'Wet stuff' always beats the 'hot stuff'

Jim Ehrman

Current Boat: M/V La Dolce Vita (44’ Carver)

Home Port: Sandusky, Ohio

Joined GLCC: 1999

Joined GLCC Board: 2018

Title: Rear Commodore (Lake Erie), Port Captain Lorain, Ohio (E-13)

Interviewed by Director/Port Captain Dee McClure

• Lifeline: You live in Monroeville, Ohio. Is that where you grew up?  

Jim Ehrman: I was born in Elyria, Ohio. Growing up, we moved to several other places and ended up in Northfield, Ohio, a far south suburb of Cleveland. That was my teenage / high school years. Looking back, that was the best time of my life. 

• Lifeline: You are a retired firefighter and paramedic. Wow, that’s a high-pressure job. Tell us about it. 

           When I was very young, growing up in Elyria, my dad took me to the fire department to show me the trucks. The crew showed us the whole place. They put me up in the driver’s seat of one of the engines and had me blow the siren. Wow, they were so big and the siren was loud! It scared me. But it planted a seed that grew. 

I was always curious and wanted to somehow be a part of firefighting. One day, the local volunteer department was doing a door-to-door raffle ticket drive. One of the firefighters came to our house and I asked him about the fire department. He said, “Come on down this next Monday and we’ll give you a tour.” That tour turned out to be an interview session. A few weeks later, I signed up. 

I was trained in the classroom and also “hands on”. My first fire call was exciting and I put “the wet stuff on the hot stuff.” I was hooked.

I received my state of Ohio T&I (Basic Firefighting), also my Ohio EMT certificates. I served with a volunteer fire department for almost 15 years. A few years later, I followed up with paramedic school. I served with Cleveland EMS for a short time and then EMS first responder with the Canton, Ohio, fire department. 

Shortly after, I was hired by the Ravenna Fire Department. They sent me to fire school in Youngstown, Ohio. I learned a lot in six weeks. My duties included continuing education (you’re always schooling in firefighting and medical). This led me to being a state paramedic instructor, a member of the high-angle rescue team and the dive team. 

You never have two calls the same. So you never get bored. You learn to meet the challenges head on. I would still be doing this, but the body is no longer able. It’s a young man’s game. 

      It has been a most rewarding career. I thank God for a safe, healthy career. I still miss it. You can take the kid out of the fire truck, but you can’t take the fire truck out of the kid.

• Lifeline: How did you get into boating? Is there a “dream boat” that you see sometime in your future?

My dad taught me to fish. He always told me that a boat would take you to the “big ones.” One day I bought a boat, a 19’ bow rider. Great boat but too small for Lake Erie. A few years later I moved up to 26’ express cruiser, then a 33’ aft cabin, and now to a 44’ aft cabin. I’m always looking for my dream boat. People tell me “you don’t need a bigger boat.” My reply is, “I don’t care what your momma told you: Bigger IS better!” I would love to move into a 55’ Fleming or comparable.

• Lifeline: What aspect of boating do you find most interesting or challenging?

I really don’t know how to answer this. I enjoy the challenges that Lake Erie can hand you. Also how great it can be when it’s calm. I enjoy traveling and seeing new places. Boats are a high-maintenance toy and I enjoy keeping it shipshape.

• Lifeline: What led you to join GLCC, in 1999?

Our dock neighbors, Bill and Cathy Younkin, were members of GLCC and Port Captains for Lorain, Ohio, where we docked our boat. They invited us to Lake Erie rallies and a dinner meeting, and got us boating to the other lakes besides Erie. The more we learned about the club, the better we liked it.

So Bill and Cathy sparked the attraction and motivation. We eventually took over their role as Port Captain for Lorain, Ohio.

• Lifeline: What type of cruising have you done?  Any big plans for the 2025 season?

We cruise Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Huron. We take day trips a few days out. We did a short loop going from Lake Erie, Trent Severn, Georgian Bay, south down Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, back to Lake Erie.

 We were both working then and had limited time. We want to do it again and take the whole summer to see all that we missed last time. 

We have yet to be in Lake Michigan and Superior. We plan to attend Little Current (by boat) for this year’s Rendezvous. No big plans in the near future. Built a house (Monroeville, Ohio) last year and still building. I always wanted to build a house. I don’t know what I was thinking!

• Lifeline: What have been the top three benefits of your GLCC membership?

The lasting friendships and comradery. The security of a “friend in every port.” 

      And the harbor reports. The reports guide you to the port. At the port you find friends. That forms truly lasting friendships.

• Lifeline: Best rendezvous/rally experience?

I have enjoyed all of the rallies and Rendezvous. I don’t have a favorite one  that stands out. Rather, I have many fond memories of all the activities of the club. Lake Erie rallies have been especially fun (my picture with Janice is from the Lake Erie 2022 Rally).

• Lifeline: How do you and Janice keep busy in the winter?

     In addition to GLCC, we are members of the Akron Sail and Power Squadron in Ohio. We stay busy with both clubs. I also work upgrading and maintaining the boat. We plan for the upcoming summer boating activities (GLCC Lake Erie activities). Over the next few years we will be working on the new house.