New Boater

Please, Please, Please take a basic boating course. They're given by the U.S. Power Squadron and the Coast Guard Auxilary. It will probably bore you, but do it anyway. Then take a lesson on your boat. I've found that a 3 hour lesson by a qualified captain who's used to teaching is generally sufficient on a boat that size, to teach you about your boat, how to maintain it, how to use your electronics and drill you on boat handling (much like touch & goes). During that time you should also get a wealth of information about your area and how to read the waters. BTW, check with your DMV about licensing requirements. DK if one is needed in Maine.

I agree, definately take the coast guard auxillary course, which will teach you all of the fundamentals about safety, rules of the road, anchoring, and usage. Do this before hiring a professional.

I also agree with hiring a Captain after that to teach you operation and maintanence, but feel 3 hours is a bit light. I would say a full day or two would be better, if it's your first boat.

That's just different styles. I work the student intensly for those 3 hours and find it unproductive to do it for longer as fatigue sets in, and generally one lesson is enough on a boat less than 32' IF they practice what they've learned. Again though different captains have different styles and they're the best ones to determine what works for them and the particular student. I've had students who thought they knew everything and a month of Sundays wouldn't be enough time. The best was a fellow I taught one April. He did very well. After July 4th he called me for another lesson saying that over the holiday he came in and smacked half the boats around him. I was surprised and asked him when he had the boat out before that and he said "When you gave me the lesson". Guys like that need a captain whenever they leave the dock.

Hi,

NYCAP- I think you have made a typo, that word in bold text is spelt boredom from where I see it

Definitely not boredom. I drill on docking using multiple slips to put the wind and current from every possible direction, and practice recovering from when the boat's lost to the conditions. Probably 30 to 40 dockings in that 3 hours on top of learning engine room checks, maintenance, emergency procedures, use of their radar & GPS/chartplotter, reading the waters and any other weakness they may have. Afterwards I'm available by phone for any questions they may have about places to go and things they may encounter. My 3 hour lessons are seldom 3 hours. I don't have time to waste and they're not paying to go for a cruise. Boredom never comes into it.

Hi,

Giving you an average of 35 dockings this works out to 5.14 mins each.( I am assuming that 1 hr is 60 mins even in NYC)

This doesn't allow any time for the rest of what you say you are giving as instructions.

I find it inconceivable that you could teach any sort of meaningful maintenance other than how to use the phone book to call someone who can fix it for you in the time frame you quote here.

I certainly don't think reading the waters is a skill that can be taught in one 3 hr lesson in the same day even without the speed docking phase as the water look can change so much it needs to be observed on many different days and in different conditions to get the hang of what one is really seeing

Anchoring is definately a problem, but the theory of anchoring can be taught in 5 minutes (bow into wind or current, plenty of scope, room to swing, take bearings, set anchor watch and maintain a watch). From there it's practice. Of course, for larger yachts it is more complicated than just that (mulitple anchors, bahamian style, med moore, etc.), but those boats are not my area. On a 75 footer docking isn't much of a problem because she holds well against wind and current. On a 26' cabin boat with a single I/O docking is a B with a 15kt wind on the beam.

Guess you now see why boredom doesn't enter into it. I teach maintenance, not mechanics (caring for the finishes, cleaning the a/c filters, clearing strainors and racors, pointing out pumps, seacocks,dip sticks, belts, hoses, etc. How to check them, NOT how to fix them). They're not getting their hands dirty. It's a feat to get most of these people into their engine rooms once a day. Many of those dockings are pull out, spin it 180 drop it into that slip, back out, spin it 90, back down the slot, spin it 90 and drop it into that one. That's 3 dockings in less than 10 minutes and learning how to think and react fast. We start practice by "docking" at an open water object (buoy, pole, etc.) from four directions. Those take moments. Many of the dockings are aborted attempts. There could be 4 or 5 of those in 10 minutes. Believe me, I've been at this for a while. There's no exageration. As long as the student practices what he's been taught one or 2 lessons is usually enough for under a 32 footer. Over that it takes several lessons or a few days and over 50' I'm usually on for at least the season.

I would say the short answer is 24"

There aren't that many 33's built. Mostly 31/32-34/36. Over 32 you're usually dealing with inboards (often diesel), wider beams, more weight and more complicated systems where 31's are more often I/O's with simple mechanicals. Also, over 32' you're more often dealing with someone who has had a boat before. The little boater wants to learn the fundamentals. The larger boater understands the investment he's making better. It's sort of like the fact that the difference between 46' and 50' is probably the biggest 4' in boating. With a 46 you just go and there will probably be a slip available. Over 50' you better call ahead. It's all on a case by case basis though. I once taught a woman on an 11 footer (still can't believe that) who will never get it. I've taught guys on 50's and 60's who just needed a little confidence boost. Whatever is needed they get, but I don't waste people's time or money. I don't book multiple lessons in advance on small boats because they have to be on their own as soon as possible or else they develop a dependence that they can't afford. I have no intention of being a full-time captain for a 28 footer.

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