Boating with kids

[Greg larose]

So my wife and I will hopefully be purchasing our first boat this fall :winter hopefully most likely the sx or ar 240 ....we have a 1 year old now who will be 2 come boating season in nj next year and a 4 year old ...anyone else on here with kids In the same age range ...is the 1 year old to young ?i don't think so but I'm wondering anyone else's experience TYIA

 

[Bruce]

We first took our son across the Gulf Stream to Bimini Bahamas when he was four and he had an amazing time.

Our kids love boating. We have had children on the boat as young as a few months.

The cockpit area under the bimini cover of our boats makes a great playpen for the youngest children.

 

[robert843]

I agree with the above I have had friends bring kids a few months old on the boat and they were fine. As long as you have a way to keep them out of the sun.

 

[captainhook]

My kids have been boating since they were six months old and up. My boat didn't come with a bimini so keeping them out of the sun was the biggest problem. Now they are 18 months, 3, and 6. All of them could pass for fish at this point. The only trouble now is the launch and the pickup when returning. With two adults it can be a challenge.

Some of my best memories as a kid were on the boat so there was never any question of whether they would enjoy it. We insisted.

 

[Speedling]

There are destructive forces in the world.
Then there are children.
When i set out for an afternoon cruise after some good time swimming they are fast asleep.
Keep the life jackets on but be very aware of the heat. We use the snap on bow cover as a tent as well for naps but when it's hot out it's hotter in there!

 

[2nazt]

My nieces love it, even the youngest we took her at a few months , she fussed for a minute or 2 in life vest(more like a cocoon) But then she fell right asleep and any time it went on even at home she went to sleep, I guess being held so secure it was comforting for her. My other 2 nieces once they got to pick out their life vest no complaints wearing them even when we got to the beach they would play wearing them and only removed to eat on the towel on the beach. They put them back on and played in the water. They slept as soon as I pulled the boat to go home. They were 8 and 5 years.

 

[Bennie]

Kids?!? - Absolutely NOT - they'll ruin your boat

But as for safety - keep them out of the sun, PFDs on and sun screen. They will have a blast!! You will make great memories!! Take a lot of pics and save them!!

 

[McMark]

And as soon as they get in there teens you no longer have a boat. They have a boat.

 

[Wayloncle]

My son was 2 when we got our boat, he'd fall asleep before we got out of the marina almost every time, usually as soon as the engines started he just sat back and closed his eyes.
He is 4 now and can't wait to jump off the back of the boat and swim, and now wants to sit in the bow with his big brother (9 year old) when the engines start.

Like said above most of my childhood memories were on a boat on the lake, I'm happy that I am able to give my boys some of the same types of memories, I tell my 9 year old everyone and then "you will not remember sitting on the couch playing video games when you get older"....I hope he doesn't anyway.

 

[Bennie]

"you will not remember sitting on the couch playing video games when you get older"....I hope he doesn't anyway.

I couldn't agree more!! I have to push the family out of the door but they always come back with smiles and stories - TV and Xbox won't give you that

 

[jcyamaharider]

Like @Bennie I have to push my kids out of the door EXCEPT when it comes to boating. They love it! As did I when I was growing up. We were always on the lake, houseboats to fishing boats, if it didn't involve the water we didn't do it.