Does your significant other know how to operate your boat?

[airdvr1227]

The wife and I have had this discussion several times. While she was able to handle the 23 footer she is totally intimidated with the 34 footer.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Tammy knows enough to get the boat to the dock, however docking it, she would most likely have issues.

 

[oldjeep]

Yes, if she didn't I would never get to ski. She is also the one who puts it on and off the trailer while I deal with the truck.

 

[SkiDad]

My wife is a pro. Wish she would ski with us

 

[Cat nip]

Not yet but she will learn very soon.

 

[mjf55]

She's great at it, and helps fix it too.

 

[Rick Stephens]

My bride does fine but would rather enjoy the ride and only drive if there is a line at the ramp while I get the truck.

 

[airshot]

I wish she would be more interested in learning. My wife is not a water fan, she enjoys a nice easy cruise down the river in the evening but that is it. No interest in learning to handle the boat. Now my own kids and my grandkids all went thru the boat safety course and do know how to handle my boat, while docking might be a challenge I am sure they could muster thru it unless a severe wind was causing problems. Most of the people I fish with are familiar enough to get us back if something should happen to me.

 

[Tnstratofam]

My wife is comcortable with every aspect of boating except for backing the trailer. Which is ironic sense she drove 18 wheelers in the Army 20 years ago. She does better with the ski boat with the inboard over the fishing boat with the outboard. I believe it's because the ski boat shifts so much smother and quieter. The outboard is louder which makes her a little nervous.

 

[vans]

My wife's been boating with me for 35 plus years, has no desire to learn anything, but when it comes time to open the cooler for snacks- she shines

 

[Grub54891]

Mine can if needed, but wishes not to. She will however back the trailer in at the crappy ramps, and do quite well.

 

[David Young]

My wife can drive the boat pretty good, down the lake. One day she told me to go get the trailer and back down the ramp while she would drive around in the boat until i was ready. While i was backing down the ramp i hear my her screaming my name. I stopped the car and got out and yelled, WHAT!!!. She yells, THE BOAT WONT STOP!!! I yelled to her, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL!!!. She yells, WHERE IS THAT!!! By that time she was coming in at idle right toward the boat ramp, I ran down the ramp, into the water to save my boat from "running aground" . I saved my boat and put in neutral. She hasn't asked me to let her take control of the boat while i go back down the ramp since then

 

[Newbie@boats]

My fianc? can operate the boat no problem, but if it came to pulling up to the dock, backing in the trailer, and loading the boat up that's where we might run into some issues

 

[drrpm]

My wife can drive the boat pretty well and has a handle on some of the other stuff like anchoring, tying up at the dock and strapping the boat down on the trailer but she won't be backing it down the ramp.

 

[KnotConnected]

She's pretty intimidated by it, but hell so am I! She's a great first-mate through. Knows how to handle lines, scream at me if we're going to hit something I don't see, and power down / kill the engine if I fall in.

 

[shrew]

I had my wife take the safe boating course which included navigation. She is very, very good at navigation. She is well practiced with the VHF. She can take the boat out of the slip, get it up on plane and generally operate it. She has no interest in learning to dock the boat. For a medical emergency in which I'm incapacitated, she's been advised to arrange for emergency services and to simply drive (ditch) the boat on shore at the rendezvous point. At the end of the day, if I'm having a heart attack, I don't give a dam bout the boat.

 

[KnotConnected]

At the end of the day, if I'm having a heart attach, I don't give a dam bout the boat.

...That's some pretty solid logic!

 

[KnotConnected]

At the end of the day, if I'm having a heart attach, I don't give a dam bout the boat.

...That's some pretty solid logic!

 

[chez323]

nope, just me. In all fairness we just picked up our new to us 1988 Sea Ray Seville 20' and I'm just now getting proficient at docking.

 

[keninaz]

Yes, we have had many boats from a powered 12' aluminum to a 24' cuddy over the years. I have made sure that my wife knows how to start it and get it in gear and such just in case something happens to me. I am now 70 with a heart condition and she needs to know how to handle a boat. We spent many a year living on the Pacific Ocean and she also knows how to handle big water/waves too.