Welcome to ego hell! What we have here is a bit of crass commercialism at it’s zenith. This website has no other purpose than to sell you stuff that was created by, for, or about some idiot named Bob Bitchin (Hey, Mom! He means me!). Who, what and why is Bob Bitchin? What great things has he accomplished? What’s more, who cares? Well, read on, and then maybe you will buy something. In that way he can continue on a life of true decadence, poisoning hundreds of thousands of minds world-wide.
Bob Bitchin started out life as Robert Lipkin, born in 1944 in Los Angeles, California. His parents, Mary and Marshall Lipkin, were both second generation American. Older brother Alan is a PHD chemist who spent many years as the head of a chemistry department at a large southern university, while sister Betty entered the computer software business while in it's infancy in Silicone Valley. They are poor, and rich, respectively. His three children are daughter Sabra (1964-2010), mother of Tabitha, who attends Texas State in Austin, Texas; son Bobby Lipkin, who lives in Texas and has 5 children; and youngest daughter Katie who lives in California. Da, Okay, so much for family life.
In the 50’s and 60’s his life was idyllic. (See the movie “Happy Days”).
When he was about 25 he decided that a man’s true purpose in life was to see just how much fun he could have while traveling around the country (and other places) partying with outlaw motorcycle clubs and taking pictures of naked women on motorcycles. In the early 70’s he worked for awhile as roustabout and body guard for Evil Knievel. Then he worked for various motorcycle magazines through the 70’s and 80’s. His photos and stories have been in magazines as varied as Easyriders, Forbes Magazine, Penthouse and New Look. Eventually he created Biker Lifestyle Magazine, FTW Newsmagazine, and Tattoo Magazine. He also worked with the people who were creating a new motorcycle legislative organization, ABATE, and founded the California chapter, as well as helping create the national chapter. He worked with LACO Bob, president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Hell’s Angel’s to start the Toy Run, which has grown to unbelievable proportions.
During this degenerate period he wrote two books (here comes the commercial!). The first book was “A Brotherhood of Outlaws”. This novel was first printed by Bentree House Publishing in hard cover. It went on to be translated into German, and was then printed in paperback. The plans to make it into a feature film were underway with Solar Productions (Steve McQueen), when in 1980, McQueen came down with cancer and passed away. The picture was shelved. A Brotherhood of Outlaws has been called the most relevant depiction of the outlaw motorcycle culture to come out of the seventies. This is the first novel in the Treb Lincoln Series.
Not a lot of time was spent on the home front. Most of the time he was on the road, living the lifestyle he had chosen. During this time he put over 500,000 miles on motorcycles, as he road back and forth across the country, appearing at various motorcycle functions like Sturgis and Daytona Beach, which he sponsored with his magazines. When at home he spent most of his time on his Formosa sailboat, The Lost Soul. He lived aboard on a mooring in front of the Portofino Hotel, in Redondo Beach, California. After a time he started to live two lives. One on his Harley, and the other sailing. Between motorcycle trips he would cruise to Mexico, or across the Pacific to Hawaii. Pretty soon the love of sailing took over.
And so it happened. One day the owner of Easyrider made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and shortly thereafter he had a pocket full of money and was headed out to sea. During this time he wrote another novel. This one a sequel to his first. In this one the protagonist was in a transfer period. He was getting away from the motorcycle lifestyle and getting more into boating. How’s that for a tough segue? As he sailed the world the book took shape.
During the world cruise another book was written, Letters from The Lost Soul. But it wasn't planned as a book. It was just a little newsletter, that started out going to about 30 friends. After awhile the list grew to 300 people and many of them were copying the letter and sending it on to other friends. On the return from the voyage, a letter was sent to these people saying a magazine was planned somewhat like the newsletter. Over 700 subscriptions came in from the newsletter alone. That was the birth of Latitudes & Attitudes.
Latitudes & Attitudes Magazine was started on the return from the world cruise. It has grown into one of the largest and most respected magazines in cruising. It boasts a readership of over 70,000 happy readers (and a couple of grumpy ones!). Bob is the editor and publisher, and continues to live aboard the Lost Soul and cruise, as time permits. On one such voyage he finished his latest book, King Harbor, a third sequel in the Treb Lincoln Novels.
In 2005, with partner Darren O'Brien, he created Latitudes & Attitudes TV. For the next half-decade he poisoned thousands of new minds with the episodes devoted to sailing all over the world and enjoying life.cruise, as time permits.
In 2010 He took over publishing the venerable "Living Aboard" Magazine which has been published for over 37 years, chronicling the live-aboard lifestyle.
Since you have been silly enough to read all this verbiage, you might be silly enough to want a couple of videos that are available by and/or about Bitchin. Just in case you are, here they are. Enjoy.
You can e-mail Bob directly at: publisher@seafaring.com or at: bob@bobbitchin.com
Also, be sure and check out www.latsandatts.net Latitudes and Attitudes Magazine and www.seafaring.com - your new source for nautical charts and books!