Chuck Gould
Senior Member
I've been invited back for the 7th year in a row to present this topic at the Seattle Boat Show. I'll be there at 2:15 this coming Friday. Almost every year, somebody from a Power Squadron, a yacht club or other organization sees the presentation at the show and invites me to do it for their group as well. Last fall, I was invited to the Marine Trawler Owner's Association cruise in at Port Orchard. I thought that was going to be a really tough audience, but the presentation was very well received and several people individually thanked me afterward and claimed they picked up a couple of docking tips.
I sure as heck don't "know it all". I handle a boat with competence, but fall short of perfection. When I do get in trouble, it's always because I made a mistake- and knew better. After 30 years of plowing into docks, piers, pilings, and anything else it is possible to hit going forward, astern, or slammed broad abeam I discovered a few things that seem to work better than others. Sometimes, just knowing why you're screwed up halfway through a landing is really useful. If things are going badly, and you realize, why, it's easier to plan a second approach.
The seminar is very useful for new boaters, people "evolving" from twin screws to single (just kidding!), or even experienced boaters who may be faced with helping somebody else learn to run a single engine inboard powerboat. It's a useful course outline, even if a boater already knows everything the seminar covers.
Anybody on the list that's around the show on Friday, stop by (even if you don't stay for the seminar) and say "Hi".
The Boat Show also asked me to present for the 5th consecutive year "Man Overboard" (Jan 27, 5:00 PM) and a topic that is new this year, "Choosing and Using a Yacht Broker" (Jan 29 at 3:15 and Feb 1 at 1:15)
I sure as heck don't "know it all". I handle a boat with competence, but fall short of perfection. When I do get in trouble, it's always because I made a mistake- and knew better. After 30 years of plowing into docks, piers, pilings, and anything else it is possible to hit going forward, astern, or slammed broad abeam I discovered a few things that seem to work better than others. Sometimes, just knowing why you're screwed up halfway through a landing is really useful. If things are going badly, and you realize, why, it's easier to plan a second approach.
The seminar is very useful for new boaters, people "evolving" from twin screws to single (just kidding!), or even experienced boaters who may be faced with helping somebody else learn to run a single engine inboard powerboat. It's a useful course outline, even if a boater already knows everything the seminar covers.
Anybody on the list that's around the show on Friday, stop by (even if you don't stay for the seminar) and say "Hi".
The Boat Show also asked me to present for the 5th consecutive year "Man Overboard" (Jan 27, 5:00 PM) and a topic that is new this year, "Choosing and Using a Yacht Broker" (Jan 29 at 3:15 and Feb 1 at 1:15)