V Dilly Dally is fully loaded. We even have a solo stove that we use for onshore fires and a mini solo-stove which is used for a nice evening ambience while enjoying a beverage and friends.
I am a techie and one of the more useful items we carry is an underwater drone which has a claw to pick up objects. The video is amazingly clear. I’ve even used it under the ice in the winter. If you lose something overboard when we are in the same anchorage, come see us. I’ve saved three iPhones in the last few years and check other boats anchors.
Lifeline: You’ve had an interesting journey in your career. Can you provide a brief professional background?
I graduated with a degree in clinical science and worked in a lab for years. I was then tapped to be an IT manager. It was easier to teach a scientist IT than teach science to an IT person. I was fortunate to work as IT manager for a couple hospitals in Canada. I then made the move to working for an IT equipment company.
Having both a science and IT background has been incredibly helpful, allowing me to work in areas that did not exist until a few years ago. During COVID, I traveled the world working with airports, hospitals, sports centers, top retailers and restaurants to test disinfection technologies in the hopes of providing a safer environment.
That work was focused on using UV surface disinfection without the use of chemicals (but don’t forget to wash your hands!).
I’ve been on the business development side the last few years, helping radiologists create specialized imaging reading environments for their particular needs. As senior director at RedRick Technologies, I’m responsible for global sales. I’m fortunate that I can work remotely. During the summer, I use Starlink on M/V Dilly Dally extensively. My wife, Brenda, is a dental assistant, so we are still a bit land-based until retirement.
Lifeline: What attracted you to join GLCC in 2009?
I met Brad Somers of Windsor, who at the time was a Port Captain of the Club. I learned so much from him regarding anchorages, and he introduced me to the GLCC. Since joining the Club in 2009, I became a Port Captain for Port Elgin, then a Director in 2014-2016, Rear Commodore in 2016-2020 and then swapped out as Port Captain for Bad River in 2020.
As in everyone’s life, there are phases we go through depending upon what the kids are doing and our careers. Being a Port Captain fits our current life phase.
Lifeline: You are Port Captain for Bad River, Ont. (GB-46). What drew you to that location?
Bad River is a nice anchorage with hundreds of places to explore with your dinghy. It’s one of our favorite anchorages. There are some tricks and tips, and we always look to share these whenever we see another boater in the area.
Rear Commodore Dave Spencer knew that we spent a lot of time in Bad River and suggested I be a Port Captain and I agreed, as I do like to share boating knowledge with others.
Lifeline: What aspect of boating do you find most interesting or challenging?
Most interesting: Meeting other boaters. We were at Cove Island anchorage for two weeks. During that time we met a chef, a world-renowned astronomer, an author, and a mechanic, who all just decided just to take up boating. It is amazing the people you meet on a boat. Everyone is friendly and willing to help each other. I think we need more boaters in the world.
Most challenging: I am disappointed by boaters who don’t appreciate the wonder of the natural beauty we have here in the Great Lakes. Those that are here to complete a trip on a certain day vs. enjoying the journey. Appreciate where you are and what you have. Take the time to enjoy and explore the anchorage you are in. My personal goal is to try to wear out my anchor!
Lifeline: What are the biggest benefits of your GLCC membership?
The top reason would have to be the Harbor Reports. Where else can you obtain detailed charts and insights into really small and fun anchorages?
Lifeline: Any interesting personal pursuits?
I enjoy making the most of our time at anchorage. I am known as “Professor Martini” on Instagram (check me out)! I love to make creative vodka-based libations – no two batches are every the same. There is a strict rule we follow at anchor: If you are in our anchorage on a Friday, stop over at 5 p.m. and enjoy a unique cocktail aboard M/V Dilly Dally.
Check out a few of my creations. My preferred vodka is “Iceberg” from Newfoundland. The 12,000+ year-old water frozen in icebergs from the Canadian Arctic (these are the ones that are clear) are used in the making of the vodka, providing a great taste and it’s quite inexpensive.
Creative alcohol storage: I’ve found that a 128-ounce (1 gallon) SS flask is excellent for storing liquor. The flat and semi-circle shape of the flask fits better into nooks and crannies on the boat and without the worry of breaking glass.
Lifeline: What is your typical summer cruising area?
As Brenda’s job provides somewhat limited long vacation time, we do a lot of car shuffling between Sarnia and Tobermory. While Brenda stays at our daughter’s home, I’ll drive the boat up to Tobermory (Cove Island anchorage – GB-1) and then Brenda drives up on the weekend or for an extended stay. We enjoy weekend boating and then longer cruising trips to Georgian Bay and Baie Fine a few times a summer.
Early in June, I have an historical trip nicknamed “4GFB.’ That’s “4 Guys and a Floating Bar.” Lifelong friends have been doing this with me for over 20 years. We take the boat up to Bad River and Collins Inlet for a week of fishing for walleye, pike and bass. I am known for my pike nuggets.