Cruising with Kids

First Mate In Training Encouraging kids to step up to more responsibility while boating.

When our kids were younger, their main “job” on-board the boat was to simply listen to the rules while the first mate and captain (mom and dad) would do all the heavy lifting of docking, cruising and anchoring. But now that our kids are getting older, they are eager to learn the ropes and become more active members of our family crew.

The most logical first step to help kids take on more responsibilities is to promote them to “first mate in training,” so they can shadow the first mate and learn how to do important tasks. As they gain confidence and acquire new boating skills, their new role becomes a learning experience that sets them on the path to an even deeper appreciation of their boat life.

Life lessons on the water My first experience as a “first mate” did not happen until I was an adult. I had to literally learn the ropes while we were learning all about our first boat. At the time, I had only been dating my [now] husband for about a year, and we both had to quickly learn how to dock, maneuver and maintain a boat – boy, did it test our relationship! The experience taught us the importance of teamwork, communication, patience and trust in each other to ensure success in performing our duties as captain and first mate of the ship.

With your kids, these same qualities are important as you share your boating knowledge. Choosing age-appropriate tasks and easing into new responsibilities where kids can safely learn at a gentle pace is important.

When kids step up to new responsibilities, they realize that going to the boat is about more than having a fun day out on the water – it’s about learning what it takes to own a boat, care for a boat and operate a boat. These moments teaching your children will create a lifetime of memories.

An early sense of responsibility or duty will also increase your child’s connection with boating. Usually, showing a proper technique – or showing how things can go wrong – is a hands-on activity where kids learn best.

Memorable first experiences This past season, my 12-year-old daughter had her first experience stepping in as first mate. Some issues with our generator required a boat trip to another marina and leaving our boat there for a few weeks. This became the perfect opportunity for our daughter to travel with her dad on the boat and fill in as first mate while I drove our car to the marina to provide a ride home.

On our boat, first mate duties range from handling the bow lines at the dock to managing fenders or assisting in navigation. I had already started giving my daughter little lessons on the water over the past few summers, like letting her join me on the bow to assist with the lines and teaching her about how to look for debris in the water when cruising. We knew this was the year she was ready to take on the challenge of filling in as first mate.

I will admit I was a little nervous not being onboard as the two embarked on their hour-long journey. It was the first time she was on the bow throwing lines onto the piling without me by her side, and it was the first time she was assisting with navigation and tying up at a new marina. But as I watched my husband and daughter sitting together at the helm getting smaller and smaller into the distance, I felt so pleased that they were going to experience this great adventure together.

The maiden voyage with my daughter was such a success that several weeks later they did the return cruise back to our home marina, too. I was so proud that my aspiring first mate handled her role on the boat in such a responsible and confident manner. Most importantly, I was thrilled to see that taking on these new responsibilities enabled her to experience a new appreciation for boating.

Talk to your kids about what new responsibilities they might want to take on while on the boat. Their eagerness to learn coupled with their enthusiasm for boating just might make it the perfect time for them to lend you a hand – or even step into the role of first mate. ★

DIANE SELTZER is an avid boater, marketing director for SureShade sunshade systems, author of the children’s book The Amazing Adventures of Boat Girl and runs the boating lifestyle websites MYBOATLIFE.COM and BOATERKIDS.COM.