Skipper’s Corner -Teaching Young Ones About Boating

One of the most pleasurable boating experiences I’ve had was teaching my grandchildren about boating in every aspect. It all starts when they see their parents’ interest in boats and perhaps taking them as infants aboard in a safe manner. They sense the sky, smell the sea, the movement of the boat. It’s an all-immersive experience for them. As they grow older, they naturally want to experience more and feel like they are participating, but you have to introduce them to boating in safe steps.
The easiest in their earliest years is in the tub. You introduce play boats and watch their excitement as they make waves in the water and thrill at splashing, which you will have to clean up later, but it’s a world of fun. While they entertain themselves with their fleet, you can use the boats yourself to gently introduce them to the concept of boat safety, using the toys as props. They won’t get it all at this early age and you don’t want to make it into an Oxford lesson for them, but give them just a taste.
Next thing on the list is to get them into swimming ASAP. The earlier the better. There are all-year-round swimming facilities available in our areas where you can participate in “Baby/ Child and Me Swimming Starter Lessons” that you can share with your little one. It will also get them used to using a life jacket. This is extremely important.
As they grow beyond the toddler age, have them join in while you wash and wax the boat or watch you work on the boat’s mechanicals. You can also begin to get them familiar with the layout of your vessel. I would play “Starboard, Port, Helm, Forward, Aft” on my boat, and the objective was to train them on the boat’s layout. The object was for them to go to that position and just touch it with their right hand. No running. You begin to add other stations such as anchor locker, pulpit, and radio; you get the idea.
Next comes the importance of life jackets. They must understand that they must ALWAYS have them on when your boat when it is in motion and if they are not power swimmer, when you are anchored out in deep waters. They have new, more comfortable models now for children and make sure they are the ones that hold the child’s head upright in the water. If the boat is moving, adults should be wearing theirs to give an example-after all, you should be wearing it anyway! Make sure you have throwable floating life rings and cushions and demonstrate how they can be deployed if someone falls in. They may be too young to handle that now, but you are introducing them to “Concepts of Boating Safety,” and that is immeasurable as they grow to real boaters.
Next is handling the lines on a boat. Here you don’t have to get too complex with fancy knots, etc. That can come later. You take a cleat and show them how to properly secure a line onto a boat. Show them over and over until they get it over time. It’s a matter of practice. Make it FUN!!!!. Then over procedures in the vessel such as “Staying Put” when the vessel is underway and not getting up until the captain-you- gives the “ALL CLEAR.” Impress on them the importance of keeping hands, arms, legs, and feet inside the boat and off the gunnels when docking so that they don’t get crushed. Adult passengers often make that mistake and get hurt. You don’t want that to happen.
Set an example by not allowing smoking on board your boat and if you have to imbibe while at anchor, keep it to a minimum and don’t operate the boat, as you are the one who is setting the example for their future boating experiences. Introduce them to the placement of the fire extinguisher, flares, medical kit, etc., and explain the emergency button on your electronics. Of course, all of this has to be introduced to little ones in manageable doses. You don’t want to overwhelm them.
You just make it so that they become naturally curious about all these aspects of boating. When they are a little older, push them to get their boating certificates. One more important thing. Teach them to row a small rowboat and take care of it. That is invaluable to a child’s adventure into boating. If they cannot row, frankly, they are not ready yet to move up the ladder as a growing future boater, but have faith; they will learn and probably be more prepared for boating adventures than you were at their age, and that’s an accomplishment for both of you!
See you on the water!
Captain Eddy Smith (Retired)