Sound advice for guests

[Tally Ho]

Maybe is a French thing, but any spilled red wine on the gelcoat of any Beneteau I’ve owned bleaches totally out in 3-4 days of good sun. We had a friend over for a moonlight cruise and she got ‘spilly’. The next morning the boat looked like a crime scene. 3 days later, perfect.

So we’re good with red wine.

I had some friends out and the wife wanted some red wine. I said sure, just don’t spill it...

And of course, she dropped her (lexan) wine glass on the cockpit floor. Lots of red all around.

But like @Kermit said, I only bring people I like and enjoy on the boat, so all was forgiven and the wine washed off. No harm done.

I have done lots worse cleaning winches and changing the oil...

Greg

 

[Jackdaw]

I'M SOLD!

All true. Even little ol' BlueJ has dedicated racking for 6 bottles.

And we use it, but we have also discovered what the French sailing public has as well; the convenience and practicality of boxed wine on the boat. Unlike us however, they have a better selection than the ubiquitous 'Black Box'. In France boxed wine comes from a single vineyard, and is usually an vintage. Great stuff.

For whites, we take the bladder out of the box and toss it in the fridge. Shape conforming and takes up a lot less space, in particular after you dive into it!

 

[Stu Jackson]

Lots of red all around.

The cure for spilled red wine is to pour white wine right on top of it.

 

[LeslieTroyer]

Those wine box bladders make great MOB dummies, practice marks......

 

[DougM]

Learned a trick from a waiter in France...He dumped salt on red wine spilled on a white tablecloth. It soaked it up completely.
I still don’t allow it aboard. We do our wining and dining after sailing on the house deck 25 feet from the boat.
My pet peeve is that we still get the occasional guest who fails to comprehend the meaning of proper boat shoes and either arrives in flip flops, hard soled shoes, or black soles.

 

[Jackdaw]

Learned a trick from a waiter in France...He dumped salt on red wine spilled on a white tablecloth. It soaked it up completely.
I still don’t allow it aboard. We do our wining and dining after sailing on the house deck 25 feet from the boat.
My pet peeve is that we still get the occasional guest who fails to comprehend the meaning of proper boat shoes and either arrives in flip flops, hard soled shoes, or black soles.

Or high heels.

 

[TomY]

A good read with sound advice for any guests. Anyone ever have "One of those"?

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/a9529954/boat-etiquette-dont-be-that-guy/

Fun read. There are no rules beyond common sense on our boat, for what we call 'the harbor tour'.

The HT satisfies most of our friend obligations which is simply to get out on the water for an hour or two, in fair weather and enjoy life and the company of good friends and family. I make sure we have enough PFD's for everyone and under aged wear them. This is what the day charter boats do, that's good enough for me.

It's always a party involving plentiful of finger foods and plenty to drink. The only sailing we'll do is unroll the genoa and raise the mizzen, which I can do from the wheel which is where I'll be trapped the whole time.

I point out important landmarks or local knowledge that I think will be of interest.

The party goes on in front of me in our large cockpit and on the decks and foredeck. Those taking care of that duty in the galley have the harder task of our harbor tour.

We'll often combine the harbor tour with one of our local 'harbor-cue's' in our public marine park.

We've only taken a few good friends overnight or sailing any distance over the years. Usually they are sailors that know what to do.

With all guests on the boat or at home, we have the same mantra: "Wipe your feet on the way out"

 

[rgranger]

Dem some big crayfish yeah

 

[Kings Gambit]

#13) Be prepared to wear proper deck shoes! The one thing I’ve gotten the most “push back” on is my wish (and instructions) to see crew and guests in proper deck shoes. Namely, no bare feet, obviously; no flip-flops, or any kind of sandal lacking a heel strap. No loafer type “boat shoes” of Sperry/WM fame, or other kinds of slip on. Best are sneaker type shoes, IMHO.

 

[BigEasy]

#13) Be prepared to wear proper deck shoes! No loafer type “boat shoes” of Sperry/WM fame, or other kinds of slip on. IMHO.

Whaaat!! No top siders permitted????

 

[Kings Gambit]

Cult footwear for slip sailors and power boaters.

 

[jon hansen]

bare feet are great on teak decks. always welcome. topsiders too. my decks are left natural. no oils wanted. it's all about the grip.

yes i'm aware the fiberglass decks are slippery. i have those on other boats. and never allow wax on cabins. it creeps

 

[jon hansen]

no spray sun screen, ever. no potato chips, one chip will leave a stain for ten years. hell, no chips or crackers at all.

 

[Kings Gambit]

bare feet are great on teak decks. always welcome. topsiders too. my decks are left natural. no oils wanted. it's all about the grip.

yes i'm aware the fiberglass decks are slippery. i have those on other boats. and never allow wax on cabins. it creeps

Deck "gripping" is not the chief issue for me. It's more about protection of the feet and especially the toes, and other issues of sure footing & climbing. Open toes and flops w/out heels also catch on stuff and may cause tripping/falling. Loafers come off too easily. Leather shoes with w/ rawhide laces do not stay tied well and tight. They look great at the dockside party, etc., but I no longer wear them when I'm working the boat. Cotton lace-up sneakers, or similar. Sperry makes more than one type of deck shoe, including sneaker types, which would be OK. Just not loafers or the ones with rawhide or similar laces, etc.

 

[Kings Gambit]

The Perfect Guest(s): Folks who like sailing and spending a few hours on the water w/o becoming nauseous; who arrive on time; who bring proper clothing/attire for the conditions; who contribute to the libations with something the skipper or Admiral is known to like, or else inquire; who bring something creative or homemade in the way of food/snacks to share; who do not attempt to "give" leftover stuff "to the boat", but take it off when they leave; who can have fun, laugh, perhaps crack a good joke and appreciate others; and basically help make a fun afternoon for all aboard.

The Perfect Host: Inform the guests when to arrive and what the conditions on the water are likely to be; properly greet and help them stow whatever they bring; politely answer their questions; avoid "hard sailing" unless they wish it--i.e., keep the boat flat as much of the time as practical; respect their "time line" issues for returning; let 'em helm the boat if wished; let 'em go when returning--no sticking around to "help" put the boat away. It's a waste of their time and usually yours!!

 

[capta]

If I could actually tell my charter guests that they couldn't do something, other than get hurt or fall overboard, I think the sunscreen would be the one to top our list. It yellows the cockpit cushions so badly that it is becoming a yearly ritual to replace them, just because they look so bad, not because they are ripped or unserviceable.
Oh wait, didn't I just read a new scientific report about how the sun doesn't really give people skin cancer, it's the sunscreen?

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

Whaaat!! No top siders permitted????

Only shoes I own, or have owned for years. But sailing, I'm barefoot unless it's cold

 

[victorhoisington]

I have one mantra on the boat. It is all about safety. People bring what they want to bring and will dress as they want to. for a day on the water, I'll provide what I have to provide. Always ensure enough Life jackets for all, its my job to be the look out for all and ensure their safety. I plan the itinerary with input from all and set the time of departure and return.

We always start out with a small safety briefing which includes the folowing:
" There are 5 rules of the boat:
rule 1: People in the boat at all times
rule 2: Water outside of the boat at all times.
rule 3: Watch out for the boom, its called that for a reason. If it hits you there will most likely be a loud "Boom" and your liable to violate rules 1 and 2.
rule 4: Help me watch for traffic. Point out other boats, obstacles in the water, etc.
rule 5: Have fun! If your not having fun or enjoying the ride, let me know. We'll figure out a solution."

Other than that I don't ask my "friends" to do to much. And asking them to remember more than 5 rules would be way too much to expect for a fun day on the water.

PS: As to footwear, boat shoes of any kind are OK. I usually pull the leather laces out of most of my boat shoes so they come on/off easier. If you are wearing flip flops or sandals with open toes, be aware that there are things which may cause you to stub toes or loose shoes. Be careful when walking about on deck. Other than Crocs, which I find to be the ugliest shoe ever invented, wear what is comfortable. I'm either barefoot or in Teva's.

 

[Jackdaw]

Cult footwear for slip sailors and power boaters.

Bullshit.

 

[Kings Gambit]

A brand can be defined as a cult brand if the following factors are present:

1. A superior level of customer loyalty is achieved
2. Brand loyalists perceive no true competitors to the brand as there are no substitutes for the "true" brand
3. Customers receive a sense of ownership with the brand
4. Loyalty is sustained over time (as opposed to fads which are unsustainable and short-lived)
5. Customers receive more than a product, they experience a lifestyle

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