Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain
If you are lucky enough to live here on St. Simons Island, chances are that you either own a boat or have a friend who does. I’ve had my own boat and several of my friends currently own boats and I must say I prefer the latter.
Everyone loves showing up at the dock, walking down to the boat, getting on board and enjoying a day out on the water. However, no one loves prepping the boat before the outing or washing the boat after it. The same “friends” who show up at 10:45 a.m. for the 10:00 a.m. departure time will leave faster than rats on a sinking ship as soon as the boat is tied up at the dock after a fun day on the water.
In high school I had a little 15½-foot ski boat with a 70hp motor on the back. My buddies and I would fill the portable 5-gallon gas tank, stock up on sandwiches, chips, and drinks, and head out on the Frederica River to ski all day. The problem was always when we got back to the dock and I had to trailer the boat home. My buddies never seemed to make it to my house to clean the boat. Luckily, my boat was small. Washing and cleaning a 15½-foot boat is a lot easier than washing a 28 or 30-foot fishing boat.
The next best thing to owning a boat is being invited out on the water by friends who have boats. It is much cheaper and just about as much fun. To increase your chances of having a fantastic time and being invited to come back again, here are my top tips for being a good boat guest:
Tip #1: Every boat owner has slightly different expectations of guests. Find out before you go whether you are expected to bring food and drinks or if you should chip in for fuel.
Tip #2: Show up on time. There is nothing more likely to irritate the skipper than delaying departure from the docks because they had to wait for you to arrive and board.
Tip #3: At the end of the day, stay to clean up. (Maybe that should be Tip #1!)
Oh, and don’t forget to say thank you. You’d be surprised how much a skipper/boat owner appreciates that simple gesture. It will certainly help your chances of getting invited back.
I’ve been thinking of buying another boat, but with MY friends, I’m probably better off with a jet ski!
