Annapolis Yacht Sales

Mary and I regularly meet couples where one is a knowledgeable cruiser and the other is an amateur. How to balance the scale and get the novice comfortable? Will living and cruising aboard ever work when one of the parties is inexperienced or a bit uncertain how or if to proceed?

The first step is to introduce boating slowly. Charter a yacht together so you understand whether it is something that might work before you make the plunge and purchase a new or used trawler or motor yacht together. Go out on weekend cruises with acquaintances who own boats. Is your partner secure? The old adage is that you either love it or hate it.

Once you have made the decision to proceed with purchasing a yacht, be certain your partner is involved in the buying course of action. Both of you must be keen on everything about the motor yacht or trawler you buy. Look at boats over the internet and make a catalog of things you like. Compare notes to ensure you and your mate like similar things fundamentally. If not, you will be selling it again in a few months. We have experienced this frequently. The engines and all systems will appeal to the man; the interior arrangement and design will speak to the woman. The man can love the engines and all the elaborate electronic gear but if the bath or galley is not just right for the lady, you will not be buying that particular trawler. If mama ain't happy, no one's happy.

Locate a yacht broker that will work as your buyer's broker. A skilled broker will show you through the purchasing process and aid you in learning about your trawler after the purchase.

Now you've obtained your dream vessel and have equipped her with all you require to cruise full time. It's time to take her away from the wharf. But before starting the engines, formulate a strategy. Figure how you will move from the pier and how you will drop the anchor. How will you get back to the wharf? Talk about this arrangement with each other so everyone is sure of his or her responsibility. This is where communication plays a significant role. Each participant must comprehend their role in this procedure. Once you leave the wharf, practice maneuvering in the wide open water. Practice is the solution to gaining self-confidence...practice your docking methods as well. When your inexperienced partner feels self-assured, you've won the game. After a few maneuvers, examine what was done accurately and what needs further work. This is the key to having fun. And don't be scared of making errors. We have all been there.

One mistake NOT to make is with regard to communication. Yelling will get you nowhere. It will worry your partner to the point where he or she will be prone to make errors or it will make them so fuming they will throw up their hands and give up. Yelling can be a reflection of your own stress/anxiety which could be interpreted by your partner that you don't know what you are doing, thus stressing them out. Try to speak calmly and in a normal tone. If you do end up yelling at your mate, remember to apologize later; otherwise you might be sleeping on the bridge that night.

Continual training can lead to problems also. If you are attempting to teach your mate how to operate the vessel, peering over his/her shoulder and coaching each minute can lead to nervousness. The mate will start focusing on your disapproval and not how they are running the yacht. As in all avenues of life, communication is the key. Oh, and when your novice partner does something right, give them an ata-boy; works everytime.

If you are triumphant in getting your partner to have a pleasurable day on the water, you can count on many new trips trying to duplicate that recollection, I promise it.

Paradise Yachts is a Yacht Brokerage offering used yachts to customers worldwide.

Visit our website to view our selection of Used Trawlers and Motor Yachts.

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