Newbies

When you introduce new people to boating, take the time to familiarize guests with the basics as well as your vessel’s ins and outs.

At the time you invite friends and family, include a short checklist:

• Apply sunscreen and take a seasickness remedy (if necessary) before arrival
• Wear non-marking, no slip shoes
• Bring a hat and sunglasses
• Delays happen when boating, so bring extra of any necessary medication
• Specify any special rules of the captain (e.g. no smoking, no electronics, no pets)
• Ask for contact information for a trusted friend or relative for your float plan

When newbies arrive, walk and talk them through what happens during a boat outing. Explain how port and starboard are always the same while left and right vary depending on where you are. Point out bow, stern, and amidships, and advise them you may refer to one or more of those places in later commands for safety or stability.

Walk around the boat, showing the best places to sit or sightsee. Newbies don’t realize how much a boat moves around, so instruct them to stay seated while underway and to never hang over the sides. Show them rails and other solid handholds to grasp if they must stand while underway.

Point out the location of the life jackets. Ask who cannot swim, explain the regulations about wearing life jackets, and then add your personal requirements, such as wearing life jackets all the time (except in the cabin).

Indicate where you keep the first aid kit and where guests may help themselves to cold water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Indicate where gear that could fly around should be stowed.

Address the matter of toilets head on. If you have one, demonstrate how to use it and what not to put into it! If you don’t have a head, tell passengers when you expect to reach a restaurant, port, or dock with facilities.

If you’re a skipper who welcomes help, demonstrate how newbies may assist with lines and fenders. Stress that a helper must never put any part of his or her body between the boat and the dock when coming alongside or fending off. Let them know you’ll call out when you want them to pitch in but emphasize that you may require them to cease and sit down if circumstances change.

Instruct newbies that everyone aboard shares the responsibility to look after one another. If someone falls over, alert the captain immediately but keep the overboard passenger in sight. Should they end up in the water, remain calm and keep watching the boat — but never approach to get back aboard until the captain has shut down the engine and the propellers stop turning.

Assure guests that even those with cast-iron stomachs may occasionally feel queasy while underway. Anyone who does should sit towards the middle of the boat (outside, not in the cabin) in a shady spot with eyes fixed on the horizon. If you have ginger aboard in any form — capsules, soda, snaps, or tea, and/or acupressure bands that block nausea, tell your guest to alert a member of the crew when a seasickness remedy is desired.

That all being said, a gracious skipper asks for questions and then turns the conversation to the fun times ahead. Precautions and preparation are definitely an important part of boating, but from then on, it’s all about having a pleasurable day. Anchors aweigh!