He also had two other gizmos that were useful: His depth finder told us we were approaching the shore long before we came close, so we were never in danger of running aground. And he used a marine-band radio in the channel to ask a boat driver to slow down so we could keep up in displacement mode where the swells were still in effect. I think he also used it to talk with a couple of marinas, asking about ramps and docks.

I've since acquired a marine radio, but am still not likely to get a ham license, even though you no longer have to learn Morse. A depth finder? Hmmm...