Can we get this board going again?

[PBzeer]

It is nice to see input from the other side of the fence. Too bad there isn't more of it. A different perspective can often be very helpful.

[cassycc36]

It is really nice to read this thread. I truly cannot understand women who don't want to sail. I literally can barely stand waiting until we can live on a sailboat. It's almost baby-time, and the thought of not being able to sail b/c of child makes me not want to have one. But there's another thread on this site and all the goovy chicks that have baby will travel encourage me. Sail on sisters!

[Cruisingdad]

Cassy,

Our youngest, CHase, was on board at 5 days. The boat is not the limiting factor, nor the baby... it is the parents. Getting on/off is the only tricky part. But you will find the gentle motion of the boat will rock your child to sleep and Chase fussed a lot less on the boat than off. Of course, I think the parents were a lot happier on the boat too so that probably played a part in it.

If you are serious about boating with a baby, let me know and I will give you a lot of thoughts and things that worked for us... and some that did not.

- CD

[cassycc36]

Thanks CD I'll take you up on that if the time comes . . . it's just good to know that baby doesn't preclude sailing.

[Surfesq]

Here is the reality with kids Cassy. Complete nightmare from 2-4 years old. Before 2 they will hang in their car seat. After 4 they can move around on their own. For two years it is a squirmy and irritating nightmare. Make sure one or both parents can comfortably single hand.

[sailingwife]

The other end of the spectrum is teenagers who have been around boats their whole lives and would rather be held hostage anywhere but on the boat. 2 of our 3 haven't even seen the new boat and we've had it almost 6 months! They are shocked and are incredulous now that we've told them after the last one living with us leaves for college this next summer the house will be leased and we'll be moving aboard our 44ft Gulfstar. I'm looking so forward to the simplicity. It seems we work so hard to pay the gardeners, housekeepers and others to keep up a house we only sleep at during the week and as the weekend comes we head down to the marina to be where we really want to be, on the boat.

[sailaway21]

Kewl!
Sort of like kickin' 'em outta the nest-and burning the nest!

[sailalaska]

Originally Posted by cassycc36

It's almost baby-time, and the thought of not being able to sail b/c of child makes me not want to have one. But there's another thread on this site and all the goovy chicks that have baby will travel encourage me. Sail on sisters!

Cassy - I went home from the hospital to a Catalina 30 when I was born. That was the only home for my family of 5 for 2 years! I have pictures of me as a baby in a swing hanging from the boom. A few months later we sailed to Alaska from Oregon. My siblings were 5 and 2 at the time. So, kids definitely can sail too.

My mom always says I learned to climb before crawling because of the boat and I'm sure I have a lifetime immunity to seasickness because of it. A floating infancy was a good thing for me !

Amy