I want to hear your horror stories

[GatorMike]

About the first time you turned your son or daughter loose with the boat keys. I'm turning over the keys to my youngest son tomorrow for the first time. I used to let him take the boat out on his own when we were at the condo in Marco Island but that was different, the boat was already in the water and he didn't have a bunch of friends with him. Tomorrow he will be trailering it to the river and launching it himself. I'm a bit worried because one of my other sons totaled his grandfathers 22 foot Robolo on his second trip out by himself. Dad was heavily insured and actually made out like a bandit on the deal. I pretty much carry the minimum coverage so I would take a hit if anything happens.

 

[commander315]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

On saturday, my 23 son took my 31' sport-fisherman out by himself with my regretted consent. I wasn't to worried since he has done it before with no trouble. He "Wasn't paying attention" while fueling it up and pumped 19 gallons of fuel into one of my fishing rod holders in the gunwale which was right next to the fuel cap. (Meaning it went all over the bilge and engine compartments.) He open the fuel cap, but apparently "Wasn't paying attention" This led to us in the bilge with 3 of my friends for 7 hours to clean it all out... Sorry its so long lol

 

[BTMCB]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

Mike,

No story to share YET. But, I am going to face your situation soon. My 31 year old wants to take the boat out with his friends alone. I bought the boat new last August and haven't let it happen yet. He is very responsible (works for me and is a great "employee") and has been out with me many times. I have told he can take it out by himself (1) after he goes with me one time where he does everything himself from hooking it up in the driveway to his truck to cleaning it up when it's back - all with me watching - and follows my routine (2) has the equivalent of my deductible in cash and gives it to me as a deposit and (3) promises no alcohol on the boat at ALL. He has already taken a safety class and we are scheduling #1 above in a week or two. I know he'll be fine but have to admit I am "nervous". Not sure why because I have no problem with him driving my car which is as new and more expensive than the boat. Anyway, good luck to you and your son and let us know how it goes!

 

[GatorMike]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

Yeah that is what worries me, David is not very mechanically inclined. He is the type that would make a mistake like that. I'm not even putting a tool box in the boat because he wouldn't know what to do with it if he needed it.

 

[akazanar]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

My son is 15 and I let him drive now to pull me and the wife on the tube. My goal is that by the time he is 18 he is capable and trustworthy to take the boat out himself. He is a good kid and responsible and if he stays that way then I will let him. I'll be very well insured first though!

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

Never happen---pass---he can buy his own boat---just like I did!!

 

[Lrider]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

My son is 15 and I let him drive now to pull me and the wife on the tube. My goal is that by the time he is 18 he is capable and trustworthy to take the boat out himself. He is a good kid and responsible and if he stays that way then I will let him. I'll be very well insured first though!

18 LoL different animal altogether - not sure where their brains go but don't seem to return til they are about 30

 

[109jb]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

My oldest son is handicapped so unfortunately won't be taking the boat. My youngest is 10 years old. When he is old enough (16 yrs old) he will be able to take the boat out. That's how it was with me when I was a kid. I couldn't give a crap about the boat. I care about safety of people both in and outside of the boat.

 

[commander315]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

I let my 15 year old drive the boat a lot too. but with me sitting next to him. Sometimes, i trust him more than i do the 23 year old i mentioned above lol

 

[BTMCB]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

....I care about safety of people both in and outside of the boat.

Agreed.

 

[Brenan]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

Other end of the spectrum as a "kid taking out the family boat"

I got to take out our family boat on my own when i was 18. It was a POS we were always working on, but if I brought it back in better condition (wasn't hard) my dad was happy. We had some minor breakdowns the first couple trips, but always got home. By the time dad did go with us that summer we had the boat running like a champ. He goes out on our boat with us once a year and calls us "yuppie" boaters!

working on that boat was good for us. I was never really a "punk" kid and didn't hot rod, so it all worked out.

If he knows he is respectable and knows the "rules of the road", how to operate a trailer, taken a safety class?, then it will probably be fine. If he is the type that wants to impress friends then......pucker your keester

I like the idea of the cash deposit so it makes it a little more "real". Make sure his friends know smoking shouldn't happen on a boat. (just my opinion and I told my buddies before we left so there was no surprises.)

 

[wcsellers]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

Mike,

No story to share YET. But, I am going to face your situation soon. My 31 year old wants to take the boat out with his friends alone. I bought the boat new last August and haven't let it happen yet. He is very responsible (works for me and is a great "employee") and has been out with me many times. I have told he can take it out by himself (1) after he goes with me one time where he does everything himself from hooking it up in the driveway to his truck to cleaning it up when it's back - all with me watching - and follows my routine (2) has the equivalent of my deductible in cash and gives it to me as a deposit and (3) promises no alcohol on the boat at ALL. He has already taken a safety class and we are scheduling #1 above in a week or two. I know he'll be fine but have to admit I am "nervous". Not sure why because I have no problem with him driving my car which is as new and more expensive than the boat. Anyway, good luck to you and your son and let us know how it goes!

DUDE. Are you kidding. It's your son. He's 31, does he have a long arrest record? Guess you should have good character reference by now. I am 29 and my father borrows my boat. Insure it and forget it. You can replace boats but not loved ones.

 

[duped]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

My dad wouldnt let me borrow his. So I bought two of my own, and now he is endlessly jealous, and trying to outdo me. Maybe you should just let him use it.

 

[riptide09]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

My 30 year old son in law has more boating experience than me. He can take the boat anytime he wants.

My 24 year old son ... well that is a different story. If you ask him to change a burned out light bulb he will break something. When he was 19 he called me from the side of the turnpike in Maine and said the fan belt broke in the car. I told him to call AAA and get it towed. He didn't want to wait for AAA so he decided he could make it to the next exit in a few miles. He did not, car over heated and he seized the motor in my 4 year old car with only 59k miles. Needless to say I don't think he is ever going to take the boat.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

My 30 year old son in law has more boating experience than me. He can take the boat anytime he wants.

My 24 year old son ... well that is a different story. If you ask him to change a burned out light bulb he will break something. When he was 19 he called me from the side of the turnpike in Maine and said the fan belt broke in the car. I told him to call AAA and get it towed. He didn't want to wait for AAA so he decided he could make it to the next exit in a few miles. He did not, car over heated and he seized the motor in my 4 year old car with only 59k miles. Needless to say I don't think he is ever going to take the boat.

This is my biggest worry about David today. He is not mechanically inclined like his older brothers. If something happens he will not know what to do. Oh well he has my number and the number to sea tow guess he will be OK. The other thing is the towing aspect, he has towed and launched the boat a few times with me and last weekend I put him through a final check ride but I worry as soon as I'm not there the rules will go out the window. I remember when I was 20 I was well behaved around Dad but when I got out with my friends I liked to show off.

 

[capt sam]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

My 14 year old son has been operating boats since he was 9 or 10, had his own at 12 and between what I've taught him and his God given common sense has never had any issues out by himself except maybe coming back in later than he was supposed to. My daughters on the other hand scare me too much to let them go by themselves, they can barely drive their cars right.
At some point all you can do is teach them and let them go and learn from experience, just understand there might be a few more scratches in the gelcoat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

I'm 32 and afraid to let my dad use my boat.

 

[Thad]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

I have two boats, my flat bottom and my bow rider. My oldest daughter is 15 and takes the wave runner by herself, and when I feel she is ready, she will start off with the fishing boat by herself, then graduate up to the big boat. I am not too worried about her or the boat.

On the other hand, I am 37 and MY dad STILL won't let me take HIS boat.

 

[Jeepster04]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

I'm 32 and afraid to let my dad use my boat.

haha, Ive been boating since I was 10 and I agree, 'sometimes' Ill let my dad take his boat out.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: I want to hear your horror stories

i dont have kids (a son on the way) but I will have no problem letting them borrow the car or boat - as long as they know how to operate it. It's a hunk of fiberglass with a motor; as long as my kid doesnt get hurt, I'd be cool with it.