I have had to re-learn much of what I once was comfortable with about boat-handling. Midlife crisis issues, I guess.
Gotta keep learning or re-learning skills, or decay. I am blessed with many interests and hobbies, but am at best mediocre with all of them. Due to time spent, I am at my best at my day job.
- This craft is a deep-V single diesel Downeast-style thing, Maine-style, lobster-boat-style. Heavy. Pretty, I feel. Designed to go from place to place regardless of weather and not a toy boat.
- It's all about "feel". Each boat has her own handling qualities. Like a horse, you have to know it, learn how she responds to things, make her an extension of your brain and body. Takes me many, many hours to do this without causing a problem. Maybe more hours than I have left. Mrs. BD: "Aw, you'll get used to it. It's just bigger." Good, bold life attitude on her part.
- Boats steer by the stern. Turning left makes the stern turns right to reorient the vessel. Duh. I knew that. It makes the stern turn into the damn dock.
- A rudder does not work in reverse. Duh. Well, you can steer in reverse with an outboard or sterndrive, but otherwise, not really. Easiest to handle is twin engines because you can steer with the engines alone. I don't have that so I have to learn like the guys with their lobster boats. We actually wanted a twin diesel but could not find one we liked from up north even down to Texas. Boats are in short supply right now.
- Docking and mooring in wind is as much of a bitch as it ever was. Can I back this boat into a slip? No way, even without wind. Well, probably could on a calm lake but not on real water.
- When over age 45, scrambling around a slippery bow deck feels (is) treacherous. Gotta hold on to something.
- Winds and currents can mess up your best intentions.
- Checklists. Gotta use them for everything. It's tough to remember everything, which is why pilots use them. Very easy to forget to check the oil in the generator.
- Put a little bleach in the water tank, and a little water-softener in the head to keep it sweet.
- Nighttime boating? I am so past that, and there are idiots out there. Could include me I guess.
- I do love the chug of a diesel engine. They just want to work hard at 3000 rpm. Work makes them happy.
- New GPS. I have little problem plotting a course on a chart. Not used to GPS plotting, but I will get it after a while. Anyway, 90% of the challenge of boat handling is at docks and in harbors and marinas.
- The basic knots? It you knew them once, they will come back. But they should be automatic. Clove hitch, bowline...Darn.
- Dockhands? God bless 'em. When they are around at the fuel dock.
Do we have any salt-water boater readers?
