For many a young man, there is nothing like owning your first car and then showing how well you can make it do all kinds of silly tricks. We hear about those “unsanctioned” meets where the recklessness is on display. In the summer, for those lucky enough to have a boat, there is nearly an unlimited opportunity for speed on lakes in Muskoka.
But some young men learned the art of driving a wooden launch instead. I had a chance to witness the long honed talents for wooden boat driving by Rick Terry as he maneuvered the photography boat around while I was taking pictures.
The “shoot” boat was an inboard launch about 28’ long. Not what you would think of as the ideal boat for a driver to try to move around. But they are “easier than you might think” says Rick Terry. Rick began driving big launches when he was 15. This was a time when marinas and lodges were still using big wooden launches as water taxis. Imagine a 15-year-old bringing in a 36’ or 38’ launch filled with people. It would have taken a lot of confidence and practice, something that Rick and a few others have developed since their teens.
After a few minutes of chatting with Rick, it quickly became clear that the topic of boat handling could get quite involved. The most important aspect of handling though, according to Rick, is predictability. Without consistent responses, it can be very tricky to bring a boat to dock in tight situations.
By Tim Du Vernet
The post The Art of Driving a Launch first appeared on Port Carling Boats - Antique & Classic Wooden Boats for Sale.