Let’s talk about the foundation of skilled boat handling. I will begin, of course, with field-goal kickers in the National Football League.
No, I haven’t gone off the deep end. Stay with me.
In the 1990 NFL season, the chances of a kicker making a field goal from 50 yards was about 35 percent. Compare that to today, when kickers have improved their success rate to nearly 75 percent. That’s a staggering improvement in a sport where games are often decided by three points or less.
What changed? Did kickers suddenly become bigger or stronger? Not exactly. Teams credit this increased performance to one major change: coaching.
In 1990, precious few NFL teams had a dedicated kicking coach. Kickers, for the most part, were left to figure things out on their own, tweaking their mechanics based on feel rather than structured guidance. Today, nearly every team has a specialized coach dedicated to refining a kicker’s technique, studying film, and providing targeted feedback. More important, kickers at all levels—high school, college and the pros—now train with coaches year-round. The difference in performance speaks for itself.
NFL kickers, race car drivers, orchestral musicians and ship captains all have something in common, regardless of their success or years of experience: They continue to learn. They continue to practice under the eyes of someone qualified to observe their craft and guide them toward improvement. You can call that person a coach, a teacher, an instructor or a master. They all serve the same role.
Perfecting the skill of kicking a football and perfecting the skill of handling your boat require the same mindset.
It includes the acknowledgment that you can always improve. The willingness to be a student, always. To engage deeply and intentionally in the process of learning. This goes beyond education or training. It requires curiosity, humility and a willingness to explore the unknown. A student actively seeks knowledge, reflects on experiences and applies lessons to improve.
This mindset also suggests an understanding that mastery is a journey, not a destination. Achieving mastery requires continuous effort, questioning assumptions and embracing failure. Whether it’s a formal discipline like mathematics, a creative pursuit like writing, or the practical skills of safely operating a boat, being a student means committing to lifelong growth and discovery.
And yet, many boaters stop being students far too soon. You could call it the problem with being “good enough.”
Ask yourself: When was the last time you sought out instruction for your boat handling? Most boaters take some form of instruction when they’re first starting out. They learn the basics of docking, maneuvering and navigation. But once they reach an acceptable level of competence—enough to get from Point A to Point B without incident—they often stop learning. They’ve decided they are good enough.
In boat handling, “good enough” can be a dangerous place to settle. The reality is that conditions change. No two dockings are ever exactly the same. Weather, current, wind and boat traffic introduce variables every time you leave the dock. If you’ve only practiced under ideal conditions, how well will you perform when things go sideways?
Think back to the first time you tried to dock your boat in a stiff crosswind, or when you misjudged the current and felt the boat sliding sideways as you approached a piling. Those moments teach us quickly that confidence alone isn’t enough. You need skill. And skill is something that must be maintained and sharpened over time.
Professional mariners know this. That’s why even the most experienced ship captains regularly undergo training in a bridge simulator, under observation of a team of instructors. They don’t assume that because they’ve docked a ship a thousand times, they’ll never make a mistake. They prepare for the unexpected by staying in a student’s mindset.
For the recreational boater, continuing education can be as simple as practicing deliberately. Instead of going for a cruise, dedicate time to refining specific maneuvers. Try docking in different conditions, backing into a slip, or holding station in a current—but do it with a training captain who can observe your technique and offer pointers. Sometimes, a small adjustment makes a big difference.
Most new boaters believe they are practicing their boat-handling skills every time they take their boat out. Unfortunately, they are under a false belief that using their boat is the same as practicing. The educator and learning expert Eduardo Briceño teaches that to excel at anything is to know the difference between “learning mode” and “performance mode.”
When you are using your boat, you are in performance mode. Your mind is not open to learning in this setting. In performance mode, your goal is to do your best and not make any mistakes. This is especially true in boat-docking situations. There is the pressure of people on shore watching your approach, or you may have guests on board. Your primary goal is to get the boat out of or into the slip without damaging the boat or embarrassing yourself. In this scenario, you are not able to observe your actions objectively. Your mind is not open to seeing the mistakes you are making.
Conversely, in learning mode, you accept that you are going to make mistakes, with the goal and intent of learning from them. This is also where a professional trainer comes in. Training captains will see mistakes you are making, that you are unable to see in yourself.
Stop thinking you have to do this alone. Take advantage of technology and the eyes of your crew. Use navigation and docking aids such as communication headsets between the helm and your boating partner on deck. Cameras have become smaller and easier to install, with many offering 3-D and bird’s-eye views. Remote controls allow you to step away from the helm for better sightlines. Some remotes allow for dynamic positioning. All of these tools can be incredibly helpful, but only if you take the time to train and understand them fully.
A note of caution about these tools: They are invaluable, but they don’t replace good technique. A good boater uses technology to improve awareness, not as a crutch.
If there’s one thing that separates truly skilled boaters from the rest, it’s their attitude toward learning. They don’t just rely on experience; they work to improve. They recognize that boating takes place in an ever-changing dynamic environment, and that complacency can lead to trouble.
The truth is, there is no finish line. There is no final exam that declares you a “master.” Even the best boat handlers are still students. The moment you stop being a student is the moment you stop getting better.
And on the water, being better is always the goal.
