A Good Seawife must be raised in an atmosphere of interpersonal conflict that serves to develop her survival skills. This was the role of Cabin Boy training within traditional male seafaring. One appropriate substitution is to be the youngest daughter of 27 children in a neighborhood of Eastern European immigrants in a Pennsylvania factory town.

A Good Seawife loves to operate her vessel though bridges, ship channels and locks within a busy port.

A Good Seawife will insist on tricky mooring maneuvers and never hesitate to practice and train with an audience of friends and relations.

A Good Seawife will not hesitate to singlehand wing-and-wing towards a tiny channel among rocky islets and mountain williwaws.

A Good Seawife will not abide ill-tempered crew and will freely dispense punishment by banishment to the tender.