ESGWheel
Senior Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2015
- Messages
- 692
Sharing my thoughts on seamanship, maybe better called etiquette. Perhaps more of a combination with some philosophy tossed in. And while this crosses several boundaries, it ties into Safety as well so posting it here. This is intended for new boaters with the hope you will think more robustly about your approach to boating and ultimately be safer for it. This is not about the Rules of the Road which is a key part of seamanship. Instead, it’s more about aspects of boating I consider important to be safe, not stress out and have a good time that you will not find in the R of R. And it goes beyond being just on the water, it covers some aspects of trailering as well. Caution: long post! 
For reference, I boat at Lake George, NY with a 2005 Larason 223 LXi which is a 23’ bow rider with a VP 5.0 GXi-E. These days it is only the wife and I + dog. We trailered up there from our MA home for years and for the last few had a seasonal dock. So, this is not about coastal or blue water nor multiengine craft which require a different set of skills. But I believe some of aspects of the below still apply.
Starting off with trailering. In addition to the safety chain and winch strap and the typical 2 transom tie downs, I have 4 more: 2 on the gunnels and 2 on the bow that reach back and act to keep the boat from launching forward. I did have to install additional trailer tie points that I got from the trailer company. And to aid in attaching the Boat Buckles to the sides and bow I use lifting straps passed thru the cleats that extend down the side of the boat. Strap is folded in half with the fold point through the cleat and the two eyes of the strap are brought together for the Boat Buckle hook. Nice, neat and effective. I also use those sterndrive trailing clips. I do not lower the drive onto the clips as some do. I use them simply to preclude a disaster if there is a failure of the hydraulics while towing. After departing, I pull over after a few miles and do a safety check that includes checking all straps and towing attachment; temp of all tires (incl. tow vehicle) and the trailer’s hub and drum brake’s temp. I also rotate one of the sterndrive trailering clips to check if under pressure > if the hydraulics are leaking, the drive would be resting on the clip, and I would not be able to rotate it. I do this at every stop along the way. It’s a good habit to get into.
At the ramp, the boat is 100% prepared prior to backing down. If a long line, this can be done in line with my wife keeping up with the traffic. If a slow day we pull over to the side and get it done. This includes checking the oil and trim pump levels and belt tension. Blower is on during all this. I also check the various items in the engine compartment are secure (battery, toolbox, spare prop, stern light pole). The bow line and both a P & S stern lines are attached. Even though I plan on tying up on one side, I always prepare for either. Winch and safety chain are still attached. I am fortunate my wife knows how to drive the boat, so she is at the helm when I back down. Prior to releasing the safety chain and winch, she lowers the motor and starts up and announces: “Oil pressure up”. It is only at this point I will launch the boat. The idea here is if the engine does not start, I can immediately pull out, freeing up the ramp.
The above reflects a key philosophy I have > the boat is always ‘under control’. That may sound obvious but let me explain further. I would never launch the boat off the trailer or untie off a dock without the motor running and someone at the helm. Same for retrieving or docking. Until I have the winch strap hooked to the bow eye or lines on the dock, the motor is running with someone at the helm. There always needs to be a way of controlling the boat, via the engine, lines or anchor. I get this process needs two people and if by yourself it requires a different approach for some aspects. However, I suspect a lot of new boaters are a couple or family unit. I encourage you to start from the beginning as a team. The more everyone knows and develops skills, all the better, as well as safer and frankly more enjoyable.
As I have experienced jerks more often than I care to think about (at the ramp and underway), I developed another key philosophy > I do not stress about it. My version of “Don’t worry, be happy”. Frankly I did not always behave this way, but I learned that I am never going to change those jerk’s behavior, so instead of ‘giving them a piece of my mind’, I just keep it all to myself. Thus, when I get cut off or someone is loading their gear on the ramp, I just chill.
Underway we are respectful to all markings (no wake zone, etc.) as well as others > we give wide berth to those fishing or towing their kids. Our heads are on a swivel and the passenger (usually my wife) helps by pointing out buoys, flotsam, or other objects of interest including boats that may cross our path. The habit we have developed is to call out the direction like “Off the stbd bow” as well as point. And while I adhere to the Rules of the Road, I do not expect others too nor do I get upset when they do not.
When I do have guests aboard, I do a safety brief which includes “Do not help unless I specially ask for it”. I help satisfy their desire by having them do the above calling out of buoys, etc. and pointing.
Given the size of the boat, no one is allowed to move around when on plane and all personnel are inside the cockpit whenever underway at any speed. No kids sitting on the bow or swim platform as we putt-putt along.
We typically anchor at spots where there are others. We are sensitive swing arcs prior to picking a spot. And when other boats decide to anchor next to us (or within our combined swing arcs) I hail them and respectfully explain the hazard they are creating. Most, to their credit, apologize and fess up they do not fully understand the dynamics. We have also experienced a few jerks, so I chill and move. And we never crank up the tunes.
Anchoring is a skill in of itself and if you are not familiar with the ins and outs, please read, talk to others and watch videos on this. Here is a great link to start with. I have seen many boaters simply toss their Danforth anchor overboard and tie it off.
The same goes for docking and tying up. Here is a great link to start with. Also, some years ago, I attached a small cleat to a board and had the kids (even myself) practice proper cleat tying and other knots.
We also fully prepare prior to docking. The bow and a P & S stern lines are attached and ready for use. Even if we intend to dock port side to, that stern stbd line is still at the ready just in case things go south. And the boat hook is out at the ready. Fenders deployed if needed.
When docking, as the saying goes, never approach anything faster than you are willing to hit it. I consider neutral a ‘gear’ in this respect. The idea is in fwd gear (at idle) back to neutral, back into gear (at idle), neutral, reverse (at idle), etc. And another philosophy I apply > my pride is not a factor. If my approach is not working out, I back out and redo. And if I am uncomfortable with a maneuver, I do not attempt it. Example: at busy fuel dock, the attendant asked if I could back in to put my fuel cap to the dock. I declined having never done that and waited for the other side to be clear.
Lastly, and this is more on the human side, we are always willing to help others. This has ranged from loaning tools to helping folks tie up and much more. Once we noticed a lone swimmer traversing a long distance from shore to an island in an area that had traffic and was not a no wake zone. We putt-putt’ed parallel to her at a proper distance to ensure her safety. And while I had my own thoughts about the sanity of her exercise routine, when she got close to shore, she thanked us for watching out for her exclaiming that we were the first boaters to ever do that in all her years of swimming to the island. Her comment made me sad….
Boating is a blast, and I hope to do so for as long as my body will allow. But it is also an activity that requires planning, thought, seamanship and even heart. I hope this helps a new boater gain some of that.
For reference, I boat at Lake George, NY with a 2005 Larason 223 LXi which is a 23’ bow rider with a VP 5.0 GXi-E. These days it is only the wife and I + dog. We trailered up there from our MA home for years and for the last few had a seasonal dock. So, this is not about coastal or blue water nor multiengine craft which require a different set of skills. But I believe some of aspects of the below still apply.
Starting off with trailering. In addition to the safety chain and winch strap and the typical 2 transom tie downs, I have 4 more: 2 on the gunnels and 2 on the bow that reach back and act to keep the boat from launching forward. I did have to install additional trailer tie points that I got from the trailer company. And to aid in attaching the Boat Buckles to the sides and bow I use lifting straps passed thru the cleats that extend down the side of the boat. Strap is folded in half with the fold point through the cleat and the two eyes of the strap are brought together for the Boat Buckle hook. Nice, neat and effective. I also use those sterndrive trailing clips. I do not lower the drive onto the clips as some do. I use them simply to preclude a disaster if there is a failure of the hydraulics while towing. After departing, I pull over after a few miles and do a safety check that includes checking all straps and towing attachment; temp of all tires (incl. tow vehicle) and the trailer’s hub and drum brake’s temp. I also rotate one of the sterndrive trailering clips to check if under pressure > if the hydraulics are leaking, the drive would be resting on the clip, and I would not be able to rotate it. I do this at every stop along the way. It’s a good habit to get into.
At the ramp, the boat is 100% prepared prior to backing down. If a long line, this can be done in line with my wife keeping up with the traffic. If a slow day we pull over to the side and get it done. This includes checking the oil and trim pump levels and belt tension. Blower is on during all this. I also check the various items in the engine compartment are secure (battery, toolbox, spare prop, stern light pole). The bow line and both a P & S stern lines are attached. Even though I plan on tying up on one side, I always prepare for either. Winch and safety chain are still attached. I am fortunate my wife knows how to drive the boat, so she is at the helm when I back down. Prior to releasing the safety chain and winch, she lowers the motor and starts up and announces: “Oil pressure up”. It is only at this point I will launch the boat. The idea here is if the engine does not start, I can immediately pull out, freeing up the ramp.
The above reflects a key philosophy I have > the boat is always ‘under control’. That may sound obvious but let me explain further. I would never launch the boat off the trailer or untie off a dock without the motor running and someone at the helm. Same for retrieving or docking. Until I have the winch strap hooked to the bow eye or lines on the dock, the motor is running with someone at the helm. There always needs to be a way of controlling the boat, via the engine, lines or anchor. I get this process needs two people and if by yourself it requires a different approach for some aspects. However, I suspect a lot of new boaters are a couple or family unit. I encourage you to start from the beginning as a team. The more everyone knows and develops skills, all the better, as well as safer and frankly more enjoyable.
As I have experienced jerks more often than I care to think about (at the ramp and underway), I developed another key philosophy > I do not stress about it. My version of “Don’t worry, be happy”. Frankly I did not always behave this way, but I learned that I am never going to change those jerk’s behavior, so instead of ‘giving them a piece of my mind’, I just keep it all to myself. Thus, when I get cut off or someone is loading their gear on the ramp, I just chill.
Underway we are respectful to all markings (no wake zone, etc.) as well as others > we give wide berth to those fishing or towing their kids. Our heads are on a swivel and the passenger (usually my wife) helps by pointing out buoys, flotsam, or other objects of interest including boats that may cross our path. The habit we have developed is to call out the direction like “Off the stbd bow” as well as point. And while I adhere to the Rules of the Road, I do not expect others too nor do I get upset when they do not.
When I do have guests aboard, I do a safety brief which includes “Do not help unless I specially ask for it”. I help satisfy their desire by having them do the above calling out of buoys, etc. and pointing.
Given the size of the boat, no one is allowed to move around when on plane and all personnel are inside the cockpit whenever underway at any speed. No kids sitting on the bow or swim platform as we putt-putt along.
We typically anchor at spots where there are others. We are sensitive swing arcs prior to picking a spot. And when other boats decide to anchor next to us (or within our combined swing arcs) I hail them and respectfully explain the hazard they are creating. Most, to their credit, apologize and fess up they do not fully understand the dynamics. We have also experienced a few jerks, so I chill and move. And we never crank up the tunes.
Anchoring is a skill in of itself and if you are not familiar with the ins and outs, please read, talk to others and watch videos on this. Here is a great link to start with. I have seen many boaters simply toss their Danforth anchor overboard and tie it off.
The same goes for docking and tying up. Here is a great link to start with. Also, some years ago, I attached a small cleat to a board and had the kids (even myself) practice proper cleat tying and other knots.
We also fully prepare prior to docking. The bow and a P & S stern lines are attached and ready for use. Even if we intend to dock port side to, that stern stbd line is still at the ready just in case things go south. And the boat hook is out at the ready. Fenders deployed if needed.
When docking, as the saying goes, never approach anything faster than you are willing to hit it. I consider neutral a ‘gear’ in this respect. The idea is in fwd gear (at idle) back to neutral, back into gear (at idle), neutral, reverse (at idle), etc. And another philosophy I apply > my pride is not a factor. If my approach is not working out, I back out and redo. And if I am uncomfortable with a maneuver, I do not attempt it. Example: at busy fuel dock, the attendant asked if I could back in to put my fuel cap to the dock. I declined having never done that and waited for the other side to be clear.
Lastly, and this is more on the human side, we are always willing to help others. This has ranged from loaning tools to helping folks tie up and much more. Once we noticed a lone swimmer traversing a long distance from shore to an island in an area that had traffic and was not a no wake zone. We putt-putt’ed parallel to her at a proper distance to ensure her safety. And while I had my own thoughts about the sanity of her exercise routine, when she got close to shore, she thanked us for watching out for her exclaiming that we were the first boaters to ever do that in all her years of swimming to the island. Her comment made me sad….
Boating is a blast, and I hope to do so for as long as my body will allow. But it is also an activity that requires planning, thought, seamanship and even heart. I hope this helps a new boater gain some of that.