Preview: Tricks of the Trade; Becoming a Cool Boat Dad

The Perfect Father’s Day Gift for Dads…

Click here to Give a 1-Year OCH Membership to a dad you know…

* * *

I’m usually generous with my professional tricks of the trade.  My own gurus certainly were with me as I was finding my way as a boatbuilder, and I try to pay it back as well as pay it forward by teaching classes and answering the phone and the email enquiries that pour in on a daily basis.  Not today though.  No secret tools or materials, no jiffy rigs or Egyptian technologies. Today I thought I’d share my tricks for raising kids who love to go for boat rides…

Three Tricks for Being The Cool Boat Dad:

    1.  Always be willing to take your kids’ friends along. You’ve got to realize that even the hippest of parents are not peers…and your kids and other kids benefit from interacting in a variety of surroundings. You must even be open to taking along the “friends” of theirs that you don’t really like. Odds are that you’l either see another side of them, or the new environment will make your child realize that the cool dude from school is really a dud. There is a selfish side to this tactic too: Having others along relieves Dad and/or Mom of continuous cruise director duty. One hint: Give a courtesy call to the other parents to explain your plans. Your afternoon picnic cruise may sound like a polar expedition to non-boating families. One reluctant parent from elementary school days didn’t want her child to come to a houseboat sleepover because  the family didn’t like to drive in the neighborhood where we moored the boat. Some alternate directions based on local knowledge, however, along with a carpool, opened up a weekend of fun for all hands.

. . . sign up to the right to get immediate access to this full post,
plus you'll get 10 of our best videos for free.


Get Free Videos& Learn More Join Now!!for Full Access Members Sign In

Comments, Thoughts or Suggestions?

You can leave a comment or question for OCH and members below. Here are the comments so far…

Leave a Comment

5 Responses So Far to “Tricks of the Trade; Becoming a Cool Boat Dad”

  • Avatar

    Bob Spalding says:

    Spot on and realistic – as usual!

    Bob Spalding

  • Avatar

    Kip Otteson says:

    I just read this with the wife and we both completely agree. Great advice.

  • Richard Greenway

    Richard Greenway says:

    Nothing beats a sail in a fresh afternoon breeze with agroup of friends!

  • Avatar

    Charles Barclay says:

    Well done.

    Going for an afternoon sail after the boat projects are done helps.