Top Three Boat Rules for Crew/Guests

I am sending out an informational email to some (adult) guests we are going to have on charter with us next September - mostly about where we are going, what the boat looks like, some Youtube videos with basic sailing skills, etc... I don't want to inundate them with rules in this email, but thought it might be worth mentioning just a few of the most important safety rules. Of course we'll do a more comprehensive boat and safety briefing when we get to the boat, but I'm thinking they'll return to this email periodically between now and then so I'd like to highlight the top few rules. What are your three (and only three) most important boat rules that you enforce on a novice crew?

Interesting - I have done sailing terms, things about the boat, thoughts on meals and drink, but never rules until they are actually there.

These might be good:

1. - See something, Say something. And unlike 9/11, the answer for "To who?" is everyone on the boat - especially ME

2. - The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Keep in mind that entertainment is where you can find it

3. - If I say something 3 times (stop stop stop, run run run, duck duck duck for example) JUST DO IT. Do not stop to ask questions, just do it. If you want my complete undivided attention, say something 3 times - and do NOT say my name repeatedly (I already know it).

Another good and slightly humorous thing to send out is the video clip for the 10 Commandments for Sailing. Said with humor, but very true.

Keep Smiling!!!

Our first rule gets people attention, Stay on the Boat! One hand for the boat at all times.
2nd rule is usually something silly to lighten the rule mood, like Captain gets beer first LOL (or depending on the crowd, insert sexual favor here)

3rd rule and beyond are the serious rules.


Not a rule but something I tell newbies......we are never a "yelling" boat, chartering or racing, but in both cases I still tell them ahead of a sail..... if someone is yelling it's because there is something urgent, do not take it personally or be offended. If there's an urgent situation "please" and "thank you's" go out the window and voices may be raised or swear words may be used LOL

Peter, I like your rule #3!! I'm gonna use that, especially the duck, duck duck!

I like the #3 as well.

I always assign jobs, i.e. mooring team, dingy person, etc. Most enjoy having a responsibility to do.

I like to "Calibrate the Radars" with one of the newbies. Always gets a good laugh. Roll up two foil rolls about 18" long.

I was thinking of things I should tell the couple we are taking on our upcoming trip and the first thing I thought of was something along the lines of "Don't get your hands caught in [censored] (stuff)."

I think newbies tend not to realize the immense forces involved in all things large boat and think that they can: hold the mooring painter, get another wrap around the winch, hold the boat off the dock, hang onto the roller furling line when the genny fills, (add any number of ways you can hurt yourself).

It's a fine line between properly warning them about the various things that can hurt them, and scaring them and having them be overly nervous about what could happen and not enjoy the trip.

My next two would be the MOB stuff (someone watches and points to the MOB the entire time, etc.) and the "Don't question me if I raise my voice/urgency tone" thing.

@Laura, I want to hear more about the crowd that gets rule 2 with the alternate to the first beer clause. I may have to come up with a whole new rule/reward system!

In summary... 1. Don't get sick, injured, or die and F up our trip! 2. Don't F up the boat and F up our trip! 3. Don't be lazy or a dick and F up our trip! Any questions?

My comments to my crew for our 2011 charter of a 47' power cat:

DO NOT attempt to fend the boat off a dock if it looks like we are going to collide with it. 22 tons of boat is only going to crush your arm/hand and nobody is going to thank you for your efforts.

We never had this problem but I'm betting that somebody else WILL sooner or later.

I give the same brief. I do however point out that if the insist on trying to save the boat hitting something their body does make an effective fender if put in place at the proper time!
On sailboats it’s also important to tell guests to never untie a line, sheet or halyard unless they have verified the line is not under load or is properly controlled. If in doubt I tell them to call me and leave it alone.

3 simples rules to my guests:

1- No sarcastic remarks about my docking abilities.

2- Don't pick sides when my wife overrules my decisions.

3- Don't clog the toilet

I have to say these are all hilarious but also very good! Especially don't untie things, massive loads, body part fenders etc!

TMSXMSAILS....well its a family page BUT one of my male friends uses this line, "Captain gets h**d first" .... No one has ever taken him up on it (except his girlfriend maybe ) but it always gets a laugh Disclaimer: This is amongst our generally inappropriate friend group, no small children have been traumatized.

More than 3 so you can pick but I send this out to all crew in advance in addition to asking health questions in advance...and then safety breifing on boat before departure, this months Boat US magazine has an article on this. I take a lot of college kids out hence the social media point

Captains Briefing (SLOW IS PRO)
1) Life Jackets-where are they? Life Boat. Tie a life jacket to back railing
2) Emergency equipment-VHF (Channel 16) flares, fire extinguishers. VISAR is rescue team.
3) Man Overboard Drill-Shout, Throw & Point. Don’t take you eyes of the person in the water. CONSTANT EYE CONTACT. Throw the life ring in and the life jacket in.
4) Always count heads…can you count to “10” or however many people we have on board
5) Securing safety railings at all times…holding yourself in back.
6) One hand for you one for the boat (3 points of contact at ALL times)…when we moor or dock or leave mooring if you aren’t doing anything for the boat stay seated and if it doesn’t involve the boat or boat safety don’t talk to me. Use hand rails at all times. Don’t carry something onto the boat or dinghy. 1st person cross and then hand gear.
7) Tank water is for bathing ONLY
8) Head (toilet) operation & red-light location…if it doesn’t come out of you it doesn’t go down the toilet
9) Stay hydrated-if you aren’t peeing you aren’t drinking enough
10) No night swimming-Rule of 3 wherever you go. Use noodles when open snorkeling for visability
11) Mooring-3 people up front. 1 on port line and 1 on starboard and one in middle with boat hook. Lines need go under rail and through eyehook and then brought back and tied. Manning the boat hook to pick up the mooring painter eye hook. Communicate with captain. DO NOT GET BETWEEN BOAT and anything HARD...no human fenders.
12) Docking-people on lines and people on fenders. Hold fender line at right height. Don’t use your body or any other part between boat and dock. Don’t push off the dock hard and fast and don’t pull a rope hard and fast. If I need you to snug a line wrap around cleat once and hold. Simple Cleat hitch knot….
13) Fire-Get everyone up and out.
14) Gas line – Light and breaker. If gas on one person must stay with oven/burner.
15) Everyone is a lookout for boats and anything else
16) Dinghy-stay on sides and not in front. Shift lever. One person hold dinghy rope (painter) tight while others boarding. Dinghy needs to be tied down on elevator. Dinghy kill switch. Dinghy tilt engine. Colored bags on dinghy
17) If you stay below while moving and you get seasick you will be a boating buzzkill. Stay ahead of any potential seasickness
18) Get enough sleep…if you need eyemask bring it. No ear plugs
19) Social media-be smart about being dumb. It is forever. Switch off data on phone
20) Questions…ask ask ask…don’t be shy and don’t wait. If there is something I should know let me know….if you need something let me know.

@Laura, I'm thinking of getting that on a shirt... :-)

I can do that!!

Ooh, that's a fun one. You ought to make a few, as I'd include one on my next order!

Thanks for all the great ideas! All wonderful and relevant rules that any self-respecting captain should enforce.

I saw this on the wall at BEYC "When everything else fails, try doing what the captain suggested".
(2) Don't put yourself between the boat and anything solid
(3) If you are going to pee off the back of the boat, tell someone