There is nothing like seeing the sun set over the water with your family. Here are 3 boat tips to make your son or daughter smile and learn to love the water.
A boat trip is fun for the whole family but it can be stressful if not planned out. You don’t want to get on the boat only to find you’re not prepared or don’t know what to do. Boats can also be expensive so you don’t want to waste any time while you’re on the water. With these family boat tips you can get your kids out into nature and enjoy a fun trip on the water.
Tip 1: Be Prepared
There’s nothing worse than being miles from land and realizing you forgot something important. Being prepared ensures that you have the most time for fun and don’t have to waste any time worrying.
- Pick the right boat for you. Depending on the age of your kids and activities you want to do you may need a specific boat. Do your research to find the best type of boat for your trip.
- Know where you are going. Navigating in the water can be tricky so plan out where you want to go ahead of time.
- Pack a lot of water and bring snacks. Your kids will probably get thirsty or hungry right when you get out in the middle of the water so it is essential to have something to curb the hunger.
- Bring a blanket. Even if it is a beautiful sunny day, the winds can get cold on board the boat. Especially if your kids go swimming they may get cold when back on the boat and moving.
- Plan activities and pack accordingly. If you think you may want to go fishing be prepared or if you plan on dining at a restaurant after, remember to bring dry clothes.
Tip 2: Essential Boating Safety Tips
With small children on board you will want to be sure to know everything about boat safety. Being prepared for emergency and knowing what to do is essential.
- Make sure you have life vests and that your children wear them. It is important that young children wear a life vest at all times when on a boat.
- Keep children sitting while the boat is moving or docking. You can easily fall if the boat hits a wave while moving so make sure that all children know to stay in their seats until the boat slows down.
- Consider boating sea sickness and preventive measure for it! It is never fun if one of your family gets sick out on the water, especially if you are doing deep sea boating.
- Wear lots of sunscreen. The sun can be very heavy when out on the water so remember to apply sunscreen every couple hours and after swimming.
- Keep an emergency kit on board in case of injury.
- Know the number for the coast guard. In case of emergency you should know the number to call for help in your area.
- If you have a child interested in operating the boat with you, your state may require they take a boating safety course. Check the local laws in your area before allowing your child at the helm.
Tip 3: Manning the Boat
If you are new to boating you need to know the rules and regulations as well as how to drive your boat.
- Considering you have taken the required courses, take some time to watch YouTube videos of boaters manning their boat.
- Take a boating safety class. Boats can differ greatly and knowing safety tips is always a good plan.
- Pay attention and start building your boating intuition. When operating a boat make sure to pay attention. You will have to make moves ahead of time as boats are much different than cars.
- Go very slow when docking. Docking can be tricky and just as dangerous as speeding through the waters, so take your time.
Conclusion
There’s nothing like spending an evening on the water with your family. These are our top tips for family boating to have the best family boat trip. Spend time to prepare and plan out your trips before-hand. Pay attention to the essential boating safety tips that are standard. Learn to become an expert captain for your family by manning. We wish you the best time for you and your family.
