How to Build Your Cruising Skill Set

How do you develop the skills you need for cruising? Lots of people have been asking that lately.

Well, first of all, there are lots of different types of skills needed:

Boat handling, whether sail or power
Navigation
Anchoring
Evaluating boats for purchase
Weather
Maintenance
Everyday systems usage
Technology
Repair/installation of systems
Provisioning, food storage and cooking
First aid/medical
Dealing with emergencies

And then there are other things such as finances, communications, managing paperwork and legalities, and so much more. Don’t discount the psychological “skills” of transitioning to a new way of life, living in a small space, living with others 24/7 (unless you’re singlehanding), making new friends, living in a foreign culture, and so on.

The first step is to take stock of your knowledge and what you’re deficient in. And when I say “you” or “your” I really mean everyone on board, teenagers on up. Give everyone a rating on a scale of 0 (no knowledge whatsoever) to 10 (expert with plenty of practical experience).

Then start figuring out how you can fill in the most serious gaps. If you’re like me, the things that I’m already decent at will intrigue me most for learning more about. But really, the most important things to be working on are the skills that no one already has basic competence in (say, at least a 5). None of the things that I’ve listed – or that you might have on a more detailed list – are unimportant.

You don’t have to be expert at everything to leave the dock. And it doesn’t have to be one person who has all the knowledge. In fact, I think it’s better if different people have different strengths, both so that no one person has all the responsibility and so that everyone has some skin in the game.

The Boat Galley has lots of articles about general “living on a boat” skills and particularly cooking. For more in-depth information, you can go to my online courses. For other skills, such as boat buying, route planning, weather, budgeting, and gear selection, take a look at Sailing Totem’s Cruising Coaching – it’s an outstanding bargain. There are plenty of local sailing and boating courses, and many community colleges have diesel or outboard repair classes. The list goes on and on.

Whatever you do, don’t just take classes or read articles – start practicing what you’re learning. I cannot stress the importance of hands-on experience doing whatever, with no instructor there to back you up. Seriously, it will make the first year of cruising SO much easier!