Kids on Board

[coastrider]

Hello,

my little daughter is now 3jears old, and i want to buy a special Boatseat for Kids.So that she has her own "Captain"-Seat in the same height as the normal seats, and that she can have a look around whats going on around her.I think that the seat can be moved in many positions such like a sleeping position or it can be turned around.It was designed for open (Trailer)boats.
I think i have seen such a device on the net, but dont know where it was.
I believe that it has seat belts and the Kid should wear a PFD in the seat.

Now which experiences have you made with seats like this? Or with Kids on boats?

Especially when you are on the sea and the weather is changing to bad weather with big waves.
In this moment it is reassuringly to know that the kid is safe in the seat.

thanks

 

[BF]

Re: Kids on Board

Hiya (& welcome)

I haven't seen such a thing, but I would be leary of using seatbelts, except to hold the kiddie seat onto the regular seat. If something bad were to happen, I think you'd rather have her free-floating in her PFD, instead of strapped into a sinking/overturned vessel.

There was a amphibious bus that sank in Ottawa a year or so ago. IIRC, most of those that drowned did so because they had seatbelts on.

Bear in mind that I'm an inland lake kind of person, and maybe on big water with the big wave action, strapping kids in is done (?)... Nonetheless, it would make me uncomfortable.

 

[coastrider]

Re: Kids on Board

now many people said dont strap your kid in a car seat, but what about harnesses?
When a boat capsized, the kid is also be straped to the boat!
Are there any regulations about that?

 

[tommays]

Re: Kids on Board

haveing done kids on power and sail at all ages down to infant

The real issue is haveing and adult onboard who is ONLY looking after the children at ALL times and NOT needed to run the boat


Tommays

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Kids on Board

I agree with tommays. I have 2 little ones and I have had them on boats since they were a few months old and the key has always been having somebody dedicated to them with no other responsibilities. I wouldn't even think of strapping a kid into a boat.

 

[sc_shane]

Re: Kids on Board

I have 2 kids now - one 3 years and the other is 8 months. I've had the 3 year old out since he was 6 months old. We always have mom or someone else with us to watch over the kids. One advantage I have is a pontoon boat, which is slow (20+ mph cruise), has room to move around on deck & a big gate surrounding everyone to keep them in! Pretty much the 2 big rules are 1) Everyone under 12 wears a pfd at ALL time & 2)No children move on the boat unless the engine is OFF. That pretty much takes care of everything for us.

I think it's important to include the kids on the water! Good for you to looking in to doing it safely! Happy boating!

 

[yorkcoparamedic]

Re: Kids on Board

I agree with the others. I have a 2 y/o that has been boating with us on the Chesapeake Bay since 10 days old. We never go underway without one person being with him and only with him! And even then he wears a PFD. I can understand your desire to share with her the goings on, and wish for her take in the wonderful views from the helm station. But at 3 y/o she will have plenty of time for that. I would consider her safety foremost and then the view of whats going on.
Further, I would not see much wrong with a safety tether from her PFD to yours ( not to the boat, unless someone is with her ) if you must go underway being just the two of you. Just pay extra attention to whats going on.