Partner in Command
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by Lucy Iliff
’ve been on boats all my life but only as a go-along rider, not a participant. We got our trawler three years ago, and still all I know is how to drive the boat straight in the middle of the Bay and how to pick up a line and throw it to the dock attendant. The thought of being stranded in the middle of the Bay or river if my husband were to be incapacitated is a little scary. I attended the first of four sessions of Partner in Command given by the U.S. Power Squadron (USPS). The instructor, Mike Maszczenski, gave a lively and informative talk concentrating on safety, preparation, and communication. Other participants varied from a wife and husband who was an ex-Navy person with experience on large ships, other power boaters, and some sailors, some with offshore experience. It was a nice group. I felt comfortable sharing my lack of knowledge with all of them. We had some hands-on learning such as how to tie a couple of knots and how to shake a fire extinguisher to revive it. I would recommend this class to anyone who does not feel secure in running a boat. It probably would be a good idea also to take the three follow up classes to have more hands-on experience. usps.org
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##If your skipper were to become incapacitated, would you know what to do?
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PropTalk March 2014 19