What do you tell 1st timers on your boat

[deniseO30]

and when did anyone, feel less fearful after any one of you told your newbies not to be afraid?

I like to suggest; " if you feel uncomfortable, Please let me know if the boat scares you in anyway." After, I always thank them for coming on the boat no matter how short a sail we had or even if it was just to motor around.
I truely beleive most people will not come back on a boat if the first experiance is the least bit uncomfortable. My guests comfort is more important that "showing" how I "handle" the boat.

Hey! I'm not suggestsing ANNNNNY of the guys have egos that make them want to impress others!

[smackdaddy]

Originally Posted by deniseO30

Hey! I'm not suggestsing ANNNNNY of the guys have egos that make them want to impress others!

Oh - okay, good. I wasn't quite sure where you were going with that.

Personally, I like to always start off with "Hey, baby, watch this."

[pdqaltair]

* Traveler when jibing.
* Sheet winches most of the time.
* If they are on the tramp/foredeck, duck when tacking.
* If I yell I'm not mad - it is simply hard to hear when the engine on or the wind is up.
* Please tell me if I am close to a piling when docking, but don't expect me to answer. I am listening to you and adjusting.

And a lot of things others mentioned.

We don't talk about heeling; we don't heel.
We don't talk about going down below; it isn't.

[Sabreman]

Rereading the posts is making me think.....

I think that I need to add something about heeling. I really don't mention it in my pre-sail because I assume that people understand that's what sailboats do. On the other hand, there must have been a 100 times when someone asked me if the boat could tip over, if it would come back up, what we would do, etc. Clearly, they were worried about the heeling thing. I must have explained another 100 times about the fact that we're 16500 pounds, have 8000 pounds of lead in the keel, etc. Since it's all underwater and out of sight, I don't think that the explanation does much good.

Thanks for making me think. No one wants their guests to a) get hurt or b) have a bad time.

[CaptainForce]

I tell them that they can put anything in the marine head as long as they eat it first!

[US27inKS]

Originally Posted by deniseO30

and when did anyone, feel less fearful after any one of you told your newbies not to be afraid?

I like to suggest; " if you feel uncomfortable, Please let me know if the boat scares you in anyway." After, I always thank them for coming on the boat no matter how short a sail we had or even if it was just to motor around.
I truely beleive most people will not come back on a boat if the first experiance is the least bit uncomfortable. My guests comfort is more important that "showing" how I "handle" the boat.

Hey! I'm not suggestsing ANNNNNY of the guys have egos that make them want to impress others!

If I have someone on the boat who is truly apprehensive, I will hand them the mainsheet, and tell them if the boat heels too much just let this out until you feel comfortable. I had a friend of my wifes on board who was too fearful even for that, so I sat her next to me and she ended up driving. After a few minutes, all was well.

[zz4gta]

Originally Posted by US27inKS

If I have someone on the boat who is truly apprehensive, I will hand them the mainsheet, and tell them if the boat heels too much just let this out until you feel comfortable. I had a friend of my wifes on board who was too fearful even for that, so I sat her next to me and she ended up driving. After a few minutes, all was well.

This worked really well for the g/f. She's not a huge fan of heeling, but once I put her in control of the traveler, she felt much better.

[Superpickle]

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

I just say "HEY! GET THE HELL OFF MY BOAT!"

Sorry dude, this thread is just too ripe for one-liners. The falling over thing is the biggest issue I have to explain. However, I'd never thought of using the Volkswagen formula. I'm interested to see what it takes to Jeff's Farr planing with a couple of VW bugs lashed to his keel.

At the first sign of a heel, I also like to start screaming hysterically: "We're all gonna diiiieeeee!!!"

People usually don't sail with me.

And then Scream "Shark Repellent WHERES MY SHARK REPELLENT "

[alwheeler98]

Originally Posted by CaptainForce

I tell them that they can put anything in the marine head as long as they eat it first!

What do you do with the toilet paper?

[xsboats]

The head doesn't work, so you'll have to hold it until we come back to the dock.