Children and tenders.

[landlockedpirate]

Over a Scuttlebut there is a thread on children using tenders. While it is mainly a rant about how anoying these children are it has also brought up the subject of how old children should be to use the tender.

I allow my eldest-11 yrs- to use a small roundtail and a 2hp as long as I can see them (and they dont cause a problem to other people.) I let my 8 yr old drive when i am in the tender with him.

My rule of thumb was that they needed to be able to row, start the engine and solve some straight forward problems.(Run out of fuel, trying to start in gear etc)

How old were your children when you let them loose on there own ?

 

[paulburton44]

All sounds far to me.....teach them young.....I also like to go for a jolly in the tender.....

 

[hlb]

I dont know, mine had already learned to row and start the engine, before I was aware what was going on.

 

[studgies]

not got or ever likely to have children but I remember years of bumming around in a dingy as a kid, solo from about 8 I think but supervised till I proved I could row well enough to get back if the motor stopped.

 

[oceanfroggie]

Sounds sensible to me. Our two started at 9 and 14 after training and supervision. Youngest loves it and he was able to moor our 42ft cruiser when he was 10yo (under supervision of course). Agree with you, they need to be able to row or paddle and start the engine. When they were little we only allowed them inside sheltered harbours and/or with an onshore breeze, and in eyeshot. They were both cautious and careful. Trick is to teach them how to handle their friends who 'want a go' but have had no training. The stock answer is 'NO ask my dad'.

Now at 13 the youngest always brings our current cruiser in and out of its marina berth. I trust him 100% with our 30hp tender. He always has a PMR or mobile phone with him, kill chord, and always wears a PFD. His 18yo sister has no interest in the cruiser helm but loves the rib helm.

PS: We never let them run a muck, and they have been drummed about noise and wake! They tend to explore places rather than buzz around.

 

[DoubleVision]

My son was 8 before he was allowed a 3.3 outboard and had to prove he was a competant rower. by the time he was 12 he was mooring our 42ft flybridge better than me ( without the bow thruster) Tenders are a fantastic way of letting your kids safely aquire boat handling skills and now mine are grown up I love to see young children having fun in the tenders instead of graffitiing or vandalising their environment.
Any one who objects to kids playing in tenders needs to think who the future leisure boat owners and berth holders will be if they are not allowed to explore and learn as I did at the age of 6 in my 8ft clinker pram dingy (inflatables hadnt been invented) rowing around Birdham Pool in the late 50s/60s

 

[tcm]

old enough to start the engine, row the boat if no engine, be confident to tread water and attempt getting back in or at least hanging on to boat, be responsible and self-reliant re self and others and boat, though all in sheltered waters. Think this was about 10 years old for one child, teens for another.

 

[Doolittle]

From the age of 14 I've allowed my lot to take our 15' Sea Jeep up n down the river to go to school, scouts, rowing etc.

They've been on a diet of lectures about how not to toss the Coots outa their nests with wash, and look as much behind them to see how moored boats are moving as ahead.

 

[Sneds]

Hope they're wearing life jackets?
Saw 3 young girls, overloaded, no life jackets, buzzing around Bristol City Docks at the weekend, looked like an accident waiting to happen!
Glad to report though, that most parents seem responsible.

 

[ccscott49]

Ethan was 26 before I let him drive the RIB, still cant drive it! (he's not my son by the way, crew!)

Paulines Mr. B, was the problem, not Sam his son, he used to frighten sam!!

 

[landlockedpirate]

Yes they wear lifejackets.

Mark

 

[itsonlymoney]

My daughter was 11 when she was allowed to use our 2.4m tender with a 2.5 OB. Before that she gained confidence by rowing it. She is now 14. (Allways with a life jacket)
She can also start, stop and helm the cruiser. I think that its imperative for safety that your crew can operate the boat to some degree. Dont think she's ready for berthing it yet as our marina is ridiculously tight.