Toddler seats on boats

[tadpole]

Has anyone experience of using a toddler car or bike seat on a small yacht.
I think it's a good idea for mooring, etc, when one of us can't keep an eye or hand on our lively three-year-old. I'm just wondering about the best anchor or attachment methods and any anecdotal stuff, etc.
Thanks,
Steve

 

[Guest]

Steve
We used a car seat for a 6 months-3year old, on a trip from UK through the canals to Spain, Balearics Italy, worked very well; it was attached with cable ties to the push-pit and rope for extra safety
Chris

 

[drawp]

Car seat

When our youngest, Sofie, was one, I rigged a child's car seat in the fwd corner of the cockpit under the spray hood. As our 35 footer is a wooden boat, bolting it down was easy. It worked brilliantly - especially while under way. She loved it. When we sailed back from South Brittany to Dartmouth in far from ideal conditions, she was probably the happiest person on the boat. We also cut off the side of an old wooden cot and used that across the aft end of the forecastle which then became her 'play pen'. I cannot remember how old she was before we stopped using the seat but I eventually gave it away to another boat who had a young child on board. Best of luck.

 

[mike_kolling]

I have used car seat too, with bungee straps from halfords, then it can go back in the car again (hopefully with sleeping toddler in it) when we get back to moorings.
I dont like drilling holes in boats.

 

[Guest]

We used to use a car seat for my then 1.5 year-old (heavy type with metal frame that will freestand).

I fitted some extra harness padeyes just above the seat in the corner under the sprayhood. These can be used to lash the seat into the corner. This worked fine. Same goes for the 0.5-1 year old using a bucket car seat.

However, the oldest is now 3.5 - there is no way he is going to agree to sit in the car seat (reserved for the 2 year old). However, the same padeyes can be used to tie him down using his child lifejacket/harness - these have the attachment at the back, and a very hard to open krab - no way he can escape (I shorten the line), and a safe position.

The only alternative is to lock them into the fore/aft cabin and dare them to do their worst! Mine go crazy if you do this - but you can't hear them over the engine too much.

 

[Avocet]

We did that for a while. All the above fixing methods were used at some stage. One very important thing is not to drill or cut the car seat (if you ever want to use it as a car seat again) as it might weaken the thing. Also, a piece of guard rail netting across the entrance to the forecabin was a useful foul weather restraint.

 

[tonyc]

We very successfully made up a spare wooden washboard for the companionway hatch, drilled holes through and lashed the car seat - worked well and meant child had a good view into cockpit and astern - only problem was clambering over for the occasional dash down below when the adult had left things a bit late.....

 

[tadpole]

What a good idea - I think we'll try that. Many thanks, Tony (and everyone else for responding).
SteveB