Decision-making–it’s never easy. If there is more than one person aboard your boat, how do you resolve conflicts about go/no go, routing, anchoring, and the like?
Yes, the captain is the ultimate decision-maker. But that doesn’t mean that he/she operates in a vacuum. Everyone’s thoughts and feelings need to be considered.
Guidelines for Decision-Making
On our boat, we have some general principles that shape the captain’s decisions:
- We start by talking things out. What are the objections that each has to the other’s proposal – discomfort, arriving after dark, risking the boat, impossibility?
- If possible, we go with the more conservative option. Cruising is supposed to be fun, and it’s no fun if one person is terrified.
- Sometimes, there’s even disagreement as to what’s the more conservative option as we see different potential problems. We try to talk our concerns out . . . but eventually yes, the captain has the final say.
- Occasionally, the answer is what we call “the third way.” In talking, we’ll come up with another option that we both like.
Along similar lines, we have always operated on the principle that we’re not anchored until we’re both happy with where and how we’re anchored. Again, if one of us thinks we’re in a bad spot (or likely to drag), they won’t be sleeping well . . . and that’s just not good either.
Accepting the Decision – Part of the Process
And BTW, once a decision has been made – to go, not to go, whatever – we try to not just accept it, but do our part to make it work. No pouting or grumping!
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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