how young is too young?

[terry 5.2m]

Afternoon all.

I was wondering how young is too young to take a child out in a boat...specifically a bass boat?

My wife mentioned taking our 14month old out on the lake for a cruise but I am a bit hesitant.

thoughts / comments

Scott

 

[smitty28]

Re: how young is too young?

We did overnights with our daughter when she was 3 weeks old! Granted we have a 33ft cruiser but that aside, just use common sense, calm weather, sun protection, etc and you all will be fine. HAVE fun!!

 

[CentralOregonBum]

Re: how young is too young?

They won't let me pack the baby up the ski lift so I hike....My Opinion don't deny her an Awesome experience....BUT....like Smitty says common sense ...unfortunately Common sense isn't all that Common and reality happens...a fair weather day... umbrella and sun screen....proper cloths... not too many people but a homie that swims like a fishy and knows baby cpr...working cell phone with reception... an air life membership?...a truck that starts...outboard that starts...do they make life vest that small and that keep the baby floating face up???...ice tea instead of beer... better safe than sorry she's your life ...will some of you PROS please give some more ....SAFETY EXAMPLES???

 

[southkogs]

Re: how young is too young?

Afternoon all.

I was wondering how young is too young to take a child out in a boat...specifically a bass boat?

My wife mentioned taking our 14month old out on the lake for a cruise but I am a bit hesitant.

thoughts / comments

Scott

Good gut check Scott. I've been on boats since before I can remember, but we didn't have bass boats. The safety concern that I would have with a bass boat is low freeboard and low gunwales. There is an increased risk of a youngster with immature balance falling over the side ... it's not inevitable, but it is a little easier.

Go slow, pay attention and be safe (life jacket is a MUST) and you'll probably be fine. It's a great place to teach discipline too - "You (child) must sit there, and do exactly as dad tells you. One goof up, and the trip is over."

Put the idea of a short trip in your head (so you don't get frustrated puttin' it on the trailer after only 20 minutes on the water), and you should be fine.

 

[terry 5.2m]

Re: how young is too young?

Thank you for all the comments.

I think the best way to handle this is to take my wife out with me a couple of times. Let her become familiar with the in's and out's of the boat. Once she is comfortable we can discuss it again. This will also help me to deal with loading and unloading with my wife.

I already have a swimsuit that encorporates a flotation ring. I will need to find a life jacket small enough for little Sammy. He already loves bath time and splashing in the baby pool so I definately want him to experience boating.

happy boating

 

[cledus]

Re: how young is too young?

We've been taking our youngest son out in our 18' inflatable for a few river rides and he is now about 9 months old. I ave chosed the days carefully so it is not too chopy out. We definitely have a water baby on our hands. He loves being out on the boat !

Good luck with getting your young one out !

-C

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: how young is too young?

the question has two unrelated but equally important components: the safety of the child and the happiness in the boat.

Safety: A swim sweater with an inner tube is not enough and in fact both illegal (not in compliance) and dangerous. You nee a properly fitted USCG approved PFD.
The child has to be secure, but not tied in, so that if there is a sudden stop or roll he doesn't fly out of the boat (eg your wife's arms) or slam into something in the boat. a backwards=facing car seat works (don't strap him in).
If he's mobile, he has to be confined to an area in the boat where he can't go over the side. Bass boats by design will be difficult.
Sun protection is a safety issue

Happiness: If the mother is nervous, the child will be cranky. If the child is cranky, the mother will be agitated. Some babies will sleep through it all; some will have fits.
You need to stay within a few minutes of the house (or car if you are trailering), abort the trip at the first sign of trouble, and if yo are trailering, have two cars so your wife can go straight home while you deal with the boat.
Of course that's a generalization; some mothers, especially those who are truly boaters, will deal with it fine. it sounds like yours is not.

Frankly, I think taking an infant out accomplishes little and is more likely to end up a negative experience than positive. But I also believe in getting children to be boaters early, giving them responsibilities and teaching skills at age appropriate levels, so they can operate a motor boat by 12, solo by 14 and trailer by 16. Teaching them to sail at a young age is a great way to do this.

 

[lrak]

Re: how young is too young?

A swim sweater with an inner tube is not enough and in fact both illegal (not in compliance) and dangerous. You nee a properly fitted USCG approved PFD.

Unless the swimsuit with flotation ring IS a USCG approved PFD which a LOT of them are these days...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: how young is too young?

Unless the swimsuit with flotation ring IS a USCG approved PFD which a LOT of them are these days...

you're probably right; my babies outgrew them almost 20 years ago!

 

[12vMan]

Re: how young is too young?

A lot of good info here to consider with your type of boat, flotation devices, sun protection, etc. With all that said, all kids are different, and only you and your wife will know when the time is right.

Our kids grew up on the water from the time we felt comfortable going out with them on the boat which was just weeks old. They've never known what life would be like without a boat. They have always been very much involved in the whole boating experience from loading/unloading to maintenance and cleaning to driving. People on the beach constantly comment on how natural they are at doing these things and how they wish they would have started their kids earlier.

Again, ultimately you need to do it when you feel comfortable, with all precautions noted.

 

[ronboonville]

Re: how young is too young?

I agree with Southkogs. Short trip to begin with. Yes get your wife familiar with the boat. Double check everything then check again. I have used a small playpen before, didn't want to, but did on pontoon. I no longer enforce the potato chip rule. My bass boat is another story, it is small with no rails, I prefer 4 or 5 years old on it, no toddlers. My Grandchildren are so dear to me I never want to put them at risk. Your first trip out with small kids will be a learning experience. Be calm, don't get frustrated, and remember you are the captain, your rules or no trip. Good boating to you. Oh another thing don't expect to do a lot of fishing, especially with older kids because you will be busy, baiting, casting, un tangleing, taking fish off and stuff like that.

 

[Okieboatguy]

Re: how young is too young?

My oldest, who is now 17, we had taken out on the bass boat when he was just about 3 months old. Yes they make PFD's for the small ones, and in fact Body Glove has one that will upright and keep the childs head above water and they make a swim suit that covers them from neck to toes to help protect from the sun and is designed to keep in a babys body heat, in case the worst happens.
My wife and I used a baby car seat that we placed in the bottom of the boat to cradle him in while he was sleeping, however, we did not strap him in so if the worse did happen, he would seperate from the seat and float free. As far as I can tell, he and our others always loved being out on the boat. The soft rocking always made them sleep solid. Since those many years ago we have added 3 more kids, the last just 2 years old, and we have always had them out with us and their brothers and sisters when ever the boating season starts no matter what their age.
...... And to CentralOreganBum, we also had all our kids on ski's from 18 months on, I know in Colorado they will yet young ones on the lift along with the parent as long as you have a safty device like the "WEE-Ski".

 

[444]

Re: how young is too young?

I personally, wouldn't bother. The kid is so little he/she doesn't even know what's going on anyway and isn't going to remember it. I would rather just drop the kid off at the grandparents house for a day so I can enjoy myself without having to focus on the baby. There is something to be said for some alone time and some husband/wife time away from the kiddies.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: how young is too young?

I had my son in the boat ever since he was a baby. he looked like a life preserver with hair. He really enjoyed being out there in the breeze. The life preservers for young ones this small zip up the front, have a pad on the back of the neck (to keep the head floated upright) and a strap that goes between the legs. At 14 months the kid is mobile, someone has to be a dedicated handler. You may have the kid wear the preserver to the pool or just around to get used to it so that wearing it on the boat will be no big deal.

No matter what, don't let him take it off while on the boat as if you do that, aside from the safety issue, he will never wear it again without fuss. Just like being belted in the car. If you let them ride once without it, it will be painful forever after.

But I don't regret taking him and my other three kids and gettting them used to the water. My first ones were older and I can remember the oldest one clinging to me like a sweater the first times out.

 

[aspeck]

Re: how young is too young?

I was on a boat at 7 months (would have been earlier if the seasons would have cooperated). Mom always said that was the best way to get me to go to sleep, put me in the boat and I was out like a light. Many afternoon cruises, I am told to put me to sleep.

My youngest was the same way. A lot of go info above. Keep the trips short at first, and if mom and baby do well, then stay out longer. Sun protection, PFD, keep them safe and secure, but also keep them enjoying the wind, the water, and the experience. Don't do anything that will scare them (slower and easier than you would go on your own is a good idea). Do whatever it takes to make it an enjoyable experience for all and when they get older they will be begging you to take them everytime you go out.

That is my only regret now ... can't get out to do any serious fishing because the family always wants to come! Tough life, huh?

 

[Failproof]

Re: how young is too young?

One thing not mentioned yet is taking the time to get the child used to pfd. Both in the water and out of it. My girls wore theirs around the house for a week before their first trips. And spent hours at the pool getting used to "not panicking" and let the pfd work. If they panic, the suck in water. They need to understand this. My kids are now 3 and 4, can don and doff their own vests, are comfortable swimming on their own, can float in rough water, tube on their own etc. There is no set age, its person and place/activity specific. My 3 year old is competent on how to increase/decrease throttle, steer, and usually knows which way back to camp. The 4 year old is clueless.

 

[888]

Re: how young is too young?

Nobody gets on my boat unless they can swim.

 

[terry 5.2m]

Re: how young is too young?

Well all of these comments are awesome. I never expected so many but it is great to hear all the input from those more experienced.

To date I am still trying to get the kinks worked out with regard to my engine idle before I take anyone other than a mate to help get me back to shore if need be.

With the season winding down I am not even sure if I will get him out this year.

Thanks again and happy boating