Big boat...

There is the "Rule of Displacement" when it comes to boats; that means: big boat eats little boat.  This has nothing to do with that.  Today, I trained on, and then drove a whale watch tour, on the big boat.  I have to be honest - there is a cool factor with driving a bigger boat.  This particular bigger boat is about 25' longer than the other boat I've been driving; it has a nice cabin for the guests; an electric head (that's toilet to you landlubbers); a generator; bow thrusters; and a very protected pilothouse helm.  The smaller boat doesn't.  BUT, the smaller boat is more maneuverable.  There isn't a LOT of room for maneuvering at the dock, but there is more room for maneuvering the smaller boat than the bigger boat.

Still, it felt good to drive the "big boat" today.  We headed south and found Killer Whales.  Even saw a couple Minke Whales.  And bald eagles.  And had a lot of happy guests on the boat... breaching whales, tail-slaps, spy-hopping.  I could see this every day, and it won't get old.

I practiced for two hours this morning, in the rain.  I dodged the ferry, the Victoria Clipper, and practiced putting the boat at the fuel dock.  It's a lot of boat.  No pressure, but no "second chances" to go around at the dock.  OK, some pressure. ;-)

This is an on-going learning experience.  Learning the boats.  Learning where we go to find the whales.  The federal rules/laws for whale watching.  Giving the guests a good experience, beyond just seeing whales.

Oh, and staying warm.  Unless you are working up a sweat driving the "big boat." :-)  A few moments of sun breaks, but mostly overcast, rain, and occasional fog.

No photos, so you'll have to take my word for it that it was a great day for whale watching.