Is there really a big difference between driving a car and driving a
boat?

The first major difference is that a boat has no brakes. The only good
way to stop your boat is to reverse the thrust direction of your
propeller. This is done by first throttling your engine down to idle
speed and then shifting into reverse. If you try to shift at any engine
speed other than idle, you will soon destroy your gearbox. Because it
takes longer to stop your boat than your car, you must approach docks
and other immovable objects slowly and, when in doubt, STOP! Tempting
though it may be, never try to grab the dock with your hands and arms,
or try to push off with your legs. Docks and boats can easily be
repaired. The same cannot be said about your limbs!

The second major difference is in the way your boat turns. When you
turn the steering wheel of your car, the front wheels turn, causing the
front end of the car to begin to turn. The rear of the car follows. On
a boat, however, the opposite is true. When you turn the wheel on your
boat, the stern starts to swing in a large arc, thus changing the
direction of the boat. When you turn your boat, you must have enough
room for your boat's stern to swing. If you try to turn too sharply
when leaving the dock, for instance, the stern will swing into the dock
with a resounding thud. In a tight spot, you might want to consider
backing out or, to be more nautically correct, going astern. That way,
the stern will pull the boat away from the dock and the bow will
follow!

There is also a third major difference between steering a car and
steering a boat. When your car stops, it's going to stay where it
stopped - the ground does not move underneath it (that's probably why
the Romans called it terra firma). When you stop your boat, the water
that you are sitting in is probably moving due to wind or current.
Current can be caused by many things, such as the movement of water
down a river or the rising and falling of tides. Before you attempt any
maneuvering with you boat, check to see which way the wind is blowing
by looking at the water's surface. Then stop for a few seconds to see
if there is any current effecting the movement of your boat. If there
is wind and/or current, try, if possible, to approach the dock with
your bow into the current. This will allow you to maneuver better and
also help stop your boat faster.

Maneuvering your boat properly is a lot like learning to ride a
bicycle. It takes a lot of practice, but once you learn how to do it,
it's great fun! Most other boaters are going to form their opinion of
your boating skills by how well you handle your boat when either
leaving or returning to the dock. Keep in mind that nobody does it
perfectly every time!

Best regards
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