Bought one, now for the harder bits

[tgpg]

I have at last managed to coordinate the purchase of yacht by me and my siblings - got a lovely Oyster 26 and feel ready to use her after reading these forums - and many years of sailing smaller boats of course.

Problem is - we have found a good anchorage for her, marinas are too expensive for us just now but one of us has small children and is nervous about getting out to the boat - they think a marina is safer but £1.5K more expensive.

How do all of you who have, or have had, small children (2 years old, start them young I say) cope with anchorages - I will then pass on all reassuring words, if there are any, to them and save ourselves £1.5K this year

Thanks

 

[davel]

I think I understand the concern, and if it's real to them then no matter what you say, they'll still feel uncomfortable / afraid and you'll end up battling with them to come out with you - not what you want.

What about a compromise. Could you keep your boat on an anchorage (mooring?), you and able bodied crew go out and pick her up then call off at a local pontoon/marina to pick up the sprogs with their minder - a quick "touch and go"? Same in reverse when you come back.

Dave L.
Location: 50 51.0 N 1 18.6 W

 

[billmacfarlane]

I'm guessing you mean mooring. Is there a water taxi service to get you to the boat ? It'll be much better than trying to get little ones into a tender and trying to get them on board. The other advice is good. If you can get to theboat yourself , then get the boat to a pick up point then that would be better. When you're on your boat with the family on your mooring have you thought about how you're going to keep them amused ?

 

[yoda]

Without doubt this can be a tricky one but it is not impossible to get over. First consider what type of cinghy you intend to use. I would recommend a good solid dinghy with plenty of room for use at your normal mooring. The next problem is to find a way of firmly securing the dinghy alongsid at a point where you can get in and out of the dinghy without damage to people or boat. I had this solved by my children who built and gave me a boarding ladder, a bit of a shock at the time as I wasn't expecting it. Seriously consider fitting a gate in the guard rail and if required some new handholds. Good fenders attached to the dinghy, fore and aft painters and cleats in the right place on board so that the whole process is well swept up. Finally buy a good quality lifejacket with harness that the children can get use to wearing at all times. This can then be clipped on to the boat before leaving the dinghy and used to ensure unintentional wash is avoided. Last but not least look at where you launch from and the problem of getting into the dinghy. The other problem of course is when away you may be forced to use a rubber dinghy but I think you will find they are more agile than we think and will quickly take to it. I have four of them and was worried at first but quickly got used to them being in and out of the dinghy without supervision once they had proved them selves.
Hope that helps

Yoda

 

[Guest]

Much Sympathy here, my brother lost the confidence of the youngest on a wet trip out in the dinghy and shifted the boat to the Marina that afternoon.

How about investing the 1.5K in a small trailable RIB and turn the trip out to the boat into a joy ride! Let the nippers drive! You could always keep your RIB afloat in the Marina and still save money... and you've got a RIB!

Otherwise don't take them out in any questionable weather for the first season until they get used to it.

KCA

ps My lad has been racing with me since he was 6 months! He has always spent his main summer holidays on the boat with me and last year his Mum relented and came with us. Only took 12 years!

 

[Ohdrat]

Would it be an idea to get a larger rigid dinghy 12 - 14 foot that you keep on shore to take you out to your mooring and then just leave it on your mooring whilst you sail off into the sunset with sprogs and co?

 

[Paulka]

Look at it the other way 'round!
My kids - now in their late 20's :-((( - were nearly born on a sailing boat, .... and survived!
When they were very young, the boat was on a mooring, and we used the club's "taxi" whenever available, or the Avon w/o motor to go back and forth.
Of course, the lifevest was a must for the whole family, even for the dog. It just has to become a routine.
At a later stage, there were marinas everywhere, and we moved as well.

That was the time where we were really afraid of what could happen!
Of course, the kids could - and of course did - embark, and disembark at will, take the lifevest of, and run with the others on the pontoons.
And this is really dangerous!

A kid - even an adult - falling from the pontoon has no chance to come back on the dry alone, .... and this may happen at the other end of the marina!

I prefer by far to have the kids on board a moored boat, in particular the small ones say till 7 - 8 years of age.
Of course, this means you'll have to take them on land for a walk, but every ride with the dinghy will be an adventure they will enjoy, and they soon will ask to row by themselves.

Take them on board, wherever the boat is "moored", let them understand that, when near the water, the lifevest is the trendy gadget to wear, even the harness as soon as the water is a little bit "nervous".
And let the whole family enjoy the sea.

Relax, and enjoy!

Paul

 

[DanTribe]

Our kids, now 23 & 26 were very nearly born on [and possibly conceived on]our 26 footer and we are now taking our 2yr grandaughter sailing.The trick is I believe in making it fun.If you make a drama they will hate it.Make the trip out to your mooring part of the fun, not something to get past.I suggest you get a largish dinghy, but one that they could row, we had a Y Emma but something like a Mirror would be good.Kids have more interest dinghies so indulge them 'til they are comfortable with boats.Waistcoat type bouancy aids are good because they can be worn all the time and also act as a sort of body armour against bashes.I envy you in your next few years, have fun.

 

[Mr Cassandra]

Hello
i think you should just get on with,make it fun, play games with the tender go around in circles, make a big thing of the wash, crash in to the waves shouting What fun after a wile they will think nothing of it .BUT IF YOU GET WORIED THEY WILL KNOW! It is how you approch it that matters, if you are scared they will be, if you enjoy it they will. Most children will think it is great fun wish you all the best
Cheers bob t

Bob T

 

[LadyInBed]

Re: Getting out and back

I second this approach, its what I used to do when it was blowing rough across Portland Harbour. Drop the family in Weymouth then take the boat round for them and all their trappings.

 

[Westering]

Maybe you should consider what some friends of ours do when they come down to the boat: Dad goes out to mooring in the dinghy and brings the boat into the nearest Marina where the family are waiting. Its easy then to unload the car and kids aboard in safety. Procedure reversed at the end of the trip. They do a deal with their marina for this facilty, sometimes staying the first or last night of their trip in the marina - yes it costs a little but saves a lot of hassle.

 

[tgpg]

Thanks for the ideas - will go for the mooring that has a water taxi service and use a nearby marina when going away for a while and needing to take lots of stuff on board - just lookiing forward to our first sailing season with our own boat now - very excited!!!!