Start em young?

[colhel]

This weekend was our first full weekend on board with our 8yr old Grandson. He was rewarded for good behaviour

 

[BruceK]

The younger the better! Miss Admirable was 3 1/2 and couldn't see over the dash. I had to point directions.

 

[ST840]

My boy has been piloting us home from fishing now for the last 3 years. Its now known that dad is not allowed to take the wheel on the return journey. He takes us all the way home from Yarmouth and up the Hamble with me supervising. Hes itching to try mooring up......... but, not yet son!

A quick run home.. www.Offshoreoutlaws.co.uk

And last year

1st mate LB takes us home from fishing. https://www.offshoreoutlaws.co.uk

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Drug up proper! That's the way to do it. I used to do the same - when little we lived in Scilly and I steered the tripper boats at every opportunity - Nemo, Kingsley, Golden Spray, Sea Horse and anything else where they'd put up with me!
Here in Port St.Cyprien, now that school has started again, sailing lessons have resumed. The tiniest kids you've ever seen flying around in little dinghies, smaller than Optimists - shouting and screaming and having a whale of a time. I don't care too much for kids but this lot are doing The Right Stuff !!

 

[Bouba]

Drug up proper! That's the way to do it. I used to do the same - when little we lived in Scilly and I steered the tripper boats at every opportunity - Nemo, Kingsley, Golden Spray, Sea Horse and anything else where they'd put up with me!
Here in Port St.Cyprien, now that school has started again, sailing lessons have resumed. The tiniest kids you've ever seen flying around in little dinghies, smaller than Optimists - shouting and screaming and having a whale of a time. I don't care too much for kids but this lot are doing The Right Stuff !!

I can’t believe how much we are alike ! I don’t like kids either?

 

[BruceK]

Bouba the Grinch

 

[Bouba]

Bouba the Grinch

I don’t stop at not liking kids.....I don’t like most people???

 

[BruceK]

You disguise it rather well then ?

 

[Bouba]

You disguise it rather well then ?

I got it out of my system during my recent shore leave

 

[Boathook]

I made a booster seat for my nephew when he was about 5. He was OK aiming at headlands but could understand sails, etc. He also managed to avoid potmarkers!

 

[colhel]

I made a booster seat for my nephew when he was about 5. He was OK aiming at headlands but could understand sails, etc. He also managed to avoid potmarkers!

I once made the mistake whilst sailing when we had young crew with us by using the autopilot across Lyme Bay. I found out later how dissapointed they were by not being able to helm. Easy to forget youngsters actually enjoy it!

 

[longjohnsilver]

I only found out recently how much fun my son had in our first inflatable, a Zodiac Zed with a Mariner 4 hp 2 stroke. At the age of 10 he could handle it better than me, he had hours of fun using it in the river Exe. Now 25 years later he can handle his own Sealine 46 just as well and his own kids are experiencing the joy of boating. Seems I’ve started a boating dynasty!?

 

[PalmaTarga]

I only found out recently how much fun my son had in our first inflatable, a Zodiac Zed with a Mariner 4 hp 2 stroke. At the age of 10 he could handle it better than me, he had hours of fun using it in the river Exe. Now 25 years later he can handle his own Sealine 46 just as well and his own kids are experiencing the joy of boating. Seems I’ve started a boating dynasty!?

That's exactly how things went for me on the Thames, which is why tenders are very important to me. It's amazing what you learn with a tillered inflatable as a kid.

 

[burgundyben]

Here's my Piglet, about 4 1/2 in that pic, he's a good helm now nearly 6.