Communication

If you are doing all of your boating in the US and on that size vessel, if yelling is not an option. How about Bluetooths for your cellphones.....Cheap enough, and hands free with good sound quality. Some bluetooths transmit up to 150' and you don't even need the phone in your pocket, just the earpiece.

A kids toy VHF set from Radioshack didn't cut it for you? lasts for ever on 9v batteries.

Cheers,

Hi,

We boat on a 46' sporty and really, there is no yelling.
I do need to speak up for my wife to hear me but it's never been a problem.
I open the enclosure up front, no matter what the weather, so she can hear me and I, her.
Mostly we have a system down well enough that it does not require much communication between us.
Having a plan and lines ready before you begin to maneuver is key.

A golden rule indeed. If your deckhand knows before hand how are you planning to execute your approach, everything will be easy and clear and with minimal and clear communication. Without a proper setup and plan, no method will do any good!

On a boat that size I wouldn't use communication devices. They may cause distraction while using or if they should be dropped at the wrong moment. Instead discuss your plan before sending your mate to the deck. From there it's mostly hand signals, with a chirp of the horn to get their attention if needed. On a boat that size you're always close enough for vocal or visual communications.

No can't imagine needing any com device on a 36 footer...

On my 53' I usually tend to the lines on my own since I dock from the lower helm and am a few steps away from the lines. O the 70 footer I run, it s a little more tricky since it has a skylounge without any opening windows whatsoever. Before approaching, my GF comes up and we discuss the lines sequence. We use numbers, 1 to 4 from bow to stern, so the sequence is clear, something like 2413 for bow first then spring, stern and spring.

Every time a line is secured, she gives me a hand signal for that number with a thumbs up, this way i know it s set and in case of the spring that i can use it. If I need to change the sequence, again hand signals... If I give her a 1 then she knows the next line will have to be the bow.

Petty simple and efficient, no distraction, no need to hold a hand held or press a button to talk. I don't know about you but I only have 2 hands... For two engine controls, a steering wheel and sometimes the grinders...

If I may make a suggestion based on what we've used on the crewboats, it's a good idea to have hand signals for check (knot cleated with line held against it so boat can't move), let slide (release the checkpoint so you can move the boat forward) and lock the line (final position). We used Thumb/forefinger held in a check, hand flat and closed fist. If you need to work off a line you don't want the knot locked if you still have to move on it.

Mate, I have had MANY hand signals from my wonderfully spirited wife. None of them communicated anything I wish to repeat here!

Seriously, time with crew makes it all work. Just don't make the mistake so many make and that is raise your voice and get frustrated, anyone boating with their partner who denies this has never happened is not being honest, the water will
amplify every comment.

Have lines prepared. On a 36 foot, the anchoring should be a breeze.
Humbly I add, if you upset the crew, especially the wife, your boating enjoyemnt is headed South.

Agreed

My wife's cousin is the "Whatever" type. On one particular cruise her husband gave her an instruction as they were docking. Her response was that she needed to get her cup of coffee first. You know his response. He single-handed the rest of the cruise as she called a cab. Communication (not only what, but also how) is key.

"On a 36 foot, the anchoring should be a breeze"

I always enjoy watching others anchor nearby... At least half the time, someone is at the bow gesturing, pointing, waving, screaming, trepidating and/or fussing about. I've never understood that. If you don't have one, install a remote windlass switch at the helm and you re all set. If you can't see or even feel which way your rode is leading, you have no business at the helm.

Agree with Pascal, it should be pretty easy to anchor a boat with simple hand gestures.

Myself and my old Skipper used to move a 220ft yacht about, often with just the 2 of us using just a hand to signal.

As others have already said, hand signals agreed upon in advance.