How did Brenna become Captain Young!
In 2019, I was out with my friends hanging out on the lake just enjoying a nice sunny day that Iowa has all the time. I have always been an entrepreneur, from owning a video production firm in college, a band manager, restaurant owner, catering company, and then event planning business. In every adventure I learned more and more on how to run a business. I have traveled through the years, I always did excursions, I always wanted to start a tour business in Des Moines but never could figure out how it would work.
Then BAM would customers hire me to take them on a tour on a lake, I should call it Party on the Lake! Then I was thinking, wait I do live in Iowa and the boating season only 16 weeks in a year. Can I be successful in business? What will I do the rest of the year? Then I said to myself Brenna you love the water, you always wanted to start a tour business so stop thinking of the negative and find out how to do this adventure. Did I ever get excited about it, so excited I bought a new boat, went to Saylorville lake, Army corps of engineering, and DNR to find out how I can do this. The number one thing they said was to become USCG Captain, I was like what do I have to do to make that happen. Let me tell you there is a lot more than just going to class and taking a test to get the license. I did a lot of research, met Captain Ted in Minnesota. He had classes to teach you everything you need to know. It took my whole winter of studying and going to classes, but it was the best thing I ever did. When I got the results that I passed, that I am officially a USCG Captain I was proud of myself.
Party on the Lake launched in Summer of 2020 right in the start of the pandemic, probably was not the best time to start a new business. I also think it was a blessing it kept me from being too busy right off the bat so I could develop my business.
I did Party on the lake for two seasons. It was successful, but I learned how expensive having a boat really is. I was not sure what I was going to do for my 3rd season with Party on the Lake with all the expenses for having a boat. I did not want to give up this dream of being a Captain, I enjoy the water so much and going out with people is so joyful. I then realized marina’s rent boats all the time, maybe people can hire me to captain the boat that they rent.
Start of Captain Young Travels
That’s when a new business plan started, I let go of Party on the Lake, and started Captain Young Travels. What I have planned for this business will be such a cool opportunity for people without boats to enjoy all waterways. In the future you will be able to rent a boat and hire a captain in the palm of your hands. The main reason I wanted to be a Captain is to take people out, to have fun with them. I noticed how dangerous the waterways can be, I wanted to be able to help keep the waterways safe. I have seen a lot of inexperienced boaters on the water, but I am able to keep my guests safe from people like that. I am excited to add more captains in coming years, to be able to do tours all over the Midwest lakes, and the ocean. I know there are more captains out there that want to do what I am doing but don’t know how or want the expense of owning a boat or running a business. Well, they can contact me. I will have them be part of Captain Young Travels. Maybe someone has been thinking about being a captain but don’t know how, just ask me I will direct you the right direction. Now to keep myself safe on the waterways I continue to do training on the Gulf of Mexico and the ocean so I can be the best Captain I can be.
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2 Comments
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Stephen Wilson
We are so happy to have you on the water Brenna! Thank you for keeping us safe and making sure we are able to have all the fun we deserve!
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Barry Green
Brenna is the best! We have to agree with you Stephen! Thank you Brenna, we look forward to seeing you in Florida soon!