Babe's and Boats

[Maddie'sDaddy]

Just looking for some oppinions on how young you think is to young to go out in a boat. God knows I would never allow a small child in my boat without a very high quality PFD. Let alone anyone else. I just started really thinking about it the other day when me and my Daughter of 17 Months went out to Sauvies Island and were looking at the boats in the MC. She loves to watch them and airplanes. Also loves water. Her favorite movie right now is "Finding Nemo" Loves to see fish.
Anyone have some good recomendations on The best PFD for a small child .
I have a 1977 16' open bow Starcraft that is in sound condition, Has never leaked a drop since I have owned it. Might help with some oppinions knowing the kind of boat I may want to take her out in.

Thanks MD :smile:

[ 02-28-2004, 07:24 PM: Message edited by: Maddie'sDaddy ]

[STGRule]

Boat: Stable, high gunwales, sun shade, VERY attentive parent.
Day: calm, warm (not hot).
PFD: Now it gets tricky. The best PFD is also the most uncomfortable. Crotch-strap is a must, neck float is best.

Make sure you are not very far from the ramp. Cranky child in PFD with a soiled diaper is not a good thing.

Did I mention a VERY attentive adult? It only takes a half a second.

All that being said, shad fishing on a warm evening from the driftboat, just up from the ramp in O.C. was a lot of fun with little kids.

[1pump]

I took a 3 year old crabbing in my little Klamath. She did fine, althought the crabs scared her. I had somebody else with me to watch her, and it was a good thing I did. A toddler needs full-time 100% attention, and you won't be able to handle the boat and the kid at the same time.

[happybrew]

Be aware a small child in a boat may get cranky due to the confined space. I've taken mine when they were four in a raft, stayed close to shore, and didn't plan on doing much fishing. I took my daughter alone once when she was five, and she got whiney until we got into some fish. Then she was fine. You may want to bring crayons and a coloring book along to keep them occupied if they start to get bored and feel confined. As for PFD, make sure they wear one that will turn their head up and out of the water. It will be uncomfortable, and they will complain, but after a few times it will be expected. Be very attentive. Warm days are best. I've got no problem with mine jumping out of the boat while wearing a PFD if it's hot out, as long as it's calm and very warm. I only do it if we can get back to shore within about ten minutes or so. When they get cold, they can get very cold very quickly due to theirsmall size. I'd also recommend that you keep a length of rope in your pocket. Odds are much against it, but if your boat were to go down for some reason, your child would have difficulty making it to shore. My plan if anything happens has always been to tie them off to me, then I swim and tow them along.

happybrew

[jokester]

You can't tease us with a topic like that! I was expecting to see the cousin calendar to "Women in Waders!" :grin: D'OH!!!

-jokester

[Cool Texan]

Dang, Jokester beat me to it!

[happybrew]

Umm... with a moniker like Maddie's Daddy, obviously he was talking about babies, not "babes". Shame on you two! Now go wash your minds out with soap!

:tongue:

happybrew

[Jettin' Fool]

My 18mo. old LOVES boat rides! She talks about it for days....making motor noises and quacking like a duck [img]graemlins/hearton.gif[/img]
Dont forget to use plenty of sun block and a wide brim hat. The sun is not kind on babies skin.

Have a blast!



JFool

[drhall99]

I avoid bad weather days when I'm taking my son out. I starting taking him when he was about 18 months old. I try to remember to bring LOTS of snacks(no sugar on the boat), toys, water, diapers and sunblock. One other trick, bring some large sardines and when they aren't looking, pull in their Snoopy pole and put them on the hook. They will be as excited as if they caught a salmon when they reel the sardine in. The only problem is that my son wanted them cooked for dinner when we got home [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img] .

Doug

[Maddie'sDaddy]

I figured the name of this post would get some guys looking, Babe's and Boats Yeeeeeessss :shocked: Oh bummer it's just about baby's :depressed: . Might as well read while im here. :smile: First ,thanks for all your oppinions it's nice to get advise from guys who have been on the water probably longer than I have. I rarely ever boat alone so there will always be another adult along to help with the little one. As far as attentive, there may not be a more attentive , maybe too attentive father out there.
It took us a long time to have this little one and every bit of my body and soul are here to protect her. Most of the trips with her for now will probably focus around the MC and Hagg lake, where we can allways be close to the dock if needed.


By the way Jet'in Fool That is a great pic ! She looks like she is really enjoying herself.

[ 02-29-2004, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Maddie'sDaddy ]

[Lepper]

I've taken out a few familes with around the 2year old age.. So they are all over everything!!

We had a great PFD one that does the crotch hold on ya. Also kept the bow windows shut and locked so they couldn't get to the bow and then put them on a rope. (yep tied that little buuger to the boat the other end was tied to mommy or daddy..) rope had enough length they could reach the side but go not further seemed to work pretty good..
d

[Bait O' Eggs]

My kids were in the boat when they were only a few months old.

Use to set up the travel crib in the boat long before they could do more than roll over.

I am waiting for the day my boy falls out of the boat reaching for a crab ring float. He has been leaning over the side of the boat helping grab floats since he could see over the side of the boat.

They are never to small to take along.

[bucketmouth]

Wanted to post a picture of my daughter wearing her PFD while in our boat. Pic would not post cuz java script was void??? Anyway, she is 5 in the picture and the PFD was a class IV type. If you have her lift her arms try to pull the PFD off. If it comes off easily or at all, you have the wrong PDF. It's really a good test. Will stay with the PFD we have for her until she outgrows it.

[LQQKASTAR]

WOW! what a cute picture, im sure that one will be on your wall for life.
took my son out crabbing when he was about 4 or 5, we caught a few crabs, 1 crab had a big barnacle on its back. he befreinded that crab and named him barnacle bill,and poked and played with him while he was in the bucket...all was good
till we got to the crab cooker, he cried and screamed for me to release barnacle bill. since we didnt get many crabs, that would be my last option...um um so i released him :blush: (it wasnt hard to fool a 4 yr. old)
a good time was had by all.
barnical bill tasted great :smile:

[STGRule]

Bucketmouth. I also did the lift test. I picked the kids up by the shoulders of the vest and had them put their arms up. Maybe even give a small shake. If they don't come out that way, they won't in the water

[lost_sailor]

It's easy - whenever MOM says they're old enough, they're old enough.

[Hawg Caller]

STG Rule hit it on the money!!!

[MrsSled19]

We found with both of our kids that a pfd with a floatation flap near the back of the head is best.
But a word of caution make sure that the back of the vest is fabric only no foam.

We saw many young kids held face down with the tradional vest that had the flap in the back of the head. With the all around foam it seemed as if smaller children were unable to roll themselves over on to their backs and thus the flap on the back held them face down in the water.

That is why we went with a backless vest for our kids. With the flotation in the front only and none in back the child will automatically roll on to it's back and then the head flap will support the head and neck. Above all maker sure of propper fit no pfd will work unless it fits well and correctly.

Have fun with the little one(s)

[Hoosier Daddy]

A wise man once said "Well, you never really know (when they're ready, but when they know, you'll know, ya know"?