best place for children when useing slip way.

[markcw]

Getting ready for another hopefully hotish day in torquay tomorrow on the boat, we (wife and myself) have just been discussing the best place to but our children when backing the boat down the slip way and into the sea.this has allways botherd us so now is the time for re thought

My opionion
Place the children in the boat at midsection of slip way or just as the trailer touches the sea. then if any thing was to happen to the towing vehicle, ie brake failure or a mechanical failure and the vehicle run backwards on it own. the boat will just float in the sea with the children secured and safe and my wife would have to bail out if possible.

Wife Opionion
To leave the kids in the vehicle when backing down and i am the only one who should be in the boat. but if something happens to the towing vehicle then she has to deal with getting her self out quickly and the two children.


What do you think is the best method for maxium safety of my children and wife of course.

mark

 

[rbcoomer]

Depends on the age of the children. Best place is neither in car or boat until launched!

I leave our son on the side of slipway away from car, boat and water with Missus - until the boat is in the water. Once boat is afloat, I check engine starts (strap attached), run for a minute or two until I can close fast idle without a stall, then switch off motor. Then lift son into boat, swap winch strap for a mooring rope (clipped on bow eye and tied on stern with generous loop between for control). Missus then holds boat whilst I remove car & trailer, park and (usually) run back! I usually then get aboard, restart and Missus jumps aboard.

When recovering we usually leave him in the boat until trailer winch strap is attached. Kinda reverse of above. Our son is 7 however and will do as he's told - i.e. wait on slipway away from the green slimy bits or sit in boat without trying to get out on his own! Once boat is on trailer and bung removed etc we usually transfer him to car, move off of slipway to sort boat, transfer stuff to car etc.

I should also add however that for me it would also depend on slipway and tow car. Mine is a Land Rover Discovery and much heavier than boat so very unlikely to be pulled down slipway. I also ALWAYS use park AND handbrake so minimal risk from any single failure. Not sure what I'd do with a manual other than switch off ignition and leave in gear + handbrake perhaps? (Or even a large chock behind wheel?)

 

[markcw]

yeh sorry for lack of info, ours is a landrover discovery 2 auto and the children are age 3 and 4.boat is about 2/2.5 ton

 

[rbcoomer]

yeh sorry for lack of info, ours is a landrover discovery 2 auto and the children are age 3 and 4.boat is about 2/2.5 ton

Hmm. I'd say boat much safer than car, but out of both at top of slipway with wife perhaps even better - if you can launch single handed? Once boat is floating but with winch line still attached, I'd then transfer them to boat I think.

If the slipway leads to water that is shallow (<3') then car is probably ok (trailer will hit bottom first and stop in going right in). It therefore probably wouldn't sink, but steep slipway + deep water (or strong cross current) then I'd avoid having them in car at all as they're too young to make their own escape in the event of accident etc! Although we're all careful, a quick look on YouTube shows that slipway mishaps are quite common!

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Depends on age.

Generally: Sitting somewhere close but safe so they can watch the proceedings.

Do not give them a camera otherwise your mishap will be on 'youtube' before the day is done.

Worth watching three parts.

 

[sarabande]

if the children were in the boat on their own, and an accident occurred - who is going to look after them ?

You would be (justifiably) done for not providing "adequate adult supervision".

Keep them out of the boat until the launch is completed successfully.

 

[Tintin]

Learn to launch on your own (it is hard the first few times but does get easier) then you can leave wife and kids safely at the top / side of the slip.

I wouldn't risk my 4 & 6 yr old in vehicle or boat to be honest.

When you firts launch on your own take it slowly, plan ahead, and plan a back-up., Think thru what could go wrong and think about how you will solve it if it happens.

I tend to find solo recovery is harder than launching.

 

[markcw]

Will give it ago tomorrow on my own at torquay, to be truithfull im normally chilled out when it comes to the slip way thing, most difficulty i have is if its a bit windy trying to line the boat up on to the bunks.

we just want to sure what the best thing to do with kids???

 

[Searush]

Let your wife take them for an ice cream while you launch.

Back down to water's edge, then use a slip rope to let the boat & trailer into the water. Use an anchor to hold the boat off the slipway & tie the bow ashore, pull trailer back onto slipway, reconnect to car & park up. SWMBO can then put kids with lifejackets & icecreams in the boat & be ready to cast off when you come back from parking the car up.

With kids that young, you NEED one adult (at least) full time watching them & looking after them. It only takes a second for them to do something daft, simply because they don't understand the risks.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Absolutely not the car. Whether or not the boat is a good idea is another matter. Worst case with the boat will probably see your kids floating off in the water with their buoyancy aids on. Not exactly ideal (though you've probably been tempted a few times ) but not immediately life-threatening. Unless it's a very shallow ramp the worst case with the car is the kids in the car which is now underwater and on it's side. If there's any kind of flow the car won't stay on the ramp but will be swept along somewhat as it'll have some buoyancy.

I'm probably over-egging it a bit as we see cars (and lives) lost at the Sandbanks slip almost every year, but a car in the water is not a good thing. I think Searush has it right - you need some-one to watch the kids while you launch - a few years older and you'll be able to tell them to "stay there" for a few minutes while you do something - admittedly watching them like a hawk and re-telling them every 30 secs. A couple of years after that and they'll be helping you launch. For now though you've really no choice but to keep them out of harm's way and with a responsible adult supervising. Sadly the "responsible adult" bit rules out anyone from the forum offering to help

 

[moonraker 36]

at our ski club no one is aloud in the car when slipping,not even another adult.

 

[markcw]

thanks all
Have decided that our kids will stay out of the boat and car when slipping it in, i will learn to do it myself, which to be frank i think i will be happier doing that, my speed, my control.

 

[Searush]

thanks all
Have decided that our kids will stay out of the boat and car when slipping it in, i will learn to do it myself, which to be frank i think i will be happier doing that, my speed, my control.

Take your time & think it thorugh carefully, bith before you start & as you progress. Always have a "plan B" to deal with stuff going wrong & think about what might go wrong before it does (if you can).

Many, many benefits to being able to do it yourself, but don't be afraid to ask a bystander to "Please hold this. while I . . ." but don't leave them holding it for long!

We sailed with kids from 4 & 8, & would shut them below while picking up a mooring, or going alongside. Rest of the time they either wore bouyancy aids or harness & line (sometimes both), but one of us was always tasked with keeping an eye on them, small fingers are easily broken & skin easily cut.