What is a waterman?

The term "Waterman" evokes in me the old school ethos of being competent in heavy seas in varied craft. Also being skilled in self contained, independent ways of getting in and out of large surf. For example, a person who can surf big waves, can longboard small waves, can sail and navigate small craft, can paddle prone for miles and hours on end, can swim for miles and hours on end, can kayak and white water raft, can and have rescued people from the ocean during sketchy conditions, and can half ass predict local weather and wave conditions due to a wealth of experience and first hand knowledge. A total well rounded knowledge and ability to deal with moving water. What do you call a women who has these attributes? A waterwoman? Sounds about right.

 

I think a waterman is someone who has worked in, lived in and played in the water for their entire adult life and has acquired a wide range of skills (way too many to list and surfing well wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the list - things like repairing equipment, welding, rigging, and diving would all rank higher) that would allow them to independently deal with most any ocean situation and have the foresight to avoid the ones that are beyond their capability.

Having to get in the water like a junkie needs smack is pretty much the opposite of a waterman, because it shows a lack of perspective, and is the kind of risk-taking person who is very likely to get themselves or others into trouble, requiring an actual waterman to come to their aid.

 

I think of watermen as the people who surf, fish, spear fish, kayak, boat, swim, windsurf, kite board, SUP, sponge board, body surf, pretty much do all that stuff depending on wave and wind conditions and circumstances. I know a few people like that, but not a ton of them.

 

I agree with you. I for one, get bent out of shape when I see shortboarders bashing longboarders, or vice versa. A few months ago somebody on here bashed on me for being excited about a knee high wave, WHAAAAAT!? It grinds my gears and id go as far as saying anyone who only rides one type of board/wave isn't a true surfer. That's just my opinion though. As far as a waterman goes, I feel its the same thing, just with all things water instead of just the board you ride. If conditions aren't great for surfing, bodyboard the shore break. Body surf. If its flat go fishing, go for a swim (not in a pool!). A waterman to me is someone who gets in the water as often as possible regardless of what activity they partake in.

To take it a step further, I think understanding is a big part of being a true waterman. Understanding the tides, the winds, the bathometry, and everything else that causes changes in the water and why it causes those changes.

I'm not calling myself a waterman either, that's not important to me because like you I'm going to do what it is I does. But I do spend a lot of time in the water regardless of the weather or how small or closed out the waves are. When there is nothing to ride I'll fish. My point is that I spend a lot of time around the water, I see some beautiful things. I live on long island. Long ISLAND. Its an island. Yet so many people who live here know nothing about the water, they don't see the beach outside of the summer season. They think rain means waves. I don't expect everyone to surf but the lack of knowledge about the water in people who live on an island baffles me. I like this thread, I'm curious to what others think. Also I apologize for half ranting about what annoys me while trying to respond. Surfing and the water is something I am passionate about, I cant help it.

 

watermen.

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PT_qcvjMOw
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIaYVim5nsQ
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx7uSCXXac8
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Ybpm-55dU
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFY4ZFvwf78
6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bueMXRY-EJo
7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9Fd3Q_pzOo

 

I agree with you Tolkien. I too am 2 or so hours from the beach (Raleighwood whoop whoop!) but like you will sponge, body surf (love the handplane I made last summer) and pretty much do anything to get wet. I also use my vacation days up quickly (then tend to get sick during good swells wink wink) so I can surf. I think having a love and respect for the ocean and doing anything you can to be in the water makes a person a waterman.

 

hahaha no one bashed you, it was just a little sarcasm since it was a small day, lighten up amigo. I agree with your perspective of how fellow long islanders view the "beach season". It's a shame, but also important.. imagine if everyone frequented the shores as much as the surfers/spongers? What a nightmare of litter, erosion and congestion..

Anyway, the real kicker here, is that there are so many hobbies and ways of life out there in the world with people just as passionate about it as we are about this; and to them - we are the ones who don't get it, we are the kooks hahaha... what a concept.

 

If you can't clean a fish you are not a waterman.

 

Nice thread, lot's of perspectives. I think what Mitchell says is true for the most part, but i'm not 100% convinced all "watermen" aren't risk takers and wouldn't put themselves in situations either, with that much skill and knowledge usually comes some level of cockiness or over confidence in ones ability to escape danger. Just something to think about.

But as far as what makes a person a waterman? IDK, it doesn't really matter like you said, but those who love and respect the ocean and make it a lifestyle and not just something they do to pass time seem to be closer to a waterman than those who only view the beach and ocean as somewhere to vacation or hang out at from time to time. Being a good surfer does not make you a waterman, but it sure does help. Being able to fish, not like an amateur either, but really fish! Also helps. Just ask yourself this question... if you were dropped on an island with no land animals to hunt, by yourself with nothing, could you survive? If you were to take a boat into the middle of the ocean could you handle anything nature throws your way? If your boat were to break down, could you repair it and keep on going? I think it all depends on how far you want to take it, there are certain levels of waterman I suppose, but who really cares right? It changes nothing if you are deemed a waterman, and nobody would really call you that anyways! HAHA Great talk

 

Thanks for the compilation bro! The Nutri-Grain Iron Man looks like what I think of when I hear the word waterman. The announcer cracked me up: "This is cahhhrnage!" in that think Aussie accent. And ShaneO paddling into seven story high Jaws! Que up SpongeBob's "He's Got Big Balls" (that is for you KokiB).

 

A real waterman/woman is someone who doesn't rely on SI for all his/her forecasting

 

I believe a waterman is anyone who enjoys the ocean all year round and it plays a big part of their life.

 

"I eat more chicken any man ever seen..."

Jim Morrison was a waterman of the first order.

 

I love Jim Morrison and the doors, but that's a howlin wolf cover. Just throwing it out there. Howlin wolf is awesome

 

waterman - my nominations

1) laird comes to mind. once saw him climb out of the east edge of hookipa - just ahead
of large swells with one hand. the other hand was holding AN ENTIRE sailboard rig.

2) kid + pool + swimming (better competitive) + lifeguarding + coast guard = SURFER

3) by default anybody in davy jones' locker.

4) a captain who goes down with his ship.

5) DCB riding a 4'10" at 3palms in 1979…….if anybody knows him tell him he blew my doors
off by shaking off the "what is possible" thing in the dank 1970's.

 

Best thread since the changing of the guard. Well done tlokein. Het Steve-O, awesome Roach clip, that dude's one of my personal heroes. Straight shredding.