At the Helm
Stories from two captains steering their own course in charter boating
It is important to remark on the achievements of women in a male-dominated industry—boating is no exception. This issue we speak to two female captains on what brought them into the charter business. From a champion jetskier who upgraded from toys to much bigger vessels, to a woman whose love for fishing expanded to running her own ship, these captains followed their passions to new horizons and continue to look forward.
For Tera Laho, her love for the water was instantaneous whilst growing up along the Colorado River in Lake Havasu, Arizona. So much so that she started water skiing at a young age, which evolved into racing stand-up jetskis as early as 17. “I quickly turned pro by 18, and won my first World Championship by 19 racing for Team Yamaha,” Laho says. This led to years of traveling all over the country and winning over 15 titles.
At 32 Laho hung up her racing helmet, and after experiencing different jobs post-racing career, she knew she needed to figure out how to make a living on the water. “I wasn't happy behind desks (or very good at it),” she admits. At 44, she earned a Master 100 ton license and started driving bare boat charters for rental companies. She worked a few other operations on boats, including her own boat for private charters in Havasu, as well as a tiki boat side hustle. Everything changed, however, with Dixie Belle.
In 2021, a local iconic paddlewheel vessel called the Dixie Belle, made its way back onto the water after sitting in a boat yard for many years, according to Laho. “A friend had bought and completely refitted the boat and I was ready for it.” Dixie Belle sits at about 70 feet long, 68 tons, and powered by 2 Honda outboards, as the paddlewheel is just for looks. After a few month’s training period and getting the boat re-certified with the USCG, the Dixie Belle was back in business running sunset charters and private events.
Captain Lori McCoy was also “born for the water,” growing up along the shore of Biloxi in Mississippi, starting out fishing with her folks for flounder and setting crab traps. She also got some time along the Gulf Coast in Fort Walton Beach. Now she gets to wake up every day to lead charters with her business Island Girl Charters out of Marathon, Florida, her favorite spot. It was this area of the country that made her want to be a charter captain.
“I used to spend every August in Marathon,” McCoy says, catching fish but mostly lobster hunting with friends. “After watching my best friend’s daughter catch her first lobster, I knew what I wanted to do. Her smile was so infectious and I knew I wanted to see more of those great smiles.” Eventually she made her way to Florida full time, and several years (and boats) later she passed her captain’s test and 50 ton masters licensing. She now charters the Atlantic with her boat Island Girl, a 31-foot Stamas center console, powered by twin 300HP Suzukis.
The challenges with running a charter business can often run the gambit for McCoy and Laho— from getting and keeping the best crew aboard to managing weather changes, to handling the biggest boat on the lake. The Dixie Belle is “quite the beast to drive … I'm 5-foot and they had to build me a stand to see out of the wheel house,” says Laho. Luckily for Laho she likes the pressure, saying it helps her to shine. “Sometimes the passengers are surprised to see a woman in charge at only 5 feet tall.”
Being taken seriously in the industry has definitely been par for the course for both captains, though occasionally the expectations are harmless. “I’ve never had a bad reaction for being a female captain,” says McCoy, “it’s usually just the little boys who ask ‘are you really the captain?’” More often both are finding appreciation and excitement at having a female captain. “I’ve had many men bring their daughters out fishing and chose my business because they wanted their daughters to see a strong woman role model,” McCoy adds, noting some female guests also show up to support other women-owned businesses.
Both captains continue to see that ever-present horizon urging them to keep at it, and will continue to rise to the occasion. McCoy hopes that the future holds more voyages out on the water, as well as a crackdown on illegal charters which both captains note is a dangerous and growing problem. She affirms women have, and will continue to have, a place in the boating industry. “There will always be people that can’t accept it, but all in all it’s becoming much more common … it will take women who want to be in this industry to step up and do it.”
Laho says she’s taken some time this year to learn to sail after participating in the November 2024 Share the Sail trip via Latitudes and Attitudes. She’s also recently completed ASA 101 and continues to follow up with other certifications in order to earn an international upper tonnage license. She also hopes to one day charter a boat throughout the Caribbean islands. “I'm now 51 years old and my focus on the future is diving, fishing, and sailing. Now for the fun part... figuring out how to make it happen.”