Any Lady Boaters Out There?

[LuvBoating]

My wife was wondering how many ladies out there enjoy boating as much as she does? Actually, she helps me launch/retrieve our 20' cuddy, but I have to drive the hauling vehicle/trailer........pulling the length/hull size of our boat behind our Durango is too intimidating for her! I have to back the boat down the ramp part way, but she will take over when putting the trailer/boat into the water and unhook the winch so I can float it off (I'm in the boat) and then she will park the vehicle/trailer. She will tie and untie us up at any dock. Let her behind the wheel/throttle and she will give you a ride.........not real fast, but fast enough for us! The lady does love some speed.
I'm just glad that I have a wife that doesn't have me do everything on the boat and is just on the boat for the ride! And, when it comes to cleaning up the boat, she is definitely "Mr Clean"!
And, by the way, she is in her early 60's, as I am.
So, what ladies here help out with the "boating work"?

 

[CaptNCamille]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

My wife loves boating...all facets of it. We have a 27 ' Maxum. She has complete control of our lines and fenders when it comes to docking and rafting up with our friends. She can operate the boat a bit... usually when there is a problem retrieving the anchor. She'll take the wheel while I go up to the bow. The cabin is her domain which she keeps immaculate. And, get this, she loves to wash dishes on the boat. She also is the Commander of our local power squadron.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

All the women in my family are boaters. My mother grew up on the water, as did I and my sisters. My wife, daughters and nieces are all accomplished boaters. They can do the trailer thing but somehow convince the men to do it. My wife loves to fish and ride around with me, but she is not comfortable running the boats solo, except when I am nearby in another boat. But she'll do it. My sister runs them like I do.

The best way to get a child into boating is to start with small boat sailing. There you learn skills, confidence and most important, how to deal with the challenges, problems and changing circumstances that are inherent to boating. I find that those who regard boating like operating a car seldom become good boaters. And fo rcouples who are both new to boating, learn together. There is nothing a man does on a boat that a woman can't do. Especially at the ramp.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

We met couple at a USCGA Boating Class in '09 and later seen them at the landing we launch at with their boat. We were shocked that the husband done all the work.........lines, fenders, launching while his wife sat in the vehicle. They had a bowrider, so he could climb up on the trailer tongue and then up into the bow easily. He would float off the trailer and bring the boat over to the dock, tie it up himself and then went and pulled the trailer out of the water and parked. At that time, his wife would get out of the truck and they both got on the boat..........but, he had to untie lines and bring in the fenders before they took off! Guess she was just one of these ladies that would say "we can have a boat, but I'm only going to ride in and that's it!"
Whenever I want to take a look at the engine on ours, while underway, my wife will take over driving the boat. If I want to take a photo or video of something, she will do the same.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

My admiral loves being out on the boat. She is a bit uncomfortable driving it especially when the lake is crowded but she can do it. I made sure of that JUST in case something happens to me (we are both 58) so she can get us back, and tied up, to the dock. She is also a bit uncomfortable backing the truck down the ramp. But, she does want to "participate" in the process. So, at the prep area, she handles the transom straps, checks to make sure I didn't forget the plug before we left the house, loads the cooler, etc while I am putting out the fenders and lines. Then I back it down, undo the winch strap and safety chain, she takes hold of the lines, I back the rest of the way into the water, pop the boat off and she secures the lines to the dock, puts the blower on, while I park the trailer. She also handles the helm when I am setting the anchor. When we come back in, I dock it and get the trailer. I back the trailer down. Get back to the boat. I idle on to the trailer, lean over the bow, winch it up, secure the safety chain, she gets in the truck and pulls out and drives us to the clean up area (she has no problems driving the truck / trailer .....in forward). This routine works for us and, as I said, she "wants" to be a part of it.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

The launching area we go to doesn't have a dock next to the ramp. There is no way to walk a boat off of a trailer with lines. Got to launch directly into the water and then drive the boat up to the floating dock. The St John's River, where we've gone out of, has very little traffic on it when we are out there. The traffic gets the heaviest during the Air Show at the Naval Air Station next to the river and also during the fireworks displays on the New Years Eve-the 4th of July and during the annual Christmas Boat Parade. The fireworks displays are all held on the river by Jax Landing which is in the downtown area. We never take our boat out or are out at night.
Wife helps me hook the boat/trailer up to our vehicle as well. Oh how I LOVE my wife!

My admiral loves being out on the boat. She is a bit uncomfortable driving it especially when the lake is crowded but she can do it. I made sure of that JUST in case something happens to me (we are both 58) so she can get us back, and tied up, to the dock. She is also a bit uncomfortable backing the truck down the ramp. But, she does want to "participate" in the process. So, at the prep area, she handles the transom straps, checks to make sure I didn't forget the plug before we left the house, loads the cooler, etc while I am putting out the fenders and lines. Then I back it down, undo the winch strap and safety chain, she takes hold of the lines, I back the rest of the way into the water, pop the boat off and she secures the lines to the dock, puts the blower on, while I park the trailer. She also handles the helm when I am setting the anchor. When we come back in, I dock it and get the trailer. I back the trailer down. Get back to the boat. I idle on to the trailer, lean over the bow, winch it up, secure the safety chain, she gets in the truck and pulls out and drives us to the clean up area (she has no problems driving the truck / trailer .....in forward). This routine works for us and, as I said, she "wants" to be a part of it.

 

[moneypit!]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

My husband handles the boat on land, once he backs me down in the water, it's all mine from there! Oh and he throws the anchor out!

 

[flamingo1227]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

I love boating as much as my husband. Since we upgraded to our 256 Monterey, I have yet to learn how to drive it. I take care of securing the boat when docking, dropping and retrieving anchor. I clean the inside of the boat (he does the outside). I can't wait to get on the water every weekend and also make sure all the pre-prep work is ready to go (food, clothes, etc.). We both are members of our local power squadron. It is a lifestyle and would not want it any other way.

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

My good friend Sara owns a 28' Silverton. She's a little nervous with docking or rafting up, but takes control quite well on the water.

 

[pom mom]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

I have a 20 foot pontoon with an enclosure and I love going out by myself and spending the night fishing. Sometimes I take the grandkids. By the way, I am a great-grandma, retired and loving it!

 

[dmccaughey]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

I am a stay at home mom of 4. My hubs and I own a couple boats. I launch, drive and load for fun and practice. We live in Alaska and have a remote cabin. I want to feel comfortable with all aspects of running the boat in case an emergency. I actually found a nice boat at a garage sale couple days sho and bought it for him. He won't be home from work till Friday and I can't wait to surprise him. I mastered backing up trailers last year. That was a big one for me. Yay for all the momma boaters

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

My wife has been boating almost all her life. She can handle all aspects of launch and retrieve; but she does not like to back the trailer. She doesn't like to back up in any vehicle, with or without a trailer.

I've also been boating most of my life. Until moving down south from NYC, I had no experience with boat ramps. Most of my boating experience is salt water, from slips. My wife, however, is from the south, has been freshwater boating almost all her life, and has been her father's launch/retrieve partner since she was 4 years old. My wife and I can launch/retrieve in under 2 minutes while keeping control of our 3 year old, and 8 year old sons.

My wife is completely at home on a boat. It's great having her as a partner on the boat, as well as everything else in life!!! How's that for makin' points.
Ooh... did I say that out loud

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

Can I borrow her on weekends?

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

Out of sure curiousity, age bracket you folks are in? What size/kind of boat do you have?

My husband handles the boat on land, once he backs me down in the water, it's all mine from there! Oh and he throws the anchor out!

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

Is your boat in a slip or on a trailer? Boating for older couples is much easier when the boat is either in dry storage (just call or show up and they drop it into the water for you and take it out) or in a slip (load food/etc., start engine, untie lines.......take off) than on a trailer like we have, but my wife still does her part!

I love boating as much as my husband. Since we upgraded to our 256 Monterey, I have yet to learn how to drive it. I take care of securing the boat when docking, dropping and retrieving anchor. I clean the inside of the boat (he does the outside). I can't wait to get on the water every weekend and also make sure all the pre-prep work is ready to go (food, clothes, etc.). We both are members of our local power squadron. It is a lifestyle and would not want it any other way.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

Good for you, ABSOLUTELY.......good for you!!

I have a 20 foot pontoon with an enclosure and I love going out by myself and spending the night fishing. Sometimes I take the grandkids. By the way, I am a great-grandma, retired and loving it!

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

During part of my teen years, I'd go with my Uncle on his ski boat (as a rider only) when visiting my cousins for a weekend, but that wasn't very often. I learned most of my boating skills from the Navy. Now, my wife's family was really into boating, having both a lake cottage and two boats, one a ski boat. That was during her pre-teen and early teen years. After the Navy, I had nothing to do with boating for a number of years, until I met a gal who owned a ski boat and jet ski (from a divorce) and I found out I could actually water ski and also get up on a jet ski! (that was back in my early 40's). That relationship didn't last, so.........bye, bye to boating again! My wife was the same way, after those cottage/boat years, she got away from it for years. Then in 2003, A couple of years after we married, we started talking about getting a boat and decided to rent a Wave Runner first. Loved the hour we were on that and our first boat came into view shortly after. Of course, as the age goes up, so does the exhaustion from launching/retrieving and cleaning......for us anyway. Sooner or later, dry storage or a slip will be a must!

 

[KBHumphrey]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

Only thing my wife doesn't want to do is the trailering/backing up part. She gets all the kids in the boat when we launch while I pull the truck out and park. Then she usually takes the first shift piloting while I go through my obsessive compulsive piece of moving everything slightly around in the boat. Docking, re-trailering and pulling anchor are all in her skill set, bless her.

Her father had a boat when she was young but she'd been away from it for over a decade or more. I spent a bit of time with friends around boats in my early 20s. We're 37 and 44, and have a 20' bowrider.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

I'm just short of 70 and my wife is 65.We have a 24 ft Starcraft pontoon boat. So far I have to do everything. A little help would be nice.

 

[trejac]

Re: Any Lady Boaters Out There?

My wife (mid 30's) loves boating. The only thing she has problems with is backing the trailer but since she can drive the boat she pulls it off the trailer. We go out once a week and she drives when I'm wakeskating, wakeboarding, wakesurfing or tubing and does a great job. Especially using perfect pass.
The only time she gets a little nervous is when the lake is real busy but then so do I (tooooo many idiots).

I count myself a lucky man!!!