10 WAYS TO BE A GREAT CREWMEMBER
Jumping aboard on another boat? Here’s how to earn a second invite.
Skippering your own boat brings rewards, but it also comes with responsibility and extra work. So occasionally, it’s nice to jump aboard another boat and let someone else shoulder the burden that weighs heavy on the helm.
Considerate and experienced guests — especially those who captain their own boats — take on responsibilities to help the skipper. Here are 10 tips for being the best crewmember ever.
1 SHOW UP EARLY A now-departed boating mentor once told me: “If you’re on time, you’re late.” Arriving 10 to 15 minutes ahead of the appointed meeting time tells the captain you’re eager and ready to go. Never keep a captain waiting, lest he invoke the “15-minute rule” — if you’re more than 15 minutes late, the boat leaves without you.
2 ACT LIKE CREW Too many guests sit down and do nothing. That’s actually a great routine for the kids, but you should ask how you can help and then respond immediately. The skipper may not want assistance, but it is always good to ask.
3 NO SECOND-GUESSING If the captain makes a decision or a request (it’s not really a request, it’s a polite command), don’t second-guess. You gave up that right when you stepped aboard another person’s boat. This is especially important when maneuvering in tight quarters, negotiating rough seas or in emergency situations.
4 AVOID OVERINDULGING Just because you’re not behind the wheel doesn’t mean you can consume alcohol (or other intoxicants) at will. Part of being a good crewmember means you need to stay alert and agile. You might need to shimmy up to the bow to man the anchor or handle dock lines. A beer or two while on the water can impair your ability to traverse catwalks or descend from the bridge. From my point of view, a tipsy crewmember is more of an impediment than a help.
5 OFFER TO BRING PROVISIONS This is not essential, but it’s one of those gestures most captains appreciate immensely. Having someone else handle the food, drinks and ice results in fewer things for the captain to worry about when getting the boat ready.
6 COMMUNICATE On a boat, there’s no such thing as too much communication. That’s why Navy crewmembers repeat an order, to acknowledge that they heard it and confirm the command. So, when the captain says, “Fend off on the port side,” you should respond, “Fending off on the port side.”
7 NO FRIEND REQUESTS Please don’t ask to bring a friend. While the captain might extend an invitation to you plus one, asking to bring a second person is bad form, at least in my boating circles. Even worse, I once invited a co-worker to go fishing on my boat; he accepted and then asked if he could bring his dog. Dog or human, such requests put the captain in the awkward position of saying no.
8 REPLACEMENT POLICY I like to explain to the crew the replacement policy (right after the safety talk). To put it simply, you break it or lose it, you replace it — immediately. I practice what I preach when jumping aboard other boats. This extends from losing one of the captain’s lures to breaking a fishing rod. Avoid delays, because the longer it takes to replace, the more resentment it’s likely to generate.
9 PITCH IN Don’t even ask about contributing money toward the trip, just do it. If anything, err on the generous side. The captain invests a lot more time, energy and resources than crew, so an even split of the costs is hardly an even one for the skipper.
10 STAY TO CLEAN Any self-respecting crewmember offers to unload gear and help clean the boat after a day on the water. It’s what I call Man Law (please excuse the sexism). That said, as a captain, I often decline the offer because I like to take my time, have a beer or three, play tunes and relax while washing the boat. I find it therapeutic. At the same time, I greatly appreciate the offer, and just as importantly, I make a note of guests who don’t offer to help me.
For them, a second invitation might never come.