Cruising with Children

bellefonte · #1 03-23-2010

Hello,
The issue of a seperate forum has raised extreme opinions on both the pro and the con side. So, instead of waiting for the debate to be over, read the book and then go se the movie, I figured I would get the proverbial ball rolling. I, for one have an interest in this.

So, I would like to hear from families that have tried this either successfully or otherwise. You know, the usual; safelty measures, what worked, what didn't, tender moments with your children on the water or in a far away land and horror stories. Lets hear them all folks!

bellefonte · #2 03-23-2010

ok, dont all pile on at once! Get in line, take a turn, sheez!

Cruisingdad · #3 03-23-2010

Sorry, been busy today. Will try and get some things going here - but also need to make a decision on the forum. This thread is another great reason why as much of the information is all scattered around the forum. Does not mean you would not still ask the question, just that I wish we could have much of it centralized.

Brian

St Anna · #4 03-23-2010

I wrote something on the other thread about our experiences. Overall it is a great lifestyle for kids. Now the boy is in a high school, he is far more mature than his classmates, works (almost) as well as he needs to and gets good marks. I put a lot of this to his time out on the water. In primary school, they did a long study of Captain Cook. We followed his footsteps up the qld coast - you get the point from the school side of it.

I can trust my son to sail/ keep watch/ go up the mast for a job/ hop in dinghy and catch a fish for dinner etc. Also the 24/7 good times and bad in a confined yacht makes for an everlasting bond I think.

Friends of ours had 2 boys 18months apart. They had 2 car seat capsules strapped in the cockpit.

I recomend this lifestyle.

Fitz87 · #5 04-21-2010

I started sailing when my 2 boys were todlers and I would take them out in the harbor on club boats. Now they are 6 and 8 and not very excited about my sailboat. They seem to think it's boring for some reason... and don't understand why my boat won't go fast like their friend's motorboat... I would welcome any insight on how to get them excited about sailing.

sailingdog · #6 04-21-2010

Get a beach cat or a trailerable sport trimaran... I'm pretty sure that will change their minds...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz87

I started sailing when my 2 boys were todlers and I would take them out in the harbor on club boats. Now they are 6 and 8 and not very excited about my sailboat. They seem to think it's boring for some reason... and don't understand why my boat won't go fast like their friend's motorboat... I would welcome any insight on how to get them excited about sailing.

Fitz87 · #7 04-22-2010

A beach cat is a great idea! I was thinking of a little opti or something that they could sail themselves. I think one problem is that there isn't much they can do effectively on the boat. They would probably like it if they were in control.
Thanks

Cruisingdad · #8 04-23-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz87

A beach cat is a great idea! I was thinking of a little opti or something that they could sail themselves. I think one problem is that there isn't much they can do effectively on the boat. They would probably like it if they were in control.
Thanks

What about a sail board or one of those parachute surfing things! That will wake them up! Of course, spinnaker flying will too!! Not sure if you know how to do that, but you rig the halyard on the spinnaker (Needs to be symetrcial) with a boasuns chair connected via the two clews. You have to anchor via the stern so that your bow has fallen off teh wind. Run a line from a clew back to the boat for the controller!

Let the poor, boored child sit in the chair in teh water. Let out a whole lot of the halyard. Pull in the lines attached to the clew and they will shoot up into the air like a rocket - especially on the larger spi's!! After tehy have screamed enough, pull in the line to the boat and spill the air to control the decent.

Boredom over.

Look here -

spinnaker flying - Google Search

Brian

Fitz87 · #9 04-23-2010

That looks really cool! It says the boat needs to be 40' though and I'm in a 30. One kid would probably love it one would never speak to me again!

Cruisingdad · #10 04-23-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz87

That looks really cool! It says the boat needs to be 40' though and I'm in a 30. One kid would probably love it one would never speak to me again!

Nope. Our best friends just flew their kids off a Morgan 27 a few weeks ago. You cannot fly adults off it, but the kids are like little rockets! Don't let the wife watch, incidentally (but it is pretty safe). It is fairly popular down here and in the cruising with children circut. I just have to figure out how to make it work with an asym!

Brian