Stepping Over Dead Center

Stepping Over Dead Center


Howell Cooper

October 16, 2009

Although it has been done countless times before, when it is personal then things take on a different importance. I am speaking of that moment when you step across that wet void to board a boat. It is even more pronounced when that boarding is to take her to sea and yet another order of importance when one is embarking to “live the dream” as Bob Bitchin of Seafaring Magazine puts it. That space between the dock or dock steps and the weather deck, that space that separates land from the sea is a milestone. The expectation of an hour or two day sailing or of months of cruising determines the nature of that crossing. Mechanically, there is no difference, but as many have found out, it can be challenging to those not prepared to simply go past dead center. Sometimes the wind sets the boat against the fenders and that step is short. Sometimes the wind widens that gap and the step is challenging. So too, is the step that takes one from the day sail to the cruise. More stuff goes aboard for the latter. More parts, more food, more tools, more clothes, more galley utensils, more books and tapes, more of everything is loaded. The boat starts to “squat” a bit more as the fuel; water and galley take on more stuff. For some, it is the first time the second water tank is filled. Those extra sails now occupy the guest quarters and that space starts to resemble a small storage shed. The chart plotter is now full charts for those places never visited before. The book rack holds guides which will take the boat and crew to that great anchorage or that out-of-the-way café with the great fritters. Now that one anticipates fewer shore side dining facilities one has to “lay in” additional galley gear. Perhaps that charcoal grill that gives such good flavor is exchanged for a gas grill that does not have the mesquite flavor. Stuff in the spares locker is inventoried and one wanders how many joker valves to inventory so that the head works at some place where West Marine isn’t. How many fuel filters are enough? Does one really need the third anchor? If so, where the heck to put it. Summer or winter gear?

Then things get really complicated when Phydeaux, the family pet is along. Since he does not use the head, how do you get him to use the foredeck? Is it possible to get a larger holding tank installed in a 5 pound dog? What about the requirements to let him run ashore every day? That sometimes dictates the itinerary. We had a friend that learned about Atlantic Coast tides the hard way one morning. Seems his pet needed shore liberty and they piled into the dink and went ashore. After an hour or so, the returned to the dink to find it 30 yards from the water and stuck in a mud flat. The human in the shore party waded in hip deep mud to get to the water whilst carrying the dog. For that and several other reasons, it will be just my mate and I. Our household dogs are gone to old age. We will not redog until our cruise is done.

That pesky autopilot that works most of the time takes on a critical importance. What about that wire or hose that one has been meaning to replace some weekend? How about the ADHD that previously was treated with a short drive ashore? What about that heater that seems a bit “noisy”? And don’t forget the towing membership with “unlimited” service. Are the fuel tanks that skunky or will one have enough filters to “polish” one’s own tanks whilst underway? Is The List actually growing or has the efforts of the past year reduced it a bit? I think not. Then there is the adage that if one waits to complete the list, one will never leave. What about the mail? Then all other things accomplished, there is the departure date. We have watched many boat crews get ready and announce the date of departure only to watch that date come and go while dock mates harass the delayed crew. As a result, we have decided to just say that it will be sometime a month or so from now and the destination is just “out there”. Then we will take a hint from dear friends and simply not be in our slip some weekend. We will just slip away before sunrise some sleepy morning. Twenty years of discussion, many day sails, some offshore passages and a lot of preparation of the boat are about done. It’s time. It is time to step over dead center.