A recent National Marine Manufacturers Association survey revealed that nearly 8 out of 10 adults who boated last year had also done so as children. The report also found that those who enjoyed the lifestyle as children were more likely to do so as adults. This makes complete sense: if you grow up around boating, you are more likely to boat later in life.
When I was growing up, boating was ingrained into my life. I was fortunate to live in a place where it was almost a given that you would spend time on a boat. But now, I realize that while I love being on boats, I’m not ready to be a boat owner. Let me rephrase that: I’m not ready to be a boat owner YET. And I think a lot of people find themselves in a similar situation, for a host of reasons.
If you’re between boats or not sure if ownership is a good current fit, you can still stay active on the water. Options include renting, sharing or joining a boat club. You can also enter into a shared ownership with family or friends. Or an inexpensive option like a dinghy, small sailboat or aluminum boat. I, for one, like the rental option. I’ve occasionally used Boatsetter (like Airbnb for boats) for special events and holidays.
But really, the most important thing is to pass along the love of boating on to family and friends. I hope to be a proud boat owner someday. Of course, that’s once my credit cards, student loans, mortgage, car loan, and home improvements are completely paid off. I’m just not there yet. I feel like I have an obligation to pass on the love of boating onto others. We all do. It comes from those who passed it on to me.
Here’s a sweet story from our friends at Discover Boating about the legacy that boating left on three generations of the Ader family.
Are you teaching your kids how to operate and maintain the boat? Start now with these ideas for every age group.
Kids and boating can go hand in hand.
Kids, especially siblings, squabble. It happens with toys, clothes, you name it. But squabbling over a responsibility?
That’s the reality aboard Glen Ader’s and his wife’s boat. Their boys, ages 11 and 8, are typically happy to tackle different tasks on the 32-foot Grand Banks. But when it comes to handling dock lines, each wants to be the only one to do it. Ader laughs in relating how he and his wife gently remind the boys to take turns: “It’s like, ‘C’mon, dudes, share.’”
The couple may be unusual in some respects—they held part of their wedding ceremony on the back of their then-boat, a Trophy. But they’re no different than hundreds of other parents who are also passionate boat owners. The Aders have been raising their boys to become cruisers since they were in their car seats. Car seats that got carried from the family automobile to the boat, naturally. So, as their sons are growing up, the Aders encourage them to learn more about the responsibilities of operating and owning a boat. They know that kids and boating is the best combination.
Ader is a firm believer that kids are never too young for parents to start this education process. “Kids love to learn, and love to learn with their hands,” he avers. He grew up boating and recalls that by his teens, he took the family boat out more than his dad, a tugboat captain who regularly enjoys the lifestyle to this day.
Ader’s experience as a child and his own children’s ongoing experiences underscore the findings of the 2013 Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract, published by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. It reveals that nearly 8 out of 10 adults who boated that year had also done so as children. Furthermore, the report found that people who enjoyed the lifestyle as children were more likely to do so as adults, too.
If you’re a parent or grandparent and haven’t yet thought about teaching your young ones the ropes (no pun intended), here are some general age-oriented tips to get you started.
Elementary School
Five- to 10-year-olds can learn a variety of things, some of which depend on their dexterity:
• Knot tying. If your kids can tie their shoelaces, they can learn a few simple knots. Imagine your child’s pride when you use his or her handiwork the next time on board.
• Wind and current. No need to go into detailed dissertations on the Beaufort scale or sea states; the Ader boys were each around five or six when they began learning the basics on how wind and current affect a boat.
• Handling dock lines. Let your kids practice when the water is calm and there aren’t a lot of other boats around to get comfortable. “It’s something they can do where there’s not really a lot of risk of them getting injured,” Ader says.
• Simple maintenance. If you do your own maintenance, show your kids what good vs. dirty oil looks like. They can stand by with tools for other tasks and even pitch in while you supervise. Ader says his 8-year-old has likely used a wrench in the bilge more times than his 11-year-old.
• Washdowns. When you’re finished hosing down the boat, hand your child a chamois and turn ‘em loose on rails or brightwork. Consider making a game out of who can dry off the boat the fastest (and safest).
Middle School
All of the above responsibilities can be taught to 11- to 14-year-olds if not done so previously. These additional tasks are appropriate as well:
• Using a boat hook. Practice tossing items into the water for your kids to retrieve using the hook. Depending on your child’s abilities, he or should may even be able to try this at an earlier age.
• Reading helm instruments. By now, your kids can better understand how an autopilot works, what a GPS displays, and more. Consider teaching plotting, too
• Taking the boat out of gear. While none of us wants to dwell on “what if” scenarios, it’s important to be prepared for emergencies. Show your children how to shut things down if for some reason you can’t get to the helm. Consider teaching this if your kids are nearing middle school, too.
Most parents find that the lessons their children learn on boats transfer to other areas of life, including in the classroom.
Teenagers
• Boat handling. Just as teens can’t wait to get their hands on the car keys, many want to take the wheel of the family boat. Depending on your state’s regulations, your teens may have to be a specific age to handle the helm and have passed a proficiency exam. There’s no minimum age in Florida, for example. However, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who wants to operate a vessel with a 10-hp or higher motor in state waters must have a boating education ID card and photo ID. The boating education ID proves he or she has completed a course given by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, or an equivalency.
• Emergency drills. Explain what to do in a man-overboard situation, and show your teen how to properly circle back and pick the person up. Even though the Ader boys are still pre-teens, Glen Ader and his wife have already discussed between themselves how they’ll eventually simulate a man-overboard situation by tossing something in the water.
Resources
Admittedly, all of the advice so far is geared toward those of you who are experienced boaters. If you’re a relative newcomer, the Discover Boating initiative, overseen by the National Marine Manufacturers Association, can help. The Discover Boating website includes a new directory of youth boating programs. More than 3,000 local and national programs are listed so far.
Many of these offer first-timers lessons on how to handle a boat, sometimes aboard boats in the program’s fleet or ones chartered for the purpose. Enter your zip code, select the type of activity your kids are interested in (powerboating, sailing, etc.), and the radius you’re willing to travel (10 to 100 miles). Most programs include details on age requirements.
Furthermore, kids as young as four years old can be enrolled in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Boating Fun class. Among other things, the hour-long program provides them with an activity and coloring book that further teaches safe-boating lessons.
Whatever your kids’ ages , and no matter your experience level, it’s vital to put kids and boating together. “The phenomenon, I think, that’s going on now with the younger generations is the need to disconnect and spend more time together,” says Frank Peterson, president and CEO of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation. That’s a nonprofit organization focused on increasing participation in fishing, boating, and aquatic stewardship.
“We call it ‘togethering,’ and I think fishing and boating allow people to spend more of that ‘together time.’ Our sports really appeal to the younger generations. What we have to do is break down some perceived barriers to entry that they may have.”
SB: Please give a brief background of Discover Boating and what sets it apart from other competitors in the field? How do you feel it has accomplished this and how will it continue to do so? CB: Discover Boating kicked off in December 2003, and the first marketing campaign launched in Spring 2005 to help new cruisers get on the water and improve the boating experience for current boat owners. Similar to other all-industry campaigns such as “Got Milk?” and “Go RVing”, all corners of the boating industry pull together contributions to help introduce more people to life on the water and ultimately buy more boats.
SB: How has Discover Boating developed and changed since its formation? CB: There have been adjustments to the changing economy and marketing landscape but since the campaign’s inception, our mission has stayed largely the same: share the boating lifestyle and improve the boating experience to help more people get on the water and become lifelong cruisers.
SB: Can you tell me a few things that specifically ignite passion and excitement about your job at Discover Boating? CB: Boating is a lifestyle that people love and are passionate about—including me. I have a pretty great job because I introduce people to the fun of being on a boat. Whether that’s helping people connect with their friends and family, or disconnecting from their phones and computers to recharge their “batteries” and unwind on a boat. It is fulfilling to know we are helping people experience this special side of life spent on a boat and having fun with the people who matter most.
SB: What are you most proud of accomplishing at Discover Boating? CB: I’m most proud of the number of people we’ve introduced to boating and ignited to become boat owners and as a result, helped them make memories that will last a lifetime. I’m also proud of the momentum we’ve helped create in the industry. The recreational boating industry is made up of about 95% small businesses. These are businesses that support jobs and local communities but they also create boats that bring families and friends together and provide a way for people to experience our country’s waterways.
SB: How has Discover Boating made the biggest difference in the marine industry? I would love to hear specific examples of how you believe your company has enriched mariners experience on the water. CB: What’s unique about Discover Boating is that it encompasses all areas of boating. We aren’t selling a certain type of boat or accessory—discoverboating.com is an unbiased, not-for-profit resource for new and experienced boat owners alike to find the information they need to have the best time on the water. From how to buy/shop, finance, insure, maintain, and trailer to where to go and have some fun, our website covers it all.
We’ve also created a social networking community where we engage with cruisers, and potential cruisers, each day. We share inspiring boating stories and images, special insights on finding the right boat, and answer questions to help people navigate their boating or boat buying experiences. We’re providing real-time solutions for people and we’re able to provide these solutions with the support, knowledge and credibility of the entire boating industry, which doesn’t exist anywhere else.
SB: What should we expect to see from Discover Boating in this upcoming year? CB: In 2014, we launched our Stories of Discovery video documentary series profiling real cruisers and their love for the water. Those four stories/videos were a thrill to create—searching for the stars, learning their stories and shooting the footage—and offer a special look into the role boating plays in people’s lives. The response has blown away our expectations. With these videos as a cornerstone of our campaign—we helped bring 1.8 million people to manufacturer websites to shop for boats. Based on this success, we’re continuing Stories of Discovery in 2015 with two new storytellers sharing their personal boating experiences.
In addition, you can expect Discover Boating to have a heavy online presence on your favorite news outlet websites and your go-to social networks. You’ll also see us at boat shows and other national events to support our Hands-On Skills Training program. We believe that education is one of the best ways to encourage people to try boating for the first time and also give cruisers—both veterans and newbies—a way to check their skills and be more confident on the water.
SB: Are you involved in any outside marine organizations? CB: I’m currently on the Recreational Boating & Fishing Board of Directors and involved with the Recreational Boating Leadership Council. Formerly on the Sail America Board of Directors and the National Safe Boating Council.
SB: How involved in the boating and marine community are you? Do you own a boat yourself? What do you love most about being a mariner? CB: Every weekend in the summer you can find me on my boat in Chicago cruising Lake Michigan with my friends. There’s no place I’d rather be than on my boat to unwind and have fun. Boating provides such an incredible social experience that also makes me feel like I’m miles away from home on vacation. I’m able to bring a lot of my personal experiences as a cruiser to my work and put myself in the shoes of a potential cruiser to think about what would make it most compelling and what’s going to really attract someone to the boating lifestyle.
SB: What else would you like our readers to know? CB: Discover Boating can help you find your next boating destination or access point, connect you with a local certified dealer for your next upgrade, or provide tips for semi-annual maintenance and more. We’re here to help you make the most of your time on the water. I also encourage anyone interested in the latest boating trends and information to connect with us on our social media outlets.
