EDITORIAL

Time on the water and in the classroom

It’s tough to replace the experience of running a boat, with respect to seamanship and safety. And if someone comes from a culture of boating—that is, they grew up in a boating household or boated for many years in the company of friends—that too counts as an advantage in Falvey’s book of what makes a good boater. It needs to be remembered, though, that there are few natural boaters. It takes time and experience, and the exposure to other knowledgeable and considerate boaters ramps up the learning curve considerably. If a phenom exists in boating, I’ve yet to meet her or him.

That’s why boating-safety courses are so important. These courses, given by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and by the US Power Squadrons—and available online in many states and Canadian provinces—are not meant to replace the experience of operating boats and living the boating life for years. A boating-safety course is a complement to experience and immersion in a culture.

This is especially important now. One effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, in case you didn’t know, has been a record-setting number of boat sales. Our manufacturer and dealer sources inform us that many of these buyers are first-timers, flocking to boating like to an oasis in a desert of forbidden social activities. These buyers do not possess experience behind the helm. They do not come from a boating culture. For them, a boating course offers a tremendous head start on a solid and safe course for enjoying the water we all share.

We, with the experience and of the culture, can play our part as well. When we see a newbie approaching the dock, we can meet him with encouragement and a tossed line or extended hand. At the ramp, we can offer advice, a second set of eyes, and some tips for a fellow boater obviously struggling. (“Drop your tailgate—the trailer will be easier to see.”) We can jump on the VHF or vigorously wave off a boater who appears to have confused red-right-return with right-of-red-returning. In short, part of having gained our experience and having lived the life, we can give a little back. That’s a good thing in my book.

Enjoy the issue.

It takes time and experience, and the exposure to other knowledgeable and considerate boaters ramps up the learning curve considerably. If a phenom exists in boating, I’ve yet to meet her or him.