Female Boaters, it’s Time to Drive (Conquer the Fear)

It’s time to get more women behind the wheel of their boats. More than ever before, women are learning how to safely operate a boat. There’s no reason to rely on your husband to be the captain, get behind the wheel, and learn how to do it yourself. 

As a woman in boating, I understand how fear can drive a reluctance to learn how to drive a boat. However, if you’ve ever learned how to drive a car, and can now drive a car safely, there’s no reason you can’t learn how to drive a boat.

In a sense, it’s very similar. Of course, there are differences between the two, however, the learning process is all the same. My goal is to help women realize that driving a boat is not something to fear. I want all women to feel comfortable behind the wheel and to learn how to operate a boat safely.

Follow this guide to understand the steps it takes to become the captain of your boat. By the end of this article, I hope you have all the tools you need to take the next steps to become a boat driver. And sooner rather than later, I hope you get to enjoy your boat from behind the wheel. 

1. Be a Passenger

Odds are that before you learned how to drive a car you were a passenger in a car. You may not have had a full understanding of how to drive a car but you probably learned a bit. This is why I recommend being a passenger in a boat prior to becoming a driver.

When I say, “be a passenger”, I don’t mean sitting in the bow of the boat and not paying attention to anything that the driver is doing. I recommend paying attention to what is going on and how the driver is handling different situations.

By observing what someone else is doing, you can learn a lot. It also never hurts to ask questions. No matter who is driving the boat, you can ask why they maneuvered the boat a certain way or did something to change how the boat was moving. Most people are more than happy to help you understand more about the boat. 

2. Take a Boater’s Safety Course

Now that you have learned a bit from being a passenger in a boat, take a boaters safety course. Having this before you sit behind the wheel is important and in some cases, necessary to be legal. It will give you an understanding of the laws and rules required by your state when boating.

Many states require a completed boaters safety course to drive certain boats so be sure to check your state’s requirements. Regardless of whether it is required or not, you should take the course. It is a great asset to have whenever you get in the driver's seat.

Taking the boater’s safety course will allow you to learn all about what it takes to operate a boat safely. For instance, do you know who has the right of way in all passing situations? That’s exactly the type of information you will learn with these courses and it’s imperative to boating. 

Women and men alike should be taking this course prior to jumping behind the wheel of a boat. Just like driving a car, accidents can happen. Learning how to avoid accidents to the best of your ability is something you’ll need to know. 

3. Get Help From an Expert

The next step is important for anyone, but I’ve known many women who won’t take this step. Finding a boating expert is critical because the person closest to you may not be the best candidate for a teacher. Learning how to drive a boat can be stressful and if your teacher is comfortable enough to act in an irritated manner, it’s unlikely you’ll learn anything other than fear.

I’m going to shoot you straight, as a female boater, I’ve witnessed many women turn to their husbands to learn how to operate their boat. Even in the most loving way, frustration builds and then the yelling starts. This is usually a stopping point for a lot of females who want to learn to drive.

The great thing about boating is that there are experts all over. You can likely request a lesson with an expert from your local boat dealer to spend some time on the water teaching you the ropes. In many cases, you can request a woman to teach you as well which may be more comfortable when trying to learn.

The great thing about requesting help from a local dealer is that they have likely taught someone before. They know how to teach you in a calm and fun manner. There’s no reason for a learning session to be a stressful situation.

It should be fun to learn how to drive your boat. It’s exciting to learn such a cool new skill. Learn from someone who encourages you and it will make the entire process much more productive. 

4. Take a PWC for a Spin

A PWC, or Personal Watercraft, is a great way to learn how boats move on the water without being in such a large vessel. Now, PWC’s come with their own set of operating skills so be sure you have someone teaching you how to operate the vessel. 

The great thing about PWCs is that they are smaller than your average boat. They can help you understand how boats operate on a smaller scale. They can teach you how to get used to slowing a boat down and maneuvering tight spaces. A smaller watercraft is much less intimidating than jumping in a 24-foot tow boat that only reverses in one direction. Going this route will help you gain more confidence on the water.

5. It’s Time for the Big Leagues

Next, it’s time to learn on a full-size boat. This may be your boat or a friend's boat that is willing to help you learn. If you have access to a pontoon, these are great for new boaters trying to get comfortable behind the wheel. 

Outboards are significantly easier to learn with because inboards can be quite complicated in the way they move on the water. For instance, inboards only reverse in one direction so if you’re not used to it, it is quite the learning curve.

Now, if an inboard is all you have access to, get someone who knows their way around this type of boat. Although this style of engine is more difficult to operate, once you have some practice, it’ll be second nature in no time. Just because it is a little harder to learn does not make it impossible. 

6. Be Picky About Who’s On The Boat

When you’re learning how to drive, fewer people on the boat makes it easier. More people on board can mean a number of different things. They could be a distraction to you while you’re trying to focus on driving. Also with more people, you’re likely to have backseat drivers who will make the learning process more difficult. 

It’s also important to eliminate any people who will cause stress or distraction. Sometimes, in learning situations, having your husband on board is not the most helpful. You don’t want someone on board who will get frustrated or irritated while you are trying to learn.

Pick who’s on your boat very carefully to give yourself the best opportunity. Some people are better teachers than others. Don’t feel bad asking someone to stay behind as you learn how to drive your boat. 

7. Practice Docking The Boat (A Lot)

I’d say the biggest reason women don’t want to get behind the wheel of a boat is because of docking. And, I will say that docking can be intimidating. However, if you learn correctly and safely, it is not nearly as scary. 

I remember when I first learned how to dock a boat and how nervous I was. I remember thinking of everything that could go wrong. Luckily, I had a great teacher who was very calm and encouraging. With her help, I was able to successfully park the boat numerous times over in that one lesson.

Parking a boat at a dock or in a lift is a lot like parking a car in a garage. It may not be easy at first but after a little practice, you won’t have a second thought about it. When learning how to dock a boat, it is especially crucial that you have an expert on board with you. It can turn dangerous if you make the wrong maneuver too quickly which is why it is so important to have someone on board who can handle the situation if needed.

One thing I’ve seen happen time and time again is that fear and nerves while docking leads to hitting the throttle a little too hard. Remember, only go as fast as you’re willing to hit the dock. While parking it’s common to bump the dock and at slow speeds that isn’t a huge concern. 

Once you’ve successfully docked the boat a few times with the help of a teacher, practice on your own. The more you practice the more comfortable you will feel about parking in all different types of spots. Just like parking a car in a garage, it will become second nature.

8. Go Slow

Hitting the throttle is a fear response in many situations, not just parking.  That’s why as you learn how to drive, remember to go slow. If you are ever in a situation and you don’t feel 100% confident about it, go slow. It can save you from a lot of damage and problems. It can also save your propeller if you’re in a shallow area and are unsure of your surroundings. 

As I mentioned above, this is especially true when learning how to dock. Boats are built with rub rails for a reason. If you go slow into a parking spot and bump the dock, the damage is likely to be a lot less significant than if you were to power into a spot and damage the boat.

In the end, all that matters is that you and everyone around you are safe. Going slow is the best way to ensure this will be the case no matter what you’re facing on the water. 

9. Don’t Let Fear Stop You

As a female boater, it took a lot for me to find the courage and motivation to learn how to drive a boat. My dad was the one behind the wheel while growing up on the lake, so it wasn’t common in our family for women to drive. When he realized I was interested in learning, he gave me the tools to learn in a way that best suited me. 

Learning how to drive a boat the right way from an expert makes the whole process simple and effective. Before you know it, you’ll be the one taking the boat out and enjoying all the joy being the captain brings you. There’s nothing more fun than a girl's day on the water!