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 Be
A Good Neighbour
by
Dusty Miller
A
couple of years ago, I went to visit a friend of mine who
moored his vessel at a large marina. Down the middle of the
32-inch wide dock was a long strip of masking tape with "my
side" written on one side and a nasty name depicting
his neighbour on the other. I have no idea what the feud was
about, but it reminded me that as friendly and generous as
most boaters may be, animosity at the marina can develop for
many reasons. That's why it's so important to take time and
do some research before deciding to moor your boat at a particular
facility.
A marina is like a neighbourhood. It's always
wise to take a critical look around (just as you would when
buying a house) before you park your boat for any length of
time.
One of the first and most important considerations
is proximity. Unless there are overriding reasons to the contrary,
the marina that is closest to home is usually the best. It's
so nice to go for a cruise at a moment's notice without having
to make a cross-country trek. On the other hand, if your schedule
allows you to spend long periods of time aboard your boat,
it might be worthwhile going the extra distance to find another
facility with features you prefer.
Another important consideration is whether
the marina is sail-oriented or predominantly powerboats. One
of the two feuding boats I mentioned earlier was a 40-foot
sailboat and a 30-foot sport express. The long-standing animosity
between "rag baggers" and "stink potters"
is usually friendly - but the two groups do look out different
portholes, so to speak. I wouldn't want to be the only powerboat
in a marina full of sailboats, or vice versa.
Setting is also important. A marina close
to a downtown core offers a choice of restaurants, cinemas,
theatres and other entertainment, perhaps within walking distance.
Unfortunately, that convenience is often combined with the
noise of traffic, sirens and pedestrians. On the other hand,
a marina outside a city or town has crickets to keep you from
sleeping not to mention geese and ducks to prevent you from
walking barefoot.
Once you have decided on the marina you like
and moved your boat in the slip, you're ready to make a first
impression. But as the saying goes, you only get one chance
to do it. If you arrive pushing the lake in front of you,
disregarding the "no wake" zones, you've already
started off on the wrong foot.
When you tie up and immediately leave your
power cable and hose in a tangled heap like a plate of spaghetti
or your deck brush and water toys are strewn everywhere, your
neighbours might not see the fact that you're a warm and friendly
person. It only takes a few minutes to get gear organized,
and it will be appreciated.
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The more you respect otherboater's space,
the better you will get along. Let's face it, in a marina
you live closer to your neighbours than you do at home, so
you have to be extra careful. Take housecleaning for example.
You may just be hosing down your boat to get rid of the shad
flies that gathered overnight, but if a gusty wind is carrying
the spray onto your neighbour's sun pad or in an open window,
they might not take too kindly to your cleanliness.
Now we come to entertainment. This is where
I think the majority of marina feuds begin. I know you can't
always exert as much control as you like over people who visit
your boat, but your marina neighbours will hold you responsible
for any transgressions they make. So, if your brother-in-law
tends to get insulting when he overindulges, make plans to
keep his consumption in check or get him off the deck before
he says something foolish or obnoxious.
The guidelines are obvious - keep your noise
down, especially when it's getting late. Also make sure your
guests keep their clothes on - I don't know what gets into
some people when they get on a boat. If you're firing up the
barbecue, check which way the wind is going. You may enjoy
the aroma of pork chops and shrimp on the fire, but you've
got to keep the smoke from going across your neighbour's deck.
And finally - your on-board spotlight. When
some boaters discover the spotlight on their boat, they think
it's amusing to shine it on other boats. It isn't. Actually,
it's a sure way to get another black mark on your ledger.
Make sure your guests understand that you are the captain
and what you say goes. Most people are fine with this. Unfortunately
the ones who object are often the ones who will get you in
trouble.
The other aspect of entertaining is when you
have been invited onto another boat. It's always best to stay
inside the behaviour of your hosts. Drink less than they do.
Eat less. Talk more quietly. Tell jokes or stories that are
a little less risque and leave before they start looking at
their watches and yawning.
Finally, if you do find yourself caught up
in a disagreement, solve it quickly. Time doesn't heal these
wounds, they just fester and spread. Check your pride below
and get up on the dock and talk about the situation. The sooner
you can get past the anger and insult, the less likely you'll
be to buy some masking tape for the dock.
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