Enough of the winter gloom, fixing boat stuff, maintenance and wintering. Let’s return to thoughts of summer and fun on the water. That’s why we spend money on our boats.

What are your summer boating plans? Are you locating a new fishing hole or creek, tubing and skiing, cruising a different direction or to a new destination? What about finding that beach with great swimming? Now is not too early to check with family and friends, boating buddies or on the Internet about summer boating ideas.

I always encourage every boat owner to introduce someone unfamiliar with boating to the pleasures of boating.

Invest just one weekend with a child unfamiliar with boating. Take your neighbor’s girl or boy, a child from church or social service agency, sharing the ins and outs of fishing. How do you bait a hook? What’s bounce that lure mean and how do you do that? Which are keepers, as well as good to eat? How do you reintroduce a landed fish back into the wild? Imagine how you felt when your dad or friend shared fishing with you. That experience “hooked” you.

If you typically cruise south, what’s up north? Grab a 2015 Farmer’s Almanac for a weather window for that one or two week cruise. Local libraries, bookstores and the Internet have ample information on routes, anchorages and marina facilities and the fun stuff to do, see and explore.

Another great source of first hand cruising information is your boating friends plus others in your marina.

Best of all, fuel prices should remain low this summer, making that trip less expensive. However, take another couple to share the expenses and adventure, making it twice the fun. Take your children on a long weekend cruise, teaching them navigation, rules of the road and docking. They will know what to do in an emergency or become an able dockhand.

City kids and even farm kids may know the fun of the swimming pool or farm pond. Do they know the enjoyment of a secluded river beach or excitement when swimming or tubing on the river or sound? Borrow someone else’s children, pairing them with yours on that one or two days on the river or sound. Maybe they will repay the favor so you and your spouse have a kid-free weekend.

How about that neighbor, are they envious of your boating enjoyment? They’ll also welcome a kid-free weekend on the boat. Share the fun as well as responsibilities of boating with them then maybe they will also become boaters.

My wife and I always felt that owning a boat included the responsibility of sharing the experience. Share the wealth of fun on the water whether fishing, cruising or just running up and down the river. Boating is the sun and sky, the water, the fish, the birds, the spray in your face and wind in your hair.

Finally, as a responsible boater I know you will invest in sharing boat and water safety with guests. We all, especially you, want them back for another positive boating experience.

The local Pamlico Sail & Power Squadron is offering a basic boating course, America’s Boating Course, March 14, 21 and 28 at the Brown Library. This is a perfect course to develop or review your skills for a great year of “fun on the water”. For more information on this boating opportunity, email Kelly Adams at pspsed.@gmail.com. We also invite you to go to our website www.pamlicosailandpoersquadron.org to learn more about your local resource for boating education and skill building.

Biff Matthews is a member of the Pamlico Sail & Power Squadron.