Total newbie - advice about kids please!

Jodles123

Jodles123

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Hi all,
We've just bought our first boat as a family (San Boat 640 cuddy) and are keen to get our young kids (4 and 6) on the water.
Hubby is very experienced and has owned a fishing boat before, but I'm not at all so am taking the Level 2 powerboat course.
We want to have family adventures around the Solent, but safety is our absolute priority. Already kitted out with lifejackets, taking the kids out for the first time this weekend.
Was wondering if anyone has any good safety tips on boating with young children? Or if it's been asked before, can you point me in the direction of a good previous thread?
For instance, many of our friends sail and have advised that we clip the kids on with their safety harnesses. But does the same apply to motor boats, or is it more dangerous to have them clipped on?
We're not going to be taking any risks, just pootling along from A to B when they are on board, although the boat is very nifty as I found out on the sea trial!:eek-new:
Thanks and look forward to getting to know you all.
Jodles
 
I take my grandson out quite regularly (two and a half years old). I just sit down with him and explain he needs to wear his life jacket and that he must not go out side the little gate onto our swim platform unless with me or his Nanny. I make sure that we go slowly on any journeys (not much more than 10 knots) which has helped to build his confidence and my partner (his Nanny) always sits with him and because we take it easy the whole experience is fun and not stressful.

I have had boats for years and my two sons (now 16 and 18) have been on boats since a very young age, this is how I introduced them and we have never had any bad experiences.
 
Jodles123 said:
Hi all,
We've just bought our first boat as a family (San Boat 640 cuddy) and are keen to get our young kids (4 and 6) on the water.
Hubby is very experienced and has owned a fishing boat before, but I'm not at all so am taking the Level 2 powerboat course.
We want to have family adventures around the Solent, but safety is our absolute priority. Already kitted out with lifejackets, taking the kids out for the first time this weekend.
Was wondering if anyone has any good safety tips on boating with young children? Or if it's been asked before, can you point me in the direction of a good previous thread?
For instance, many of our friends sail and have advised that we clip the kids on with their safety harnesses. But does the same apply to motor boats, or is it more dangerous to have them clipped on?
We're not going to be taking any risks, just pootling along from A to B when they are on board, although the boat is very nifty as I found out on the sea trial!:eek-new:
Thanks and look forward to getting to know you all.
Jodles
Click to expand...

One bit of advice I will give as an ex sailer is travelling about on a sailing boat is vastly different to a small motorboat. Sailors will give advice about having kids clipped on as kids on a sail boat could well be moving round the deck when the boat is under way. On a small motorboat at around 18knots the motion of the boat is so different to a sailing boat at 5knots that you do not wonder around, you sit tight and wait until you have arrived wherever you are going before moving around. So, you know about life jackets already which is great (remember crotch straps are very important), but just keep the kids sat/stood in a safe place with always a hand holding on to the boat. At that age they will soon get their sea legs and will be scampering about the boat in no time. Of course if just going at slow displacement speeds along a river then clipping them on and letting them sit on the bow can be good fun, but get them in the cockpit before Dad winds up the power!
 
We have some simple rules which the kids understand and (mostly !) comply with ...

1 Never run on the pontoons or on the deck
2 Apart from the walk to or from the boat lifejackets on especially when playing on deck, but not required inside the cabin.
3 No silliness
4 Not outside the cockpit underway.

Ideally they need to swim, but this is not essential, but do try to get their confidence in the water up. When ours were younger we did clip them on, but if you do this be careful as it is better to do this to heavy D rings within the cockpit, rather than the guardrails, which I would avoid. My preference was for the tether to prevent them reaching past the guardrails. We use auto inflate jackets and show them how to operate the pull cord, and make them learn this is their priority if they do fall in, and also how to blow into the oral tube.

Try to keep the voyages short at first while they find their feet. Try to keep the boat trips under control, avoid excessive speed and rough water, and bad weather.

Oh yes a charger for the Ipad is essential, and a maximum period of hour without wifi. Lots of kid friendly marinas in and around the Solent. If on the Island a bus trip to Black Gang Chine is a must as well as the model village at Godshill.
 
Thank you everyone - loads of brilliant advice there!! I really appreciate your comments.
For people who know the Solent area, are there any marinas with kids' playparks? Port Solent has an excellent one, but I don't know of any others... Every little helps!!
 
Jodles123 said:
Thank you everyone - loads of brilliant advice there!! I really appreciate your comments.
For people who know the Solent area, are there any marinas with kids' playparks? Port Solent has an excellent one, but I don't know of any others... Every little helps!!
Click to expand...

Playparks ...

Yarmouth 10 minutes walk up the back of the village
Lymington Between the Yacht Haven and Berthon, about 5 mins from town quay. Also top of the town behind the church.
Cowes Northwood Park above the town. Small play area near the chain ferry
Island Harbour Yes by The Breeze
Hamble top of the village up alley from Port Hamble (out entrance turn right then alley on left)
Gosport Walpole Park near the town centre
Southampton Mayflower Park (where SIBS is at the moment) not far from the Town Quay Marina, past the Isle of Wight ferry terminal

Don't ask me how I know these, but I think they should be included in the Almanacs
 
In a small fast power boat, one of the most important ways to ensure your childs safety is for you and your husband to remember to use the kill cord, so if you get thrown out the boat stops. I'm sure you already planned to do this, but honestly it's so easy to forget when you get back on the boat after a short stop, or even just change driver etc. Develop your own system to make double sure the driver can't forget to put it on.

Also be careful when the boat is in neutral that one of the kids doesn't push the throttle or fall against it, especially if you have a drive by wire throttle with no interlock.
 
Took my grand kids out for a short trip on my sailing boat a couple of years ago. Their mum and dad came too and as it was their first time we just motored. I got worried because the engine kept revving up then slowing down. Then I noticed the youngest one was pushing the morse throttle with his foot and then hooking it back - rascal!
The point is that very young children can do unpredictable things, keep your eye on them!
 
superheat6k said:
Playparks ...

Yarmouth 10 minutes walk up the back of the village
Lymington Between the Yacht Haven and Berthon, about 5 mins from town quay. Also top of the town behind the church.
Cowes Northwood Park above the town. Small play area near the chain ferry
Island Harbour Yes by The Breeze
Hamble top of the village up alley from Port Hamble (out entrance turn right then alley on left)
Gosport Walpole Park near the town centre
Southampton Mayflower Park (where SIBS is at the moment) not far from the Town Quay Marina, past the Isle of Wight ferry terminal

Don't ask me how I know these, but I think they should be included in the Almanacs
Click to expand...

Awesome, thank you!!!!
 
Nick_H said:
In a small fast power boat, one of the most important ways to ensure your childs safety is for you and your husband to remember to use the kill cord, so if you get thrown out the boat stops. I'm sure you already planned to do this, but honestly it's so easy to forget when you get back on the boat after a short stop, or even just change driver etc. Develop your own system to make double sure the driver can't forget to put it on.

Also be careful when the boat is in neutral that one of the kids doesn't push the throttle or fall against it, especially if you have a drive by wire throttle with no interlock.
Click to expand...

Kill cord, yes definitely. Non-negotiable after that dreadful tragedy last year. But your point about the throttle hadn't occurred to me - will make sure hubby is aware. Thanks.
 
Establish some simple rules but try to make it fun and engaging too. Our daughter is fishing obsessed (ask anyone at Foulkes who have to step over her) while my son loves to row the dingy and jump off the side. For them, the boat is another form of transport so don't be surprised if they take some pursuading when it comes to fenders etc! We have a rule that we go to places where we can all get off and have some fun. Favourite spots Alum Bay and the park at the top, Yarmouth for crabbing and dingy use, Bembridge in the sun, Folly Inn for relaxed eating and a spot where parents can sit in the pub while keeping an eye on the kids.+ all the play parks mentioned. Also buy wetsuits (£10 from Decathlon) for messing around on the beach and off the boat. Meeting up with other families has got to be the best though! Where will you be based? Very happy to chat and share our experiences as our kids have grow up on the boat.
It's a great family activity!
 
thejonesey said:
Establish some simple rules but try to make it fun and engaging too. Our daughter is fishing obsessed (ask anyone at Foulkes who have to step over her) while my son loves to row the dingy and jump off the side. For them, the boat is another form of transport so don't be surprised if they take some pursuading when it comes to fenders etc! We have a rule that we go to places where we can all get off and have some fun. Favourite spots Alum Bay and the park at the top, Yarmouth for crabbing and dingy use, Bembridge in the sun, Folly Inn for relaxed eating and a spot where parents can sit in the pub while keeping an eye on the kids.+ all the play parks mentioned. Also buy wetsuits (£10 from Decathlon) for messing around on the beach and off the boat. Meeting up with other families has got to be the best though! Where will you be based? Very happy to chat and share our experiences as our kids have grow up on the boat.
It's a great family activity!
Click to expand...

Fantastic tips, thank you! We'll be based in Portsmouth harbour so plenty of exciting places to visit on daytrips. Took the kids out for the first time today and they loved it! Hoping to get out a few more times before winter.
 
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