First time boat owners - 10 Tips from Captains
When I first started sailing four years ago, I had no idea what it meant to own a boat. I was a happy passenger who progressed to galley chief then deckhand to first mate and now awaiting my official Captain’s License from the USCG to arrive in the mail. In the roughly 13,500 nautical miles at sea, there are certain patterns I see with boat owners and here are 10 Best Tips from many hours of conversations whilst at sea and on the dock awaiting boat parts.
MAINTENANCE
You might hear realtors talk about “location, location, location.” But if you’re a boat owner, the magic words are maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. The best captains I’ve sailed with have been preemptive about fixing failures right away or replacing parts that are worn, frayed or not working properly versus owners who are in the habit of band-aid fixes or waiting until something actually breaks. Preemptive owners tend to update or upgrade the entire system if need be, not just the one part that’s broken unless it’s a simple fuse or small screw or ring. The reason being the other parts are likely on the verge of needing to be replaced so if you replace the whole system then your boat will run more efficiently and possibly cost less in the future. Waiting until something actually breaks may result in serious safety concerns.
LOGS
Keeping a maintenance LOG for quarterly or annual maintenance is a good idea. You can buy a physical copy of The Maintenance Log from Weems & Plath that has space for recording info like when your engine was serviced or cataloging spare parts, etc or you can purchase a digital planner from PlanM8 (Plan Mate) who makes an excellent digital vessel maintenance log created by professional mariners. On long voyages, when I’ve run out of books to read, I’ve spent many hours perusing boat maintenance logs of various ships (or lack thereof). Many cruisers keep a library of maintenance records. Keeping a separate Ship’s Log, especially for cruising lets you keep track of unique or memorable experiences as well as notations on destinations, anchorages, nautical miles sailed, other sailors you’ve met, rare sightings, etc. Watch schedules and notes might be in this Ship’s Log or some keep a separate watch log. The Boat Galley sells a 5-in-1: Ship’s Log, Cruising Log, Vessel Inventory, Fluid Changes & Fills, Maintenance, Repairs & Upgrades with a Quick Reference section. Landfall sells Ship Log v4 which is a robust system that comes with a trip planner, GPS integration, files and photos feature, automated maintenance scheduling, inventory management, multi log system and and multi-vessel capability. If this all feels overwhelming, a simple notebook or google sheets will suffice for a few months and then you may want some ready-made templates.
CHARTS & GUIDEBOOKS
Know where you’re going. Go to NOAA to find out which charts you need for your destination and then purchase the section you need. Here’s a link to Certified Agents who will print charts on-demand. Many rely on electronic navigation now but keep in mind sailing in remote parts, some software is incorrect and the charts are outdated (geology changes over time), so find out if there are local cruising guides that are best for that area. People rely on Charlie’s Charts and Landfall Navigation has a terrific selection of cruising guides. Be sure to look up local guides too, for example, this Anchoring at Catalina by Marc Santana is really great if you’re sailing off the coast of Southern California.
WHAT TYPE OF BOATER ARE YOU?
Boaters are often asked the question, what’s your favorite boat? The answer? “The one I’m on right now.” Hopefully you’ve already asked yourself what type of boater are you? Day sailor? Coastal or Off-shore cruiser? Racer? You might take some time to figure it out and no matter what boat you bought, boats can be re-configured so it’s perfectly ok for now, if you don’t know that answer or if you change your mind. Some people get addicted to boat life and once they buy their first boat, many do sell their first boats and upgrade to the next. So depending on what type of sailor you are, you might need to support yourself with the right crew.
GOOD CREW
When you have a good crew list going, make sure your boat has at least one good first mate who is able bodied and preferably seasoned, especially if you’re not a skipper who can solo. It’s wise to have a safety briefing, guidelines of how you like things done or put away, what types of activities you need help with. Be clear with whether a person who comes aboard with you is crew or a guest. Some people who have never been on a boat watch movies about yachties and think they’re coming on an all-expense paid vacation but in your mind, you need them to crew. Ask questions. On one of the Baja Haha trips, I was First Mate and the Captain let me choose my crew mate. We interviewed 6 potential candidates who had to submit their sailing resumes and answer a series of questions. It was so helpful to talk to each person who were all technically qualified and in the end, it honestly came down to personality. Was this person going to get along with The Captain, his wife and I who knew each other and have all sailed together previously? There are many ways of meeting like-minded people. Check your local yacht & sailing clubs, they often have boards where you can post crew needs like sailing Facebook groups. This is definitely true for racing clubs. You can also find crew on Go Sailing App. The app lets you post a sail if you’re looking for crew. Crew Finder on Facebook is good for global voyagers. Have a guide sheet or checklist for tasks they can help you with - especially the water toys. Instruct them on how to run the dinghy, take the kayaks or SUP’s, etc.
SAFETY
Aside from getting along, safety is a critical aspect of boating. File a float plan. Make sure your crew know how to turn on the engine if necessary and operate the VHF radio to call for help. Consider asking crew to get their Boater’s Card - something all California boaters will be required to have by 2025. Make sure your boat has all the required safety equipment - especially fire extinguishers, flares, sound signals, flotation devices, etc. If you’re not sure what those requirements are, check out the USCG boating website. Make sure you have a copy of the Col Regs Rules of the Road and be sure you and your crew know them. Even if you have guests who are non-sailors, they can certainly watch for traffic. Giving someone this task keeps them engaged and aware and keeps them from getting sea sick! Safe Skipper has some great tips and in-depth articles.
MEDICAL
It’s not fun to be sick on the boat so if you’re going to have regular crew, you might keep a private record of anyone’s medical history and definitely each guest/crew’s emergency contact. Have the proper medication on board and very importantly, keep everyone well nourished and hydrated and have sunscreen on board. Taking an EFR/CPR class is a great idea or if you want to know more about Safety at Sea, this course is marine specific.
MAKE FRIENDS
What’s amazing about the boating community is the network of like-minded people you meet - world wide. Walking the dock, knowing your boat neighbors, having dinner at the yacht club, going to sailing events, and participating in owner groups will inevitably keep your dance card full. You’ll receive as many invitations as a boat owner as you will extend invitations. These are the folks to ask for best referrals for mechanics, riggers, bottom cleaners,, etc. When you travel on your boat, you’ll meet wonderful people in cruising destinations and guaranteed, if you’re wearing any sailing attire on land, a fellow sailor might recognize your sperry’s or Helly Hansen jacket or the iconic Mount Gay Rum red baseball cap and strike up a conversation. Get a personalized boat card made preferably with a photo of your boat, your boat name and boat logo (if you have one), Coast Guard registration number, Marine Station Call Sign, MMSI and if you have a blog, include it and certainly if you have any special distinctions like 100Ton Captain’s License or Teaching Certifications. like a business card. Some people do not include their phone number, but I find it useful. You can design and order them from Vista Prints.
KNOW YOUR BOAT
Every boat has a personality. Even if it had a previous owner, the boat itself is a dynamic entity. It will tell you when it’s happy and you will certainly know when it’s very unhappy. Listen for the boat’s sounds. How does it behave underway? Beyond hull speed, the boat will like to maneuver a certain way and feel magical when it’s performing and operating efficiently. Make sure you call your boat by its name! The more intimately you know your boat, the more ownership will be rewarding. Some of your most joyous moments will be on your boat, shared with friends, crew, and strangers who become like family. Some boats really love attention to the wood, other boats love sweet interior touches, some boats are durable and love having fishing & BBQ equipment on board, some boats love music, other boats prefer quiet time. Get to know your boat! Don’t worry about extra stuff like a life raft, water maker, unless you plan to go off-shore. Solar is nice to have to keep your batteries topped up.
KNOW YOURSELF
Lastly, the biggest lesson I’ve learned from sailing with boat owners and captains is knowing yourself. The best captains I’ve sailed with, know themselves, their limits and boundaries. I’ve sailed with captains who love to cook, clean the head and sleep in the salon. I’ve sailed with others who never did any chores or maintenance and drank beer for breakfast. There have been captains who are great day sailors and cruisers but didn’t know anything about racing, nor did they want to. No matter what type of captain you are, get the support you need to get the experience you want. If this means, more training in sail trim, navigation or marine diesels, or cooking on boats, there’s always more to learn. These are places for sailing and powerboat instruction ASA, US Sailing, USCG Auxiliary, Power Squadron, America’s Boating Club and if you want to train up, I recommend professional mariner training through The Sailing School & Seamanship, The Maritime Institute or if you like online classes, Chris Nolan through Udemy.
You can read an article I wrote about Twelve Steps to Becoming A Sailor for ASA.
