EP 923 - Taylor Somerville | Tom Rowland Podcast

Captain Harley Hunt from howtoboating.com shares his beginner-friendly approach to getting comfortable with a new boat without the high-stakes pressure of a crowded marina. Whether you've just upgraded to a bigger boat or bought your first vessel during the recent boating boom, Hunt's single-engine technique offers a safe, confidence-building method to learn how your boat handles in close quarters. This How 2 Tuesday episode delivers practical advice on checking systems, using one engine at a time to feel out your boat's behavior, and building skills progressively. If you've ever felt intimidated pulling away from the dock or unsure how your boat will respond, this conversation provides the foundation you need to operate with confidence.

The Pre-Departure Check That Prevents Disasters

Before you ever untie a single dock line, Hunt emphasizes a critical step that many new boaters skip in their excitement to get on the water. He walks through the essential systems check that ensures your throttles respond correctly and your steering functions properly while you're still safely secured to the dock. This isn't about being overly cautious—it's about avoiding the nightmare scenario of discovering a mechanical issue after you've already committed to leaving the slip. Hunt explains exactly what to test and why this systematic approach builds the foundation for everything that follows. His pre-departure checklist starts at 2:36.

The Single-Engine Technique for Twin-Engine Boats

Here's where Hunt's approach becomes truly practical for anyone intimidated by boat handling. Rather than throwing both engines into gear and hoping for the best, he demonstrates why using just one engine at a time transforms the learning curve. By popping one engine in and out of gear, you can feel precisely how that single propeller moves the boat—left, right, forward, backward—without the speed and complexity of dual engines. Hunt describes how this method lets you build muscle memory and spatial awareness gradually, staying in complete control while you learn. It's the difference between white-knuckling through a dock departure and actually understanding what your inputs are doing. The full single-engine technique explanation begins at 2:57.

Building Confidence Through Progressive Practice

Hunt reveals how confidence on the water isn't about natural talent—it's about a deliberate progression that starts with short, controlled inputs and gradually extends to longer, more committed maneuvers. He explains his philosophy of going only as fast as you're comfortable and how that principle applies to everything from throttle inputs to time spent in gear. The goal isn't to rush through learning; it's to compound your skills over multiple sessions until what felt uncertain becomes second nature. Hunt shares how this progressive approach applies whether you're backing out of a slip or pulling away from a dock, and why the same patient methodology works for boaters at every skill level. His advice on building confidence over time starts at 3:54.

Getting Comfortable in Open Water

Tom emphasizes the importance of taking your practice beyond the confines of the marina and experiencing how your boat behaves in real-world conditions. Wind, tide, and waves all affect handling in ways you can't predict from a dock, and Hunt's methodology extends to these more complex scenarios. Understanding your boat's behavior in open water completes the confidence-building process that started with single-engine maneuvers in the slip. The conversation touches on how getting familiar with these environmental factors is essential before you find yourself in a challenging situation where consequences are higher. The discussion of open water practice appears at 4:35.

Final Thoughts from Tom

This episode hits on something I think a lot of people need right now. Since COVID, we've seen so many new boaters on the water, and a lot of them jumped into boats that are maybe a little more than they bargained for. That's not a bad thing—it's exciting—but it can be intimidating if you don't have a system for getting comfortable.

What I really appreciate about Captain Harley Hunt's approach is how practical and low-pressure it is. The idea of using one engine at a time to feel out how your boat moves makes so much sense, especially if you're new to twin engines. It takes the speed and stress out of the equation and lets you actually learn what's happening instead of just reacting. That's the kind of foundational skill that pays off every single time you leave the dock.

If you're in that phase where you're still figuring out your boat or if you're thinking about upgrading and want to do it right, this conversation is worth your time. Harley breaks it down in a way that makes boat handling accessible, and that's exactly what How 2 Tuesday is all about. Listen to the whole thing—you'll walk away with techniques you can use immediately.