Dean Travis Clarke believes that boating helps develop self-reliance and appreciation for nature and our resources. In a world of instant communications, boating provides a safe haven for youngsters to enjoy quality time with parents and other family members.

It seems each year that goes by, more and more people voice concern over the attitudes and values of our children. And it's certainly true that children are learning the hard, brutal side of life at far earlier ages than when I was growing up. But I don't believe children today are any better or worse than they've ever been. I figure that as a general rule, those who receive loving attention turn out well and those who are ignored - or worse - well, don't turn out so well.

I have a theory about quality time based on the way my father and grandfather treated me as a child.
 
We were a water-sports family. We were always out on boats, fishing, sailing, cruising or just traveling from point A to point B where a boat was often the shortest and fastest route.
 
But what I remember most vividly are the "growing up" discussions, especially with my dad. Every time we had something important to discuss - girls, the facts of life, college, career, values, behavior, responsibility, you get the idea - we talked about it on a boat.
 
I don't know exactly what it was about the boat, but it was a great equalizer. I learned to run boats at a very early age and had much more than my share of independence on the water. So when we were on the boat, I felt like we were having a very private conversation rather than a sermon. I never had to worry about the embarrassment of someone (my sister or mother) interrupting. It was just us. Back then, it was far less common for women to go boating by themselves, so I'm afraid my sister didn't enjoy the same special time aboard that I did. Fortunately, that is changing in this new millennium. 
 
What is it about sitting at anchor with a fishing rod that allows you to discuss even the most intimate subjects when the same discussion elsewhere would be painfully uncomfortable?
 
To be honest, I haven't a clue. I can only speculate that fishing and boating can teach virtues like patience, tolerance for the whims and vagaries of nature that can be applied to human nature, and appreciation for the simple beauties of creation, self-reliance and stress management.
 
What I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt, from my own experience and the reports of others, is that boating and fishing provide a bonding venue second to none. It's no accident that the fishing-tackle industry has programs to encourage fishing instead of drugs, to promote the fun and adventure of angling among youngsters rather than letting them fend for themselves out on the street corners.
 
Take your child boating or fishing without everyone else along. You'll be amazed at what you'll gain. It's a long-term investment than can start paying dividends today.

- Dean Travis Clarke

09-Sep-2009: Pod Propulsion Provides More than Handling Benefit!

Everyone who has tried docking a boat with either Cummins/MerCruiser Zeus drives or Volvo IPS has agreed: It makes boating fun, and anyone can dock any boat in any conditions! You'd think that alone would be enough to recommend this technology, wouldn't you? But nooooo!

Pod-drive technology opens up a completely new market segment that we have never before had available to us.

Readers beware - here comes a generalization: Historically, most women aren't comfortable enough with their boat-handling skills to feel that in an emergency, they could get their family's boat back to the marina and into the slip by themselves. Now, with pod propulsion and about 15 minutes of instruction, not only can they feel secure in the knowledge that if their husband suffers an accident or heart attack they can get the boat back home safely, but that they actually don't even need the husband aboard anymore. They can take their friends out for the day without a single male deckhand!

Now, combine this with the fact that in the majority of American homes, it is the female who keeps the family books and writes the checks - well, you can be sure that nobody buys any kind of big-ticket item (like a new boat) without at least tacit approval of the distaff half.

So here's the question: You want to buy a new fishing boat. You and your wife boil your choices down to two. One has standard propulsion and she can't drive it herself. The other has pod drives that she can handle like a pro and the room for an entire extra cabin below. Tell me - which boat do you think that family will buy? Of course, the one where the woman can actually take ownership of the boat along with her husband. Finally, as far as boating goes, they can be truly equal partners! Now that's a real revolution!

- Dean Travis Clarke

24-Jul-09: Making the Best of a Sad Affair

By now, everyone knows that our long-time back-page contributor Tred Barta recently suffered a catastrophic rare disease that caused him to become paralyzed from the chest down over the course of a mere six hours. Of course, that meant he couldn't attend his namesake fishing event, The Barta Boys and Girls Club Billfish Tournament last week. Tournament director Cynthia Barber worried that Barta's absence combined with the economy and a less-than-stellar weather report might cause the event irreparable harm.

Thankfully, Barta's loyal anglers came to the docks to show their support for both Tred and the cause he holds so dear - teaching kids to fish while imparting honor, integrity and love of family and Nature.

This year, the BBGBT - the second largest tournament in North Carolina - hosted 65 boats, admittedly down from more than twice that many the previous year. But those who attended enjoyed great weather, excellent fishing for sailfish, blue marlin, wahoo and an awesome dolphin bite!

And thanks to the miracle of technology, Barta was able to attend! Thanks to Skype, he delivered his usual inspiring opening speech to the young anglers. Following that, a webcam ran throughout the event so that Barta could watch the proceedings whenever he wished.

Barta is undergoing some of the most debilitating chemotherapy a human can imagine. He hopes that it will turn his rare blood cancer affliction around and that ultimately he will be able to fish and hunt again. IN the meantime, however, he advises us all, "Don't take a single second of your life for granted. It can change in a single heartbeat."

--Dean Travis Clarke