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Date: 5 July 2015. Boat Etiquette 101: Permission to board.

© janice142
 

All too many people do not realize that boats are private. Take yesterday evening... As the sun was going down a fellow and his three year old came out onto the dock (marked Private: No Trespassing) and hopped aboard Rollin' Stone. The nerve! If you want to know the quickest way to irritate a boat owner, stepping aboard uninvited is probably Number One on the list.
 


Rollin' Stone is the large black hulled steel shrimp boat to the far left.
 

I cannot imagine how well anyone would like it if a stranger came onto a private porch and made themselves at home. To be fair alcohol was involved. That is the why, but never an excuse for poor behavior.
 

When I questioned the idiot he told me he wanted his little girl to see the fireworks from the boat. Also, he acted like I was the problem and should allow it.

No. Not a chance. Never.


Yes, many boaters are social creatures.
Others might best be described as curmudgeons.

I know of more than one boat named Curmudgeon.


Side Note: If your boat is named Curmudgeon, I would love to share a picture on my site. Send your photo (the larger the better) to me at janice@janice142.com please. And thanks.
 

As for me, I tend toward the more sociable side of the dock. I look forward to having friends stop by unless I am in the middle of a project such as reorganizing the galley. For some reason when the boat looks like the next picture I am totally uninterested in seeing anyone.
 

Disaster, clutter and chaos do not make me happy. You can
well imagine how happy I am when Seaweed looks like this:


The galley is a mess, at least part-way through the remodel. Tidy and finished is covered in an upcoming article.
 

However, when you wish to visit aboard a boat, it is never wrong to ask "Permission to come aboard". Even friends ask. We never assume no matter how many times we've been on a boat that we are welcome at that particular time.
 

 

Boat Etiquette 101

 


#1) Always ask "Permission to come aboard"

#2) Always wait for the response before boarding

 


That is it, in its entirety. Wait, don't ask and assume it is okay to immediately step aboard. Get permission first.

It is easy to make friends on the docks. Everyone I know likes to hear their boat is wonderful, and how much someone admires it.

 


I often get comments on Seaweed's solar panels. All want to cut their power bills, so there is interest in the possibilities solar affords. As for me, I enjoy sharing what I have learned over the years.
 


Above is one of my three solar panels. This one is atop the pilothouse. You can see the wind generator in the background. And no, I don't know why the blades appear to be bent. Picture taking is not my strong suit.
 

Children seem better versed in solar power than the adults. Few are familiar with the wind-gen aka wind generator. That said, the kidlets do not understand the realities of how many solar panels are required for their normal house-bound lifestyle.


Even my Grand asks permission to board Seaweed.

 

Quite often I invite Kidlets aboard, after first instructing them on the "Permission to board" rules. Of course I ask the parents approval too. After granting the kidlets an okay, more than one parent has barreled aboard too -- without asking!

Do not set foot on a boat without the privilege being granted.
 

And never ever go on board a boat without asking first. Even friends ask.
 

Remember a few days ago we discussed Rocky Raccoon? In the Rocky Raccoon Returns article, the raccoon came aboard Rollin' Stone without permission. Here he is slinking away afterwards. Do not be that critter.
 


Good boat etiquette begins at dockside. Asking often will result in a lovely visit. My friend Angela stopped by in her kayak one day and we had a laughter filled chat.
 


We shared a beverage and then she took her kayak back across the river. It was a nice treat for me because as a soloist, well, it gets lonesome sometimes.
 

Her boat, the S/V Teasa is the third to the right of the building. The boat is eventually heading for Brazil. Teasa has already brought Angela and her Daniel across the Atlantic Ocean. You will note the boat has a much stouter mast than the others. Teasa is set up for blue-water sailing. She is a beauty.
 


Sharing my waterfront world is wonderful. All I ask is that you request permission to come aboard before assuming my good nature will keep you alive. Thanks!
 

Oh, and calling on VHF Channel 16 is always welcome too. 
 

Have you ever had anyone tromp aboard your boat without asking?
And, do you have any secrets to keep the dock-walkers off your boat?
 

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