Boating and the initiation to become official
“Anyone who hasn’t hit a dock…” Run-aground Ralph started. “Or run aground,” interrupted Cap’n Crunch. “Or hit a piling,” added Boston Bob, “hasn’t ever operated a boat!”
We were sitting dockside at an old favorite place that we hope will become a new favorite place as we watched a new “Dead End Canal Yacht Club” member drive his deck boat up a piling. We groaned loudly and in unison. “Someone go out and take our burgee (club flag) off that boat,” the Reverend insisted.
“You’ve got competition, Cap’n,” joked Annapolis Al. “Didn’t we go over the docking technique out in the back bay?”
Yes we did. Our little harbor tour was a ‘freshman orientation’ of sorts. The newbies wanted it to be their first cruising rendezvous but the older members wanted it to be about near shore boat handling. On the way around the Back Bay we’d gathered the 3 newbie’s boats around the Commodores boat and discussed the art of maneuvering around the ‘poles’ (navigational markers) and where the deep water is and isn’t.
Commodore Jim used a ‘pole’ to illustrate the effect of tides on idling boats, and as we drifted together he tried to drive the point home that the water was moving. “Focus on a fixed point and feel the effects of the tide on your boat,” he shouted. He was forced to shout because one of the boats was a thru-hull exhaust cigarette boat that was nearly deafening.
“We are out here in a wide open bay where the tide runs slowly. We’ve timed our arrival at the restaurant for slack (not moving) tide. It should be like docking on Lake Woebegone for a half hour. We should all be there at noon, no later, okay?”
The best laid plans of mice and men, as they say, and this was no different. Our Commodore’s boat and the cigarette boat landed at the same time. It was smooth as could be. The Commodore always develops a near permanent grin after he makes a great landing.
The newbie member aboard the go-fast boat did very nicely also, but was very slow to turn off his loud motors. The dock attendant requested a shutdown, and he reluctantly complied. Several waterside customers glowered at him as he and his silicone-enhanced girlfriend entered the establishment.
We waited on board until ‘Ciggy’ chose a table and then moved to one as far away as possible and settled in for a rousing lunch. As we perused the unfamiliar menu the two late arriving boats lined up for slips closer to the narrow pass.
“What time is it,” the Reverend asked. “Twenty five after noon,’ someone answered. “Look at the marker. The tide has turned to go out,” said Boston Bob. “It’s just starting,” I said, “besides, they have a dock attendant to help them!”
Just about that time, the newbie member tried to drive his boat up the piling despite the concerted effort of the dock attendant. For some reason the passenger on the bow of the deck boat wouldn’t toss the attendant the bow line. The tide moved the boat away from the intended slip onto the piling and into the adjacent slip.
The newbie driver was a little shook up, but we assured him with the words that began this column. Apparently his boat was undamaged by the forgiving piling. Those deck boats are tougher than they look.
“I froze,” admitted the young woman who was clinging to the bowline. “It happens to the best of us,” said Cap’n Crunch. We laughed heartily, and that improved our appetite. Even ‘Ciggy’ joined in, and it was a good day on the water. Oh yeah, the fourth boat went home without making an attempt. Smart move.
Boatguy Ed is a retired paint manufacturer and currently helps his son produce a television show about boats and waterfront restaurants. Send questions and comments to boatguiEd@aol.com.