Down at the water's edge

One of the things I loved to do as a child as to look at boats seeing the different shapes, colours and functions of things and chatting with the owners. 
Luckily I never had an accident and fell in which is what happened to my brother!
He got a spanking for it.

You may not be so much at the waters edge looking in as much as actually in it paddling your canoe or kayak.

Indeed I went sailing as a teenager and thoroughly enjoyed it.