Family Inclusion

[harlobra 24]

My dad bought his first boat when I was 14. After we had launched and established a place on the beach he would let my buddies and I take it out and drive it around.

 

At what point do you trust your kids with your boat by themselves?

Edited July 16, 2012 by harlobra

[hurricane sean 6]

I'll bet your boats alot nicer than your dads was and faster.

 

My sons 11yrs old. He gets to drive the boat with me standing next to the drivers seat. I will probably let him take it when he has had a good amount of experience towing boarders and is very cautious also understanding all of the dangers of boating which are alot. Maybe 16 or 17. Now that Im really thinking about it maybe never.

[Kalidgh 37]

In Canada you need a boat license ( Government cash grab )...so 16 minimum ( moms not around...15 or so )

 

My dad cut us loose at 14.....but then again, that boat was not worth $70K

 

My son is 12 and he is learning the ropes now. He drives with me beside him and I pepper him with questions such as " did you see that piece of wood...what is the water tempature of the motor ( do that lots )....where is the nearest boat...etc " Get him to realize that there is more to it than sitting behind the wheel

[superdtf 68]

I think Kalidgh is on the right track. Spend a lot of time next to them. Make sure they learn to watch the gauges. Teach them the sacrosanct rules about when to quit trying other stuff and simply cut the motor.

 

I grew up driving the boat since I was ten or twelve. It was a closed bow Ski Nautique and very easy to drive, very small, very powerful. By the time I was 15 I could pull slalom skiers through the course without the aid of perfect pass (wasn't invented yet). All us kids grew up driving and handling the boat. I still drive-on to the trailer with our Enzo (we clip the winch strap later when we're wiping down).

 

But part of me wonders if those days are gone. Boats are super expensive, insurance is becoming more so. And the number of large, costly boats is rising fast. The mistakes I made as a youth with our old Ski Nautique would be enormously costly in today's world. I'm teaching all my children to drive, but I don't know when I'll "turn 'em loose".

[bcollins 18]

Heck with the kids, when is my wife going to learn to drive?

 

I'm grooming my oldest son, 10, to drive. Pretty much what super and kalidgh said. I sit with him while he drives and point things out, etc. I tell him what to watch for in the boat and on the water. I explain to him whats going on and, when we have problems, what's wrong and what we can try and do to fix it; unfortunately, been plenty of those this year. I think whats just as important is that I'm teaching him to appreciate what he has and that maintaining the boat, cleaning it, etc. may not be fun but is part of owning a boat and enjoying it for many years to come. I think once he really gets that he'll be more likely to be more responsible with it. Anyway, he's not nearly there yet but give me a few years and I'll have him pulling his old man around the lake like a champ, and not powerturning when he turns around to pick me up.

[CTMILKMAN 0]

bcollins, super & kalidgh, I am with you guys. I could drive a boat long before I could drive a car. I am teaching my kids now how to drive responsibly. I will let my 11yr old handle our "evening cruise" around the lake most nights, while giving his 7yr old brother a chance here & there; of course its a slow cruise and I am right next to them. On quiet days on the lake, I will let them take me for a ride and like you guys point things out that they need to watch for. What it boils down to is this, I would much rather have them learn the right way too early than the wrong too late (late=teenagers trying to impress their friends)

[duramat 462]

My 12 year old is taking the State online boating course. Itll be good she learns but Im not turning her loose just anytime soon LOL

[Jackfly 0]

My 15yr old is a WAY better driver than my wife. I can tell him things once, and he catches right on. He has been driving a while though. Now if your talking about him takin the boat out with his buddies when he turns 16?. Whole different ballgame.

[superdtf 68]

My 12 year old is taking the State online boating course. Itll be good she learns but Im not turning her loose just anytime soon LOL

Hey, I took my 12 year old girl through the online course too. I was actually impressed with how thorough it was. But now I've got a little "know-it-all" reminding me of any infractions to the state course's guidelines.

[harlobra 24]

Hey, I took my 12 year old girl through the online course too. I was actually impressed with how thorough it was. But now I've got a little "know-it-all" reminding me of any infractions to the state course's guidelines.

 

I was thinking dura's online course was a great idea but my 12 year old son is a huge rules guy like his mom. That might be too much to handle!

[harlobra 24]

My oldest son is 19 and headed to college. He loves going out on the boat but I fear it may be too late for him to develop that passion for it. I'm going to start letting him drive a lot more, have him back the trailer down, etc. I think it'll be invaluable experience.

 

I'm also gonna start teaching my 12 year old son slowly too.

 

My dad's boat was a '80 Glastron 16 foot tri-hull with a 90 horse Merc outboard. When he'd let us drive it (we were on Mission Bay in San Diego) we'd go behind the Sea World Hydrofoils and jump the wakes. I'd kill my kids if they did anything like that to my boat lol

[duramat 462]

Hey, I took my 12 year old girl through the online course too. I was actually impressed with how thorough it was. But now I've got a little "know-it-all" reminding me of any infractions to the state course's guidelines.

 

Shes been having fun doing it, and so true aobut being a "know it all"! d

 

Funny stuff Harobra

[fastjohnny 0]

My oldest took the state boating safety course at age 11, that was 4 seasons ago. I don't think I have had any other driver pulling me for boarding or surfing in the last 3 years. He is fully capable of handling the boat by himself, as well as backing the rig down the ramp. The only thing I would question would be a drive-on loading situation. Capability aside, I would defer to state jurisdiciton, which varies as to legal age.