Admiral at the helm...

[sunnydude2]

I forgot to post this sunday but really want to share.

We were returning from Pt. Ludlow sunday around noon. Stopped at POE to gift them our holding tank contents. As we are just passing the 14th Street launch my buddy calls informing me that the train bridge was closed for maintenance. We missed it by about 20 minutes.

So we turn around and head back towards POE and then decide to tie up at Jetty Island and have lunch as the docks were pretty empty. The Admiral says, "I could try docking". Now we have talked about me replacing the throttle cables before she tried as they need replacing but I said "yes" and went over the basics with her (mind you I am still increasing my docking skills). With the wind blowing our bow was going to get pushed off the dock which was going to add some difficulty for her. If I have to get the stern close enough to walk off so was she! :)

The first attempt she was lined up right and looked good but the wind caught her and we had to circle around and try again. Second time she nailed it...the piling that is. Guess that is why they have rub rails (previous owner definately used it). It was a light rub on the piling but she stuck with it and I was able to step off. We use the mid line which I got secured to the dock and then she got to experience the wind trying to take her away. Slowly talked her through 'walking' the boat to the dock and we secured the stern.

I was very proud of her. First try with this boat. Not sure if she will want to take over my helm or not but it was good practice for her.

Just thought I would share. :)

[3788sam]

Nice!
She should be proud and in the wind as well. There are times I wish I was the one jumping on to the dock to tie off as well.

[Nehalennia]

That's great. It's something that Mo and I have talked about many times, we just haven't dedicated the time to practicing yet.
It's those opportunities like you had that make it easier to do.
Good job.

[Tedster]

Good for you Sean, I always say I can teach anyone's wife how to dock, just not my own!

[3788sam]

always say I can teach anyone's wife how to dock, just not my own!

Yep I can relate- try working with them:)

[Chass]

Very cool.

I don't think my wife would be willing to even try with me teaching her. Neither of us seem to handle learning from the other well.

I love those windy approaches when I find myself jumping off the boat Kamakazi style with bow and stern lines in hand hoping the boat doesn't pull me off the dock. Its particularly fun when I'm alone and I realize that I didn't quite kick it out of gear!

Chass
ct

[sunnydude2]

To tell you the truth, I don't think either of us thought I would show her. On our 2850 we had her dad up there giving her instructions and I was just the line boy. But we had a safe spot to try it and she couldn't cheat and let the wind put her on the dock. :)

[Go Aweigh2452]

I forgot to post this sunday but really want to share.

We were returning from Pt. Ludlow sunday around noon. Stopped at POE to gift them our holding tank contents. As we are just passing the 14th Street launch my buddy calls informing me that the train bridge was closed for maintenance. We missed it by about 20 minutes.

So we turn around and head back towards POE and then decide to tie up at Jetty Island and have lunch as the docks were pretty empty. The Admiral says, "I could try docking". Now we have talked about me replacing the throttle cables before she tried as they need replacing but I said "yes" and went over the basics with her (mind you I am still increasing my docking skills). With the wind blowing our bow was going to get pushed off the dock which was going to add some difficulty for her. If I have to get the stern close enough to walk off so was she! :)

The first attempt she was lined up right and looked good but the wind caught her and we had to circle around and try again. Second time she nailed it...the piling that is. Guess that is why they have rub rails (previous owner definately used it). It was a light rub on the piling but she stuck with it and I was able to step off. We use the mid line which I got secured to the dock and then she got to experience the wind trying to take her away. Slowly talked her through 'walking' the boat to the dock and we secured the stern.

I was very proud of her. First try with this boat. Not sure if she will want to take over my helm or not but it was good practice for her.

Just thought I would share. :)

Good for her to know in an emergency... Give her a thumbs up from us too! I've been boating for 43+ years and still have a difficult time of docking once in a while... it is not like riding a bike... Every time can be a challenge...

[Randygh]

The Admiral can handle the boat fine on open water and she has docked, but would rather not even try to put it into a slip. If I was incapacitated, she wouldn't have a problem getting back to the dock.

[pasty63]

My wife's boat handling abilities are as good or better than mine and she is always eager dock in nasty weather. Some things "freak" her out more than me, so I'll do them instead. She will usually take the helm in nasty weather or if we're anchoring/tying off to a buoy, as she doesn't like dealing with loose gear or lines when the boat is moving - I guess she feels the "gorilla" is better suited for strong arming stuff. She does demand a lot more communication than I do if she's at the helm and I'm the linesman. What's nice is she and the kids can take the boat out if I'm out of town, which gets it a lot more use. Mind you, the boat has been out of the water for quite awhile, so she'll likely want some time to warm back up to the idea of going solo, but I'm sure she'll be right back at it. I think the main thing that makes her nervous (well I know it's the main thing since I get a string of cell calls if I'm not aboard) is that she doesn't know the mechanicals that well, so if something went sideways in the engine room she'd be missing the knuckle dragger.

The secret to this magic was $1,300 of time with a professional captain. She did that much damage to the transmissions with me trying to teach her, so I think I'm at least two rebuilds ahead with the pro. Not only that, but he showed her somethings I didn't know, so she was able to teach me and gain some bonus confidence. I tried to teach her the way I learned, which didn't work for her, so we went with plan "B".

[SomeSailor]

Sounds like a great investment. She's comfortable, safe and a second capable skipper aboard would be a great idea.