Launching with kids

[sidechoke67]

I'm wondering if those of you who launch with young kids have any
advice for the launching process? Particularly where you put the
kids while you are launching/retrieving your boat.

My kids are 6, 5 and 2. Last year, I took the two older kids with
me fishing a few times, and left them in the car while I launched
and retrieved. However, last year I had a light 14' aluminum boat,
and this year I have a bigger boat (17' fiberglass). After watching
some of the videos posted on this board which showed cars sliding
into the water while launching/retrieving, I'm re-thinking leaving
the kids in the car...

However, I don't want them on the dock alone either...I don't want
them in the boat...

I'm thinking that the best option is to have them in the car with
me while I drop off/pick up the car, then get them out of the car, and
try to find an out of the way place where I can keep an eye on them
while launching/retriving, then put them back in the car while I go
park? I would only have my two older kids during the process...no
way would I try to take my 2 year old out without my wife.

So what do other parents do? Thanks for any tips!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Launching with kids

what i did with my kids was when readying the boat for launch. i would put the life jackets on them and have them sit on the dock, or picnic table, with the understanding that there is no reason for them to move, other than when YOU tell them to.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Launching with kids

I have 6 and 3 year old boys and we go out just the three of us all the time, in our 20'cuddy. I do similar to TD when I am all prepped(boat) I pull over to the ramp they already have jackets on and I walk them over to the shore where the dock is and have them stay on land right by the dock. I can see them the whole time. Then I launch boat and tie up to dock walk back to truck with them in tow go park usually just have them hop in cab with jackets on. Then we all walk back to boat and enjoy the day. Then I do kind of the reverse when loading up at end of day. It is much easier when my wife or a friend comes along, but I wouldn't stay home if no one else wants to come. It does take a few more minutes at the ramp and I know sometimes people get irritated waiting but I figure I paid my $10.00 just like they did and it IS a public ramp so... Besides I can usually get in and out as fast as a lot of groups of adults who insist on prepping on the ramp getting all their stuff out of the truck and into the boat, wiping down on the ramp etc. Good luck

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Launching with kids

Everybody but the wife goes into the boat unless she is a better helmsperson that you, or can't back the trailer up.....but that's your fault for not teaching her how to do it...... are and then everybody but you go into the boat prior to launching. Just works best that way. Obviously life jackets are essential where necessary and required.

Mark

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: Launching with kids

Thanks everyone!

 

[magster65]

Re: Launching with kids

It's easier with another adult, that's for sure. I try to keep my busy little 5 year old pirate with me. That's in the truck until we park it and go get on the boat together. Upon returning we're out of the boat and into the truck again and I'll pull the boat out. He sometimes gets bored watching but I've given him the task of finding some good music... that keeps him occupied.
In park and e-brake if I'm outside the truck.
I feel better about that than him sitting on the dock or anywhere else.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Launching with kids

Yes, I'd definitely keep the small fries in the truck (with e-brake on, in park and the IGNITION KEY IN MY POCKET). The time when things go the most wrong seem to be at the ramp, so best to keep the little ones where you KNOW they'll be okay (they have a knack of disappearing from a picnic table in a nanosecond).

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Launching with kids

if you leave the child in the tow vehicle, turn it off, and take the key. one bump of the shifter, and it could all be in the water.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Launching with kids

Your alone with the 6 and 5 year old. I say at the ramp place them in the boat right before backing up. You have to get in the boat right aways anyhow to back it up and dock it. Then if you wish they can follow you to the car to park it.

 

[blouderback]

Re: Launching with kids

NO, NO, NO! Under NO circumstances should the children be left in the tow vehicle at any time when the vehicle is at the launch! It is much safer for them to be on the land, with PFDs, at a picnic table, bench or other area. If you don't want to leave them alone on the dock or shore or bench, then have them with you at all times, but NOT IN THE TOW VEHICLE! Put them in the boat (it floats, the truck doesn't) while you're backing down or pulling out.

 

[Road Guy]

Re: Launching with kids

after 3 years of launching with 3 kids by myslef, I just ponied up this year for a dock slip at a marina.

I used to put them in the boat, with their pfd's on, i figured that was less risk than leaving them in the car, since the GA lakes are down the courtesy docks are all out of water

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Launching with kids

On the dock, with a PFD on, away from vehicular traffic at the ramp ... or in the boat, with the PFD because if there is a mishap the boat will float.

Never in the vehicle.

 

[Shawn_floats]

Re: Launching with kids

Put them in the boat (it floats, the truck doesn't) while you're backing down or pulling out.

Somehow I hadn't thought of this - very good point.

Being a newb too with young 'uns, I'll be facing the same situation this summer,so this is a good thread to read.

 

[magster65]

Re: Launching with kids

There's no picnic table where I launch and I wouldn't leave my kid there anyways while I'm launching a boat. I certainly wouldn't leave them on the dock either!
I'll keep my boy (he's 5) with me in the truck thank you...

This is our 'detailed' procedure if we're alone;
- my boy in his seat
- back down to the water
- put it in park (e-brake too)
- pull the boat off and tie it up
- drive up to the parking spot
- life-jacket on
- we walk back down together
- hop aboard
- get on the boat together
- blower on
- lift hatch and look and sniff
- close hatch
- leg down
- start motor
- leave dock after about a minute
- warm up in gear for a few minutes while putting away

My rule is to keep my kid by my side. If there's a chance he might 'get in the way' I give him a job or two... anything... find a radio station... count the ropes... check the boat for spiders... whatever. It makes him feel important and that's good because he is!
It works for me / us.

 

[donnymac]

Re: Launching with kids

There's no picnic table where I launch and I wouldn't leave my kid there anyways while I'm launching a boat. I certainly wouldn't leave them on the dock either!
I'll keep my boy (he's 5) with me in the truck thank you...

This is our 'detailed' procedure if we're alone;
- my boy in his seat
- back down to the water
- put it in park (e-brake too)
- pull the boat off and tie it up
- drive up to the parking spot
- life-jacket on
- we walk back down together
- hop aboard
- get on the boat together
- blower on
- lift hatch and look and sniff
- close hatch
- leg down
- start motor
- leave dock after about a minute
- warm up in gear for a few minutes while putting away

My rule is to keep my kid by my side. If there's a chance he might 'get in the way' I give him a job or two... anything... find a radio station... count the ropes... check the boat for spiders... whatever. It makes him feel important and that's good because he is!
It works for me / us.

It looks like the boy is alone in the truck while you "pull the boat off and tie it up" Thats illegal in British Columbia.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Launching with kids

Donnymac, I think it should be illegal globally, glad to hear about BC.

Please, never leave little ones in the tow vehicle on the ramp.

By myself the kids are out on the courtesy dock or on the path down to it. I prefer they stay on the path and not be on the dock by themselves. They all have their pfd's on in any case. I launch, tie off, walk back to the rig and park it then we all board.

When I have help sometimes they are in the boat, sometimes they are up on shore waiting. Later in the season we tend to all get in the boat during launching as confidence is high that all is well with the boat. Earlier in the season or right after any maintenance I tend to make them wait onshore and meet at the dock.

 

[sc_shane]

Re: Launching with kids

The easiest thing to do is just keep your kids with you - doing whatever you're doing. I have a boy, 3, and a girl, 18 months. 9 times out of 10, my wife is with me, and my daughter only went out on the boat 1 time last year. But, me and the boy went fishing several times last year - just the two of us. He stayed in the tow vehicle while I readied the boat (in the parking area - not on the ramp) and handed me some things from the back of the car. After the boat was free from straps etc (except the bow strap of course), he rode with me backing down the ramp until I was about to be at the water line with the tongue of the trailer. I put him in the boat at this point (PFD on, of course) then got in the car and backed her down the last 10 feet. Got out of the car - locked it up and all, hopped on the boat, cranked it, removed bow strap, shoved off drove to shore\dock. After tying the boat to dock or tree, he came with me to park the car and trailer. One time he just stayed on the boat, but it was easy to keep an eye on him the whole time, and I was never farther than 100 feet from him at any time. I might not do a 100 foot dash reall fast normally, but put my family in danger, and I bet if you blinked you'd miss it!

 

[Nandy]

Re: Launching with kids

My kids never cared much for the small boat I had when they were in that early age. Now when they come with me they stay outside the car. Of course, age is not issue. I would never leave a child in a vehicle, e-brake, choke tires, you name it, never. That life jacket that they wear in the car will prevent them from leaving a rapidly water filling vehicle. Even people that knows how to swim will drown under those circumstances.
If I were in that situation I will have sit in the dock with the pdf on. If they are too young to understand that they cant move then they are staying home.
Good luck everyone with your choices.

 

[donnymac]

Re: Launching with kids

I'm thinking if it were really necessary, the boat would be better than the vehicle.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Launching with kids

The easiest thing to do is just keep your kids with you - doing whatever you're doing.

Thats the way to do it. Also, the kids are excited and eager to help. Find a safe job for them so that they can help prepare for the launch and retrieval. As the kids get older you can assign them more complex jobs that require a little more responsibility. For the really little kids, their job is to put on their own PFD (of course inspection by an adult is needed). The older kids are responsible for getting the towels and food into the boat. If my kids are busy, they are less likely to wander away. Keeping the kids busy in this way allows me to focus on the higher risk launching tasks. When it comes to actually putting the boat in the water, the kids go where I go. If I am out of the car, the kids are out of the car. When I get into the boat, the kids get into the boat. When I go park the car, the kids are coming with me. This summer my oldest will be 8, and my youngest will turn 7, so I may ease up a bit, but not much.