Intro to boat handeling?

[Rickysa]

I was just perusing the Chapman's site and thought I'd ask you folks if you knew of anyone (other than Chapmans) that offered "at the helm" boat handling lessons?

My pop just sat for his 6-pack but is still uncomfortable handling our 45c in tight quarters. I've tried the "just go slow and if you bump into stuff, no worries, just keep practicing" route, but no luck.

Anybody know of any options out there?

Rick

 

[Pascal]

an excellent excercise to get someone over their fear is to practice having them come up bow to a piling and get the bow within inches. it really show them how close they can get and how much control they have. start bow into the wind then practice in cross wind.

it's a much better excercise than using a buoy that you often can't see and can't get close.

 

[hunshatt]

Ricky, things suck up here(bad hire in my estimating dept, Lots of ching lost) I'll be happy to come down and help your dad get over his issues. Probably be able to get him over it in a couple of years. You still have that cute sounding woman in the office?? I'll be leaving kathi here for the duration of my stay.
Seriously, send him up here. couple of dockingings in 9knt current(coming and going) and the high winds we get and he'll have no issues parking in those lagoon like marina's y'all have down there.

Thudddddddddddd

 

[Rickysa]

Pascal, good idea. We'll try it this weekend

Timmy.......ummmmmm.....thanks, I'll let you know

 

[garyd]

I've taught lots of folks to fly and captain boats. He needs to build confidence. The best way is to spend time doing it.

Take him to some calm water and find a bouy or single piling have him keep the bow pulpit pointed dead nuts at the object. Then do it in water that is slightly moving. etc etc.

Once he can keep the bow pointed at the object even if he moves around it then asks him not to move around the object.

Then do it with the stern.

Start with shifters only then introduce the wheel. At first only let him use the wheel for the final little help.

Then go onto a docking situation.

It just takes time, controlled enviroment, and the student building confidence until he knows what he knows.

Then move onto to docking both directions.

garyd

 

[Capt.Erich]

Ricky,

I'd be happy to come down to Beaufort and help your Dad sometime. I've done this before with owners who have moved up or just need some practice.

PM me if you are interested.

Erich

 

[Rickysa]

Erich,

Done! Let's work some fishing in too

 

[Brian Degulis]

That's easy Five or six Valium if he does hit anything he won't even know it FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!!!

Brian

 

[hunshatt]

WHAT JUST HAPPENED????????????? Capt Erich got the job??? Fine that just means me and the 31 guys are gonna drink more of your beer when we get there. And now that you've got Dad trained, we're goning to xpect to catch fish, and not just do stripper cruises(and if we're bringing the girls, well maybe we'll bring the bird too).
You'd have been money ahead to accept my gracious offer.

 

[Capt.Erich]

WHAT JUST HAPPENED????????????? Capt Erich got the job??? Fine that just means me and the 31 guys are gonna drink more of your beer when we get there. And now that you've got Dad trained, we're goning to xpect to catch fish, and not just do stripper cruises(and if we're bringing the girls, well maybe we'll bring the bird too).
You'd have been money ahead to accept my gracious offer.

Dad on Valium, Fishing, Beer, Strippers and Freebird too! Well, I've had worse gigs.

 

[hunshatt]

You know, it does sound fun. maybe sell tickets?? And then sell pic's of the 31 guys on a real boat, hummmmmm priceless??

 

[glsctr]

Thuddddddd, nice place you got here.

JP
RLDT- CHIMERA

 

[Buccaneer]

I believe I'd fly on over for that cruise.....

 

[MikeP]

There are all kinds of ways to learn...

Two years ago we were berthed in Norwalk when a good-sized (MUCH bigger than our 53MY) new Pacifc Mariner came into the slip next to us. The operator bounced it off the end of the finger, into the side of the finger, into the dock at the head of the finger, etc... A bunch of backing in/out, yelling, etc. Yeah, thrusters and all!

I helped a bit with the lines. When she was all settled in I ended up talking to the owner/operator. This was his FIRST boat and he had owned her for a month so far and loved it! He told me he was still learning how to handle her (no kidding!). But it was just him, his wife, and a couple of mid-teens on board. He had had no lessons of any kind - just bought the boat (at least 1.5 Million) and drove her off!

Frankly, he seemed like a really nice guy but obviously had NO business operating that boat in the fairly crowded area. He should have had lessons of some sort or a competent "captain" on board to help him learn. But if he hasn't killed himself, his family, or someone else, he probably handles that boat pretty well by now. That's certainly one way to learm - dive in the water, so to speak - but it sure isn't a very good way if there are other people sharing crowded water...

This was one of those instances where I thought licensing and a "driver's test" might be a good idea.

 

[hunshatt]

Jp, good to see you made it over. Fun group. Sometimes they get a little wound up, but as long as you stay in the sandbox your ok. (oh and don't make any referance to freebird or rednecks or anything that will piss off the guys with the zapp button) Ricksya is from the "other " site. He's a good guy, specially after he saw the error of his way and upgraded to a "real" boat. You should come down with us to visit him. We're gonna hire a few dancers, get a hatteras load of booze, catch some tuna and "help" his dad park his yacht.

 

[34Hatt]

Thuddddddd, nice place you got here.

JP
RLDT- CHIMERA

Timmmy Got Busted

catch some tuna and "help" his dad park his yacht.

Park

 

[hunshatt]

Dan, JP owns what is just a single step up from a bayliner, a 31 bert. those guys call docking parking, the salon is a living room(or luxury they don't have) and the head is the bathroom(. And they have only heard in 3rd hand roumors that there is such a thing as a engine room).
At least he carries the RLDT(rolling little death trap) moniker proudly

 

[34Hatt]

hunshatt Dan, JP owns what is just a single step up from a bayliner, a 31 bert. those guys call docking parking, the salon is a living room(or luxury they don't have) and the head is the bathroom(. And they have only heard in 3rd hand roumors that there is such a thing as a engine room).
At least he carries the RLDT(rolling little death trap) moniker proudly

ROFLAO
They are also Good guys to call you a Freind after you trash their Boats.

 

[glsctr]

Park- I like that.
Another of my favorites is string. "How much string is on this pole?"
Always asked at the wrong time and responded to like this.
"It's called line sir, one end is attached to a reel the other to a lure. The reel is attached to a rod now please keep turning the handle so we can catch the fish attached to the lure."

Real Boat?????????

 

[MikeP]

Heck, sometimes I call docking parking. I've also been known to call a line a rope, a fender a bumper, the saloon (or is it salon - depends on who you ask) the living room, the head the bathroom, the anchor rode a chain, the windlass a winch, etc.

Maybe when I get more experience I'll finally learn the dang terminology! Then again, being 61 and having had boats since I was 21, I guess I'm just a really slow learner. At this stage, I'll probably never really get it right!