Dockside Manners?

[ssullivan]

Hey Folks,

I was wondering if anyone has this social experience often? I feel free to talk about this, since we had a very productive discussion on some of those "land people" giving us a hard time.

Now... I turn to "dock people."

I have to say that without exception (since we purchased this larger, new boat) - each and every person we meet on a dock tells us what we need to be doing.

For instance, a man I had never met before was walking by while I was filling my water tank. I said hello to be friendly. He says hello back, and proceeds to launch into a long discussion about how the water pressure on the dock is too high and how I need to purchase a check valve if I'm filling my tanks because he gets "air pockets" in his tank from too much pressure on the hose.

This is just one example of countless others. I mean filling a water tank is so simple, I've had non-boaters do it without any instruction at all, other than "here's the hole."

The wife and I have been trying to figure out why it is that people who likely have far less experience with boats that we do have to come up to us and tell us how to do things. I mean it's crazy. These are recreational boaters that don't live aboard, and haven't been anywhere. They certainly don't have a Master's License, and who knows if they have the 20 yrs on the water I have. Why must they come up to me and tell me how to do things?

We find this is typical of the older folks. Younger ones don't say anything.

Is anyone else about ready to tell these folks off on their dock, or have any experience in dealing with them? I've had it. I'm about to start insulting people who do it, prodding at thier inexperience as boaters. Any alternative solutions? I'd rather not start fights, but I can't sit by and listen to another person tell me how I should be filling up a water tank.

Back in NH/Maine, (when I learned how to sail) the old guys wouldn't talk at all. They would sit in a group watching you, and laugh if you did something wrong. This behavior was great, and I thought it was kind of funny. They would help you in a second if you asked for it, but they would just sit back and laugh if you were doing something stupid. This new attitude of "I'm not very bright, so I have to say something to prove my vast intellect" is not going over well with me.

Any tips for this social problem? (Yes, I know... anchor out! We can't for the winter though)

Thanks in advance, and maybe others have this problem too?