What do I say

[brk-lnt]

If they were experienced boaters, I'd say it was nice that they were teaching their kids how to (hopefully) properly handle a boat and read the water.

But, since they're new, they need to concentrate on learning on their own first. There are no "roads" on the water, things can come at you from any direction. Until you learn how to properly navigate and handle yourself in that environment you shouldn't be turning the controls over to a child.

For a specific "what to say", I'd suggest something like "I saw the picture you posted, just wanted to let you know that it's illegal for someone underage to operate a boat and the MP's have been known to give out tickets for that sort of thing. Posting evidence of the incident is probably not a good idea either."

I'd also probably mention "I would have guessed they would have covered this in your boating safety course, but maybe not! Let me know if you have any questions about boating rules/regs and common courtesy stuff on the lake."

[znh]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

If they were experienced boaters, I'd say it was nice that they were teaching their kids how to (hopefully) properly handle a boat and read the water.

But, since they're new, they need to concentrate on learning on their own first. There are no "roads" on the water, things can come at you from any direction. Until you learn how to properly navigate and handle yourself in that environment you shouldn't be turning the controls over to a child.

For a specific "what to say", I'd suggest something like "I saw the picture you posted, just wanted to let you know that it's illegal for someone underage to operate a boat and the MP's have been known to give out tickets for that sort of thing. Posting evidence of the incident is probably not a good idea either."

I'd also probably mention "I would have guessed they would have covered this in your boating safety course, but maybe not! Let me know if you have any questions about boating rules/regs and common courtesy stuff on the lake."

But that wouldn't work since it's not illegal.

If you are concerned about your friends kids driving the boat since the adults don't have a lot of wheel time yet themselves, maybe just a nice friendly reminder that Winni is a lake that requires either a lot of first hand experience or close attention to what you are doing and your charts to always make sure you know where you are...

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by znh

But that wouldn't work since it's not illegal.

If you are concerned about your friends kids driving the boat since the adults don't have a lot of wheel time yet themselves, maybe just a nice friendly reminder that Winni is a lake that requires either a lot of first hand experience or close attention to what you are doing and your charts to always make sure you know where you are...

You're right!

We don't have kids, so I'm not as up to speed on the legality of kids operating boats over 25HP.

Makes it a slightly harder subject to broach...

[Shreddy]

I started driving the boat when I was 12 or 13...I've driven boats ever since and as soon as I turned 16 and got my boater's license in the mail I was taking the boat out on my own without issue. This was far for the better too, because my entire family knows it's comical watching my father drive and dock.

I'm not going to try and turn this into a debate, but please relax and don't worry about how other people are raising their kids. If I were you I'd be more concerned with the amount of BUI that takes place. Just put yourself in a position as captain of your vessel to alleviate against any issues that arise...no need to take the wind out of anyone else's sails.

[Phantom]

Water Camper --

Perhaps the post to Facebook was something quite innocent.

Not having access to the pic, take a closer look and see if perhaps it was taken in a completely remote part of the Lake (no boats, not traffic, no hazards) ... in all honesty, if done properly I do not see a MAJOR issue.

Also, you did not fully define "underage" ... is this individual 14-16 or 5-8 ? Big difference. Was the parent seated with the child? I suspect for the picture purpose, perhaps not... but something to consider that the parent simply slipped quickly out of the view of the cam.

My whole point is that we (in the Forum) should not rush to judgment not knowing all the circumstances.


update:
Shreddy posted almost the exact time as I -- now that I have read his post, I totally agree ............ and also am one who has been driving a boat since my early teen years.




.

[LIforrelaxin]

Letting your kids drive the boat with you present is nothing new. I am doing it now with both my boys... giving them short stents behind the well and letting the get used to how to control the boat.

If we didn't do things like this how would the next generation learn?

Do I let them drive in congested situations? No of course not
Do I let them drive in adverse weather conditions? No of course not
Do I let them drive full out on the throttle? No of course not
Do they go out alone? of course not

Why? Because they are just learning.... slowly they will do more, and yes when appropriate they will go to the boating safety course, and once I have
complete confidence they will go out alone.

While things like the boating safety cert. have been instituted for a reason, they haven't been instituted to make it impossible for the next generation to learn....

Learning is a process, that takes time... In my case it hasn't been until the kids where older that they took an interest in driving.. now they have and I am letting them learn.