Catamarans...
I do sail with my kids since they were born, had one last year...it is a little different from sailing on your own or with spouse, but its worth it..
I still sail with both kids, altough more with the older one as he is teaching me how to sail.
I posted this some time ago...I strongly recommed..Its sooo much fun..
POSTED:
Hi, I should actually let my wife write this to you but...I'm a parent too.
We had a baby in March, Little Luis. Now 9 months.
We spent August and September at sea with him, he was 5 and later 6 months old. And we all loved it. He must have loved it too!! He's my son!!
First thing was a life vest, those with a thing behind his neck, to keep the head out of the water, otherwise with the diaper floating he turns around and drowns. Must have a handle to pick the bugger up should he go overbord.
Second SUN BLOCK, lots of it factor 1.000.000.000 gazzilion, because even with cold air they get sunburn. We used factor 60 in summer. All good, but apply at least every 2 hours.
We also got one of those cloth chairs, (see in photo, behind port wheel), so that he could be outside while we were sailing. It was attached to the floor so when heeling he would be confortable, and not moving around. The chair was moved inside for feedings, and when we needed him still while we were doing something else. Sometimes he felt asleep on it and it was ok, so don't go cheap on his chair.
Get a lot of kids toys and hang them where he will be most of the time. Luis loved the end of my ropes and kept them moist for me most of the time!!!
For his bath we got an inflatable tub, see photo!! We have hot water in the heads so if you don't have hot water, get a heater.
We got him several pillows and he used to sleep first in his cot, and because he was 24 lbs then!!!, he was too big, so we covered one of the aft cabins with pillows and sheets, so he could move around. In case of bad weather, my other son would go down with him and keep him company, but he allways felt asleep in bad weather!! Pulls after his mum.
Remember, when alone they move, so cover everything where he might hit his head, with pillows, lots of them.
We got a nice beach tent for him and a sunbrella.
We used to carry gallons and gallons of water for his bottles, and I allways kept them bellow his bed to keep the water cool. My wife got a blender, and used to make his soups at the marina because it is 220V, then keep them in the refirgerator in small flasks.
Get him a spare hat, they fly off really easy. And insect repellent.
Sometimes we would cry, and my wife used to get him on a marsupial bag, see photo. This one actually floated!!.
My son was too small to move around, but for my other one, when he was small I covered my boat with nets on the railing.
If I think of something elese, I will comeback and write. Good luck.
Bellow is the cloth chair. Must have a seat belt.
The marsupial bag bellow
The tent and sunbrella bellow
The inflatable tub
And pillows everywhere when he felt asleep and we were sailing.
He never stopped us from going anywhere, so do that to yours or you'll regret it later.
Sometimes we would give him RUM, but he would allways fall asleep at the wheel, when it was time for him to take the boat, so he got fired.
And occasionally he was allowed a girlfriend or two so we had a litle boat filled with water to cool them off!!!
Also read this whole thread
HERE
GO FOR IT!!!!!!!