‘ORION’
"To survive in Peace and harmony, united and strong, we must have one people, one nation, one flag”
-Pauline Hanson
When considering a Burial-at-Sea, I couldn’t stress enough the importance of selecting the right boat for your Celebration of Life. You will see many photos here which help in your selection process. You deserve a sea-worthy dependable, comfortable, and beautiful yacht. The measures that we have taken personally and with the USCG assure you and your party that she is safe, seaworthy, and has met all of the stringent standards set by them. We believe that she is the safest yacht in the harbor. But safety, as vitally important as it is, is only one of the factors I urge you to consider.
A case in point: One day a party called me in absolute panic. They had booked a boat only to find out that it was ‘just awful’ when they arrived and refused to board the boat. They called me immediately, came over to our beautiful yacht, and we were able to save the day.
‘Orion’ is gorgeous! So many people are astonished at how beautiful and comfortable she is which obviously makes their entire outing really wonderful. She has new canvas awnings which means you sit in the shade the entire time. She is carpeted with the finest of boat carpeting. She has custom drapes, Corian counters, stainless steel sinks, and custom furniture: Everything for your comfort and enjoyment.
The moment you step upon her, you will know that you made the right choice in selecting a boat for your special occasion. So now, you have safety and comfort. But how about the way you are treated, the type of ceremony, the little ‘extras’ that will really make it your day and something to be so proud of. This is where I believe, we really set ourselves apart.
Almost every company does the following:
- Treats you with the lack of kindness and respect you deserve
- Don’t really give you time you feel you need to fully understand all the details and how to make your plans
- Mislead you on the basic laws
- Charge you for taxes
- Charge you for harbor fees
- Charge you more should you select a weekend or an afternoon
- Tell you what time they go out
- Charge you for food
- Charge you for drinks
- Do not include flowers
- Spend as little time as possible time on the water
- Cannot provide a religious service.
Consider this: We really CARE!
1. We give you all of the help we can in planning your special occasion
2. We have been doing this for over 50 years so can easily give you all of the correct information.
3. We refuse to charge you for taxes, harbor fees, more for a weekend or afternoon, food, drinks, or flowers. This is your day! So we plan it for you based upon your convenience, not ours. This means we can go out at any time, spend as much time as you desire and give you any type of service you deserve.
4. I am an Ordained Minister and thus can provide a religious service if you desire at NO Extra Cost!
There are also illegally operating companies out there which will put you at great risk. Always ask if they have a business license, arte the USCG Certified, have a CRD license, are in Rainbow harbor thus paying taxes to the City of Long Beach. You may learn a lot about who you are dealing with and protect yourself and your party at the same time!
We are licensed by the state of California to perform burials-at-sea and certified by the USCG to carry 12 passengers. We are in the required area for all charters: Rainbow Harbor and thus pay the proper taxes. We have a CRD license thus can legally dispose of human cremains.
We are also very proud of the fact that we are the only non-profit business to provide these services and the only company in the United States to provide these services to the Military!
In summary, a yacht that protects you from the elements, provides all the amenities, and is beautifully appointed makes your overall experience even better! Choosing a company that is kind, friendly, and provides a loving, respectful service is of course, another very important decision. Be diligent, thoughtful, and very careful in choosing the right company, with the best staff and ownership, and provides for you the best of yachts. Be extremely careful in choosing a company that is legally operating.
The yacht ‘Orion’ is our private boat taken care of and maintained by our family. Our basic philosophy is that each week, she may be a week older, but she’s also a week nicer. We take great pride in her and want her not only to be a great boat for us, but also a wonderful and beautiful boat for you and your party to view as you watch the burial ceremony.
‘Orion’ was built in Taiwan in 1985. She is a twin-diesel aft-cabin motor yacht extensively customized and meticulously cared for. Her layout consists of an aft deck, fly bridge, and main salon for comfortable seating. A well cared for yacht benefits you for the chances of postponement or cancellation are greatly minimized.
Everything about her is a pleasure to the eye and to the experience: Remember, that a vessel that is meticulously cared for, is most likely a safer vessel! She has custom drapes, custom furniture, custom upholstery, custom lighting, and custom carpeting; she also has Corian counters, stainless steel sinks, and the newest in electronics. Her top decks and below-decks are meticulously cared for. As you view the lowering of the ashes everything is gleaming: Freshly painted, bright work glistening in the sunlight, stainless steel in perfect condition. This is important for this is your background for photos and viewing when you chose a view-from-the-pier service. Of course, the beauty and comfort of our vessel makes your entire experience more enjoyable. You will be very proud that you chose us to provide your service!
She also is an extremely safe vessel, very well built, and always kept up to date with inspections by The United States Coast Guard and The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. She has never failed an inspection and all paper work is kept up to date. She is fully insured and owned by Pat O’Connor with 50 years of boat ownership and experience. He will be your Deck-hand to help you with all of your needs. His son, My son Sean is the licensed Merchant Mariner Master Captain with over 25 years of boating experience.
