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Mink Islander · 07-07-2010, 08:13 AM

We were in Wolfeboro last Saturday for breakfast and errands. I was waiting in the boat with the kids for my wife to get back from the IGA when I saw what looked like a 12 or 14 year old boy backing out of the channel one dock over from me. There was just a bit of a cross breeze that morning -- enough to make things a little challenging. Suddenly, Dad, the only passenger in the boat, made a mad dash to the back of the boat, but wasn't fast enough to get to the back corner before the boat bounced off another boat -- not a hard strike, but could have left a mark.... He managed to clear the rest of the way without further incident with Dad pushing him off that last boat in his path.

Now understand, I have nearly 16 year old twins so getting "behind the wheel" time for them has been a priority the past couple of summers. They're getting pretty good at landing boats! However, one of the most challenging maneuvers for a young captain is to back up a 20+ foot boat in a straight line with only a few feet on each side to spare. I would NEVER have let my kids attempt this maneuver without several more passengers in the boat to make sure we weren't playing bumper cars though the channel. Risk to other people's property outweighing the teachable moment in this case.

07-07-2010, 08:13 AM	#8
Mink Islander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 753 Thanks: 59 Thanked 271 Times in 129 Posts	Bumper Cars We were in Wolfeboro last Saturday for breakfast and errands. I was waiting in the boat with the kids for my wife to get back from the IGA when I saw what looked like a 12 or 14 year old boy backing out of the channel one dock over from me. There was just a bit of a cross breeze that morning -- enough to make things a little challenging. Suddenly, Dad, the only passenger in the boat, made a mad dash to the back of the boat, but wasn't fast enough to get to the back corner before the boat bounced off another boat -- not a hard strike, but could have left a mark.... He managed to clear the rest of the way without further incident with Dad pushing him off that last boat in his path. Now understand, I have nearly 16 year old twins so getting "behind the wheel" time for them has been a priority the past couple of summers. They're getting pretty good at landing boats! However, one of the most challenging maneuvers for a young captain is to back up a 20+ foot boat in a straight line with only a few feet on each side to spare. I would NEVER have let my kids attempt this maneuver without several more passengers in the boat to make sure we weren't playing bumper cars though the channel. Risk to other people's property outweighing the teachable moment in this case.