Wife at the helm...

[dkorzun21]

Re: Wife at the helm...

Ummm, YOU have control over your wasted friends and thei level of "wastedness." Very irresponsible what you are doing, IMO, and you will be held responsible when one of those idiots kills someone.

wouldnt say that I have control over how much people drink, thats up to them but I usally let my one buddy drive who I trust more then the others but he is still an *** driving. Dont know what the wifes deal is she would rather just sit there then do anything. Maybe shes just scared.

 

[skargo]

Re: Wife at the helm...

wouldnt say that I have control over how much people drink, thats up to them but I usally let my one buddy drive who I trust more then the others but he is still an *** driving. Dont know what the wifes deal is she would rather just sit there then do anything. Maybe shes just scared.

Really? I have absolute control how much people drink on my boat, and I have control over who I let aboard. Sounds like you need new friends or need to learn when to say no.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Wife at the helm...

Tahoe 55, I'd get real curious the day the wifey wants to use the tow vehicle one day while I was at work!

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Wife at the helm...

I totally envy you!!!

My wife is from Italy, and didn't even get her driver's license until she was 24... (They use scooters a lot over there).

She isn't even that good at driving a car, and is a "late braker" which terrifies me (I'm always pushing the imaginary brake on my side of the car LOL). She is terrifed of the interstate, and any road with more than 1 lane in the same direction...

She has never, ever, not once attempted to drive the boat, and in fact, wouldn't have a clue how to... She wouldn't know how to do anything, start it, get it in gear, nothing! Me, I was born and raised on the water, been boating since I was a baby, driving boats since I was 9, and have had my own boat since I was 12, so it's like second nature to me...

I have just recently told her, that she WILL learn how to operate the boat! For a few reasons...

Most importantly, if something were to happen to me, she wouldn't be stuck adrift without any idea what to do... (we have a 5 yo son who goes out with us a lot now, and I want to be sure they could get back safely if something happens!).

Secondly, "I" want to actually water ski/tube/kneeboard and do some of the things I used to, but I obviously can't drive and ski at the same time!

Soon as the boat is finished from the rebuild, our first few trips out, are going to be navigation and operation lessons for her!

I would say, enjoy what you have, make up a nice "sharing" schedule for helm time, and be thankful you have a wife who is capable of operating the boat for you! I hope mine can one day too! (just have to work on that late braking thing LMAO).

 

[Begester]

Re: Wife at the helm...

My least favorite part of boating is always having to drive. I can deal with the pesky annoyances, high gas bills, pumping out the bathroom, etc. but my least favorite thing to do on the boat is drive. I'd much rather be relaxing in the cabin or chilling out while someone else drives. My better half also feels this way, can you guess who drives more?

It was a lot of fun teaching her how to drive and educating her on marine navigation, right-of-ways, etc. and was also a good refresher for me

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Wife at the helm...

Hmm... You all have shed new light on my situation. I knew deep down, her wanting to drive more was a good thing, but just needed to hear it from someone else. I'll count my blessings and do my best to patiently teach her the proper way to fully operate the boat.

Thanks for straightening me out.

 

[Kracken]

Re: Wife at the helm...

Can you get her to clean the boat...maybe take care of some of the general maintenance?

You have it good. My wife has driven the boat for about 20 minutes over the past 10 years. I would love it if she drove it at least 10% of the time, but I know...its never going to happen.

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Wife at the helm...

We got caught in a thunder storm on the way home from the lake last month and the boat got trashed from all the road spray (inside and out). I got all mad about it and she said "Don't worry, when we get home, you get the kids inside and I'll clean the boat up." And she did. Spent about an hour on it and it looked real good when she was done. So she has cleaned it before...
Now if I could just get her to help me wax it...

 

[Kracken]

Re: Wife at the helm...

I am truly envious

I love my wife to death she is the most thoughtful considerate person I have ever met. She is a great wife and a wonderful mother, but when it comes to the boat?she is ballast.

 

[sbbamafan]

Re: Wife at the helm...

Kracken - I think we are married to the same person! I figured there had to be somebody on here in the same situation.

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Wife at the helm...

Well, don't get me wrong, it's not all roses and cupcakes.....
She's got good points and bad points as well as good days and bad (like most women, I'm sure).
Luckily, the good out weighs the bad and I love her to death....

 

[cgd7777777]

Re: Wife at the helm...

Yes you are still a man if your wife drives the boat

yesterday evening we took the boat out for a lil quit time and my wife wanted to learn how to drive and dock without anybody arround she did great i had a blast

Its also good for her to know how to everything one day you might get sick or pass out and she will have take care of you

 

[Bowser4x4]

Re: Wife at the helm...

I'm lucky: the wife will drive the boat, trailer it, load/unload and take the boat without me, but when we are together, prefers me to drive. Says she would rather relax on the boat then drive it if possible, but has no problem with driving when needed. Plus, our 11 year old is a great deckhand....helps prep the boat, gets it ready to deploy, helps load it back, and he and his 8 year old brother are in charge of cleaning the boat when we return.

Be thankful for a wife willing to drive: have friends that the wife won't even sit in the drivers seat....

Woof
Bowser

 

[Unbalanced]

Re: Wife at the helm...

I laughed out loud just reading the title....

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Wife at the helm...

When my wife started wanting to drive I decided it was time to get her a boat of her own.
She loves to boat but like many women is not comfortable backing up a trailer.
So I picked her up a small jet boat, she has no problem launching this and I don't have to worry about her or my teenage girls getting hurt by a prop.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: Wife at the helm...

I forgot to mention, that she also cleans up the boat, when she can, A N D she mows the yard !!!!!!!!!! (I've got it good !!!!!!!! )

 

[poolshark4016]

Re: Wife at the helm...

I think I am choking on the testosterone in this thread! It's not like trying to have a farm animal drive the boat...we are perfectly capable human beings.

I actually found the boat, took it for a test drive and trailered it home ( from a different state) before my hubby even had a chance to see it. We take turns doing everything...it is OUR boat.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Wife at the helm...

My wife use to hate the boat until she started to operate it. I took her and some of her annoying friends one time. I decided to pressure her to drive because she wasn?t drinking and I didnt think she could refuse in front of her friends. She did great and really enjoyed it. Taught her how to back the trailer, load and unload a few weeks after that. It makes launching and retrieving so easy now.
She has been hinting at taking the boat alone with her friends lately. She hasn?t asked me straight out yet, but I know its coming. She is going to be very sad the day she does ask though.

 

[Thad]

Re: Wife at the helm...

When my wife and I met, she had a wave runner and I had a boat. Shortly after, we had just the boat. It is our boat. She can and will drive but like someone else said, she would much rather sit in the bow, have a drink and enjoy the scenery. She backs the trailer, helps clean the boat and even helps with the maintenance.
My daughter helps too. And she drives the boat. So I get to sit in the bow with my wife and enjoy the scenery with her.
In another year, my daughter will probably be towing the boat home too.

I have no problem with "what's mine is hers and what's hers is hers"

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: Wife at the helm...

I have no problem with my better half driving the boat while I'm in it, sometimes I ask if she wants to drive. What does scare me is I'm 1200 miles away and she wants to take the boat out by herself! She hasn't learned starting procedures (trimming all the way down, blower, choke, etc.) and is still trying to master the art of the trim while running. Not to mention she doesn't pull into the dock yet, she doesn't want to. So she calls me and says she wants to take the boat out. . I can't say no, or I better find a home in Ohio, but I sure as heck lost my voice trying to squeak the word "yes.":redface: I tried explaining it might be better if I gave her some instructions from everything, including pre-trip checklist, what to do at the ramp, starting procedures, where to stay in the river so you don't run aground, and anchoring procedures. Well, when it comes to anything with a motor, most (and I stress the word most) women don't care what makes it run, they just wanna drive and leave all the other details out of the equation.