are there any child size PFDs that arent so uncomfortable?
My 5yr old little girl loves to go sailing with me, but can't stand her PFD. I can't say that I blame her, but at the end of the day she has to wear it if she wants to be on deck. Does anyone know of any child size PFDs that had comfort in mind? I feel bad because I'm sitting there in my inflatable vest, snug as a bug, while my kid suffers in the grasp of the bulky orange moster. Any suggestions?
Sospenders does make a children's version. However, I don't believe they make one for someone as young and small as your daughter.
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Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
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Thanks bubb, that looks considerably more comfortable than big orange, and solves the christmas dilema of finding an alternative to video games and hannah montana dvds. I try to raise the kids to play outside alot, but it can be hard nowadays.
We ended up with a child's kayaking vest. My boy is 12 but he's a dwarf so he's about the height of a 5 yr old. I think we found it at REI for about $50.00.
Thanks bubb, that looks considerably more comfortable than big orange, and solves the christmas dilema of finding an alternative to video games and hannah montana dvds. I try to raise the kids to play outside alot, but it can be hard nowadays.
I hear ya, I still have a 12 year old at home. He used to be my sailing buddy. With all the school activites and things he is involved in our time sailing is less and less.
Enjoy the time with you little girl while it's a hand!
I will. I hope mine still care about it as they grow up. My goal is to show them that with the right background, you can enjoy sailing for a living as private capt. ect, and still make a fairly decent living. I just don't want them to grow up and hate thier job. I don't think that theres anything worse. Witch beggs a question. What age do you think is apropriate to start single handing a sailing dinghy? And why?
10 to 12 years old it depends on the child. Younger than that, If they flip a boat or get themselves in trouble They just don't have all the where with all to address the situation. As for my son, he been on the tiller from about 5 or 6 years old with me in the dink with him. I trust him now at the age of 12 if he gets in to "trouble" he can take care of it by himself.
do you plan to or have already done some "trailing runs" folowing him in a larger boat to see how he does? I think that when they get to that age I'm going to want to see where their confidence is at without me aboard, and my wife will tell me that I'm overprotective.
Last edited by closehauled14 : 2 Weeks Ago at 03:00 PM.
Reason: spelling
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