Boat handling

[dmcummins]

Since my grandson will most likely always be around boats, I’m trying to get him started on running the boat, and being safe. Its a lot easier letting him take the boat back and let me relax. And you never know if I may go down and we are 30 miles offshore.

So far I’ve let him drive the boat back from offshore, from the gulf to the harbor, and then the canal to the house. I still dock the boat, he jumps off and ties us off. He’s good at holding a heading using the compass, I’ve told him 90 degrees and he will find land, you can’t always trust the electronics to work.

He recently turned 9, so next trip out I think we will go over the radio, how to deploy the life raft, and epirb. I think I’ll let him take us back from a dead stop, have him start the engines, electronics , and see if he can get us back on his own. We always have more than just the two of us offshore, but I want him to be able to handle it when he gets a little older.

My auto pilot is inop, so he fills in.

[oldE]

Excellent! Building his confidence and knowledge base is just a side benefit to your teaching.
Way to go, Gramps.

Best
Les

[beatnavy]

That's great education, and I'm sure it gives him confidence. Good work!

Consider having him take the online boat safety course: https://www.boatus.org/free/

It's free, and he'll learn a ton about various topics including navigation and the "rules of the water." It's not a trivial effort.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Teach him a figure eight for a MOB situation. Practice throwing a life vest out and retrieving without harm to the vest. You stand up @ the pilot and put eyes on the vest if your alone.

Mark the danger zone for vessel "Give Way" below your steering wheel. 112 degrees

[unclebilly]

This is awesome!

I was a similar age when I started. I was the youngest commercial skipper on the west coast of Canada at 17 back in 1992.

Anyway, throw something overboard and have him do a recovery by himself. That’s the real test. Could he save you if you fell overboard?

I wouldn’t wait too long before you start letting him practice docking. Put out lots of rubber and find an empty finger at the dock and let him practice. Getting back to the harbour safely is only half of the equation if you are not able to help. He needs to be able to get the boat tied up.

[unclebilly]

This is awesome!

I was a similar age when I started. I was the youngest commercial skipper on the west coast of Canada at 17 back in 1992.

Anyway, throw something overboard and have him do a recovery by himself. That’s the real test. Could he save you if you fell overboard?

I wouldn’t wait too long before you start letting him practice docking. Put out lots of rubber and find an empty finger at the dock and let him practice. Getting back to the harbour safely is only half of the equation if you are not able to help. He needs to be able to get the boat tied up.

[masraum]

He'll be docking like a boss in no time.

[KFC911]

We're gonna have to start calling you Gilligan in a year or two.... a new Skipper is running this show.... that's very cool !

[Seahawk]

I am sure you know, but he will NEVER forget the days with you and being at the helm.

Never.

Huge deal.

Also, Williamson Turn. Have him learn it. Throw an old life jacket overboard and have him practice.

https://findanyanswer.com/what-is-a-williamson-turn

[id10t]

My boat handling lessons started with canoes and sunfish sailboats at summer camp, then in the Boy Scouts we went to Sea Base one year as a troop. 24 hours orientation, radio ops, re-iteration over navigation and reading charts, 6 hour shakedown cruise and a "See y'all in 12 days!" 10 scouts, one scout master, two 25' sail boats in the keys.

[rfuerst911sc]

Great stuff ! And in a small way you are setting him up to be a successful road driver . Well done 👏

[dmcummins]

He and his younger sister will be over quite a bit this summer. My wife helps take care of them when school is out. The granddaughter is 6 and not too interested in fishing or boat handling, but will go along for a short ride or to the beach.

We don’t get a chance to out a lot, generally weekends only and he’s into hockey, so that also takes a lot of time also. And with gas prices it’s going to be tough to go out regularly, the fishing spots take 60-100 gal of gas per trip.

But we don’t have to burn that much if we just go out for a boat ride.

[Wetwork]

As a actual retired US Coast Guard Surfman I'd take my hat off and shake your hand. You are nailing it.

Wheel time is gold. Just let him drive. We used to pull into a marina and start betting. You'd point to the hardest dock to moor into given the wind and tide for the challenger to tie up to. I'm talking tie that boat over there in this gale he-he. Putting fenders out all around of course. Then comes the egg challenge...balance a egg on the bow and 360 touch a bouy. Good times..

Above all else make sure he can radio your lat/long on Ch.16. Really all that matters is that search and rescue just know where to go. Even if a radio went dead I could still drive my boat or direct a helo to last known position. The rescue can figure out all the rest on scene.-WW

[Kraftwerk]

Lifetime skills ! This is great you are teaching the kid something he can use and build-on his while life. As a sailor myself, I always admire someone who can handle their boat safely and well.

[911 Rod]

Great to see. Has he taken the boating course?

[Baz]

The suggestions about taking a boating/safety class are good ones.

While living in Lehigh Acres, I got my 19' Mako, and the first thing I did was take the class offered by the local (Ft Myers) CG Auxillary:

Fort Myers Boat America Safety Class Pine Ridge Community Center (next to the fire station) 15660 Pine Ridge Road, Ft Myers, FL 33908

General information about boats and maintenance
Information on preparing for safe and enjoyable outings
Navigation rules and aids to navigation
Guidelines for operating your boat or PWC safely
What to do in case of boating emergencies
State-specific laws and regulations you must follow
The cost: $45 per person
Payment is by check or money order to: USCGAUX Flotilla 91
Advance registration required. Complete the form below or call 239-690-6780 to register.

===========

In the meantime, what you are doing - practical training/education is the ideal. But it never hurts to balance lab with classroom - when studying any discipline.

[berettafan]

Soooo important particularly when offshore. Drill into them 'point the compass this way and go till you see land' in case of trouble and also teach them to use the radio.

Might let him do some docking too. Once he grasps the idea of where the boat pivots he'll pick it up quick.

[McLovin]

He’ll be ready for Haulover in no time!

[drcoastline]

Excellent granddad, grandson time. He will remember this his entire life. That is the best thing you re teaching him.

A few things I would suggest as part of your training. It's great you are teaching him how to use the compass, most are too reliant on electronics. I would suggest writing down the heading you are taking to your fishing grounds. Relying on memory in the event of an emergency in my opinion is a little dangerous. write the heading on a piece of tape and place it on the helm next to the compass, it wouldn't hurt to write down the return heading.

When you get to the radio makes sure to teach him how to call out coordinates so he can radio in a location. You would be surprised how many people don't know how to read lat/lon coordinates.

Great fun, great learning great quality time.

[berettafan]

I think some/many radios have an emergency button that also transmits coordinates. IIRC some with built in GPS and others using the separate gps. I'd definitely want one with the built in for redundancy and to make it **** simple for coasties or dnr to find you.