Daughter and boat

[Art Bernard]

My daughter (13) and I took the boat to the lake today for a test run after some adjustments. Once I made sure all was well I put her in the drivers seat and began to teach her. The look on her face and her obvious pleasure at getting to drive the boat really made all the work I've been doing on it worthwhile If you wanna feel good, put your kid in the seat and bask in the glow. Somethin about making a kid happy is just awsome

Art

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Daughter and boat

Just wait till she wants to take her 15 year old boyfriend out alone on it

 

[Chris-R]

Re: Daughter and boat

I agree Art. My 12 year old son loves to pilot our boat. He even took a safe boating class this past winter in order to know more about boating rules and regs. There's nothing like letting your kid do the driving.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Daughter and boat

I agree Chris. Some of my best memories are having my parents letting me drive the boat as a kid.

Some may say it was abuse, but I remember going to the waterfront bars with them. We would eat dinner and listen to the local bands a bit and then I would go down and crash in the boat while they drank and danced. When the place closed down, they would wake me up and I'd drive home.

I was always the designated driver as we cruised the lake and the parents and friends would be drinking in the back.

If nothing else it did teach me responsibility.

 

[Fed up]

Re: Daughter and boat

Just wait till she wants to take her 15 year old boyfriend out alone on it

Dear god,
Please let me have all boys!
Amen

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Daughter and boat

Cool I am looking forward to having my son driving me around this summer. No drinking on my boat. I know in the past it was a different story.

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Daughter and boat

Never had my kids drive the boat. They never seemed to get into that. they prefered me to drive while they were dragged around behind it on various toys.

My niece on the other hand loved it when she sat on my lap while she steered. this was after a day of fishing on our local lake. Needless to say they outfished me and had a great time.

Could wipe the smile off their faces for a week...

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: Daughter and boat

My Daughters would take boat out when youngest son had ball games and we would meet up at lake when we were done . They launched and loaded by their selves . Never worried for they had been helping me for years. One time they had a problem ( ran the main tank empty ) and had more help to solve the problem from guys adjusting carb ,replacing fuel primer bulb (used one ) till they called and told them to use 6 gal tank in back by transom w/hose and away they went . They attracted more attention and got more help than I could believe and must have run WOT the hole time to use that much gas . They would call to see if brother had games and ask me to take truck 91 4wd work truck manual transmission hauling 18 ft catheradal hull and leave me one of their cars 240 SE niss RX7 which I had as much fun driving as they did my stuff but I could not run theirs Wide open because grin and heart rate couldn't take . Like our Fathers did take kids with you what ever your going to do because they will join in or find something else to get into . Gas and food are cheap for that much fun . Grandkids are next in line to learn to take grandpas new boat for a spin.

 

[sasto]

Re: Daughter and boat

Good for you, Art. Start them young. Post a photo... Here is the young'un at the helm of a 35' sportfish when he was 13. Now at 15 he can handle a 50footer with confidence. I've posted this photo before. but I still enjoy seeing the smile on his face.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Daughter and boat

Well said Art!

Last summer I battled a 50+ musky for over half an hour on light equipment. There was a good wind blowing that kept pushing us toward some really thick reeds and lilypads. My 6 year old was sooo excited for the fish and even more for getting to pilot the boat. He did an expert job going forward and back and turning when I told him to, the look of pride and concentration on his face was priceless. He still talks about it. With 3 kids I rarely get to drive the boat now but they're all excited at even the hint of taking the boat out.