In this Captain’s Tales episode, I’m chatting with Ricky Jenkins on his Merry Fisher 585 and pulling out the kind of real-world advice you only get from time on the water. If you’re a new boat owner, Ricky’s big message is simple: take your time, gain experience slowly, and don’t wait until you’re in trouble to figure things out. We talk about learning your ropes (literally)—know your knots so you’re not guessing in an emergency—and keeping your lines ready to go on the bow and stern so you can come alongside safely when you need to. We also get into the gear and habits that help beginners stay safe: a fixed compass as backup if GPS fails, a fixed VHF radio (with Channel 16 monitored), GPS/fish finder for depth and position, and using a kill switch when you’re moving around. Ricky shares a smart deep-water anchoring tip for rugged coastlines: carrying extra strong, thin rope (100m) so you can get an anchor down fast if an engine quits near rocks. And one of my favorite takeaways—especially if you take friends and family out—is giving passengers a safety brief, showing them the lifejackets and radio, and physically teaching the most competent person how to put the boat in neutral. That’s how you turn a “day out” into a safer day out.