Do you instruct your passengers before going out?

[haulnazz15]

Re: Do you instruct your passengers before going out?

"Is this like when you fly your aircraft?"

I don't believe I've seen Va or turbulence penetration speeds listed in the boat manual, I'd have to check though.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Do you instruct your passengers before going out?

Another helpful instruction, from the driver:
I am going to do my best to keep you dry, so understand that if you get sprayed, it was not my intention, or fault. Those things happen, unexpectedly and cannot be helped.
That way you don't get the dirty looks from the new wet T-shirt contestants.

Same goes for bumps.

 

[convergent]

Re: Do you instruct your passengers before going out?

I think that a lot of this depends on the boat, the audience, and the activities. Most of the time when we go out we are planning to spend more time in the water than in the boat, and everyone swims. I don't think I've ever mentioned anything about life jackets to anyone, other than where the ski vests are. The life jackets are in the same place, so they should be able to handle that.

The areas that I instruct people the most are...
- Getting an assistant to help with launching and trailering the boat... usually one of my kids.
- Having someone help me untie from the dock and push off.
- Telling people to get off the rear deck when we are cruising.
- Reminding people not to dive into the water when we have no idea how deep it is or what might be underneath the surface (I have to repeat this constantly and argue with the "I know how to dive shallow" folks).
- Moving passengers around to balance the weight when pulling someone.
- Asking the person sitting in the seat beside me to move their head out of the way so I can see the person I'm pulling in the mirror.
- Reminding people to rinse out their empty cans/bottles and throw them in the empty live well so they don't blow out of the boat.
- Getting people to hang the fenders when we are headed into the dock.
- Then asking people to keep their hands back until I tell them to grab the dock. This is an area that is much better now that I've learned how to get the boat to a few inches from the dock (stopped) and then shutting it off. A month ago it was a near death experience as we approached the dock each time!

And finally..... asking people to keep their crap picked up and out of the way so people don't trip, and to get out what they brought in when we are done.

I don't really do any of this before... I'm more of an instruct as we go kind of guy I guess. One thing I've found is it really helps to stay calm. If the captain gets excited about something it raises everyone's anxiety level and that can lead to hurried accidents as well as chilling the fun factor.