01/31/2021
Sea Stories and Ice Cream Cruises
Larry Kezner, Captain
December 19, 2020 I took my last sailing on the m/v Fremont Avenue as the owner and Captain. Effective the first of the year, Captain Mike Luis takes over all operations of the Ice Cream Cruise, Brew Cruises and parties on the Fremont Ave.
The Ice Cream Cruise got it’s start in August 1950 when my mother (Sarah) heard that the ferry Leschi was making it’s last runs from Madison Park to Kirkland. We lived on 39th and Madison, 4 blocks from the ferry. I was 5. She said let’s go, let’s take the ferry to Kirkland for ice cream.
Not a particularly good student, my father (Jack) force fed me everything he knew about being a radio telegraph operator in the vacuum tube era. After high school I sailed as 3rd (junior) radio operator on the USGS Surveyor. Six months in the mid Pacific from Midway Island to Adak from July 63 to January 64. With this 6 month endorsement on my license I was upgraded and eligible to sail as the sole operator or Radio Officer on Merchant Marine ships.
Jobs opened up on ships in 1967 when they needed to staff ships carrying military supplies (ammo) to S.E. Asia. All the ships were WW II Victory and Liberty ships that had been taken out of moth balls and set up for duty again. From April 1967 to October 1969 I made crossings from Bangor to S.E. Asia on the SS Ocala Victory, SS John Weyerhaeuser (a Liberty Ship), SS Ranger (renamed Victory) and on the SS Pine Bluff Victory. Too many sea stories to tell in this writing.
In May of 1999 I acquired my own little ship the m/v Fremont Avenue. Started business on Lake Union in September of 1999 running our first Ice Cream Cruise. 21 years later after running year round on tours, happy hour trips and charter parties and carrying tens thousands of guests around Lake Union, Lake Washington and Elliott Bay it was time to transfer the flag to another (younger) but very experienced Captain, Mike Luis. Now www.SeattleWaterTours.com 206-422-0036
I will be a back up or reserve Captain as needed for the continued operation of the m/v Fremont Avenue and will expand my Radio Check business where I represent the FCC and certify the correct radio operation on passenger vessels and towboats for their USCG inspect
Ice Cream Cruise, private charters, special events, Fremont Brew Cruise. All aboard Seattle's favorite tour boat. See Seattle from the water!
