Bob Bitchin | Bitchin Attitude
Bob Bitchin: A Life of Adventure on Land and Sea
I have known Bob Bitchin for many years and he might not want me to say this but despite his large formidable, tattooed presence I have found him to be gentleman, an intellectual, a knowledgeable sailor, and an all-around good guy. He has done some incredible things not least of which is launching Latitudes & Attitudes magazine in the 90s and writing some very interesting books. He has sold Lats& Atts but still has a website Bitchin’ Attitude which has interesting articles, funny comics, and sells his books and T-shirts.
More about Bob Bitchin:
Bob is a modern-day adventurer, author, and publishing pioneer whose life story includes motorcycles, tattoos, and ocean crossings. A true embodiment of the free-spirited lifestyle, Bob has spent his life exploring the open road and the high seas, inspiring thousands through his publications and personal journeys.
In the 1970s, Bob worked with legendary daredevil Evel Knievel before launching his first publication, Biker News, covering the outlaw motorcycle scene. By the late ’70s, it had evolved into a major national magazine. His influence expanded further in the 1980s with the creation of Tattoo Magazine, which became a leading voice in the body art industry. During this time, Bob also edited and contributed to notable publications like Easyriders, Big Bike, and even mainstream outlets such as Forbes and Penthouse.
His life took a dramatic turn when he taught himself to sail on a Cal 28 and joined the crew of the Stone Witch, a 74-foot square-rigged schooner that was Greenpeace’s flagship. From that moment, he was hooked on the sailing lifestyle. He spent years cruising the Pacific and Caribbean, eventually living aboard a 68-foot ketch named Lost Soul for 17 years with his wife, Jody. Together, they sailed from the South Pacific to the Mediterranean, Panama Canal to the Caribbean, living their dream.
In 1996, Bob and Jody launched Latitudes & Attitudes, a sailing lifestyle magazine that quickly became a cornerstone of the cruising community. The brand expanded to include a nationally televised TV show and a radio network featuring nautical music and lifestyle content. Things went sideways when he sold the publication in 2012 to unscrupulous buyers. Loyal readers rallied behind Bob to launch a new venture: Cruising Outpost, which rose to become a leading maritime lifestyle publication in the U.S. Eventually they got the Latitudes and Attitudes name back and continued to build it up.
Even after setbacks like the devastating Bear Fire that destroyed their home in 2020, Bob and Jody continued to rebuild and thrive. In 2022, they sold Latitudes & Attitudes once more, this time to a reputable marine publishing company Kyle Media of Toledo, Ohio, owned by Erik & Melanie Kyle, who are long-time publishers of Great Lakes Scuttlebutt magazine. While this closed another chapter for Bob and Jody they continue to live a life filled with resilience and reinvention.
Today, Bob Bitchin is a celebrated author with 11 books spanning biker culture, sailing adventures, and fiction. His titles include Biker to Sailor, Letters From The Lost Soul, The Sailing Life, and Starboard Attitude. Now living in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Bob continues to sail, ride his Harley, write books, and host his Sunday radio show on Pyrate Radio—proving that a life well-lived is never short on new adventures. He still hosts a website and Enewletter Bitchin’ Attitude which has interesting articles, funny cartoons, and sells his books, T-shirts and other merchandise.
