Kids docking boat - opinions?

[Table Rockin]

For those of you who have kids or nieces/nephews or whathaveyou....what age was it you started to let kids dock the boat ......or even just operate the boat? Ive let both kids drive 11 and 8. Im right there with them though. If its towards end of day and calm ill let my oldest drive while actually sit back and relax

[AsLan7]

For those of you who have kids or nieces/nephews or whathaveyou....what age was it you started to let kids dock the boat ......or even just operate the boat? Ive let both kids drive 11 and 8. Im right there with them though. If its towards end of day and calm ill let my oldest drive while actually sit back and relax

It’s never too early!
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[Big Block Power]

What let someone else drive and take My fun away never
It's 12 years old. Boating safety course time.

[NautiGirl]

This is exactly how this whole love of boating started for me... Not sure the exact age... I had an aunt and uncle that let me drive the boat... I was hooked after that!

My nephew is the same way... 15 and I would put him in the captains chair anytime... He can pull the boat up next to the houseboat, on or off the trailer... No problem... He's patient and takes his time and rocks it.

I remember the day l last summer I stepped out of the way and let him drive the new boat... He at first said no (he was nervous about it being new (to us)) but I told him let's go. He got to flip the captains call switch and his face was all smiles. Not that he wasn't already all about this boat life before but that helped! Aunt Katie won major points that day.

Letting your kids drive the boat is awesome... Its makes them love it the way you do!

A7 que up the song "Drive" by Alan Jackson...

[Table Rockin]

It's 12 years old. Boating safety course time.

Yep thats coming. Maybe for wife too

[Table Rockin]

This is exactly how this whole love of boating started for me... Not sure the exact age... I had an aunt and uncle that let me drive the boat... I was hooked after that!

My nephew is the same way... 15 and I would put him in the captains chair anytime... He can pull the boat up next to the houseboat, on or off the trailer... No problem... He's patient and takes his time and rocks it.

I remember the day l last summer I stepped out of the way and let him drive the new boat... He at first said no (he was nervous about it being new (to us)) but I told him let's go. He got to flip the captains call switch and his face was all smiles. Not that he wasn't already all about this boat life before but that helped! Aunt Katie won major points that day.

Letting your kids drive the boat is awesome... Its makes them love it the way you do!

A7 que up the song "Drive" by Alan Jackson...

Cool aunt Nauti! Thats great

[AsLan7]

This is exactly how this whole love of boating started for me... Not sure the exact age... I had an aunt and uncle that let me drive the boat... I was hooked after that!

My nephew is the same way... 15 and I would put him in the captains chair anytime... He can pull the boat up next to the houseboat, on or off the trailer... No problem... He's patient and takes his time and rocks it.

I remember the day l last summer I stepped out of the way and let him drive the new boat... He at first said no (he was nervous about it being new (to us)) but I told him let's go. He got to flip the captains call switch and his face was all smiles. Not that he wasn't already all about this boat life before but that helped! Aunt Katie won major points that day.

Letting your kids drive the boat is awesome... Its makes them love it the way you do!

A7 que up the song "Drive" by Alan Jackson...

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That’s a great suggestion Nauti!
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[Bfun220]

It’s never too early!
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Does sitting on my lap count ? I've had 2 year old on my lap steering. His mom tells me he Totally Obsessed with boats and refers to all water as my water. If he knew how to read and write I think he'd fit right in here. Lol

[Table Rockin]

Thats awesome Bfun. Way to getting them started super early!

So has anyone let their kid pull up to and away from docks (other than you Nauti)? How about trailering?

[thunder550]

I'll start teaching my daughter as soon as she's mature enough to follow directions. I can't remember when my dad started letting me do stuff like that on the boat, but I do remember I got to start steering the car on small neighborhood roads in his lap at 6 years and full on driving with him in the passenger seat at 11. Start em young

[Bfun220]

At 15 daughter got a job at a summer camp that is located on an island. One of her jobs was ferrying campers to and from the island on a pontoon boat. That's also when I let her pull up, or back from the dock with my boat.

[sailor55330]

I started taking sailboats out on my own when I was 12 or 13, but that's a little different than a powerboat. I didn't take my first powerboat out until I was 45.....so I might not be the best example.

In all seriousness, I think it really depends on the kid. I would trust some 10 year olds to drive on the water in a controlled environment and then I know some 20 year olds that I wouldn't let drive if I had a broken leg and was bleeding out from being hit with the prop......it all depends.

If they can see over the windshield and can understand directions and have a good degree of awareness about what's going on around them, give them a shot at driving. Once you show me you can drive, then you learn to start docking/trailering.

Now the wife..........Pfft (j/k...she won't drive the boat on an empty lake at idle--scares her)

My .02

[AsLan7]

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Now the wife..........Pfft (j/k...she won't drive the boat on an empty lake at idle--scares her)

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My kids were like that at first. In the middle of the lake with nothing to hit ...and they would be nervous they were going to hit something.


I wonder sometimes if it would be easier to teach a pet.
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[2ridgebacks]

The speed that you are willing to hit the dock is probably considerably less than the speed the kids are willing to hit the dock!?

[thunder550]

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