GP-TJ

Last year my son (3 then) talked about going on the boat. He went with me but as soon as I tried to get up on plane he said "I wanna go home..." in a very low mono-tone voice. He repeated this until I went home or putt-putted around the harbor. He seemed to like it but didn't want to go fast at all.

This year we went out for the first time (now he's 4). He was a little nervous when we got to the dock. He was holding my hand on the dock and right by my side every move I made. We took a quick tour of the harbor and then tried to exit the channel. He was doing pretty good but was saying "don't go too fast." There was another boat in front of us with 2 kids on there ~7 and 10. I said look at those kids. As they sped up on plane, I followed and he seemed OK. We went down to Wickford to look at the boats there and then headed back out again. This time he said "go fast again". From that point forward he wanted to go fast.

Anyone else have similar experience. He really loosened up. He went to the bow casting platform and opened his fire truck lunch cooler and ate it and enjoyed. I didn't even try to fish with him yesterday. This morning he said "we didn't catch any fish on the boat". Maybe next time we will try a little fishing.

GP

Bryan A.

My daughters were the same way. But I did it when my oldest was two. At first she was nervous but now she loves to go Fast. The most important thing is to let them go at their own pace. Don't push them and eventually they will love it as much as you if not more. The best thing I have found to do is go out to an Island or Sandbar and let them explore and play in the mud. I feel sorry for the guys that claim their families don't like the boat. Personally I would sell my house before I sold my boat.

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2003 Parker 2530 "El Mar".......click the pic
1973 Seacraft 20SF

gman

Anthony tok to my fathers boat relatively quickly but at first not unlike your children he was apprehensive. I gave him little duties to make he pre-occupied the first couple of times and after that ...the rest is history.

He would rather be on the ocean than on land. People ask him what he wants to be when he grows up and proffesional tournament angler or charter captain come up first LOL

Bob & Mag

Our oldest grandson went through the same thing about the same age. He called it "bumpy water".
Seeing other kids or bringing another youngster on the boat with him seemed to help greatly. I always kept him in the seat next to me and gave him things to do. I give him verbal quizzes and it's amazing how kids will absorb info like a sponge does water.
Keeping them busy seemed to be the key for us. By age four/five it would be...Grandpa is Dad asleep yet? Then can I drive now? LOL

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Smoke free 9+ Months!

GP-TJ

He sat right on the leaning post next to me. We talked about various things we saw and the boats we encountered. He did call it bumpy too. He still says the best part was going fast.

GP