Boating Lifestyle
Boating Lifestyle
There is so much to love, and learn, about boating. That's why we created this library of articles, videos and blog posts to help you throughout your adventures.
This Summer, Let the Kids do All the Work
Every summer when I was growing up, we took a family cruise. The destinations varied, and most were pretty cool. But I distinctly remember my brothers and I having certain responsibilities onboard. Looking back, it’s the smartest thing my parents could have done. It kept us busy, entertained, and we took ownership in the vacation.
Here’s a list of some of the responsibilities your kids can share:
- Docking the boat (usually a team effort anyway)
- Cleaning (a part of the boating experience)
- Tying knots (and using them)
- Driving (ain’t nothing better)
- Cooking (the galley is where I invented my famous Corn, Spinach, Cheese and Shrimp Scramble)
- Fishing (always a competition)
- Set the Waypoints on the GPS (they probably could teach you a few things about some of the electronics)
- Use the Cruising Guides (let them plan the trip)
- Set the Anchor (from dropping it to cleating it off and pulling it back up)
- Row the boat ashore (a dinghy is a great first boat)
- Hoist and set the sails (get involved with the strategies of sailing; learn the points of sail)
- Clean the bottom (kids love to swim)
- Watch for Buoys (and other boats)
- Tidy the Toys (from skis to snorkels, a boat is a great place to teach the importance of organization)
- Read the Charts (they’re complicated, it helps to have a second set of eyes)
- Use the gadgets (lights, bilge pumps, VHF Radios, Radar, etc.)
- Learn Cloud Formations (so many lessons in the clouds)
