Lessons from experience

Presentation

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
4,404
Wisconsin - Winnebago Pool chain of lakes
Boat Info
280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
Engines
twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
I’ve taken the course and do the safe vessel checks however some things you just need to learn by going boating.

One of the reasons I read this very forum is to learn what NOT to do, just as much as to lean what to do.

The recent post about a boat club here
http://www.byowneryachts.com/forums/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2042&highlight=
reminded me about my one and only experience with a boat club member. This BAD experience caused me to add one more item to my list of things I will NOT do, well, not do again.

With my guard down and my mind set to leisure mode I was at the marina prepping the boat for an upcoming journey. A chap came along onto my finger pier and said another member of the marina said I might have one of those portable power units for jump starting. I don’t but I have jumper cables and offered them up. Of course they would not do him any good unless I start my boat, untie, boat around to the other side of the marina, tie along side his boat, pull back my carpet, remove my engine cover and attach the cables to my battery.

I’m not trying to sound lazy but getting to the batteries in a 1998 240DA is not as easy as on the new boats. The cockpit carpet is all one piece. The engine hatch does not swig up and out of the way, you lift it off and put it somewhere, say on a seat.

I did not know this guy from Adam. Never had met him before. His wife, I assume, was standing in the background.

Yeah, I agreed to it. Got my boat over there, opened her up, attached the cables.

It turned out his problem was something other then a dead battery. I’m no mechanic but when he turned the switch he got nothing, not even a click.

It was then that he said the guy before him must have done something. I asked what guy and he then proceeded to explain that he was in a boat club and the boat was co-owned by 6 different couples. As I was putting things away he said he was going to run home and get a power-jump starter he owns and try it again. I asked him where that was. It was about a 5 minute drive away!!!!

I packed up, put things back, untied and went back to my slip, oh, on my own and self-docked. Not that I have a issue with single handed docking I just figured that he’d come over and help me dock. Nope.

In total this took me about 45 minutes.

In the end I felt used. Partly because he was a member of a boat group, sort of cheating (my psychological issue) partly because we were not successful in getting the boat going so I did not get that endorphin release feeling of success, partly because after taking MY weekend time I found out in the same amount of time or less he could have drove home and got his own darn jumper and done this himself however the #1 reason I was mad was I was mad at myself for being stupid. He was not out on the water stuck heading for the rocks and in danger. He was safely in his slip. Had the jump start worked he would have been in more danger. Had he headed off and the engine stalled he may again not be able to start the boat and be in a worse situation.

My new rule: If you are not out to sea I am not giving you a jump.

Again, I was mostly mad at myself.

Since this experience I have had an issue with boat club people.
 
I think I'll go read the boat club thread now... I misunderstood what that topic heading was about ( thinking it was more of where a group of boaters..with their OWN boats got toghter to enjoy one another 's company)

I definately think I'll ask a few questions when called upon for help. I'm sure i would have done the same as you in taking the time to go help.... and no doubt felt the same frustrations....
 
Ignorance in any aspect of life can be very frustrating. It doesn't matter if it's someone that can't say thank you as they walk through a door your holding, or a driver that blocks an intersection when traffic is backed up or someone that A) doesn't have the common sense to run home and get their own jump start when they are only 5 minutes away, or B) have the courtesy to help get you back into your dock after wasting your time.

I honestly think you would have been just as frustrated and upset if he had actually owned the boat. I find that ignorance tends to have no boundaries.
 
After a number of years in the same marina I've learned some lessons about helping others:

1. I won't take my boat apart to fix yours
2. The marina provides certain services like jump batteries and charge carts. I won't compete with the marina by providing you those services for free.
3. I don't loan tools........I'll go with them and help you fix your boat with your parts, but my tools are not going alone.
4. Always look busy, and half mad or crazy. Most people won't bother mean or crazy people who have something on their mind.

If you happen to be one of the many people whom I consider to be friends, the above doesn't count because I may need a favor some day.
 
Everyone, thank you for letting me know I’m not an A**hole and not the only one that has been in such a situation. :thumbsup:

Frank, I agree about friends getting a different set of rules. When its friends, this is the type of stuff we look back over a drink and laugh about. :smt014

About #4, can I be both at the same time?
:smt017
 
fwebster said:
4. Always look busy, and half mad or crazy. Most people won't bother mean or crazy people who have something on their mind.
Ha Ha Ha... I almost pissed my pant's when I read this. I always try to look this way to stop people from bugging me. No matter if it's at work or on the boat.... And yes, it usually works. Good stuff Frank.
 
That also works on an airplane when you don't want someone to sit in the middle seat. Great thread!

Scott
'93 230 Sundancer
"Liberty Call"
 
Doug , I applaud your willingness to help a fellow boater and I understand why you might not do it again ! (in those circumstances).
 
Since deregulation and 9-11, it takes more than looking mean or crazy to keep that 300 lb woman hauling all her worldly possessions out of the middle seat..........you have to drool some too.
 
I personally eat 2 burritos in the terminal before I board the plane.
 
fwebster said:
4. Always look busy, and half mad or crazy. Most people won't bother mean or crazy people who have something on their mind.
Aren't you retired? :smt015 :smt015 :smt015 :smt015 :smt015 I mean I can understand :smt013 half-mad or Crazy :smt101 ......that's easy to pull off, but you have earned the right to not be busy and :smt101 "crazily" state - so! :thumbsup:

That being said, I am always willing to assist. Hey I haven't boated on the "right" coast so I'm not sure of the density of the problem you described but for me it's an interesting way (simiar to this site) to assist others, learn a trick or two and meet some great people. Yes there are a few Clueless BoZos but hey......that's life Man! :huh:
 
Last summer the wife and I were taking an early morning cruise around 8 am we pass an 18' Rinker. He is anchored right of the channel of the Mississippi near the confluence of the Illinois River. Well he waves us down so I turn around and pull up. He said he ran out of gas and slept on the river and asked If I could tow him back. I said - I would take him to the closest marina to get a gas can. So as I am pulling near his boat he decides to jump for my boat grabs the side of the boat with his beer in one hand and his wallet in the other he is hanging from the side of the boat about to fall in and he is yelling to get his beer - he wasn't worried about his wallet. Keep in mind this is 8 AM. So we drag his drunk butt in the boat and take him to a gas dock - our Dog was not amused with this joker. People at the gas dock were looking at us like who is that drunk fool. So we get gas - he has to leave his wallet at the marina as collateral for the gas can. So when we get him back to his boat I backed in swim platform to swim platform - but before I got to close he jumped with the gas can - he did make it. At this point we start to leave and he says I can't find my keys... At this point I told him we got you gas you are on your own. As we leave he said I ran out of gas last weekend and had to spend the night out here then too. :smt017 :smt038
 
Todd,

Thanks for the concern, but I figure that retired folks who sit on their butts and watch Oprah and Dr. Phil get depressed and don't live very long.

I figured when I retired early that the main reason to punch my ticket was to be able to do what I want to instead of what I had to. So, I work every day.... usually from sunrise to dark, I do what I want to do, work on what I want to work on. and invest the time needed to complete my "projects" at a higher quality level than I ever could afford to when worked for someone else.

Maybe if I didn't spend so much time on boating forums I could watch Oprah and her cause de'jour.........!
 
I have also assisted some "less than gratious" Bozo's, and walked away talking to myself. :smt021 :smt021
Thank goodness that they are in the minority. :smt038
 
How does that saying go...."Experience is something you get right after you need it".... :grin:
 
osd9 said:
How does that saying go...."Experience is something you get right after you need it".... :grin:

I could not have put it any better!!!! :thumbsup:
 
Last year leaving my slip, heading down the channel, A 40 something sail boat is frantically trying to set his anchor with wife and very small child on board. I pulled up to him and asked if he wanted me to call Seatow for him. He couldn't set his anchor and the tide was coming in. He asked me to tow him back to our marina about 1 mile out. His boat is huge compared to mine. I again offered to call for help, but he said he already tried unsuccessfully. I offered to pull him a hundred yards to an empty mooring for safety. Once I got him safely tied up, he wanted a ride back to the marina. Like a nice guy I said yes but only to drop them off. He left his wife and baby on the boat. On the way back he tells me he too is from our marina and he was just leaving and he ran out of gas because he FORGOT TO LOOK :smt021 :smt021 :smt021 .
I know this idiot is the exception but I was not happy with my fellow boater!
 
fwebster said:
Todd,

Thanks for the concern, but I figure that retired folks who sit on their butts and watch Oprah and Dr. Phil get depressed and don't live very long.

I figured when I retired early that the main reason to punch my ticket was to be able to do what I want to instead of what I had to. So, I work every day.... usually from sunrise to dark, I do what I want to do, work on what I want to work on. and invest the time needed to complete my "projects" at a higher quality level than I ever could afford to when worked for someone else.

Maybe if I didn't spend so much time on boating forums I could watch Oprah and her cause de'jour.........!

now that's just bragging! :wink: No I'm truely happy for you
 
boatrboy said:
He left his wife and baby on the boat. On the way back he tells me he too is from our marina and he was just leaving and he ran out of gas because he FORGOT TO LOOK :smt021 :smt021 :smt021 .
I know this idiot is the exception but I was not happy with my fellow boater!

Unfortunately, this is not "the exception". This is your more often than not 'typical blow boater". For whatever reason, it seams as shown by their actions afloat, that their mind is on some other planet. :smt101 :smt101
Oh, there are some very nice sailboaters, with all of their wits about them, in fact, I'm slipped right next to one, who is super, but I've not found too many....
As an example, one that I know of, his wife comes down to the boat in 3" high heels...!!! :huh: :huh:
 

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