Lending your boat to the kids

As a 23 year old I can see where most of you are coming from. Generally your boat is probably the most expensive asset you have after your home (forgetting investment assets, businesses etc.). Or at least it’s your most expensive toy and as such you don't want it wrecked. Like what some have said already I can handle the cruiser (38ft twin engine) and ski boat far better than my father. But will he let me and a group of mates on the boat alone? No way.

I think the real danger is that generally non-boaty people just don't understand how to conduct themselves on board. In terms of me thinking about who I might bring on the boat. Friends from home or closer friends who have already stayed on the boat while parents/dad is on board would most likely be fine. They know the score regarding toilets and general respect for the boat and safety. Friends from university who would see it as a piss up are less likely to realize what they’re at and it would probably turn out to be a disaster!
 
OAF said:
If I had kids the answer would be a resounding no, I would only lend my boat to someone who knew what they were doing and had adequate insurance.
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My insurance policy says anyone can use the boat with my permission. I'm not fussed who's helming 'cos I'll always keep a secret eye on them, but until my lot have added a Day Skipper ticket to their PB2's they'll not be sailing off into the sunset without my presence on board. Hopefully one day they'll get it together and have an adventure. My daughter's the only one who shows much interest - her boyfriend has a sailing dingy which they both enjoy, as well as my mobo.
 
Wow.......

Reading this it makes me feel dead lucky I was allowed by my parents. Goes to show the relationship me and my dad have.

But growing up I loved boats..... Still do...... And they knew I would never have done anything to damage it. They did vet which friends could go but I never returned the boat any worse than when we left the marina.

I clearly was a strange kid growing up!! They trusted me!! :D
 
gravygraham said:
My insurance policy says anyone can use the boat with my permission.
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I have never looked at my insurance with respect to other people using my boat when I am not aboard as it should never happen, unless a professional moves the boat for work purposes, maybe mine is the same, will have a closer look.

Owing a hire fleet of boats I see the damage and destruction that other people cause to them, even the so called experts, they are all steel in construction and will take a pounding, where as a fibre glass boat weighting in at about 12tons with a relatively inexperienced young crew, and the big wide open sea as a playground:eek::eek: I wouldn't sleep at night!
 
My son is only 12, but is an excellent helmsman (under supervision) - when he's older, if he carries on showing the same interest in sailing as he does now and is happy to do his CC / DS then I would have absolutely no problem in lending him my boat.
 
Whopper said:
As a 23 year old I can see where most of you are coming from. Generally your boat is probably the most expensive asset you have after your home (forgetting investment assets, businesses etc.). Or at least it’s your most expensive toy and as such you don't want it wrecked. Like what some have said already I can handle the cruiser (38ft twin engine) and ski boat far better than my father. But will he let me and a group of mates on the boat alone? No way.

I think the real danger is that generally non-boaty people just don't understand how to conduct themselves on board. In terms of me thinking about who I might bring on the boat. Friends from home or closer friends who have already stayed on the boat while parents/dad is on board would most likely be fine. They know the score regarding toilets and general respect for the boat and safety. Friends from university who would see it as a piss up are less likely to realize what they’re at and it would probably turn out to be a disaster!
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Well put
 
Depends on age and what you mean by lend (ie day trip in familiar local waters or cruise offshore)?

Our son used to helm our various mobos from age 10 and from 12 he was very capable mooring our previous 42ft, under supervision, but I was confident enough in his skills to let him at it and for me to move to the bow to handle lines/deploy fenders. He got his ICC on his 16th birthday. Now 19 I'd trust his attitude and ability for short day trips in home waters, but beyond that I'd like to wait until he has his full Yachtmaster ticket.
 
I think Whopper puts the case for and against lending the boat out well. If the offspring are used to handling it and are prepared to do the right courses.... I know many of us did not but we made the money to buy the boat inthe first place... then I have no problem in handing it over.
However that does not cover lending it out for use with his/her mates....nor, for that matter,would I think of lending out our own house for a teenage/20s/30s or 40s party.
We have a small inner London flat my wife and I and the family use. If they have been using it it comes back clean but never as clean, neat and tidy as when we leave it. For the sake of family harmony I do not say anything but I did not work my arse off to get the place and then act as a skivvy for my kids and grandchildren.... and the same applies to boats and they can be much more dangerous and expensive to repair.
 
Blimey - some un-trusting parents aren't there?! Perhaps you've good cause to be ..

I was let loose alone in boats from the age of 10 - but as it was "only" a mirror dinghy it really didn't matter that much ...

If a kid shows sufficient interest and respect (for the boat!) then why not let them have a bit more freedom? Providing it is in a controlled manner - ie first time away isn't with 1/2 dozen of their rugby mates !
TBH - by the age of being an adult (18) they should have enough concept of responsibility to look after your prized boat ... you did teach them to drive and let them take the car didn't you?
 
Unfortunately my views are coloured by bitter experience....we are also professional student landlords and know only too well how unsupervised youngsters can and do behave.
I also have three children of our own... now all grown up with children of their own. Interestingly enough the one who was the most wayward of those, our son, is the one who keeps the tightest rein on his children.
 
Never mind the kids... The sister in law called up and asked if I would spend an hour teaching her and her boyfriend to "drive the boat" because they wanted to go to the beer festival for the weekend and wanted to leave that night. Given that she had spent no more than an hour on the boat previously and he drives so recklessly that he overturned a tranny van on a straight road... I said no. They couldn't seem to understand why I thought they would need a bit longer than an hour. That was before we started talking about the 2 locks to go through and the Glory Hole passage being on a red light.

Granted most people on here probably have tenders that are more expensive than my boat, but I'd still rather keep it in one piece.

That said, my 7 year old is more confident at the helm (SUPERVISED) than SWMBO who panics when she sees a boat on the horizon.
 
My 9yo grandaughter helmed the boat from Wells Next The Sea to Wisbech, a three hour sea trip, a few weeks ago. She followed a course i'd set on the plotter and even navigated a twisting and narrow channel into the River Nene. All supervised of course.

I'm not planning on letting her and her mates take it out alone though :D
 
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