{"id":244,"date":"2012-10-11T18:21:57","date_gmt":"2012-10-11T22:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/?p=244"},"modified":"2015-07-12T14:11:48","modified_gmt":"2015-07-12T18:11:48","slug":"the-accidental-tourist-afloat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/2012\/10\/the-accidental-tourist-afloat\/","title":{"rendered":"The Accidental Tourist Afloat"},"content":{"rendered":"

First published in several Maryland newspapers, 8\/18\/89<\/span><\/p>\n

The Accidental Tourist Afloat<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u0004\u000e\u0003by \u0004\u000e\bTom Dove<\/span>
\n You have been invited to spend a day or a weekend on a \u0004\u001cfriend’s boat. What should you bring? What will you wear? \u0004\u001c\u0015What are the hazards?\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

First, find out something about the boat. Group it into one of \u0004\u001cfour general size categories: a runabout or daysailer under 20 feet, \u0004\u001ca small power or sailing cruiser between about 20 and 28 feet, a \u0004\u001cmedium sized cruising sail or powerboat between 28 and 45 feet, or \u0004\u001c\u001ca large vessel over 45 feet.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

Some preparations are common to all boats. Windburn and \u0004\u001csunburn are both possible, so take sunscreen lotion and a good hat \u0004\u001cwith a brim. Wear shoes that have soft, nonskid soles – deck shoes \u0004\u001care best – and remember your sunglasses. Otherwise, carry much \u0004\u001cless than you think you will need as storage space on boats is \u0004\u001c\u000falways limited.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are going out cruising overnight, pack everything into \u0005\u001csoft-sided luggage like a duffle bag or nylon carry-on as it is \u0004\u001cimpractical to stow a hard suitcase on anything smaller than a \u0004\u001cluxury yacht. Keep clothing simple unless the skipper has said you \u0004\u001cwill be going someplace elaborate for dinner.\u00a0On the Bay, a tie is \u0004\u001csomething you secure a sail with.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are going out on a small boat for the day, prepare as \u0004\u001cyou would for a short trip to the beach. You will need a bathing suit and casual clothes; shorts will be fine. Wear easily removable \u0004\u001cshoes that will not be hurt by getting wet because you may stop \u0004\u001c\u001bat a beach and wade ashore.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

On a small boat it is especially important to find out where it \u0004\u001cis safe to step and where it is not because little vessels can be \u0004\u001ctippy.\u00a0People rarely have seasickness on small boats, especially \u0004\u001c\u0010small sailboats.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

Small cruisers offer more space along with overnight \u0004\u001caccomodations, but cruising on any boat smaller than about 27 or \u0004\u001c28 feet is essentially camping out on the water. It is a lot of fun, \u0004\u001cbut you will get to know your shipmates well in such quarters. A \u0004\u001cboat in this size range is usually comfortable for two or three, but \u0004\u001c\u0019any more will be a crowd.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

For a weekend on a small cruiser, pack very lightly. One \u0004\u001cchange of clothes plus a bathing suit is generally enough, along \u0004\u001cwith a light windbreaker if the evening may be cool. Take no \u0005\u001cmore than you can fit into a small duffle bag.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

Mid-sized cruisers can be very comfortable for two couples. \u0004\u001cThere is generally a separate compartment for the head (toilet) and \u0004\u001cthe sleeping areas are separated from the galley (kitchen) and \u0004\u001csaloon (main cabin; powerboat builders insist on misnaming it the ‘salon’).\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

Larger cruisers in the mid size range may have good \u0004\u001caccomodations for three couples with two private double cabins plus \u0004\u001cconvertible settee berths in the saloon. You will need to carry more clothes for a week than for a \u0004\u001cweekend, of course, but try to keep it simple. Everything should \u0004\u001cbe informal and packed in something soft sided.\u00a0110-Volt AC \u0004\u001celectricity may be available on some mid-sized boats, but ask the \u0004\u001cskipper before packing an electric shaver or curling iron.<\/span><\/p>\n

Large yachts may follow the same informality as smaller \u0004\u001cvessels or they may be quite formal, indeed. Most Chesapeake \u0004\u001cbased yachts are casual and you may follow the same guides as for \u0004\u001ca medium-size boat. Larger private cabins and more living space \u0004\u001care the main differences between a 40-footer and a 60-footer.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

On any boat, offer to help with little chores that to not \u0004\u001crequire specialized boathandling skills: preparing meals, cleaning up, \u0004\u001csteering in open water. Around docks, let the experienced people \u0004\u001chandle matters while you keep your hands and feet inside where they cannot be crushed between the boat and a piling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do learn \u0004\u001chow to cleat a line; it is a valuable basic skill.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are subject to motion sickness, try your medication \u0004\u001cseveral days before your boating trip. The patches that you wear \u0004\u001cbehind the ear are most effective but also most likely to have side \u0004\u001c\u001aeffects in certain people.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a particular insect repellent you like, take it \u0004\u001calong. Mosquitoes are common in summer in Bay anchorages.\u0004\u001c<\/span><\/p>\n

Travel light, dress casually and enjoy the air and water and \u0004\u001cbeauty of the Chesapeake. There is no better way to do it than \u0004\u001c\ffrom a boat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u0004\u000e — The End —<\/span><\/p>\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

First published in several Maryland newspapers, 8\/18\/89 The Accidental Tourist Afloat \u0004\u000e\u0003by \u0004\u000e\bTom Dove You have been invited to spend a day or a weekend on a \u0004\u001cfriend’s boat. What should you bring? What will you wear? \u0004\u001c\u0015What are the hazards?\u0004\u001c First, find out something about the boat. Group it into one of \u0004\u001cfour general Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":636,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244\/revisions\/636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tomdove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}