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Consider communications between people on a boat in two ways: casual and operational. Casual communications are conversations between various persons that make the boating experience a pleasant and enjoyable social occasion. Casual conversations in the cockpit and around the boat are so common that we take them for granted. “How are the kids doing in school?” “Oh, they’re doing just fine; looking forward to the holidays.” “Can you please pass the pretzels?” “This is sure a great day for sailing.” “You want to take the helm?” Operational communications, on the other hand, happen between specific persons while performing activities required to run the boat. Departing from a dock, anchoring, returning to the dock and performing maintenance are examples of operational conversations. Usually, operational communications are achieved by either the spoken word or physically with hand gestures. Verbal communications occur when the helmsman tells a designated crewmember to “cast off the bow line,” or to “get ready to drop the anchor.” Depending on the circumstances, verbal communications can become stressful and even frustrating. How many of us have not experienced: “What did you say?” “I said, move the portside fender forward to the next stanchion.” “You don’t have to yell at me!” Hand signals eliminate the need to “shout.” It is quite common, for example, to see hand signals used when a boat is preparing to secure a mooring buoy. The person on the bow directs the actions of the helmsmen by making the appropriate hand gestures indicating to slow down, speed up, turn to port, turn to starboard, etc. Hand signals must be planned and understood in advance. If anything out of the ordinary happens and a prearranged hand signal has not been established a breakdown in communications can occur. A lack of adequate communications at best can compromise the “operation,” and at worst can jeopardize the safety of the boat and crew. There is, however, a better way to communicate various operational boating activities; walkie-talkie headsets. These low-tech electronic devices reduce the stress of not being able to clearly or correctly hear another person. Additionally, you don’t have to memorize an inordinate number of hand signals. Walkie-talkie headsets are useful in many operational situations while under weigh and in a variety of maintenance applications. Most frequently we use headsets while approaching a mooring buoy or setting and retrieving the anchor. With one crew member on the bow directing the actions of the helmsman, securing to a buoy becomes little more than a casual conversation with information, instructions and intentions clearly communicated. Bowman: “OK, a little more to port. That’s good. Now straighten out.” Helmsman: “How far are we from the buoy?” Bowman: “About ten feet. Put the engine into neutral.” (Pause) “Ah, we’re still going a little too fast. Bump the engine in and out of reverse.” {shorter pause) “That’s great. I’ve got the ring.” Helmsman: “I’ll come up and help you secure the buoy.” Walkie-talkie headsets can also enhance communications between bowman and helmsman. Usually, when “sniffing” out a place to anchor, the headsets not only allow us to carry on a discussion of various anchoring alternatives but also to carry on a casual conversation as we maneuver in and around other boats. Bowman: “This looks like a pretty good place to drop the hook.” Helmsman: “I agree, but let’s go around again and center ourselves better between these two boats.” Bowman: “Hey, take a look at that eagle above those trees.” Helmsman: “Ya, that’s pretty cool.” Or, while backing down on the anchor that starts skipping across the bottom you might say, “OK, she’s not catching. Go into neutral and I’ll pull the anchor up so we can try again. Go forward a little and give me some slack. That’s good. I can see the hook now. Let’s go around.” A lot of words are used but in the process the helmsman is constantly aware of what is going on at the other end of the boat. Try putting all that into sign language or yelling it over a substantial wind in foul weather. Headset walkie-talkies have been useful in a variety of maintenance activities. For example, when the anchor light wasn’t working, someone had to go up the mast to inspect the light bulb. With one person up the mast checking the anchor light and another person inside the cabin at the switch panel, the conversation might go something like: “Yup, it looks burnt out. OK, the new bulb is in. Turn the anchor light switch on.” (Slight pause.) “Hmmm.” Still not on. “Are you sure you’re flipping the second switch on the left?” (Silence from inside the cabin.) “Hey! It’s working now.” With walkie-talkie headsets, communicating becomes a conversation rather than a shouting match. While 50 feet up the mast you don’t have to shout directions to your helper while he runs in and out of the cabin shouting information back to you. We also found the headsets useful when we replaced the control cable between the helm and the transmission lever on the rear of the engine. While I was in the engine compartment directly below my son at the helm, we were able to communicate with each other to quickly adjust the cable, even over the noise of the engine. Finally, walkie-talkie headsets can be quite helpful when taking guests on a cruise. Many times guests have little if any experience sailing but they are still needed (and usually want) to perform necessary crew functions. Rather than having to provide extensive instructions and probably confusing them with a bunch of nautical jargon or hand signals, walkie-talkie headsets allow for real-time discussions of what is happening and what needs to be done. Real-time conversations answer questions immediately and can clarify issues that might seem unclear or confusing to a new crewmember. With adequate communications, guests feel they are contributing to the operation of the boat, resulting in a positive boating experience. Headsets are not without their disadvantages, however. For one thing, they are battery powered. If you forget to turn them off they will not work the next time you need them. Approaching a mooring buoy is not the time to be rummaging around your “nav” station for spare batteries. Another disadvantage is the antenna sticking up on the side of your head on some models. The antenna can get caught on the rigging or a sail if you’re not careful. While this has not happened to us (yet) it is not difficult to imagine the antenna getting caught on the standing rigging as you walk by and the headset being flung overboard. Walkie-talkie headsets might look less than nautical but they make communications between crew members much more efficient and effective. Whether performing operational activities during a cruise or performing maintenance activities at the dock, walkie-talkie headsets can greatly reduces the level of stress between communicators and enhance the safe and efficient operation of your boat. ...back to 48° North title page.
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