How involved are your kids?

D

douglee25

Well-Known Member
Jan 13, 2008
4,761
Dallas, TX
Boat Info
Cruisers 3575
Engines
Twin 7.4l
In the ages of reduced family time when the computer, cell phone, and IPOD 'seem' more important, how does your family address this when it comes to boating? While I'm sure everyone on this site is into the boating scene, I'm curious how involved your kids are? Is boating something your kids look forward to or is boating something you drag your kids out for on the weekends? How are the boat 'chores' handled on the boat? Cleaning? Docking? Maintenance? Etc.

Doug
 
You let kids on your boat? Mine rarely join us (16 and 19 yr old girls). Their friends are always welcome. When they are there, it's all about socializing with boys. Their chores on the boat are zero. We generally go pick them up on the dock by dinghy or jetski, and then take them back before night.
 
I can count on one hand how many times i've been on our boat WITHOUT the kids. The are 6 and 10 and would live on it if they could. The 10 year old is actually starting to be a help rather than a hindrance when it comes to docking. I don't know what we'd do as a family without our boat. That said, I'm sure I'll be in the same 'boat' as Hampton in 6 or 7 years. They'll probably have an ipod/phone implanted in their head by then.
 
My kids ages 5, 8 & 8 (twins) have been around boats their entire lives. They love it and are always with us.
 
Our kids are always out with us, and we encourage them to bring their friends. Alternatively, we usually have our friends with their kids. Either way, they love the boat time and are always asking when we can go back out.

We've kept them involved by giving them little projects. The girls, for example, know that they have to do the long walk to the dumpster at the end of the day. Of course, we could drive, but it keeps them busy. The oldest is getting good at hooking a line around a cleat, so she's actually helpful when docking. Also, she knows that she's an important part of the process.
 
My 3 daughters (The eponymous "Ladybugs") 8, 9 & 10 have a great time on the boat but they never lift a finger...it's all about them and their friends!

We always take 2 cars to the marina so you know what happens at canvas time!

Such a great way for the family to hang out together in the nice weather and I don't mind a bit doing all the legwork - I would recommend boating as a wonderful way to share family time together.
 
They're always there. As a matter of fact, the admiral and I have only been out once without them. They are 6 and 3 and both love to sit on my lap and take the helm, but they have no chores on the boat yet. It is the best and most relaxing family time we get to spend together. :smt038
 
My kids (11 & 8) absolutely love being on the boat. Now if their mother could just enjoy it as much as the rest of us do............
 
We bought our first boat 6 weeks after our last child was born. Kind of an early mid-life crisis purchase on my part I guess.

We have not been out on the boat without the kids. We have 3 girls (9, 8, and 6) and a 4 year old boy. They love it out on the water as much as we do, and we boat with another family that has children. So its always a family-type event.

I only have one helper, my 8 year old daughter, who helps keep everything stowed in the boat, is a spotter while pulling tubes, and helps me back the truck up to the trailer.
 
Both of my kids, 3 year old daughter and six year old son, were in the boat within months of being born. I let my son captain the boat with a little guidance from me. He is also pretty good about stowing the fenders, lines and etc. Earlier this summer he took sailing lessons in an Opti. He was actually pretty impressive. I jokingly asked his instructor when do you teach your students how to run down the middle of the intracoastal under power with the sails up? He laughed. So for about a month or so I had to listen to I want an Opti. Instead, I bought him a pair of water skis and he learned to ski a few weeks ago. I then said, "Try that behind a blobote." My daughter loves to sit in my lap and turn the wheel.
 
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14 year old girl (yeah I know). Here is a list of things she can to do with no supervision: Shore power/electrical panel/gennie (departure or arrival) , anchoring, dock lines, fenders, etc. When we spent two days with an on-the-boat training captain, she got all the formal training we did. She is never forced into slavery to do these "boat chores"; she, for some weird reason likes doing this stuff. We're enjoying it while it lasts....
 
Expecting our first baby in early October, it is refreshing to see all of the responses. Of course the admiral and I thoroughly enjoy time on the water and are hoping that our new addition will as well.
 
Before we bought our boat, we rented boats of various types in different places for our family vacations, starting summer '01 on the Erie Canal and Seneca Lake. Even then, my son who was 7 at the time enjoyed it more than my 12 year old daughter. Two summers later on a narrowboat in England, daughter spent most of her time in the cabin reading the latest Harry Potter. March '06 she again spent most of her time below as we ran down the ICW from Sarasota to Sanibel on a GB42, unless son called down to her about the dolphins swimming alonside. Today she's 19, and her friends are much too important to her to spend time with family, even though we've told her she can invite them out on the boat with us -- being with friends does not mean being with friends in the company of your parents!

Our son took the state boating license course and exam last summer at age 13, and passed with flying colors! He occasionally takes the helm when we're in open waters, and can be quite helpful getting underway and docking. And his eyes are so much better than mine or the Admiral's, so we rely on him to be our lookout sometimes. He's much more comfortable around adults, and isn't embarrassed to invite his friends along.

So it looks like we might raise one boater out of two kids.

I try not to burden anyone, adults or kids, with too many chores, so I usually take a separate car to the marina to start preparations before family and guests arrive, and button up the cockpit cover after they've left. Then I'll often stay around the dock and have a beer and chat with friends in nearby slips before I head home. About the only time Lili and I ride to the dock together is when we don't have kids/friends/dogs aboard.
 
I have 4 kids(17,15, twin 6yos). The two older kids are from a previous marraige. They come around less than I like but those with teenagers know that somehow, schedules are full and the "texting" phones are constant.

All the kids have a couple things that they do that helps out.

My older son, Jake, when he comes, helps with the lines and fenders at the launch.
My older Daughter, Michaela, when she comes, helps out Mighty Mo with the twins, and starts the blower, and lowers the OD while I park the truck, at the launch.

Both help preparing lines and fenders when we're approaching the dock. I love when they come along.

The twins keep the shoes or sandals in the bin we have set aside and are responsible to keep "their" Mid-cabin organized.

Anyway, it's rare when the Admiral and I get to go out alone, and we love it when we can, but life is good when the whole family's out on the boat.
 
When we had a 19' ski boat, they absolutely loved it - knee boarding, tubing, me holding them while skiing... The 250 was ok for them - fishing, cruising around, going out to eat... The 340 isn't so much fun for them - cruising out to the island and relaxing, or adult cruises to Apalachicola or Destin...

Interestingly, my 16 yr old came out to the island on her dance teacher's 390 with 4 other girls, parked next to us, swam, sunned, played, relaxed, and never stepped foot on our boat - ????????????
 
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No electronic gadgets allowed on the boat.

6 and 16, both boys.

Enjoy the outdoors and forget about life for a few hours!

Even if we overnight at the dock, the radio is playing, and cards and board games are entertainment.
 
I've been corrected. She came aboard to borrow a razor. Sheesh!
 
Tonight we (Admiral, 14 yr old son, and me) went out for a sunset/moonrise dinner cruise; it's our 24th wedding anniversary. Once clear of the marina, I handed over the helm to my son for the first hour; not on plane, just 1700 rpm/6.6 knots. He did great, keeping an eye out for traffic, asking questions whenever he wasn't sure what to do. Once the sun set, he sat down to eat his second and third courses (did I mention he's 14?), and I took over for the balance of the cruise. Moon rose about 2020, beautiful and nearly full. Docked and covered in our slip by 2110, and on the way home. Yea, I think he'll be alright.
 
We spent every weekend and a full 6 weeks vacation at the cottage; boating, skiing, tubes of terror, fishing and sitting at my favourite watering hole watching the marina activity. 25 years later with both my son and daughter, their mates and a grandchild, we spend every weekend at the cottage; boating, skiing, on the tubes, fishing and yes you have it, sitting at my favourite watering hole watching the marina activity.
 
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