Tips Tricks or Mistakes

[Descant]

A lot of these tips were covered in Rattletraps previous threads.
Wanna be a boater?
It's a chart, not a map.
It's a fender, not a bumper.
The list goes on.
Most accidents are caused by inattention, followed by "failure to keep proper lookout". See the USCG website.

All this stuff about how to dock, anchor, etc has been well covered elsewhere.

Capt. James Kirk didn't pilot (drive) he was the CAPTAIN. Sulu was the helmsman. You can be the captain or the helmsman, but not both when guests are on board. Train your crew and rotate the duties. Who will pilot the boat and call on the VHF when you have a heart attack or fall overboard? I don't care how old you are, these things happen. Maybe on the boat next to you. Does your lead crew member have the strength to retrieve your neighbor from the water while you drive? Or should you be retrieving while s/he drives?
I carry three charts. One for the helm, one for back-up and one that is old for guests to follow along. That's why you buy a new chart every year, even though the rocks don't (usually) move. And your crew explains the chart to guests, not the helmsman. S/he has a full time job. If you think one person can do it all with guests, boating is not for you or you for my lake.