How to find reliable crew that respect the boat

[alan17]

In the main I agree with you.

Before accepting new crew make it clear what you expect. A couple of other points:

Life jackets should not be left lying around so that they can be trod on.

Halyards and sheets also should not be lying around to be trod on. Apart from anything else they present a hazard to the crew if they are lying around.

Dont give up but be selective and make it clear what you expect from guests on your expensive toy/pride and joy. You should then be able to enjoy your sailing in a relaxed atmosphere on a happy ship.

 

[dulcibella]

Make general ground rules clear, don't fuss over trivia but don't give a return invitation to people who are really inconsiderate.

 

[nathanlee]

I'd tidy up anything I spilled, and not walk over life jackets, and I'd be careful about not harming the boat at all. I would stand on your sheets, but that's only because I have to in my boat, and so think nothing of it.

That said, if you pointed it out to me, politely, then I would avoid doing it in future.

Every skipper is different, but I think you're going to get the most out of sailing if you accept that things will get beaten up while you're out there, but that's no problem, because they can be put right when you get back.

I understand why you would want to keep your pride and joy in pristine condition, but as others have said, I think you'll get much more enjoyment out of it if you buy a smaller/cheaper boat that you don't mind thrashing... and that doesn't mean it needs to look wrecked.

There's beauty in use.

 

[moondancer]

It is tricky. Most people find getting crew - any crew - fairly hard in the first place. I find that most people are considerate but people new to sailing often dont know better.

Some friends came along a few weeks ago with children and all wore marking training shoes. I hadn't thought to tell them to bring deck shoes as they had lots of theory sailing qualifications. never owned a boat though.

I didn't mind too much as they were great company and we had a fantastic sail. It did take me an hour or so to get rid of the black rubber markes from the decks! I think the poster who said get set up for singlehanded sailing have the best answer. You are then not dependent on crew.

 

[Sailfree]

[ QUOTE ]
my toenails curl when I see crew walk all over the sheets/halyards

[/ QUOTE ]

If your ropes/sheets are so fragile that a crew member cannot tread on them I would not wish to be your crew.

I expect my ropes to be trodden on!

 

[Babylon]

Don't give up sailing. As others have said, either downsize to something you can singlehand (that doesn't have to be a dayboat), or factor in greater patience and renewed effort in finding the right crew.

Its tricky to find the right balance, but a light yet affirmative note to all crew about how you'd like your boat to be treated as part of the general brief might just work.

Although I'm not hyper-precious about my boat, I do like things done a certain way - largely because I know my boat and how it works - yet even so I've sometimes been made to feel awkward about asserting my wishes.

One crew - quite a good friend as it happens and an experienced classic keelboat helmsman from his youth in America - got all feisty with me about packing away the inflatable. There's previous little room to manoevre on our foredeck and if the thing isn't packed a certain way it won't go in the bag, let alone fit in the cockpit locker. Having lost his rag with me ("Goddamnit! Why are you always so controlling!?"), I let him get on with it his way... until eventually he realised there was only one way it would work and came back to ask me how.

Bottom line is that its your boat. The only time and money most crew have invested in it is the travelling down to go sailing for free! Its a small price to pay to respect their host/skipper's basic sensibilities. All you then have to do is clarify how you'd like things treated.

 

[sighmoon]

If you once have someone on board who doesn't treat your tub as you'd like, then they may well have a problem respecting other people's property.

However, if you find everybody who comes on board that way, maybe the problem is with you.

 

[David_Jersey]

[ QUOTE ]
If you once have someone on board who doesn't treat your tub as you'd like, then they may well have a problem respecting other people's property.

However, if you find everybody who comes on board that way, maybe the problem is with you.

[/ QUOTE ]

I was trying to find a polite way of saying that.

Anyway, as some others have said - it's your job to explain to crew what is needed and why. sounds like you haven't done so. Although the OP did come accross somewhat anal, I suspect in real life not case simply because he has not actually run out of crew!

If you can't rig for singlehanded I would aim for as shorthanded as you can, so that whilst you may wish to have plenty of crew, being short 1 or 2 won't be a disaster.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Keep looking for crew but don't expect friends/works colleagues to be good crew. Local sailing club or forums are a far better bet as you;ll get someone who wants to sail as opposed to someone who grabs something offered ona plate. Speaking as a crew I get on far better with those I know only to sail with than those I know for some other reason but who also happen to sail.

If you're going to sail regularly with that person then you need a rapport with them - you need to be able to see what's annoying each other and know how to approach each other to deal with it.

That normally only comes after you've sailed together a few times in not just different conditions but different frames of mind. The laid back crew you saw last Sunday might be totally different after a stressful drive straight from work on a Friday.

I know it sounds a bit like marriage counselling but it is in a way - most people who sail tend to be intelligent and opiniated (not the same as having common sense) and if you're going to stick two or more blokes like that in a restricted environment like a boat you all need to compromise a bit.

I always try to help with the cleaning and maintenance on any boat I crew on, partly out of gratitude for the opportunity to sail and partly to show that I actually care about the boat. If someone isn't willing to put that time in as a return for the opportunity to sail then they're guests, not crew.

 

[dt4134]

Like others I find setting the scene beforehand useful. Try to do it as jovially as possible but be blunt but inoffensive.

An example from one skipper I know pointing to a galley drawer "If you leave anything on the chart table that's where you'll find it (probably)". We have pretty similar views anyway, but that left all of us in no doubt what the rules were without anyone feeling got at or lectured.

The difficult thing is knowing what a particular new crew will transgrese. If you warn them about everything you'll bore them to tears so you do have to keep an eye on things to see where something needs to be said.

A technique I saw from a master mariner with many years experience in command who was firm in his views on seamanship. If he saw anything out of place he would just correct it whilst commenting something like "C'mon, you know better than that lads". The culprit was never identified or embarrassed, but nethertheless we all learnt what was expected.

Not sure I agree with you about sheets and halyards. Racing, and especially overnight offshore racing, has given me almost a monomania about ensuring lines are tidy and can run freely whenever necessary, but I think you're taking it a step further.

I pretty much have a standard routine about cleaning now. I announce that the boat has to be cleaned and there are three big jobs (galley, heads & brushing the decks). I offer to volunteer to do the heads. The trick is that most heads are also shower compartments, so you grab some cleaner, grab the shower head and a scrubbing brush. You can clean it pretty quickly, turn on the shower pump, rinse it a couple of times and you're finished. I know one skipper who opens a hatch and hoses down the heads from outside. Doesn't work on all boats of course, but...

Keep trying. Once you've got one or two good crew you can introduce new ones one at a time and they're much more likely to try to fit in with what the others are doing. If they don't know teach them, if they won't learn, get rid of them.

 

[janeK]

- If you want the boat run kept clean to your standards, you need to be clear and precise about the procedures and standards expected. I find that it helps to be pretty blunt about it from the begining. If they don't like it tough. Its your boat and you're in charge.

Totally agree with this comment. I crew regularily on different boats with different skippers. All vary but if you do not tell your crew about what you want, then how are they supposed to know especially if they are inexperienced, then I think you wouldn't have this problem. Why not introduce the subject when you first meet up in the skippers brief and a reminder on the final return journey so they can organise their bags etc and as soon as you are tied up everyone knows what is expected. Then there are no misunderstandings.
Now I know it will get the comment that we are all adults, yes that's true but there is the old saying 'nowt so queer as folk'.

I do hope that you still continue to have crew on board, after all everyone will gain from the experience. But as some have said - maybe go smaller and sail solo.