Boating with Kids

[JHutch]

Who all boats with kids? What are the challenges? I have a 2 1/2 year old little girl and she is starting to get the hang of it. She is swimming real good this year by herself, but she still gets impatient with boarding. So how did you get your fix for watersports in while you had little ones?

Thanks,

John

[dusty2221]

Lots of swim time between sets! As long as mine could jump in and swim and enjoy herself all was good. Oh, and snacks!!

[viking]

Lots of snacks. My kids basically graze all day long. 3 girls at 10, 8 and 6 and they've all been boating since infants.
Have noodles and water guns on board too so we stop and swim/play throughout the day. We go through sunscreen like you can't believe. But all my kids love the boating life!

[Wax]

Get them doing whatever you can, tubing or on a board of some type, as early as possible. I bought my kids a hydroslide versa board, they love it. My son was tubing at age 2, and had already snow skied prior to that.

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[rdlangston13]

what are good snack choices that wont damage the interior of the boat?

[ian ashton]

Same as above, plus squirt guns, those little balls that bounce on water, and various other toys.

We've just made it a part of life (which is how I grew up on the water too)

We make games out of things too, like "hunting" for pirate ships (aka pontoon boats) and sea gulls.

The boat ride from our marina to cottage is about 45 minutes to an hour depending on water conditions and Rob loves it.

[dusty2221]

what are good snack choices that wont damage the interior of the boat?

You bring that boy whatever he likes!

[rdlangston13]

You bring that boy whatever he likes!

well right now that is just about anything that will fit in his mouth

[trayson]

I have Playlists made with songs my son likes. He loves pretending he's a dj mixing it up whenever we play DeadMau5

Whenever I surf, I make sure I'm interacting with him on the boat. Put them on your lap to drive. Have them flag. Get them involved as possible. My son is now 10 and gets the exile buoy balls or and attached to the cleats. Yesterday he was able to pull the box anchor up and set it on the swim platform all by himself!

He also had taken the responsibility of attaching the rear ratcheting tie down straps.

Obviously get them out behind the boat as early as possible. Take them for a surf set with you on your boat tandem.

They sell remote control wakeboard boats at target and walmart for like $20 to $30. My son loved that.

When the water Temps aren't as warm, spend the money and get them wetsuits too.

[zabooda]

At 2 1/2 years old we did slow tube rides with me with her to give her assurance. At about 4 years old, she started to knee board with a beach start and someone holding the board tip up. That is a piece of cake for kids but you need calm water and keep the strap on the knees fairly loose as it can scare them if they fall. I hate to say it, but I indirectly used peer pressure to get her to knee board by towing other young kids that were with us and she wanted to do that too. Just need to make every experience fun.

[Kidder522]

We have our two girls in the boat all the time. Ages 7 and 11. But started out when the oldest was 2. Slow tube rides, make a play list for them and lots of breaks for swimming. Now, my oldest is skiing, trying to slalom, and loves the tube. My youngest loves the tube and has indicated this year is the year to try the skis. We bring lots of snacks and a few coloring books as well. Lots of great activity books at Costco to keep her busy. We usually let the adults have the first hour, then the kids. We get them to help out in the boat all the time with ropes, spotting and driving with us to keep them interested. We also carry a couple of pool noodles for down time.
At our cabin, we come in and out quite a bit, so they have the option of spending some time playing on our beach. If we are on sylvan lake, we are out for about 5 hours and then off, since we are stuck in the boat.
And bring some of their friends if you can. That makes it really fun for them.
Good luck and have a great time on the water with your kids. Boats are an investment in family time, so enjoy!!


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[patrick232]

Our boys started as boat babies sitting in a bouncy seat with lifejacket on. Then we moved up to a buddy where we had many peaceful days on the water. Next up tubing about 2/3 years old, wake boarding knee boarding 5/7 then surfing. Now at 14/16 waiting for the dad let's take the boat out we have friends that want to go.

[snyderaaron]

what are good snack choices that wont damage the interior of the boat?

anything that doesnt start with ch (cheetos, chocolate chips, cheezits)

[philnizz]

Has anyone got tips for wakesurfing with kids between the legs? how does the start work?
a video of the start would be very helpful.

[dusty2221]

Same way as starting with him surfing. I have them lay between your legs with their feet up against the board arms wrapped around your thighs. All they have to do is hold on and all you have to do is come up like normal.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160622/ea40759ebc35fef8ef7395c5680f8710.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160622/f50b8d4280f9bc3359a69e6cd81ecd94.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160622/7ec2d64d70113dd2da93f02f62ced071.jpg

[Woody929]

Just like Dusty says. Only thing different from normal is the extra weight.

[rdlangston13]

Same way as starting with him surfing. I have them lay between your legs with their feet up against the board arms wrapped around your thighs. All they have to do is hold on and all you have to do is come up like normal.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160622/ea40759ebc35fef8ef7395c5680f8710.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160622/f50b8d4280f9bc3359a69e6cd81ecd94.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160622/7ec2d64d70113dd2da93f02f62ced071.jpg

THIS, Can't wait to do that with Nolan!

[c h r i s]

Clear Gatorade. Ditto on the Cheetos. Pringles are decent too (hard case and generally don't crumble too bad). Our kids like almonds and pistachios, but the shelled pistachios skins leave some serious damage.


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[wolfeman131]

Same way as starting with him surfing. I have them lay between your legs with their feet up against the board arms wrapped around your thighs. All they have to do is hold on and all you have to do is come up like normal.


are you wearing gloves?

[Wax]

You won't need gloves. My bigger kids can kind of stand on the board. My smaller ones I just hold with my back arm then set them down on the board once we go and keep my back hand either wrapped around them or I grab the back of their vest.

My kids are 11, 7, 6, 5. I surf with all. 5 year old boy likes to hang on to me like a monkey. 6 year old rides my shoulders (no rope, just lift him up there) or on board like my 7 year old daughter. 11 is mostly riding on his own now though on the versa, but he rode with me last year even at age 10. He is my step son and didn't grow up doing board sports until he met me a few years ago.

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[Wax]

I should mention with the smaller ones I can get up one handed, but with the bigger ones or if I feel like it I grab the rope with both hands. I use a thick braided rope with T handle, not a surf rope that has a mini ski type handle on it.

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[trayson]

are you wearing gloves?

I wear em too wakeboarding. I wouldn't want to chew up my accountant hands. Lol.
Probably because I grew up skiing before wakeboarding was a thing.

[trayson]

And good for you Dusty, I've done the same thing with my son on a wakeboard.

[dusty2221]

That's likely the one time in the history of me Wakeboarding I wore gloves. We had ridden multiple sets multiple times a day for 3 days in a row. My hands finally had enough that trip.

[jmvotto]

are you wearing gloves?

I saw that too:rolleyes:

[jmvotto]

I wear em too wakeboarding. I wouldn't want to chew up my accountant hands. Lol.
Probably because I grew up skiing before wakeboarding was a thing.


Only for slalom skiing :confused:

[Woody929]

What is the deal with all of these Saudi spammers lately??

[Ironcross25]

I have a 4 and and a 1.5 year old. They both been boating since they were born. My wife primarily drives and sun bathes so I get my sets in and my son tubes. Then we hang out and swim. We pack a bunch of food and snacks since we are out all day. They love it.


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[zabooda]

What is the deal with all of these Saudi spammers lately??

I think he was asking for the Wakemakers code. LOL I wish they learned short hand to make their paragraphs shorter but they need to be sentenced to a crime first.

[ian ashton]

And don't forget to prepare for all scenarios!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/qx7urkltvmoajyh/Photo%20Jun%2023%2C%208%2018%2045%20PM.jpg?dl=1

I swear this is the best idea my ever, inspired by my wife and a funny picture online - has saved the day already!

Basically it's a dedicated 2 gallon bucket wth lid. Inside are several shopping bags, several gallon sized freezer zip lock bags, a roll of toilet paper in a zip lock bag, and a strategically cut (lime green of course) pool noodle "toilet seat"

Basically we just keep the bucket stored and fairly easily accessible - Rob gives the signal and in about a minute we've got a functioning commode for him to use - a heck of a lot safer than the ~20 minute to 1 hour ride back to our marina, on-water store, or the cottage.

[KG's Supra24]

Lmfao ... all scenarios!

Wonder where the pics of you using it hide.....

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[ian ashton]

I usually give more than a 2 minute warning, so we can make it to a proper facility; can't say the same for my 3 year old, lol!

Plus, he who holds the camera posses all the power!