Episode 2:  Today, Molley and Chad discuss what types of food to bring on the boat, as well as what to avoid.  Everyone thinks about the beverages they want to bring, but there are reasons you should avoid certain foods.  Oh, and did you know there’s a superstition about having a banana on the boat?  They’re joined again by their son, Tristin, for this episode.

Growing up, Molley’s parents typically brought some chicken tenders, but now that she’s older, Molley and Chad have come a long way.

Foods You Want to Avoid on the Boat

• Cheetos – The orange dust gets everywhere! This also applies to nacho cheese-flavored Doritos, cheesy puffs, etc.  The dust gets into the carpet and is very difficult to get out, especially after the dust or the chip itself has gotten wet.  The other issue is the orange handprints from kiddos and guests that get all over.    
• Anything Red – Kool-Aid and/or Cherry vodka, while not foods, can be problematic. Instead, consider a Capri-Sun.  Red dye can stain the seats and carpet if you can’t remove it.  We mention avoiding red pomegranates later in the conversation.
• Chocolate Chip Cookies – The chocolate will melt in the sun and make cleaning up very difficult.
• Bananas – There’s a legend that bananas on a fishing boat is considered unlucky. This is especially true for fishing boats. 
• Mustard – We’ll mention it in a minute, but it’s a stain-risk.
• Ranch Dip or Beer Cheese – If you spill it on the carpet and forget to clean it up, thoroughly, the next time you get ready to take out your boat, you’ll definitely smell what you had left behind. The beer cheese is also a stain-risk.

Foods to Bring on the Boat

• Sandwiches – Lunch meats and cheese are fine for the cooler, but avoid mustard. Some people make them in advance, while we prefer to make them on the boat.
• Chicken Salad or Pimento Cheese Sandwiches – Always good with pita chips, but remember to keep them on ice.
• Snacks – Pretzels and fruit are good for tiding you over until lunch is served.
• Beef Jerky – Always a great idea.
• Wraps & Pinwheels – Tortilla wrapped sandwiches are easy and clean.
• Smoked Sausage Slices in BBQ Sauce – Prepare before you leave the house/cabin.
• Hot Dogs, Burgers and BBQ – You can keep these warm in a wide-mouth thermos until you’re ready to serve them.
• 30-Piece Chicken Nuggets – Place groups of them in zip-lock bags and enjoy.
• Shrimp Ceviche – Put it in small containers and serve with Tostito Scoops.
• Veggies and Fresh Fruit – These are good for you and can hydrate you on the water. Remember to avoid the bananas!

Tips to Protect Your Food on the Boat

• Buy tons of zip-lock bags or Rubbermaid-type containers. They can keep lake water, river water or melted ice from getting into the food and ruining your day (not to mention your meal).
• Make sure you bring plenty of ice or frozen cool-packs to keep your food chilled.
• Remember to pack some baby-wipes or other napkins to clean hands and containers.
• Slice your breads or rolls before you leave. Kings Hawaiian rolls are a great option.
• Bring a spoon! Trust us, you don’t want to have to use your fingers.
• Bring plenty of hand-sanitizer.

ProTip:  Before you leave the dock, don’t be afraid to go over the “rules of the boat” with family and friends.  Everyone is there to have a good time, but in the end, it’s your boat and you’ll be the ones who end up cleaning up the leftover mess.

Thanks for Listening!

If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider sharing it with your friends.  We hope to see you out there soon.  Until next time, here’s to warm weather and calm waters!

Don’t forget to subscribe!

Episode 1: We’re excited to launch our podcast.  Our son, Tristin, joins us for this episode.  Today, we’re going to focus on Overconfidence.  This is a common issue for new boaters.  We’ll share some of stories from our experiences and mistakes.  Hopefully, this will help you to avoid some of them and enjoy your time on the water.

We test drove our first boat during a December.  Molley grew up boating.  When it came time for us to buy our own, we discussed the various types of boats.  We spoke with other boat owners.  Generally, we did some solid research to prepare for this big purchase.  We decided to buy a pontoon.  It was a 24’ Sweetwater Triple-Toon with an Evinrude 150 motor.

We met the dealer for the test drive on the Ohio river.  The sales rep launched the boat and we took a ride.  The weather was freezing, but we were in love with the boat.  As we watched the rep and his helper struggle to get the pontoon back on the trailer, we should have seen the red flag.  But again, all we could think about were the fun adventures to come.

We went back to the dealership, signed the papers and then waited for spring to arrive.  We purchased safety and protective equipment.  We even took a Coast Guard safety course.  Finally, in mid-March, the day came.  We loaded up a bunch of couples and headed out.  Unfortunately, we didn’t know what we didn’t know.

During all of the excitement, we didn’t think about the depth of the ramp, speeds, hand-signals are all of those things you need to think about – especially with a new boat.  It was a disaster.

Getting a V-hull boat back on the trailer is a completely different experience compared to a pontoon.  The angle and depth of the ramp makes a huge difference.  The speed of your approach is important.  Blowing wind can make it much more difficult.  The number of people on the pontoon when you’re trying to trailer it will change how high/low the boat is floating. 

A Few Words of Wisdom for New Boaters 

If you’re new to this whole experience, you’ll need to be prepared to leave your ego on the bank and focus on patience.  It’s just going to take time and repetition.  You’ll feel more comfortable with time, but you can’t rush it.

If you’re a partner or spouse, it might be helpful if you each pick a specific job and learn everything you can.  For instance, one of you might be more inclined to drive the truck and trailer.  The other may be more skilled at getting the boat onto the trailer.  The key, as always, is good communication.  Give yourselves time to practice and to work out the kinks.  It’s all about the practice.  Try to pick days, like Mondays, that might not be as crowded in and around the ramp.

We love our boat, but overconfidence really caused us some problems.  The Coast Guard course provided us with a safety checklist, which we pretty much ignored.  The point of the course was to help us to be better boaters. 

Make sure you have enough life jackets for each person on the boat.  Test your electronics and mechanics on the boat before you hit the water.

Take time to learn a few things, including how to tie proper knots.  It’ll make the experience much more smooth and enjoyable for you and your guests.

Thanks for Listening!

If you enjoyed this podcast, please consider sharing it with your friends.  We hope to see you out there soon.  Until next time, here’s to warm weather and calm waters!

Don’t forget to subscribe!

We're excited about the upcoming launch of our podcast!  We thought it'd be a good idea to give you a behind the scenes look (or listen) to what the podcast is about and what you can expect going forward.  

The official launch is coming up soon, but we hope this brief bonus episode will "wet" your appetite.  

Enjoy!

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