Kids and Boat Ramp

[LippCJ7]

Re: Kids and Boat Ramp

Tell you what I did one unique situation I was forced into. Wife and sister in law decide last minute that they were going shopping and I was taking the kids to the lake on the boat. So I have my four, oldest was fourteen and my SIL's 3, oldest also 14 youngest was 8 or 9, so I get to the ramp and its four lanes with docks on each side and of course the center two lanes are the only ones open and the outer lanes have rookies on them so I Huddle the kids up everyones got the plan and were on the same page BREAK!! I backed the boat into the water and loaded one 14 yr old and the four youngest on the boat then had the two remaining older kids go to the dock to receive incoming ski ropes from boat. I pushed the boat off and once my boat cleared the other boat, my step son threw one rope already tied to the bow to the dock then went to the back and did same, kids on the dock pulled the boat in backed it completely to the end of the dock placed bumpers and tied her off! all I did was watch! so I pull the truck and trailer up to park and I had people asking if they could hire my crew or if I could train theirs!! I was a very proud Captain. The girls joined us a couple of hours later.

 

[security6]

Re: Kids and Boat Ramp

The two adult rule seems like an overkill to me, unless you're talking about an infant. Do you need two adults even if there are no kids?

I took my two older kids and one friend (ages 5, 8 and 8) out on Saturday. Here is how I do it:

1) I back the boat into the water so the boat is still on the trailer, but so I can easily drive the boat off the trailer. Kids (and me) are in the truck.
2) We climb into the boat, put life jackets on the kids. Kids (and me) are in the boat.
3) I drive the boat off the trailer, motor over to the courtesy dock, and tie it up at the courtesy dock. Kids (and me) are in the boat. For this step, I like to have the kids in the bow of the boat so I can watch them. I tell them to sit on their bums.
4) I go park the truck. I give the kids the option of coming with me or staying on the courtesy dock. The parking area is 50 yards from the courtesy dock, so I feel ok leaving them at the dock by themselves. If the parking area was further away, or if the kids were younger / less mature, I would make them get in the truck with me.


I do this and have no problems launching and retrieving my 23' boat. Granted, it is easier with a second adult along, but it is easier because you can have one person drive the truck while the other is in the water on the boat.

 

[convergent]

Re: Kids and Boat Ramp

One suggestion if anyone is leaving a kid in the car on the ramp is to chock the wheels with something so even if the brake failed that it still wouldn't roll into the lake. I actually went about 2 weeks with a broken parking brake and had to do the wheels every launch. Its a pain, but it does virtually guarantee that the thing isn't rolling into the lake on you.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Kids and Boat Ramp

Dad takes child out of seat and places child in rear of vehicle. Note: if hatchback, open hatch so child can stand up and watch. If Pickup, keep tailgate closed so child doesn't stand up and ....... Now dad is no more than three feet away from child while launching and retrieving vessel.
.

Yup, thats my routine as well.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Kids and Boat Ramp

I didn't read all the responses, but I've been taking my kids out since they were 3YO. Even had both of them out by myself and the first time they were 3YO and 6YO without problems. Rules for launching/retreiving:

- all vehicle windows full down
- kids have their life vests on before launching
- no one has their seat belt on (so they can swim out if needed)
- once in the water, vehicle in park, engine off, parking brake set and keys out, before leaving vehicle
- kids go where I go, everyone in the vehicle, everyone on the dock, everyone in the boat
- depending on the launch circumstances, I have had my kids standing on the dock/shore, next to me as it was too deep for them to get out with the vehicle/boat in the water. But,,, my kids are pretty well behaved and not running around like a pack of wild monkeys. I tell them to stay here,,, and they don't run all over the place. (Well,,, at least for the short time it takes to launch the boat... )

 

[jackc10]

Re: Kids and Boat Ramp

I have done a lot of boating with my children, and now often, grandchildren.

Lots of good ideas above, but my usual procedure is to put the ones 6 to 10 on the dock. Under 6 or so I try to get a handy adult to watch them off to the side somewhere. At 11 or so they can hold the rope, and later, pull the boat. I put on my life jacket when I arrive at the ramp. That makes it easier to get them to do it. I would rather have them standing on the dock with life jackets on than wandering around and maybe getting on the ramp, floating off in an unmanned boat or jumping up and down in the vehicle at the ramp while I am backing down.

I also do not take my sospenders off until the boat is back in the prep area and neither do they.

I wear my sospenders at all times on board anyway, whether on the pontoon or the bassboat, but absolutely when on the water with children. That way, even if the other adults do not, the kids wear them easily since I do. Seems to work.

 

[Fed]

Re: Kids and Boat Ramp

Keep the kids out of the car.
I spent time in a sinking car, you cannot open the door and getting out of a window while there's a 1 foot high waterfall coming in the window would be very daunting for a kid.