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Parenting 101.8
Ask for help when you need it. But make sure you define what that should look like.
Nautical definitions to help you with this story:
Line: rope used to tie the boat to the dock or wherever
Wake: the waves left behind when a boat passes by
Bow Thruster: an extra propeller system that helps the vessel manoeuvre
Cleat: a T-shaped piece of often metal fastened to a dock for boats to attach lines to
Slip: dock with usually only one open end that boats tie up to alongside
When we bring the boat into the dock it’s always a bit terrifying for me. I stand ready to jump ashore with a line. The Captain has the wheel and he steers us into our spot.
All kinds of variables impact the way the boat handles. Wind, tidal flow, and wake left behind by a vessel navigating carelessly all impact what direction we end up going.
Our boat is old and underpowered. No bow thrusters which are amazing to help with this sort of thing. Never having owned a vessel that had this kind of power to support navigation I wouldn’t know. Docking is mostly fine but it does give me anxiety.
Sometimes people are around and they come down to our slip to help. This can be…
