Bob Ostlund

Sam Bisset

Staff member
Factory Employee
Joined
Nov 10, 2014
Messages
310
Location
Arlington, WA
Fluid Motion Model
R-27 (Outboard)
Vessel Name
ZISSOU
I have some sad news today. Most pacific northwest-based tugnuts may already be aware but for those who aren’t, Bob Ostlund passed away at his home on March 28th. Bob fought a valiant two-year battle with cancer.

Affectionally referred to as “Margarita Bob” or the “Mayor of the Dock”, Bob was a figure that you couldn’t miss if you spent any time on the dock during any Ranger Tugs gatherings or cruises. Bob and Nita’s Hunter Green R-29, Nellie Too has been a constant fixture on the dock since 2009 and before that, they had an R-25.

All of us at Fluid Motion that were lucky enough to spend time with Bob, have great respect and admiration for him. Always kind and generous, Bob seemed to have a never-ending supply of energy, especially when it came to helping others. He was always the first one to run out and catch a line. He was the first one to say, “I have one of those on my boat, I’ll go grab it!”. He was certainly the first one to extend a warm greeting to anyone within range.

Bob was the life of the party and will be missed greatly. We’re thankful to Bob for being a great customer and more importantly, a great friend. We’re also thankful for all of the time and soul that Bob and Nita put into this community over the years. Our hearts and minds are with Nita during this difficult time.

Below is an excerpt from article about how Bob got the nickname “Margarita Bob” from our rendezvous newsletter that was published in September of 2017.

This year’s happy hour is a course adjustment from an earlier rendezvous tradition started by long-time members of Ranger Tug family, Bob and Nita Oslund, owners of the 29-foot Nellie Too. Bob started offering margaritas informally at the first Ranger Rendezvous in 2009 in Bremerton. “We didn’t advertise it,” recalls Oslund, 72, affectionately known as Margarita Bob on the docks wherever he and Nita tie up. “When somebody walked by, we just asked them,
‘Would you like a margarita?’” Turns out lots of folks did. Ranger Tugs took notice and joined the party by adding two more margarita mixers the following year. Soon the walk-by traffic doubled, then tripled, and Oslund says several hundred margaritas were made each year. With the addition of Cutwater Boats to the Ranger Tug Rendezvous in 2011, the popularity of Margaritaville Happy Hour has reached epic proportions.


Rest in peace, Bob. We'll miss seeing you on the water this summer and each one after.

Bob-Ostlund-7.JPG

Bob-Ostlund-8.JPG

Bob-Ostlund-12.JPG

Bob-Ostlund-13.JPG

Bob-Ostlund-14.JPG
 
Such sad, sad, sad news indeed.... I was unaware of his health issue... We are born, we live and we die...

Bob was the first person who came to my help when I wanted to change the engine oil in my R-25 Classic in 2009. It happened that Bob & Nita lived just a few stone throws from my house. They lived in Bothell on the slough channel. Bob told me to come to his house and he would lend me his oil changing gear and show me how to use it. It worked perfectly for me. Bob & Nita eventually moved up to Anacortes so visiting him in Bothell was no longer possible.

Bob & Nita are the most friendly of people and as Sam has mentioned, Bob was full of energy all the time.

When in our R25 Classic moored at Gibson Marina BC and on our way to Desolation Sound with the factory boats my 1st Mate started feeling a 'bit off' and so we decided to make for home back in USA rather than to continue north. Bob & Nita were with the group. The weather for the Georgia Straits was not looking good for getting back over to the Gulf Islands, but I felt I had to make the effort to cross. Bob & Nita were so kind changing their plans for going north and offered to be with us to make the crossing. The weather turned nasty and we both battled on with me following Bob & Nita's R29 heading into 4-foot waves and much wind. We eventually made it to the Gulf Islands via the north Gallano passage and then Bob & Nita stopped over at Ganges while I made a hurried return back home to Edmonds and to Woodinville where we lived at the time. Gill and I have always looked back and were thankful for Bob & Nita's kindness in being a 'buddy' boat for this event. There have been several other times I've cruised with Bob & Nita's R29 and the last one was in our R-21 EC which caused Bob & Nita to slow down to around 7 kts for us.

Bob & Nita are the best of the best.

It is with great sadness that I read Sam's posting here. RIP Bob..... you will be missed.
 
Oh My! What sad news! 🙁 Bob was the best! I still remember coming into the dock at our very first Ranger Tugs Cruise to Poets Cove in 2016. We didn’t know anyone or what to expect but but Bob was right there to grab our lines as we approached the dock becoming the first of our many wonderful Tugnut friends! He will be sorely missed!
 
We attended church regularly with Bob at St. Mary in Anacortes, and attended a Rosary in his honor as well at his funeral last week. I spoke at the Rosary before the gathering, reminiscing about how special Bob was and how he touched our lives. My words are repeated below:

We heard of Bob before we met him, his legend larger than life as "Margarita Bob" within the Tugnuts community of Ranger Tugs. Bob earned his reputation serving margaritas at the annual Roche Harbor rendezvous for Ranger Tug boats, as he would mix and pour from his beloved tug, Nellie Too. But what Bob really served was friendship, joy, and laughter. Bob loved life, and to know Bob meant that your life was a bit more enriched. We came to know Bob more as fellow parishioners at St. Mary Church, and Bob would seek us out to get a laugh or a giggle from Nicole, our disabled wheel-chair bound daughter. Bob and Nicole were kindred spirits, which was readily apparent by Bob's eager manner to elicit laughs from Nicole. We will miss Bob, but his spirit lives on by all who smile and laugh a little more for having known Bob.

Bob's loving wife Nita set up a memorial on with Evans Funeral Chapel which can be found here (and where I posted the above passage):
https://www.evanschapel.com/obituary/robert-bob-ostlund

Rest in peace, Bob! We will miss you, but thank you for touching our lives!
 
What sad news this was. Bob was such an integral part of all of the Ranger Tugs events that I went to....I will miss him and his cheerful face.
 
Bob is certainly unforgettable in many ways, but we are especially fond of recalling how we met. We were pulling into the 2013 Rendezvous at Anacortes less than two weeks after purchasing our first tug. We had been to a couple other ports and no one took a line for us. Several yeas prior to that we did quite a bit of sailing in San Francisco. No one had ever taken a line for us. So when Bob reached out his hand to take a line, Lenny extend his hand from the pilot house window and introduced himself. Bob shook hands (as a gentleman does) and then smiling said, “would you like me to take a line?” We miss you, Bob.

All our love and prayers for Nita.
 
Sounds like he was a Great guy. Sorry for the lose.
 
This is indeed sad news. We first met Bob and Nita when we were leaving the dock for the sea trial of our new 25SC and he was just coming in with his 29 Nellie Too and told us that "if you would water that, it will grow up like ours". When we went to our first rendezvous, he made us feel very welcome. He will be missed.
Our prayers are with you Nita.
Dave and Bette Koivu
 
Bob and Nita are two of the loveliest people we have ever met. We have been embraced by their friendship from the time we got our first tug, an R25SC, in 2011, and first experienced their incredible hospitality at the Bremerton rendezvous that fall. Our paths have crossed many times since then, sharing the adventures of two Desolation Sound cruises, several mini cruises, and years of meeting and sharing good times at the annual rendezvous. Bob, you will be so deeply missed. We treasure our memories of you. Nita, you are in our hearts and we send our love your way.

Lois and Dan Cheney
North Star R27 Classic
 
Lisa and I are so saddened by the news of Bobs passing. Nita we wish you well in the days and weeks ahead. Bob n Nita were some of first Ranger Tug owners we met in 2011 when we joined the family at our first Ranger Tug Rendezvous in Bremerton Washington. We’ll never forget his giving, kind soul, smiling face and willingness to help any and everyone. Bob will be dearly missed by anyone who had the opportunity to ever meet him but rest assured he will never be forgotten.

Jim n Lisa Favors
 
I too am very saddened to hear of Bob’s passing. Like so many others my wife Helga, (died of cancer in 2016), and I were greeted by Bob and Nita with open arms when we floated into DesMoines harbor on our maiden voyage. They welcomed us, showed us the ropes of docking and shared both dinner and a private slip at our next stop on the bay. His friendly nature never stopped through out our cruising adventures when we met. Few people exemplified the friendly spirit of helpfulness and camaraderie that is possible in life. Bob was one of the best and brought out the best of everyone in the lives he touched. He will be sorely missed. Nita, my heart goes out to you at your loss. Kurt
 
Nita, Janny and I have holes in our hearts with the passing of Bob. We only got to know you two over the rendezvous weekend last year but immediately felt close. Bob adopted us upon our arrival in Anacortes and you guys were the most fun, happy dock mates we could have had in Roche Harbor. The Ranger family will miss its most fervent ambassador and bartender.
Bill & Janny
 
So sorry to hear about Bob. Jess & I had the privileged of meeting him while cruising the PNW. I new he was a great guy the minute I met him. Truly a loss to our community.
 
We are sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He and Nita welcomed us with open arms when we towed our R24 to Anacortes to experience the waters off Washington. Bob and Nita invided us to their home to share a meal. Bob checked on our progress on a regular basis to make sure we were having fun. His guidence helped us have the time of our lives. They both took great care of us. This world needs more Bobs. It is up to us to carry his kindness forward.
Thank You Nita for opening up your lives to us. We will never forget.

Rick and Sue George
 
I’m just seeing this post about Bob’s passing and it brought tears to my eyes remembering his kindness and welcoming heart. Certainly the greatest ambassador to our Ranger Tug family. A truly amazing man who will be greatly missed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Back
Top