Inviting friends on board what to say and what should they bring.

[garyd]

I had a thought that it might be good as to "what to say to newbie boaters".

Over the years seeing what non-boaters can do to a boat I came up with this preflight discussion.

Before they even start out to the boat I explain

1. Boat shoes only or No shoes wear socks.
2. Do not put anything sharpe in your back pockets.
3. Do not wear blue jeans that have rivets in the back pockets
4. Bring a bathing suit even if you don't ever swim.
5. Bring a sweater and jacket even if you never get cold.
6. Bring what ever it is you want to drink times 2.
7. If it's a bunch of guys bring what ever you want to eat include peanut butter crackers (don't ask why just bring them).

Once on the boat it's the Admirals job to take all women into the head and explain only put the boat toilet paper down the head.

Then;

1. Here is where the lifejackets are kept. I don't usually tell them about flares, liferafts, or fire extingushers
2. When we start to dock find a spot and stay put. If I want you to help in any way I will specifically tell you exactly what to do or not to do.
3. Never force anything.
4. If I ask you to do it now don't ask just do it, it will be O.K. and we can talk about it afterwards.
5. Never ever put anything you don't want cut into two pieces between the boat and anything else.
6. Sit down, shut up, and have fun LOL don't tell em that one.
7. The boat will leave the dock at XX:XX if your not on board you will be left behind.

Anyway any more helpful things you'all tell people that are going to spend some time on the water that have never been on the water before?

garyd

 

[Imthebeachgirl]

Garyd, very good thread, especially for us "new" folks that are still learning all the ropes. I have a question about pitching in for the gas kitty. With gas being so expensive, do most people offer to pitch in some $$$, or unless they offer, you don't say anything. Do you offend anyone if you offer the captain some cash for gas? thanks...Laurie

 

[Bob Bradley]

Great thread. I always appreciate it when my guests offer to pay for fuel. And, I almost always decline graciously. The exception to this is a long offshore fishing trip, where costs will be measured in thousands, not hundreds. Most of my usual crew includes boat owners, and we reciprocate regularly.

 

[Starman]

I would tell them to relax and ejoy the ride.....

But this is not a car trip and they should be aware of everything and do not hesitate to ask a question .

 

[garyd]

Usually as far as fuel goes I do one or two things.

If it is a family that has entertained us from time to time I do not mention anything about fuel costs etc.

Or I will let them know that same things I wrote plus we will pay for fuel you'all pay for food. This usually works excellent and the guests try to outdo us and we try to outdo them by giving them am awesome boat trip/ride. It has always worked great for 30+ years except once when the couple invited brought a can of chinese food. LOL we spent over $350.oo on fuel they spent $10 on a can of chinese food. Oh Well. LOL

 

[Starman]

LOL we spent over $350.oo on fuel they spent $10 on a can of chinese food. Oh Well. LOL

I bet they did not get a second ride !!

 

[garyd]

Right you are Johnny/ Paul LOL

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I thought Chinese food came in those little white cartons. Maybe it was actually cat food. That comes in a can.

 

[Angela]

I hate to tell you, but no matter how many times you tell women what NOT to put down the head....one dingbat is going to do it eventually. I've toyed with the idea of making a nice instructional pamphlet, with color, glossy photographs that take the offender through, step by step, of how to open up the macerator and remove what was wasn't supposed to be put down it. When someone did that to me, I took photos of the repair just for that purpose. I was so mad that I kept the "remains" in a ziplock bag for about a week until the evil thoughts of mailing that baggie back to her escaped me.

Genesis had a speech he posted here a while back. It included instructions about not playing with the EPIRB and he instructed his guests that if one of them set that off, that when the Coast Guard showed up, he would be pointing at the offender, reminding his guests there is a $10,000 fine (or something like that) for playing with the EPIRB.

For kids, you need more rules...like don't pull the halon lever, even though it looks fun. And marbles and toy cars do NOT go in the head, neither do candy wrappers......

 

[luckydave215]

I give the standard brief freindly informative lecture, then show them the manacles and the hold.
I never have any trouble.

 

[Imthebeachgirl]

What's an EPIRB?

 

[Passages]

What's an EPIRB?

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

It's a transmitter that relays your position to satellites and then to rescue services. They can be actuated manually or automatic upon imersion.

 

[Imthebeachgirl]

Thanks Passages...man I sure do have ALOT to learn! Happy Easter everyone!

 

[Genesis]

When I owned Gigabite I had so many friends on board (it happens when you live in Florida and you're not from here - people who've NEVER been on board a boat show up all the time and go "ooooohhhhhhh" and "aaaaahhhhhhh!" that I developed a somewhat-standard "briefing" that I delivered before anyone who had not been on board Gigabite had to listen to before we departed the dock.

It covered the following points:

1. Boats are moving all the time, even when you think they're not. As such you need to always keep one hand on the boat, no matter where you are and where you're going. If you break this rule you are likely to find yourself sitting on your ass with a surprised look on your face and whatever you were carrying all over you - and that's the best-case scenario.

2. Nobody is allowed forward of the cockpit on an exposed deck when the vessel is in motion unless you have my explicit permission. If you fall off and I can't see you do so from the helm, you will be eaten by a shark. The two 2' diameter propellers at the back end of the boat will likely encounter you before the shark does and will make it easier for him to digest you. Think about it.

3. Under no circumstances is any part of your body to be beyond a railing or the perimeter of the vessel when it is in motion. The boat weighs 50,000lbs and you weigh less than 1/100th of that. If you and the boat have a fight about occupying the same space you will lose whatever part of your body was where it wants to be. Every time.

4. Absolutely nobody handles lines, anchor equipment, etc. without my explicit permission. They can and will break, entangle you, etc. See Rule #3 for why this is bad; most of these items can or do hold the full weight of the vessel.

5. All doors must be latched either open or closed at all times. This includes the refrigerator. You get to lick anything off any surface that ends up there because you violated this rule, including the pieces of your finger that have been smashed into the pretty woodwork.

6. Lifejackets are located under the seats on the flybridge and forward of the TV console. There are plenty of them - they are bulky, uncomfortable, and, if you see me put one on, its not because I enjoy wearing them. Following my lead is a very, very good idea in that circumstance.

7. The raft is located in the eyebrow cabinet on the flybridge. If we need it, while it is extremely heavy irrespective of your body mass and strength you will find that it is as light as a can of beer. Trust me on this.

8. In the very unlikely event we must abandon ship for some reason there is a large yellow bag just inside the main salon door. It is bright yellow, somewhat heavy, and it floats. Please do not fool with anything in or attached to it. If the vessel is in danger of sinking or is on fire it is absolutely essential that it gets off the boat with or before we do. It contains the only means for people to know we sank or burned, plus essentials like drinkable water, signals and food. One of the essential items is a yellow and clear plastic thing called an "EPIRB". It will bring the Coast Guard to wherever we are, and it automatically starts transmitting when it gets wet. It also has a switch on it which will bring the Coast Guard to wherever it is if the switch is turned on. Once turned on, it cannot be turned off. By the way, the Coast Guard has lots of very large guns and they get very unhappy if they are asked to come somewhere when nobody is really in danger. Don't fool with the EPIRB.

9. Drinking the water from the tap is a bad idea. There are all sorts of bottled beverages on board; please consume them instead. "Fresh" water is ok to do things like wash your hands with (using soap) and shower in, but I don't drink it and recommend against you doing so.

10. (If we were going seriously offshore, e.g. overnight fishing, on an extended trip somewhere, etc) - There is a limited amount of fresh water on board (I did not have a watermaker.) It is used not only for showering but also for flushing the head. If you like long showers be advised that if we run out of water as a consequence of you using far more than a reasonable amount you get to supply the flush water for the head with your spit.

11. Speaking of the head - If you did not eat it first do not deposit it in the head. The ONLY exception to this rule is very small amounts of the toilet paper IN the head compartment - small means no more than two or three squares. Anything else that goes in the head WILL clog the system and the pump, which is where it will clog, is forward of one of the engines in a space about a foot square. That engine is at 180 degrees once it has been run, and its running right now. If you stick something that doesn't belong in the head, you get to climb in there with the tools necessary to take it apart and clean it out. Oh, by the way, the pump is below the head. I'm sure you have heard the phrase "shiz flows down hill." From experience - it does.

 

[glsctr]

Don't forget.

GRAVITY IS STILL IN EFFECT.

Then explain a boat generally moves. If something like a drink goes on a counter odds are it will end up on the floor.

Gets the point across without making you sound like a hard ass.

KR

JP

 

[GaryNW]

The most important thing to bring- a good attitude. If you have that, I can fix the rest of what's wrong with you. If not, stay on land.
Gary

 

[Pascal]

boating is supposed to be fun, i like to keep rules to the minimum...

soft shoes (although a good looking woman in heels is not something i will complain about !)...

no drunks... i have no time to baby sit someone who can barely stand on his 2 legs...

most friends or people i invite have enough common sense and manners to know they should bring something...

best way never to get invited again : get drunk, say "i'll bring lunch" and show up with Costco Frozen stuff or a Publix cake !, make us come back early because you have to be somewhere else !

i have laminated dos/donts sheets in the heads, from a previous owners, seem to work as i only got one clog, a tampon... but with Vacuflush it's easy...

i like your list karl...

 

[garyd]

Nice list Karl. You must of taken a lot of guys out fishing which I haven't done much of yet. Just starting to get really into that.

I never really had much problem with folks holding on as soon as we leave Snead Island we are in the tail end of the manatee river. Then out into Tampa Bay it's always lumpy. They hold on from the get go LOL.

I haven't taken anyone but the family way offshore yet. So I have kept the list rather shorter than yours. But we will be going on an fishing over nighter out in the gulf soon. I'm teaching my 10 year old how to operate the boat just in case.... If there is an adult aboard he can help them at least get it out of harms way.

When he was 7 he use to pilot the boat back from fishing about 10 miles out in the gulf. He is a little more apprehensive with the 41c. But he's coming along.

I don't usually tell them about the epirb and life raft etc. Figuring that when all hell breaks loose 8 out of 10 folks turn into zombies anyway. You have to scream at them just to get them to put one foot in front of the other. Can you say froozen stiff. But of course they ain't bored.

Garyd

 

[Genesis]

My big deal with the EPIRB and such is that it is absolutely IMPERATIVE that the bag get off the boat. I don't care WHO throws it over the side if/when we're on fire or sinking, but SOMEONE HAS TO or we're screwed.

The raft is something I would normally attend to, but where all that "stuff" is I think everyone needs to know - what MUST get off the boat, where the life jackets are, etc.

We've had a few "oh $hits" offshore, including being chased by waterspouts. You never know what's gonna pop up out there.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

One of my main "request" is that guest bring CAN BEER or soda instead of bottles.... I realize some say there is a difference in taste ( I myself have never had bad beer).