Kids and boats

BlueJasper

BlueJasper

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I'm thinking of taking my 2 nephews on holiday with us next year for 1 week who will be aged 8 and 10. We don't have kids, wife is a teacher and is not that keen on taking them. Question is how much would be too much going port to port when they are not that used to boating?. We will do Dartmouth in one hit from the Hamble. Boat is S29, and we do take it out in some quite rought stuff at times. In additional how self sufficient are kids of that age. Can I just throw them in the dinghy to let them play around (obviously with life jackets) or am I completly off the mark.

Their mother has just walked out on them, so I would like to give them something to look forward to. They love the boat, but have not been allowed to come to see us, in the past 2 years due to their mother not wanting to come down.

They are well behaved, polite respectful - I think.

Any parents like to comment/advise?
 
The answer will depend so much on the individuals, concerned, so...
1) Do you get annoyed when kids run around the pub whilst you're havin a pint.
2) Does your heart sink when you see a school bus arrive at your hotel.
3) Do you think the kids larking around on the next boat in the achorage are having a good time or being a nuisance.

If the answer yes to 1 and 2 and nuisance to 3 then listen to your wife.
A 29ft boat will seem very small with a couple of lively kids on board.
The fact that you need to ask tells me this may not be for you!
May's idea would seem a good one!
 
i agree wholeheartedly with maybh1. its also wise to give newcomers something to do. eg. follow progress on the chart, tickoff waypoints, keep watch, helm under supervision etc etc ............... if you get grief you can allways resort to using them for M.O.B. practice!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You could be right. They are coming down for a weekend at half term, but with Dad in tow, so we can't really try the weekend away, but can test the tolerance side of things. In the past when they were younger and came down they did sort of entertain themselves - I think!
 
Personally, I think Hamble to Dartmouth in one hit is too much, particularly if the weather's a bit iffy. When our kids were that age, an hour or so at a time was enough. You also need to allow them some R&R en route: how about Hamble - Studland, anchor for lunch and an afternoon on the beach then round to Weymouth for the night? Then straight across to Dartmouth and perhaps on to Salcombe where, again, there are some excellent beaches and lots of sheltered water to explore in the dinghy.

I allowed my kids in the dinghy on their own in lifejackets at that age and tied a long line to the boat so that they could muck about, trying to row, without being taken away by wind or tide. If they're sensible, as you say, they should be OK.

Whether to take them with you or not really does depend on how well behaved they are. You also need to understand why your wife doesn't want them along for the ride. I'm guessing that, as she's a teacher, she may be worried that she's going to end up supervising their every move - if you don't have kids you probably don't realise the demands that even well behaved kids of that age will make on you.

It will be a completely different holiday to those that you're used to and you may come back feeling like you haven't had a break, though they do say that a change is as good as a rest. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've got to be honest, I think it's risky. May's suggestion is a good one. If a weekend on the boat turns out to be a disaster, just think what it would be like for a week.................
 
My 10 years olds can get pretty bored and aslo scared at times. We did Dartmouth to Weymouth, then Poole for lunch and then Hamble for night. That seemed ok.

Mine can watch DVDs as we go (semi-dpslacement!) so boredom less of an issue.
 
A boat can be a seriously scary experience for a child on a choppy sea even when they are with their parents. A child who probably will be feeling vulnerable due to family circumstances would probably just love a two or three hour run up and down the bay being spoilt rotten with sweets and lemonade.
 
more of the same answer from me. Keep the trips short. A play on the beach and an icecream is much more fun for them than 4 hour blast .Either its so smooth that its boring, or its so rough its scary. And what are you going to do with 2 scared kids in the middle of Lyme bay...Lots of stops, picnics, ice creams,sweets,fizzy drinks (all over your boat, of course!)comics etc. Remember, its you who likes boating!! Kids dont do cold and wet /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Ditto. Dartmouth is visually stunning, unless you're 8 or 10, in which case you couldn't care less. So do short hops. Studland for a play on the beach (fish & chips from Swanage for supper then blat back to Studland for a night on the pick, or just go into Poole). Then a run to Weymouth - loads to do there for a day (or even two or three) for kids. Then over to Torquay/Brixham for a night, then to Dartmouth.

But do a weekend first, or a couple of day trips at least. If possible, do it in company with another boat with kids as well.
 
What about get Dad to book himself and the kids in somewhere at Dartmouth whilst you're going to be there and doing a few shortish day trips? Then they get to see the fun side of Uncle Phil's boat without thinking they've signed up for Nelson's navy.
 
All good advice and by the sounds of it the wife was right. I can't remember what it was like being 8. May just start with a few days at Whitsun and stick to the Solent. Nelson's Navy comment made me laugh.
 
I've no experience of mobos but I've taken my two grandchildren on our boat for the last 4 years - 10 & 12 yrs old. We go for short trips locally, let them steer, start the engine, raise sails, pull the ropes etc, scrub the decks, wear pirate gear(and fly a very large Jolly Roger), go crabbing(very popular), play around in the rubber dinghy in calm conditions/in marina, go ashore in dinghy, beach combing etc. If weather poor, go to a local marina, cinema, shops, crabbing etc. We only have them for about 4/5 days though and they eat a lot! They wanted to go to France this year but the weather was not good. Go for it but I suggest short trips at first and make sure they have suitable elctronic toys to keep them amused. I insisted on lifejackets at all times when under way but not when at anchor/marina/mooring.
 
ditto all the advice
what about toys or place to stop and play, eg inflatable canoes.., hire sailing dingy at studland, plus they will want to stop eat and drink all the time. get a portable dvd player and some games etc, keep the trips shorter, poole - weymouth is enough. You could spend days in poole exploring islands
good luck
 
maybe see if another family at your marina with kids and go together, then the kids can all play together or watch a film together they seem to like that.
 
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