Inside Boating

[DJ]

All,

Let's not forget what boating is all about. It seems, to me, that a lot of emphasis is placed on going faster, farther, longer. That's all good with some caveats.

With grown children, on their own, my meaning of the activity has come to mind. I share some of my thoughts. I wish I'd done more. Hindsight is always 20/20. In the beginning, it was all about ME. I needed to be on the water, to keep my sanity. I realized that there is so much more to it.

Time


-People talk about "family/quality" time. Let me tell you that spending an eight hour day, on a eight sq. ft. deck will teach you about values you've never known. You learn to Love. Take your children and teach them about water. DO NOT IGNORE THEM.

-It's, again, not about you. It's called patience. Teaching a youngster to handle the helm while you WATCH but let them have at it. You might turn a few circles but they learn. Priceless!

-Do what the youngsters want to do. If they want to beach the boat and look for frogs and turtles, so be it. LOOK.

Fish

Teach them the cycle of life and where they fit in. Be kind and let the backlash/snarls go by, as long as they learn.

-Underwater. I, being a SCUBA diver am a fish. Teach the young'uns what is underwater and how to respect it.

Overhead

Watch the waterfowl. There are seamanship lessons to be learned. Their (waterfowl) instincts have saved many a sailor. Not to mention, they can be very entertaining.

-How many get to see the underside of a bridge they cross-everday?

Surround


-Don't miss what you see that goes by. Slow down and enjoy the sights that go by.

So many of our rivers, even some lakes, offer a huge amount of history that is not only interesting but fascinating, once you explore.

Boating is a lifestyle. Included in that lifestyle is care and maintenace.

-Let them be involved. Washing, drying, even serious maintenance. That builds a "respect" for the equipment that allows them to see what few others have.

A special place. Boating-A boater.

 

[oops!]

Re: Inside Boating

bump

 

[marine4003]

Re: Inside Boating

Having the luxury of owning my own business,means i can play "hookie" whenever i like, same with my wife....and now that my daughter is two and able to understand her surroundings better,she LOVES going on the "boot" so,whenever its possible we 3 go "booting" its amazing that what i used to take for granted, she see's....the sky's i used to glance at , looking for rain...she stares at in wonder. bait fish swimming along the shore...she chases. Gulls , never more than a nuisance.....she copy's with the flapping of her arms. Its opened up a whole new world, its like i'm seeing it all for the first time. Priceless !!!!!! So...Thanks DJ,for starting a thread on the importance of uniting the family thru Boating.
PS - Bought a 1970 Boston Whaler 13 S.S. totally restored it,it will be "Her" Boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Inside Boating

DJ, i have to totally agree with you. we are on the 5th generation of boaters in our family. grand parents, parents, my generation, my kids, and nieces & nephews, their kids, we all have handed down the knowledge and fun of boating. my 13 year old grandson is as capable captain as I. soon to be certified. we all have grown up, appreciating, and respecting nature. it is sometimes sad, that as they grow up, they buy there own boat, and start showing others the ways of boating. i do miss them on my boat, but i taught them well. this is one reason, that I and my Sister/BIL, went together and bought our 23' Deckboat. it is large enough that we can still get the majority of the immediate family together, for the special days.

 

[mike64]

Re: Inside Boating

Well said. I have two young boys, so this post really hits home with me.

 

[One]

Re: Inside Boating

Very true. Being a first time father makes me enjoy every minute of that and even more when on a boat. Makes me think of what my father went through, with five kids.

Times are tough these days - nothing better than sitting back with my son and wife going for a boat ride (with a fish pole or two of course).

 

[slarn001]

Re: Inside Boating

As a member of the Active Duty Army I have longed for the day when I could finally settle down and get back to boating and fishing. That day came one year ago with my final assignment here in west central Florida. I am set to retire from the Army in a year and have really enjoyed the time spent together with my family on the boat. It really brings us all together and really enjoy the outdoors together. My kids are 7 and 11 so I relate to patience and doing what they want to do. If the fish don't want to take the bait we end up cruising and exploring new locations and wildlife. It is amazing to watch their reactions when they see different wildlife for the very first time. My 7 year old son nearly jumped out his shorts the first time we seen an alligator sunning itself on the river bank and my wife went into a near panic. For all those with less life experience than others, slow down and enjoy the ride all too soon it will be over and we will all wonder where it went.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Inside Boating

Good post DJ.

I know allot of us might get mad or bark at kids when they make a mistake when fishing. For example getting the lure hung up, we need to look at it this way they aren't the only ones that messed up, I'm sure we all have hung up a lure in the past.

My brother was teaching his 11 year old daughter how to cast a more complicated reel, she does good with a Zebco etc etc, when she got to trying this rod out she smacked me right in the head with the end of it . Trial and error that's how you got to look at it. Thank goodness I had my hat on, hurt bad enough with it on.

Before that she got hung up with one of my lures, I just caught a 3lber the day before with it didn't wanna lose it. We managed to get the lure back after allot of fighting with limbs, hard gust of wind pushing the boat, and all, guess what I along with my brother have done worse so I couldn't say a darn thing.

Another thing to, allot of people might expect kids to fish or tube as long as we can, but kids do give out easily.

 

[R1Titan]

Re: Inside Boating

I think this is an excelent thread. The main reason I want to buy a boat is for me to spend time with the kids, they love boats and water. I can't wait until I get back so I can buy a boat and have some fun with my kids.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Inside Boating

Agree, this is a good thread. At 60 I finally got my first boat. Use it on various lakes near our home. My middle son is the accomplished fisherman in the family (he's caught some really big fish!), and my wife used to love to fish on the ice in a fish house with her parents when she was a kid. So those two are my main boating companions.

What fun. And never any arguments. Just lots of laughs and many peaceful memories. We've seen loons close up and eagles that swooped down to catch bigger fish than we caught! We've been in rough chop as well as smooth-as-glass waters. We've had some challenges, particularly in unexpected shallow waters, but we were always careful about our speed and always under control. So far, so good.

Got boating career off to great start this year, thanks mainly to what I learned on this board and the safe boating class put on by U.S. Power Squadron. Many thanks everyone. - Ken

 

[Five O'Clock]

Re: Inside Boating

Great post, however I must say I would be in the opposite boat (no pun intended) of most of you. I am 24 years old now, branched out and bought the boat in my signature below when I was 23. My family has never owned a boat, but my father and I have always gone surf fishing on the rocks up here in New England. I take my father out as often as I possibly can, but he likes to act like its his boat. He's always re-arranging my cabin, cleaning, and doing some maintenance work, to which I have no problem with at all.

I work M-F, head to the boat Friday night and stay until sunday night or monday morning. It has pretty much worked out, the day on the boat with my friends is Saturday, but Sunday is family day. My mother, father, and usually 2 sisters with their significant others will come down and we'll cruise around Boston Harbor. Sometime's they'll bring the dogs, where cleanup isn't too fun, but well worth it.

I come to these forums because I am starting a long awaited generation of boating, and have no prior experiences with boat maintenance. I've taken boating courses through the USCG and feel very comfortable captaining the boat, more importantly, my family, girlfriend, and friends feel comfortable with me as well. But I come to these forums for help from my friends here, and my friends at the dock. Your knowledge, experience, and wisdom help me to grow as a boater, so I hope every one of you know that you are helping lots of people along the way, even with the smallest, simplest answer. Some of you may not have kids to teach how to fish, or show to drive or fix a boat, but there are people like myself who look to you for advice just like your child, or grown-up-child would.

Thank you to all, and happy boating...

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Inside Boating

Great points I wished I had read something like this earlier. Last year when we were completely new to boating one of the first times out my 4 year old had a complete meltdown because he wanted to stop and fish and I wanted to head to the other side of the lake..... After telling the story the next day to a friend who is a life long boater about how my son almost ruined the trip he looked at me with this quizzical look and said "why didnt you just stop and fish". Yup I'm a dumb azzzz. Needless to say our boating has been utter bliss ever since.