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Foolhardy or Flummoxed.…
Avoiding the Extremes
A recent conversation made me think about three types of
current or would be boaters. Each in its own way is troubling either for
what they might do or what they’ll probably never do.
Those in the first group may be boat owners with substantial cruising
experience. That kernel of knowledge however, has made them “experts in
their own mind”. You may have known them from chat rooms or dockside
chats. These folks are full of one-size fits all opinions about the best
way to do anything and everything afloat: their way.
The second group views boating as a collection of decisions. Properly
made the trip should be the same as a cross-country drive. These owners
have been spotted in chaperoned flotillas making group passages. They
buy in their mind the best or strongest boat and see little other
preparation as necessary. This “we’ve got the boat, let’s do it”
attitude leads to a cavalier naivete about the challenges that can be
lying just offshore.
The third and probably biggest group, while not prone to bad decision
making, is ultimately crippled by making any decision at all. These
folks become completely overwhelmed by the knowledge they need, and the
boat they should buy. The more they read, the more they learn, and the
more confused they become. The end result is they wind up doing nothing
at all.
Clearly all of these extremes are best avoided. The open ocean doesn’t
care how much experience you have, or think you have. The ability to
adapt rather than rigidity can be key. The best way to learn this is by
taking baby steps with caution, respect, and preparedness. There is no
need to become paralyzed by the decision. A good captain/teacher can get
you started confidently and you will grow with each trip as long as you
never loose sight of how inconsequential a small boat is in a big ocean.
But then that’s just my opinion.
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