Boating is commonly thought of as
a man’s sport, but according to recent survey, the gap is closing. When it
comes to boating interest, 27% of men and 23% of women said they already own or
are planning to buy a boat soon.
“I’ve always wanted my own boat
since I graduated college and always wanted to be my own captain,” said Deb
Simon, Vice President at Oppenheimer Funds. Partnering with friend Angela
Keaveny, financial consultant at UBS Financial Services and member of the
Chicago Yacht Club, the two women decided to participate in Chicago
Watercraft’s charter and lease-share program. “This has been a great
opportunity to enjoy the sun, water, and friends,” Simon said.
Chicago Watercraft charter and
lease-shares offers the opportunity to experience the Chicago River and
“Deb and Angela were the only two
women to do it last year, but now a fair amount are signing up,” said President
of the program, Captain Vernon Patrick, “I think at first there is hesitation,
fear, ‘can I handle this large vessel?’ That’s what Captain’s College is for.”
Making the program easy, Chicago
Watercraft enlists their first-time boaters in Captain’s College, teaching them
everything from using marine radios and dealing with homeland security to
simply putting the key in the ignition. “I feel we are absolutely obligated to
train them,” Captain Patrick said.
“For a first time captain, it’s a
great experience because your training, certification, guidance are all built
in. You don’t actually have to put a down payment on a boat, you don’t have to
buy life preservers,“ said Simon.
“And you learn what all the
intricacies are for if and when you want to do it yourself,” Keaveny added.”
I’m not afraid to go down to the engine room now, check the oil; I mean, just
pop it open. We had to do it every time, I know many, many guys who don’t keep
the basic maintenance up on their boats.”
Deb and Angela laugh as they
reminisce of their fist day out on the water – when they were pulled over by
the conservation police. “Debbie was driving too fast through the river,”
Keaveny smiled.
“You told me too!” Simon laughed
jumping to her defense.
The incident turned out to be a
blessing in disguise. “Thank-you conservation police for pulling us over,”
Keaveny joked, “because I think right then we were able to answer all of their
questions.”
“We were confident after that,”
Simon chimed in. “We were asked to show the engine, what the expiration date
was on the flares, show life preservers.”
The two also laughed about
another occurrence that happened that same day. Keaveny had taken the boat down
the Chicago River and through the locks on the way out by herself, picking
Simon up once she was on
When Simon manpowered the boat through the locks on the way back, Keaveny
recalls, “She did the exact same thing I did. I thought ‘are you kidding me?’
It was a match made in heaven. We knew right then that we were meant to be
co-captains.”
The experience only brought
confidence to both co-captains. “After getting pulled over by the conservation
police, going through the locks, and getting gas – after we did all that once
we were pretty secure,” said Simon.
What followed was a summer they
will never forget. There were early mornings meeting at the dock, 9AM they
claim, although their smiles suggest otherwise, bringing aboard a variety of
snacks – sushi, cheese and crackers, and Charlie Trotters to-go. Several drink
specials were made available on their voyages for guests - vodka lemonades and
bloody marys. They also inform me – they were never without a good CD mix or
two. “From Pussycat Dolls to Frank Sinatra to Gretchen Wilson,” said Simon.
How did Captain Patrick feel the
women handled their first summer out on the water? “I thought they did very
well, they are conscientious about management. They are kind people – which is
very important – and certainly very social, which makes it fun.”
For boat lovers Keaveny and
Simon, the best part of the experience was being able to enjoy a day out on the
water on their own terms. “Most girls we know have waited around for a guy to
ask them, because they love going out on boats and we thought ‘why should we
wait for someone to ask us? Why don’t we have our own boat?’” Simon said.
“Some girls will say ‘I can’t
believe you did that. I would never be able to do that.’ It’s really not hard.
It’s a lot of fun,” Keaveny replies.
Nevertheless, Keaveny and Simon
got much attention with an all-girl crew. When they did invite men on the boat,
it was always assumed that he was the captain of the boat. Whether it was tying
up with other boats, going through the locks, or getting gas, the other party
quickly jumped to converse with the men. “Many people do comment on an all-girl
crew,” Simon said.
“No-don’t comment. Do a double
take is more like it!” Chimed in Keaveny. In one instance a gentleman on a
passing tour boat turned to his wife in astonishment at the site of fifteen
females in their bikinis listening to music. “There are no men on that boat!”
He said. In another instance, Deb and Angela laugh at the memory of hearing a
man on one of the break walls exclaim, “You girls don’t need us for anything
anymore!”
Chicago Watercraft seems to be
attracting more female business professionals who use their time out on the
water to reward their staff, clients, or themselves. “A few times we did things
with clients on the boat that really gave you a personal entrée into what might
have been just a professional relationship before. They really trusted you and
put their lives in your hands while you are out on
What’s the most important thing
about doing a lease-share program with someone? Deb Simon believes it’s all in
the partnership.
“It’s very important to have a
good partner,” she said. “We were very fortunate that we both wanted to have a
good time but yet keep everybody safe. While it looks like it’s all fun and
games, you really do take peoples lives into your hands, especially when
everyone is drinking and having a great time, a million boats flying around in
the summer. You need someone who is cool and laid back and wants to have fun,
and at the same time, very responsible to take on situations as they arise –
like people getting injured or getting sick.”
For those women who have always
wanted to experience boating on their own terms and have been putting it off,
Keaveny suggests taking the plunge.
“Girls, go out and do it. Call it
a day, $8,000-$10,000, you get an awesome experience. You learn it. You’re
confident. You have fun. Once you are established as far as your profession is
concerned and have a few extra dollars and you like boating – why wouldn’t you
do it? It is just awesome,” Keaveney said.
Anything else? Keaveny smiles.
“Let the good times roll.”
All content ©
Great Lakes Boating magazine, 2006