Etiquette problem in Las Palmas re visiting another boat

[tcm]

There's a bloke in this marina, actualy a neighbour on the same pontoon who visits other boats by actually getting on board and then saying "hi! I'm Bill..." and takes the introductions from there. And he's already on the dang boat! He's done it to me, and another boat already. I conferred with this other boat who was similarly visited and we agree, it's a bit weird. Slightly alarming for the other guy who is on a boat and looking after it for the owner. But I can't say anything, can I? I mean, he's very nice and friendly. He's from Canada, where they perhaps don't have security scares or anything and everyone can just drop in to anyone else's house anytime, perhaps? Although I feel I oughta say something, shouldn't I?? I must have met other Canadians and they didn't just hoik on to the boat. I've never had this in umpteen years of boating - there's always been that little "permission to come aboard, skipper?!" ritual, even when it's someone you know quite well. Do I say anything and if so, what?

 

[30boat]

I find that behaviour completely unacceptable.I would try to make him understand what the european way is but putting the blame on other boatowners of course.I have a friend who does that and he once nearly caught another friends daughter half naked when he climbed on his boat unannounced.The girls father was furious.

 

[RichardS]

Tricky one!

I think that the "permission to come aboard" is a very honourable tradition and probably the most pleasant and well-respected in sailing etiquette - and certainly I'm not a "traditionalist".

I reckon you should explain to "Bill" that, although you're quite relaxed, it is a very well established seafaring tradition and that he does risk offending people who would otherwise be delighted to welcome him aboard.

Richard

 

[photodog]

Guys a ******. Lots of Canadians are "Overly Friendly" in my experience.... the whole "innocent Abroad" gig wears a bit thin when you he walks in whilst yer taking a dump.

Frankly as a Canuck I can assure you that if you do say something he will just think your an arrogant ****** and besmirch your good reputation to all and sundry.

OTOH say nothing and you will be beholden to his every whim and at the mercy of his largesse.... which will probably consist of him offering to pour you a drink from your stash as he helps himself....

 

[RichardS]

Guys a ******. Lots of Canadians are "Overly Friendly" in my experience.... the whole "innocent Abroad" gig wears a bit thin when you he walks in whilst yer taking a dump.

Frankly as a Canuck I can assure you that if you do say something he will just think your an arrogant ****** and besmirch your good reputation to all and sundry.

OTOH say nothing and you will be beholden to his every whim and at the mercy of his largesse.... which will probably consist of him offering to pour you a drink from your stash as he helps himself....

Crikey Photodog - I think you need to move your bed away from that wall!

Richard

 

[claymore]

You miserable sod Matt.
Let him on, share the booze, enjoy his company. You are not there for long and half way across the Atlantic, when you are desperately trying to rein in your temper and not throttle Webcrust for his incessant banalities and general uselessness - you will be able to focus on the happy days you had in Las Palmas and wonder what the gentle soul is up to.

 

[jamesjermain]

In my world first contact is made from the pontoon (or dinghy). Once a conversation has been struck up, it is up to the person on the boat to issue an invitation to 'come aboard'. It would be even better if the person on the pontoon were to invite the other to his boat. In an anchorage, this would certainly be the better way of doing it.

Of course, if you arrive in an anchorage and spot another boat flying the same club burgee it is encumbant on the two members to make contact, the correct form being to establish which member is the senior (you have your membership book on board, of course) and for the junior to initiate the visiting. The custom would then be for the senior to take the lead in offering drink if he wished. If a flag officer is in the anchorage you should dip your ensign to him in passing.

Never board another boat un-announced or uninvited.

Yours pompously

James Jermain
(Rear Commodore, CYC)

 

[snowleopard]

Climbing onto someone else's boat is equivalent to opening the front door of their house and walking in. Do they do that in Canada?

If there is no one in sight the polite thing is to knock on the hull. The only people I have met who didn't follow that rule are customs officers who tend to board first and ask questions afterwards.

 

[sarabande]

How about


"I am frightfully sorry to have to ask, but have you had your ebola vaccination yet ?"

 

[Boat44]

Nothing to do with being Canadian. I'm one and never go onboard somebody else’s boat unless invited to do so.


Whilst some people are overly friendly, others are the converse. (Just find out when he has just stocked up on wine and repay the compliment!!!)

 

[PetiteFleur]

If there is no one in sight the polite thing is to knock on the hull. The only people I have met who didn't follow that rule are customs officers who tend to board first and ask questions afterwards.[/QUOTE]
My experience of Belgian Customs was that they did knock before entering(but we did get in at 1 am in the morning and they knocked us up at 0800 - obviously watching us on Radar as we motored in)

 

[Blueboatman]

You know you're going to say something-so what was it: ''Are you the doctor, it seems to be spreading?"

 

[zefender]

Cat flaps

Not unreasonably, he probably thought the steps on the hulls were just the front garden/path up to the enormous patio doors of your saloon. Plainly, he would have knocked on those like any decent cove would have. But I bet you left them open, didn't you. Tsk, tsk..

In any case, best get a bouncer in a black suit standing on the pontoon, asking for I.D, name for VIP list, sorry, no trainers etc. If not, perhaps a door buzzer on the transom(s)? Or a place to leave a calling card praps? As you've a greedy two hulls, perhaps two post boxes. A that'll-teach-you-bear trap in the cockpit? Personally, I'd hire one of those posheratie Oyster types with a clipboard and an exec desk on the pontoon whose sole task is to declare the visiting list full, in a suitably shrill home counties tone, without a hint of regret. But then I'm also tempted by the idea of 'crime scene' tape between the lifelines/across the hulls.

I suggest you make a decision on any of the above in order to avoid further deep distress.

 

[Sandyman]

Not acceptable. If I found anyone onboard who had not been invited he/she would get told to disembark pronto or be prepared to take a float test.

Mr Nice Bloke he may be, but he needs to be told, in a polite manner, that his method of boarding boats is not the done thing, before he meets someone like me.

 

[longjohnsilver]

You miserable sod Matt.
Let him on, share the booze, enjoy his company. You are not there for long and half way across the Atlantic, when you are desperately trying to rein in your temper and not throttle Webcrust for his incessant banalities and general uselessness - you will be able to focus on the happy days you had in Las Palmas and wonder what the gentle soul is up to.

Is this a ghost? Could have sworn Claysie was no longer with us

 

[webcraft]

.
Strangely the only place we have experienced this was also in Las Palmas. An extraordinarily eccentric person from Oban leaped aboard with a blood-curdling war cry, taking the Saltire we were flying as an 'open house' flag.

I seem to remember Slocum found a box of tacks to be effective.

- W

 

[claymore]

Is this a ghost? Could have sworn Claysie was no longer with us

Now me parrot-dropping encrusted little pie muncher - hows yer belly fer spots?

 

[LittleShip]

Totally unacceptable...........unless he has lots of bottles in his hands

Like what the N Wales mob do well apart from Kwacker who as we all know wont let a drop pass his lips..... unless it's out of a glass

Tom

 

[bigwow]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400x300-N...K_BOI_FarmingEquipment_RL&hash=item2eb8467dd6

 

[Lakesailor]

Matt.
Learn this by heart so that you can come out with it without a second thought.

"F**k me. You're a bit of a forward prick. Get off my boat and then hail me properly like any gentleman would. Then I may, and only may, extend you the privilege of coming on board."

This will gain his respect.