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Saltwater Suzi and Cap'n Larry's advice for the cash-starved boater
Your First Time on a Boat
Scenario Number One: The guy you met at the party last night, he's really cute, and he's got a boat. And he's asked you if you like to go sailing. And you, of course, say "Yes!" And he got the idea that you've done this boating stuff before. (Don't know where he would have gotten the idea.) Now you need to learn everything you can so you don't look or sound like a complete dork.
You might be wondering why we included this page in the Frugal Mariner. Well, I can tell you from experience, sailing on OPB's (Other People's Boats) is the absolute cheapest way to go sailing. We did it for many years before we got our own boat. Chipping in for fuel, the occasional bottle of wine, or rum, or case of beer, even taking the boatowners out to dinner is a real bargain compared to the expense of owning a boat.
Scenario Number Two: The boss wants you to go out on his boat. Somewhere he got the idea that you know all about boating. (Don't know where he would have gotten the idea.) Now you need to learn everything you can so you don't look or sound like a complete dork.
Scenario Number Three: Your good friend wants to take you out on his boat. He's known you forever, and he knows you don't know a thing about boating. The two of you have always been kind of friendly competitive. Now you need to learn everything you can so you don't look or sound like a complete dork.
Here's what you need to do:
| ● | Port and Starboard. You've heard the terms before. Port is the boat's left side. That is not to say it is your left side; it's the boat's left side. When you turn around your left hand is still on your left side. And when someone is facing you his right hand does not become his left hand just because it's on your left side. Port is the BOAT's left side, and will remain so no matter which way you are facing. Starboard is the Boat's Right Side. By default. |
| ● | There are no ropes on a boat (with three possible exceptions, 1. a bellrope, attached to the clapper on the ships bell. 2. a boltrope, sewn into the edge of some sails. 3. If it's still on the original reel on which it was purchased, it is rope. All of these are rare). If a "rope" is attached to a sail to control it, it is a "sheet." It is usually designated with the name of the sail to which it is attached. Jib sheet, main sheet, mizzen sheet. (Those words will be explained later.) If the "rope" is attached to the anchor it is the "Rode" or "Anchor Rode" If the "rope" is used to raise a sail, it is called a "halyard." Again it usually is designated with the associated sail, for instance, "Main Halyard"," Jib Halyard", "Spinnaker Halyard." The rest of the "ropes" are called lines, for instance, dock lines are used to tie the boat to the pier. |
| ● | When you go downstairs on the boat you are "going below" |
| ● | When you are below, the boat's sides are called the "Ceiling" the floor is called the "Sole" and above you is the "headliner". |
| ● | The kitchen is the "Galley" |
| ● | The bathroom is the "Head" |
| ● | The Bedroom is a "Stateroom" |
| ● | The Living room / dining room is the Main Salon, or just the Salon. |
| ● | If you have time, familiarize yourself with the underlined words on our "How to Talk Salty" page. |
Seasickness
If you tend to get motion sickness easily, you will get seasick easily because the two are the same malady. Seasickness is caused by the inner ear sensing motion while the eye does not see that motion. This causes confusion in the balance part of the brain and causes nausea. The best cure for seasickness is prevention. If you start feeling nauseaus, get up on deck - look around and at the horizon. Then the confusion will stop. Did you ever notice that the driver of the car never gets motion sickness?
Dramamine and Bonine are the most common seasickness drug remedies. These two drugs are available over-the-counter at most drug stores and pharmacies. They are essentially antihistamines, and make many people drowsy. Both Dramamine and Bonine come in non-drowsy formulas. If you intend to use a drug remedy, you need to take it before you get to the boat - read the label. Check with your doctor to make sure that it does not conflict with any medication you are already taking.
And for your own sake as well as for the crew and other passengers, don't drink too much and don't eat too much. And if you have to feed the fishes do it on the downwind side.
Children and Life Jackets
If you are going to be bringing children aboard, the Captain may not have life jackets available in their sizes. Ask, and then buy your own (same store where you got the boat shoes.) Make sure the children know in advance that they are going to have to wear them. It's the Law! Click here for information regarding life jacket regulations in your state. Click here for more information on how to select a life jacket for a child and information on the Boat US life jacket loaner program.
Nobody wants whiny kids on a boat. It's annoying. Nobody wants unruly or misbehaving kids on a boat. It's annoying and can be dangerous. If your kids are whiny, unruly or misbehaving, leave them home.
If you tend to get motion sickness easily, you will get seasick easily because the two are the same malady. Seasickness is caused by the inner ear sensing motion while the eye does not see that motion. This causes confusion in the balance part of the brain and causes nausea. The best cure for seasickness is prevention. If you start feeling nauseaus, get up on deck - look around and at the horizon. Then the confusion will stop. Did you ever notice that the driver of the car never gets motion sickness?
Dramamine and Bonine are the most common seasickness drug remedies. These two drugs are available over-the-counter at most drug stores and pharmacies. They are essentially antihistamines, and make many people drowsy. Both Dramamine and Bonine come in non-drowsy formulas. If you intend to use a drug remedy, you need to take it before you get to the boat - read the label. Check with your doctor to make sure that it does not conflict with any medication you are already taking.
And for your own sake as well as for the crew and other passengers, don't drink too much and don't eat too much. And if you have to feed the fishes do it on the downwind side.
Children and Life Jackets
If you are going to be bringing children aboard, the Captain may not have life jackets available in their sizes. Ask, and then buy your own (same store where you got the boat shoes.) Make sure the children know in advance that they are going to have to wear them. It's the Law! Click here for information regarding life jacket regulations in your state. Click here for more information on how to select a life jacket for a child and information on the Boat US life jacket loaner program.
Nobody wants whiny kids on a boat. It's annoying. Nobody wants unruly or misbehaving kids on a boat. It's annoying and can be dangerous. If your kids are whiny, unruly or misbehaving, leave them home.
In case of emergency
If things get dicey the Captain will tell you if he needs your help. Otherwise, keep quiet and stay out of the way. And do what the Captain tells you without question.
When you first come on board if the Captain knows you're new to boating, he'll probably give you a little speech covering such things as Man Overboard procedures, how to use the head and more. Pay attention to what he says. Ask questions if you don't understand. Please.
If things get dicey the Captain will tell you if he needs your help. Otherwise, keep quiet and stay out of the way. And do what the Captain tells you without question.
When you first come on board if the Captain knows you're new to boating, he'll probably give you a little speech covering such things as Man Overboard procedures, how to use the head and more. Pay attention to what he says. Ask questions if you don't understand. Please.
Things don't stay put.
Anything that you set down anywhere is going to move. Hang on to it. If you can't hang on to it, make sure it is secure. Put it back where it belongs. Most drawers have some kind of catch. When you close a drawer, check to see if will stay closed. If you want to use your camera or a set of binoculars, put the strap around your neck.
Anything that you set down anywhere is going to move. Hang on to it. If you can't hang on to it, make sure it is secure. Put it back where it belongs. Most drawers have some kind of catch. When you close a drawer, check to see if will stay closed. If you want to use your camera or a set of binoculars, put the strap around your neck.
First thing, get yourself a pair of boat shoes. Go to a Chandlery (a boat stuff store) and get a pair. Any other kind of shoes will either leave marks on his deck or be slippery and cause you to fall in the water. In either case, you'll feel bad, or silly, and he'll never ask you to go again.
Second, learn a few boating terms. If the Captain asks you to do something, he's likely to use nautical terms, he may think he's dumbing it down some, but if you're not familiar with even the basics, you'll feel bad, or silly, and he'll never ask you to go again. Below are listed the bare minimum:
A few more things you need to know:
Boats are expensive
Offer to chip in for fuel. Bring a thoughtful gift with you. If you don't have any good ideas what to get, check out our Gifts pages for some great gifts any Captain would like.
Offer to chip in for fuel. Bring a thoughtful gift with you. If you don't have any good ideas what to get, check out our Gifts pages for some great gifts any Captain would like.
Rules of the Road
If you expect that you will be offered to 'Man the Helm' you should be familiar with the Rules of the Road. A good start would be to read our Rules of the Road page. This touches on the highlights of these rules. Be advised that there is much, much more to learn than is presented here. If you do take the helm, don't show off, don't be careless. If you are not absolutely sure what to do, ask the Captain. If the traffic gets heavy, relenquish the helm.
If you expect that you will be offered to 'Man the Helm' you should be familiar with the Rules of the Road. A good start would be to read our Rules of the Road page. This touches on the highlights of these rules. Be advised that there is much, much more to learn than is presented here. If you do take the helm, don't show off, don't be careless. If you are not absolutely sure what to do, ask the Captain. If the traffic gets heavy, relenquish the helm.
Garbage
Don't throw garbage overboard. It's against the law. It's not good for the environment. People and fish swim in the water. Neither wants to swim in garbage. Don't feed food scraps to the ducks, geese, swans. It's not good for them. It makes them nuisance beggars. It encourages them to congregate in small areas pooping on everything when they should be spread out over larger areas and fending for themselves. Don't smoke. If you're so addicted that you must smoke, ask the Captain to stop the boat so you can jump in the water and smoke there.
Don't throw garbage overboard. It's against the law. It's not good for the environment. People and fish swim in the water. Neither wants to swim in garbage. Don't feed food scraps to the ducks, geese, swans. It's not good for them. It makes them nuisance beggars. It encourages them to congregate in small areas pooping on everything when they should be spread out over larger areas and fending for themselves. Don't smoke. If you're so addicted that you must smoke, ask the Captain to stop the boat so you can jump in the water and smoke there.
Helping
If you don't know what you are doing, don't even offer to help. If you don't know how to tie a proper cleat hitch, don't offer to help tie up the boat. If you don't know the Rules of the Road, don't offer to steer the boat. Watch, learn, and wait to ask questions until things are calm. Stay out of the way, let the crew do their jobs. If you haven't done something before don't assume you know how. You may not know that you don't know. You could be injured or cause someone else to be injured or do damage to the boat.
If it's a large enough boat to have a refrigerator and galley, you can offer to help with the cooking or cleaning chores, however, don't be offended if your help is refused. Most boat galleys are small and only a one person work area. If you bring food along which needs to be refrigerated, bear in mind that the refrigerator is probably very small. Bring your food in a cooler. In any case, it's probably a good idea to clear it with the Captain or First Mate.
If you don't know what you are doing, don't even offer to help. If you don't know how to tie a proper cleat hitch, don't offer to help tie up the boat. If you don't know the Rules of the Road, don't offer to steer the boat. Watch, learn, and wait to ask questions until things are calm. Stay out of the way, let the crew do their jobs. If you haven't done something before don't assume you know how. You may not know that you don't know. You could be injured or cause someone else to be injured or do damage to the boat.
If it's a large enough boat to have a refrigerator and galley, you can offer to help with the cooking or cleaning chores, however, don't be offended if your help is refused. Most boat galleys are small and only a one person work area. If you bring food along which needs to be refrigerated, bear in mind that the refrigerator is probably very small. Bring your food in a cooler. In any case, it's probably a good idea to clear it with the Captain or First Mate.
VHF Radio
Don't mess with the VHF radio unless requested to by the Captain. There are protocols and regulations regarding its use. If you don't know these, you should just leave it along. And for everyone's sake - don't let the kids touch it. Too often we have heard on the radio a child calling a Mayday. Unless it is actually an emergency, it is illegal for anyone to call a Mayday. The Coast Guard is required to respond. There are large fines attached to false Maydays. A few years back, near the Charleston, S.C. inlet, a child called an actual Mayday. And because so many kids have been heard clowning around with the radio, it was ignored. People died. The Coast Guard got a big public black eye. Regulations are now enforced. Keep your kid off the radio!
Don't mess with the VHF radio unless requested to by the Captain. There are protocols and regulations regarding its use. If you don't know these, you should just leave it along. And for everyone's sake - don't let the kids touch it. Too often we have heard on the radio a child calling a Mayday. Unless it is actually an emergency, it is illegal for anyone to call a Mayday. The Coast Guard is required to respond. There are large fines attached to false Maydays. A few years back, near the Charleston, S.C. inlet, a child called an actual Mayday. And because so many kids have been heard clowning around with the radio, it was ignored. People died. The Coast Guard got a big public black eye. Regulations are now enforced. Keep your kid off the radio!
Read and heed these suggestions. Your Captain will appreciate it if you do. And you may get invited back. Especially if you're young and cute and wear a thong. And the Captain isn't married.
No, seriously, you may find all these do's and don't do's rather intimidating - so much so that you may be rethinking your whole idea of going out on a boat. Well, we're telling you that in spite of all this, boating can be and is FUN! If it weren't you wouldn't have so many people doing it. It's just like any sport, whether it's croquet or sky-diving, you have to learn the rules before you can play.
No, seriously, you may find all these do's and don't do's rather intimidating - so much so that you may be rethinking your whole idea of going out on a boat. Well, we're telling you that in spite of all this, boating can be and is FUN! If it weren't you wouldn't have so many people doing it. It's just like any sport, whether it's croquet or sky-diving, you have to learn the rules before you can play.
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HAVE FUN! BE SAFE!