My name is Tim Dayton and I sailed with your father from 1977 through his retirement from Ford. I first met him on the winter run in the winter of 76/77 going from the Rouge to Toledo and I bounced back to the Dykstra over the course of the next few years.

Your father was one of those guys who I really enjoyed working for and he certainly went out of his way to make me feel welcome and comfortable, no small feat when you're fairly new as a Third Mate. For that reason I tried as I could to get myself assigned to his vessel, it was a "good job"

One of our best adventures were the trips down the seaway in the fall of 77 and again in 1981, sailing didn't get any better than that and Capt. Gus made it a good time. I learned a lot from that man and I felt that we had a mutual respect for each other since he seemed comfortable with me in the pilothouse and in the window. I never once felt the chill that sometimes comes across when you are the mate and the skipper comes on the bridge; Capt. Gus was just a pleasant addition to the conversation and company and life flowed along at a pleasant pace. He was there when you needed him, always had good advice and left you alone for the most part to do your job.

For those reasons I never felt put upon to go the extra mile that sometimes was needed and I know the other officers and crew felt the same way. Only one time can I remember him growling at me and that was once when we were about to leave the Rouge and I heard him bellow "Timothy, this vessel is unseaworthy". I mentally searched my check-off list and went fore and aft through the ship in my mind but couldn't think of what it may have been that I had overlooked; ballast was in, the rigs were out, engines and thruster were ready, crew at stations, everyone was back, what did I forget? "Jeez, Cap, I don't know what you mean." He answered "We have no coffee in the pilothouse." That was corrected in short order

I truly regret that after he retired I did not stay in closer contact with him. For that I will always be sorry. I enjoyed seeing your website as it brought back some very pleasant memories. I'm still sailing with Interlake Steamship, Rouge's purchaser, and I often think back to the things your father taught me and the good times we had. I hope that the guys on my ship feel as comfortable with me as I did with Capt. Gus.