Help my 3 year old hates my boat!

I've tried to raise my now 8 and 6 year old kids to have no fear of anything new. Of course, it never really works that way but they have never acted stupid about it. They've been on our little boat since 4 and 2, were a bit apprehensive about it at first but now are all about sitting as close as they can to the bow and trying to get the boat to bounce higher than it can on the biggest of wakes. They get bored when it's flat and calm.

Now I have a nephew on each side of the family who are just babies (and they are 7 and 5 now) and are all scaredy-cat about the boat. Infuriates me how they're mammas (and Dad's!) let them get this way! And then they try to appease them by holding them as tightly as possible and "protecting" them. They are only doing a disservice to those kids!

Letting him drive is a good idea, but don't baby him....I'm sure he'll get tired of screaming after you're out there a couple hours doing your thing.
 
Alex F said:
The main idea is to get your kids involved in whatever provides the most interest for them. My kids had fun just sitting on my lap and stearing the boat. I only allow my son (5yr) touch the thurttles at idle speed (just to move them very little). The critical part is to educate the kids not to touch anything unless you're around. It's only a matter of time until he gets comfortable and understands how fun the boating is. Also, while planning your trip make sure to include some fun activities when you get to your destination. This will be a drive for the kids for something to look forward to. If the kids had a great time you can use this to your advantage and remind them that the same fun is waiting for them upon arrival. Bringing friends with kids is one of best helpers as well. If your child sees that other kids having fun while underway it will creat positive affect (most of the time) or at least kids can be occupite with something togeter.
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Oh don't get me wrong, I have done the same thing with my grand daughter. Just be careful because at one point the little one will think he/she is the captain.....

I was driving a 16 foot boat with a 10hp merc when I was 9 and look how I turned out…….:wow::smt009
 
I think Gary's got the best ideas. But my situation was a bit different.

I have 3 kids from 2 different wives and all 3 of the kids love the boat but their Moms hated boating.

So I got rid of the first 2 wives, 2 of the kids have their own boats and wife number 3 wants to sell the house when we retire, live aboard and cruise for a minimum of 5 years.

If I had married #3 first I would have saved enough money in child support, alimony and lawyer and court costs that I could already be retired and on a new 50-something-foot vessel of some sort cruising the Loop.

Life is mysterious.
 
Alex F said:
C'mon, not the 3 year olds. VHF is not a toy and sometimes adults forget about the fact that everyone hears the broadcast. No nead to be selfish. There're plenty other things that can keep kids busy.
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Alex,
As you seen from my pictures I'm kidding about vhf, I know it isn't a toy and she is playing with it while the vhf is off and I'm or admiral is just near her.

Below is a video how my daughter (she was 2,5 years old that day) is enjoying by playing the steering wheel and vhf. I only let her while moored/at marina play with the stereo remote.
http://s998.photobucket.com/albums/... on Melida/?action=view&current=Video0027.flv
26searay99 let him what I let her to enjoy and like the boat.
Best regards.
Melida
 
melida said:
Alex,
As you seen from my pictures I'm kidding about vhf, I know it isn't a toy and she is playing with it while the vhf is off and I'm or admiral is just near her....
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Thanks for clarification. In our area, on the occasion, some people let their kids use VHF and do live broadcasts. Not cool. When it's an older child who makes clear statement it's a different story, but not when it's a small kid.
 
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"Life Broadcasts"? I'm not familiar with this? I'm not trying to be funny so if it's a typo...sorry:huh:
 
We have triplet grandkids. They started boating at three and one refused to go so we left him home. No big deal. The other two had very short attention spans and wanted to do something else after 30 minutes or so, and we returned to the dock. At age 7 they think boating is cool. They will probably be jumping off the dock in another year or two. You just have to be patient. Forcing kids to do something that is supposed to be fun is a big mistake.
 
This is when grandparents really come in handy. Leave the brat at home. :thumbsup:

:Get a divorce and don't try and get custody.

Get a new wife and have a new kid and maybe the genes will work out better this time.
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That's a darn good idea too...:smt043
 
I feel your pain... Also am LMAO over the other responses... I can only agree with some of the other fine posts made earlier. Last year was our first year on our boat and my son was 5. He was not as vocal as your son, but he was apprehensive the first 3-4 cruises as he was never on a boat before.

I tried to narrow down his fears. They were pretty normal, speed, sound, and wakes. Then also sinking!!!! I agree with Gunn's take on scared and I too don't feel it is an emotion to be nurtured. So once got his concerns out we knocked them off one at a time.

Sinking - it's not going to happen. There are safety systems on the boat, and shallow water nearby. If it does we all have PFD's on and the boat may sink but we won't.

Wakes and Speed - got him involved with the boat. He does not drive or throttle but we have a bench seat and he is my constant look out. I review with him what is going on with the boat (when we are coming out of a no wake zone, wakes coming, etc) He looks out for boats and floating objects in the water to miss. Also had to spend some time with him re-assuring that bouncing of wakes is normal, the noises etc all normal and that they only last a second. I will slow down if we take on a big wake, just to make the rest of the crew comfortable, or give a bigger boat a wider berth if we can to ease it a bit.

But those things seemed to help him as 3rd cruise out he fell asleep...

Again not as extreme as your case... Hope that it gets better for you!

Take Care!
 
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ShamuToo said:
My wife beat ours with a belt. She's German. They give her no crap.

Me either.
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My wife is German too, and sounds like the same woman :smt043 I don't get any respect, the beating thing really works...
 
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rcknecht said:
My wife is German too, and sounds like the same woman :smt043 Me I don't get any respect, the beating thing really works...
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Crap! It finally happened...we met. It is the same woman. Her secret is out. By the way, she says I'm a much better lover than you.
 
NoThanksDad said:
"Life Broadcasts"? I'm not familiar with this? I'm not trying to be funny so if it's a typo...sorry:huh:
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Typo it is. Corrected. Thanks for pointing out.
 
So far we have :
  • Let him drive
  • Divorce and get a new kid
  • Duct tape
  • Tazer
  • Dremel tools
  • Jim Beam
  • Jedi mind tricks (Skibum)
  • Adoption

I like most of those. How about get the kid(s) there own chart? They can then mark it up with colored pencils if they want, help try to figure out where they're going and make up stories, find treasures(only if you incorporate the Jim Beam or a decent Pirate's rum/grog). The reality is it's just like when the little 'F' trophies wouldn't take naps(I have 4 kids, been there), sometimes they just have to get used to stuff. Whatever you do don't alter your plans because of a hissy fit, he'll get used to it. My kids don their PFDs as soon as we're at the boat launch and live in them until they get back. They're almost 8 now and have had them on since they were infants.

Good luck.
 
Its nice being OLD. :grin:. I have a plaque on the boat that state !!!. :smt001.
NO KIDS ARE ALLOWED ON HERE UNDER 21 . :thumbsup:
 
26searay99,
I have been sitting here laughing my a** off at some of these responses...
I had the same problem with my youngest daughter for several years..only cure I found was to buy a bigger boat!! Since your boat is already a little bigger then mine I would say take him out in a smaller boat and really scare the crap out of him and then he will appreciate the one that you have.
To be serious, I asked my daughter what her suggestion would be for you and her comment was take it slow with him and don't lose patience. He may like it better down below while at cruising speeds and learn to trust the boat more being up top only when sitting still or idling around.
Good Luck
 
ShamuToo said:
Crap! It finally happened...we met. It is the same woman. Her secret is out. By the way, she says I'm a much better lover than you.
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Just got to say thanks, you make my job much easier... I don't know how the other guys do it with out help... :smt043 If she sees this post I will be getting the beating...
 
Thanks for all the great advice.
The weather was good in jersey.Brought down toy stuff our son likes.Help me clean the boat help me start the boat.
THEN we put the boat in gear and dos'e not go.....
Shifter or cable broke ????? SO we sat on the boat all weekend...
Will have to try next weekend...
And thanks again for all the advice.

26searay99
 
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