Canadian Yachting April 2022 - 38

A HEARTY WELCOME
TO NEW BOATING
FAMILIES...
AND SOME GOOD
ADVICE
- by Jeff Evans, Sarnia Power and Sail Squadron
For Cecily and me, the last two boating summers have been
the best we've had since purchasing our first boat in 1984.
This seems in contradiction to the chilling effects of the COVID
pandemic but the resulting limitations have actually improved
our holiday experiences.
In 2020, we cruised to the North Channel where 18 of 21 nights
were spent distanced from others at remote anchorages. To
select 18 anchorages, we ventured further afield into bays
and inlets unknown to us. In fact, after many years cruising
the North Channel, we discovered our " best yet " anchorage
that will receive a return visit this year.
In 2021, we embarked on an eight-week cruise on the Trent
and Rideau canals from Goderich to Ottawa and back. Along
the way, when not anchored, we mostly stayed at the lock
moorings. The beautiful facilities were quiet and it was easy to
limit physical contact with others. Cecily even managed to get
her second vaccine on an overnight stop in Ottawa.
One of the delightful surprises both summers was meeting
the many new boaters who found their way onto our waterways.
Everywhere people have taken to new outdoor activities,
including boating. It was great to see the resurgence in
boating enthusiasts but it was soon obvious there has been
a prevalence of hasty purchasing decisions from a shrinking
pool of available boats. The result was vessels purchased with
maintenance issues, not operational or not even seaworthy.
Many keen new boat owners had forgone the essential process
of getting a proper professional vessel survey done prior
to their purchase.
At our home port, new neighbours and their recently acquired
used boats arrived. Most often, the boats had various existing
issues that needed to be addressed. Professional marine
services were overloaded with operational restrictions and
demand, so repairs were either delayed or attempted by
friends and neighbours. The new boat owners' enthusiasm
was replaced by frustration as the costs and delays piled up. In
preparation for the 2022 season, I'm sure many of the newly
acquired boats are now booked for overdue critical repairs.
In addition, given their haste, many new boaters had yet to
take any formal training to prepare for their first season. We
observed boat operators lacking essential basic skills in boat
safety, vessel handling, navigation and maintenance that resulted
in various unfortunate incidents. I hope many have since
taken CPS-ECP related and other courses to improve their skills.
If not, there is still time to do so prior to the coming season.
As well, consider on-the-water boat handling training. A few
dollars spent on training could save hundreds in dock rash.
If you are considering a boat purchase or are new to boating,
Cecily and I welcome you. This has been a lifelong passion
for us that we believe all others should experience. We look
forward to cruising with you, hanging out at anchorages and
Canadian Yachting April 2022

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