Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
Among the many CSR members are some who are on their first boat and are learning the ropes as the old saying goes. Others, myself included, have boated for many years, have boated on a variety of waters and with some, have owned many boats they have enjoyed.
So, here's my thought for this thread: How about sharing that one thing that you felt has made you a much better boater. Not necessarily better than others, but better than you were before you learned it.
I'll start with what I feel is probably the most important thing I learned and that is how to read what the winds and currents are going to do to my boat as I approach a dock. I often would sit, just idling in neutral, looking at what the wind is doing, looking at tell tales to see what way they were being blown. Then I would try to visualize what effect the winds would have on my boat and how I would make my approach to the dock. I almost always backed into my slip so that visualization also included where I would rotate the boat so I'd be in the right position to back in.
I almost never had to deal with current while docking but I would try to read any current and do the same visualization before I started my approach to the dock.
I also learned early on that there's no shame in taking a missed approach, pulling away from the dock/slip and starting the process over. Heck, if pilots can do it so can skippers.
Next?
So, here's my thought for this thread: How about sharing that one thing that you felt has made you a much better boater. Not necessarily better than others, but better than you were before you learned it.
I'll start with what I feel is probably the most important thing I learned and that is how to read what the winds and currents are going to do to my boat as I approach a dock. I often would sit, just idling in neutral, looking at what the wind is doing, looking at tell tales to see what way they were being blown. Then I would try to visualize what effect the winds would have on my boat and how I would make my approach to the dock. I almost always backed into my slip so that visualization also included where I would rotate the boat so I'd be in the right position to back in.
I almost never had to deal with current while docking but I would try to read any current and do the same visualization before I started my approach to the dock.
I also learned early on that there's no shame in taking a missed approach, pulling away from the dock/slip and starting the process over. Heck, if pilots can do it so can skippers.
Next?