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Mary and I regularly encounter couples where one is a knowledgeable cruiser and the other is a novice. How to balance the scale and get the amateur secure? Will living and cruising aboard ever work when one of the parties is inexperienced or a bit uncertain how or if to proceed? The 1st step is to introduce boating slowly. Charter a trawler together so you know whether it is something that might work before you make the plunge and get a new or used trawler or motor yacht together. Go out on weekend cruises with acquaintances who own boats. Is your partner relaxed? The old saying is that you either love it or hate it. Once you have made the decision to proceed with investing in a yacht, be certain your partner is involved in the purchase course of action. Both of you must be partial to everything about the motor yacht or trawler you get. Look at boats online and build a record of features you like. Compare notes to be certain you and your mate like similar features fundamentally. If not, you will be selling it again in a few months. We have experienced this often. The engines and all systems will speak to the man; the interior arrangement and design will talk to the woman. The man can love the engines and all the fancy electronic gear but if the bath or galley is not perfect for the lady, you will not be buying that specific vessel. If mama ain't happy, no one's happy. Locate a yacht broker that will perform as your buyer's broker. A skilled broker will direct you through the buying process and aid you in learning about your vessel subsequent to the purchase. Now you've purchased your dream boat and have equipped her with all you require to cruise full time. It's time to get her away from the wharf. But before starting the engines, create a strategy. Plan how you will move from the pier and how you will drop the anchor. How will you return to the harbor? Converse this arrangement with each other so everyone is aware of his or her job. This is where communication plays a vital role. Each person must be familiar with their role in this procedure. Once you get away from the pier, try maneuvering in the wide open water. Practice is the key to gaining self-confidence…practice your docking procedures as well. When your novice partner feels self-confident, you've won the game. After a few exercises, examine what was done accurately and what needs additional effort. This is the key to having fun. And don't be afraid of making errors. We have all been there. One mistake NOT to make is with regard to communication. Yelling will get you nowhere. It will worry your partner to the point where he or she will be prone to make errors or it will make them so mad they will throw up their hands and give up. Yelling can be a sign of your own stress/anxiety which could be interpreted by your partner that you don't have a clue, thus stressing them out. Try to chat evenly and in a normal tone. If you do end up yelling at your partner, remember to apologize later; otherwise you might be sleeping on the bridge that night. Constant training can lead to problems as well. If you are attempting to train your mate how to run the yacht, peering over his/her shoulder and coaching each minute can lead to unease. The partner will begin focusing on your criticism rather than how they are running the trawler. As in all walks of life, communication is the key. Oh, and when your novice mate does something correct, give them an ata-boy; works all the time. If you are successful in getting your partner to enjoy a fun day on the water, you can plan on many new trips attempting to duplicate that memory, I promise it. Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA. Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide. 904/556-9431 Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale
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