Story and photos by Steve Pliszak

My kids and I took a weekday boating trip to Fire Island while my wife was at work. Though we were having fun and the weather was beautiful, I’d promised my wife that we would all have dinner together, so it soon became time to pack things up and head home.

As we loaded up the boat, I realized something was different about the marina at Watch Hill this weekday. First, it was only about half full, and second, there was hardly any wind. That’s when I hatched a plan.

My 14-year-old daughter, Emma, had taken a safe boating class with me. While she did a great job of driving our 33-foot Sea Ray Sundancer, she had little experience pulling out of a slip. And her lack of experience also meant a lack of confidence, making her reluctant to try. So while we prepared the boat to depart as always, securing everything in the cabin, putting life jackets on, and firing up the engines, I approached my daughter and said, “Okay, take us home.”

“I can’t pull out, you know that,” Emma replied.

My response was clear. “You can do it, I’ll be right there with you every step of the way,” I assured her. “Besides, you couldn’t ask for better conditions; there’s hardly any wind and the marina is half empty.”

Sensing her continuing unwillingness, I pulled out my secret weapon. “We need to leave now. If we don’t, we’ll be late getting home, and your Mom will be upset.”

Without any further hesitation, my daughter was at the helm. I explained what we were going to do and she told me she understood. I removed the lines from the boat, sat next to my daughter, and said we were clear.

Emma responded, maneuvering perfectly as she engaged the transmissions, pulled out of the slip, and made the 90-degree turn to starboard. After the turn was complete, we heard applause and cheers as several of our boating friends at the marina clapped and yelled, “Way to go, Emma!”

A big smile came to my daughter’s face, so I jumped at the opportunity and asked, “Take us the rest of the way home?” Emma nodded and said, “Yeah, I got this. But you’re pulling into our slip!”

I laughed and promised her that I would, knowing there would soon be another opportunity to buoy Emma’s boating skills.