Re: How much stuff do you allow others to bring onboard?
Ricohman - your story reminds me of a passenger I once had. He, along with the other two fellows, had been briefed before the trip that my boat was only 25' but had several nice built-in features to accommodate all their food and drinks, a fish box for their catch, a cabin to stow their jackets, but not a lot of room for big bulky items like coolers and tackle boxes. In particular, I told them that the boat carried all the terminal tackle they would need, but if they wanted to bring along a few of their favorite items, that would be fine.
First coming down the gangway was a huge cooler. Two of us hefted it over the rail into the cockpit. I open it without asking, and unloaded the contents into the boats built-in ice box and cooler. I then handed their empty cooler back to them and said, "Here, take this back to your truck."
Saving the best for last, I next looked up to see one of the guys wrestling a full size dolly down the gangway, stacked to the top of the handle with 3 or 4 large wooden tackle boxes. You know the kind, those old school saltwater jobs made out of plywood and trimmed out with the brass corners. Anyway, the ensuing conversation was heated and I seriously thought he was going to swing on me. I lost the argument. I gave his tackle boxes a boat ride and that was it. Some guys just don't get it.
:facepalm:
