He was captain of the ferry which runs between Bustins Island and South Freeport, Maine, for over fifty years.

[2] After the war's conclusion, he obtained a ship master's license, which was a requirement for captains of passenger boats.

He purchased the latter vessel from the Swett family and began captaining the Bustins Island ferry, which is the Lilly B as of 2023, for fifty years (1946 to 1996).

[5][6] The residents of Bustins Island raised funds for a replacement ferry, which he named the Marie L, after his mother.

In 2022, to mark the 25th anniversary of Ross's retirement, Bustins Island dedicated its public landing in his honor.