Your boat rules?

[fragmag]

I agree, why is it that everyone whats to talk to the boat captain when he is the busiest?

 

[Drama Queen]

It's because you look so darn good captaining that SeaRay that people can't help but to want to be near you. It's tough being the owners of such beautiful vessels.

 

[comsnark]

My rules are pretty simple and they always err on the side of a WIDE margin of safety. That way when things go awry, there's some margin room:
1.) I'm the Captain. What i say, GOES. However:
A. I dont presume to be a know it all. If i want opinions, i will certainly ASK for them, especially to people with much more boating experience than i have. Once ive considered all options, im making a decision and thats what we are going with.
2.) Kids under 12 will wear a Life Jacket while in the cockpit underway.
3.) EVERYONE will wear a life jacket in the cockpit when we are going faster than steerage speed.
4.) When we are docking, pick a seat, and STAY there. If i need help, i'll tell you what i want you to do and when i want you to do it.
5.) When im driving the boat up on plane, i will not be very social. This doesnt mean im in a bad mood. It just means im making sure that we all get to our location safely. When we get there, i promise i'll talk more than you probably ever wanted me to and party like im a rock star (if we are spending the night there. no drinking and boating).

Thats pretty much it.

That's an interesting perspective (and I saw it repeated in other posts)

When I am running on plane, I am actually the calmest. I don't mind talking. If I need to concentrate so hard that I can't talk. . .I would not be running on plane.

Generally, I freely let other people drive. Why? I find that once I put someone behind the wheel, they get a sudden appreciation for what it is that I am doing. They think piloting is *trivially easy*; until they realize that they need to watch the depth finder *while* putting the boat in the right spot in someones wake *and* watching for the 42DA crossing the bow. And when I absently reach for the trim tabs to tweak the ride, while all this is going on, it blows their mind.

The only exception is if I am on plane when running at night. In that case, the eyes are glued forward. . . and so are all the passenger's eyes. My local area is very benign, there are no logs, and I *know* where all the markers are even without GPS. . .BUT still. .

Now. . regarding soliciting opinions. . .heh. . .I don't dare ask opinions. Because if you show weakness by asking a question, the next thing that happens is that EVERYONE has an opinion. And all those opinions are AUTOMATICALLY better than mine, unless I can prove otherwise. Prove it to THEIR satisfaction. This is one reason we call them ADMIRALS.

Docking is another interesting topic. Maybe my boat is a touch bigger, but docking is ALWAYS an "all hands on deck" excercise. While I can dock single handed, the faster the bow and stern are secure the better. If I am not quick, one side or the other invariably starts drifting off the dock the moment power is secured.

 

[dpvandy01]

That's an interesting perspective (and I saw it repeated in other posts)

When I am running on plane, I am actually the calmest. I don't mind talking. If I need to concentrate so hard that I can't talk. . .I would not be running on plane.

Generally, I freely let other people drive. Why? I find that once I put someone behind the wheel, they get a sudden appreciation for what it is that I am doing. They think piloting is *trivially easy*; until they realize that they need to watch the depth finder *while* putting the boat in the right spot in someones wake *and* watching for the 42DA crossing the bow. And when I absently reach for the trim tabs to tweak the ride, while all this is going on, it blows their mind.

The only exception is if I am on plane when running at night. In that case, the eyes are glued forward. . . and so are all the passenger's eyes. My local area is very benign, there are no logs, and I *know* where all the markers are even without GPS. . .BUT still. .

Now. . regarding soliciting opinions. . .heh. . .I don't dare ask opinions. Because if you show weakness by asking a question, the next thing that happens is that EVERYONE has an opinion. And all those opinions are AUTOMATICALLY better than mine, unless I can prove otherwise. Prove it to THEIR satisfaction. This is one reason we call them ADMIRALS.

Docking is another interesting topic. Maybe my boat is a touch bigger, but docking is ALWAYS an "all hands on deck" excercise. While I can dock single handed, the faster the bow and stern are secure the better. If I am not quick, one side or the other invariably starts drifting off the dock the moment power is secured.

I agree with each and every aspect of this post... very well stated..