Hi,
We have a 16-month old boy who has turned into a real dare-devel: always climbing on things, never wants to stay in one place for more than five seconds. He thinks "No!" is some kind of a joke! This is a bit of a problem for us (and him) when sailing on our Typhoon.
Even when down below, he is climbing on the bunks and whacking his head on the deckhead. I figured if a little guy his size is banging his head, it's a sure sign that we need a bigger boat. On deck, with the narrow beam and no guard rails, we have to keep a tight grip on him. There is very little room to set him up with toys that are going to keep him entertained.
My concern with moving up to a bigger boat is, would it actually solve the problem and let us sail with safe and happy toddler and relaxed parents? That doesn't happen often on land, when I come to think about it.
What I like about the Typhoon is her simplicity, and being able to set sail with little effort, even for just a half hour's solo sail in the evening. A bigger more complex boat might mean sacrificing the sailing time that I do get these days.
So, what are your tips for sailing with toddlers? What is the right boat to do it in (balanced with the need for easy solo daysailing)?
Regards,
Richard.
richard@memory-map.com
Sailing with kids... is a bigger boat the answer?
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Bill Michne
Re: Sailing with kids... is a bigger boat the answer?
Richard:Richard Stephens wrote: Hi,
We have a 16-month old boy who has turned into a real dare-devel: always climbing on things, never wants to stay in one place for more than five seconds. He thinks "No!" is some kind of a joke! This is a bit of a problem for us (and him) when sailing on our Typhoon.
Even when down below, he is climbing on the bunks and whacking his head on the deckhead. I figured if a little guy his size is banging his head, it's a sure sign that we need a bigger boat. On deck, with the narrow beam and no guard rails, we have to keep a tight grip on him. There is very little room to set him up with toys that are going to keep him entertained.
My concern with moving up to a bigger boat is, would it actually solve the problem and let us sail with safe and happy toddler and relaxed parents? That doesn't happen often on land, when I come to think about it.
What I like about the Typhoon is her simplicity, and being able to set sail with little effort, even for just a half hour's solo sail in the evening. A bigger more complex boat might mean sacrificing the sailing time that I do get these days.
So, what are your tips for sailing with toddlers? What is the right boat to do it in (balanced with the need for easy solo daysailing)?
Regards,
Richard.
We started sailing when our kids were 2 and 5. The boy (2) was the same kind of problem. We had a 22 footer at the time but quickly upsized to a 25. We regularly cruised long weekends and week long vacations. We put the boy in a harness when he was in the cockpit so he couldn't even get out of the cockpit. We had many wonderful years with the kids growing up in the boat. Note that the kids amused each other so that simplified our lives. So your options are a slightly larger boat, a harness in any case, and the best bet, a baby sister.
Bill
Mintaka CD 40 #7
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Sean
Re: Sailing with kids... is a bigger boat the answer?
Keep your Typhoon... We have been sailing with our two boys (now 6 & 4)since they were each less than a week old. We had a 1989 Hunter 23 at the time.Richard Stephens wrote: Hi,
We have a 16-month old boy who has turned into a real dare-devel: always climbing on things, never wants to stay in one place for more than five seconds. He thinks "No!" is some kind of a joke! This is a bit of a problem for us (and him) when sailing on our Typhoon.
Even when down below, he is climbing on the bunks and whacking his head on the deckhead. I figured if a little guy his size is banging his head, it's a sure sign that we need a bigger boat. On deck, with the narrow beam and no guard rails, we have to keep a tight grip on him. There is very little room to set him up with toys that are going to keep him entertained.
My concern with moving up to a bigger boat is, would it actually solve the problem and let us sail with safe and happy toddler and relaxed parents? That doesn't happen often on land, when I come to think about it.
What I like about the Typhoon is her simplicity, and being able to set sail with little effort, even for just a half hour's solo sail in the evening. A bigger more complex boat might mean sacrificing the sailing time that I do get these days.
So, what are your tips for sailing with toddlers? What is the right boat to do it in (balanced with the need for easy solo daysailing)?
Regards,
Richard.
We kept the boys in a harness tied so they could not crawl out of the cockpit or the boat. Just enough line to let them "trim the jib" with the winch handle.
Your son is at that age where he's too big to just leave him in a car seat, and small enough that he will demand a lot of attention. A larger boat will not solve the challenge. The real challenge is keeping him occupied while in a harness. Give hima enough line that he can go down below with his favorite "boat" toys. Pad the sides of the V berth so he can take his naps on either tack w/o getting conked. The Ty is so stable that she won't heel much. Especially compared to a lot of larger boats we have sailed.
Consider this: The TY will be the perfect boat for your son to handle when he is 7-8 years old! By then, the TY will be like the family dog to him. A trusted, comfortable old friend.
foursailors@prodigy.net
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Rich
Re: Sailing with kids... is a bigger boat the answer?
Interesting question, especially when combined with the adjacent post concerning slips vs moorings. I have a CD26 in a slip and have an 8 year old and 5 year old twins. I'm paying through the nose for a slip but am having a hard time imagining getting three kids plus gear and myself in a dingy (kind of like the fox, the goose, and the grain puzzle). One question to ask (and it's none of our business) is do you intend on having more children? I used to have a 15' Chrysler Mutineer when I had just one child and he loved to sit in the stern and hang over the transom watching the water. With 3 young kids, I've found the large cabin gives them plenty of space to play when they get bored up top. The Ty is a beautiful boat but stepping up to a moderately larger CD like a 25 or 26 still gives you a relatively simple boat to sail with appreciably more room for the kids.
rpassmore42@hotmail.com
rpassmore42@hotmail.com
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John Nuttall
By all means, get a 36 !!!............. ;-)
Richard!
You are missing the point entirely.........This is THE perfect arguement to convince SWMBO it's time to move up.....there isn't a woman alive who can argue with "But it's for the kids honey"......
Sieze the opportunity before you and don't look back.....skip over all the intermediate sizes and go right up to the 36 (ask Ken Coit for some good arguements here for that approach, he can supply them) Or get a 40 if you can find it.....you'll be set for retirement!...Last boat you'll ever need.......
G'luk
John & Amy
(with Harrison 7 & Piersson 4 )
s/v Aimless
CD31 (no it isn't big enough) #28
Hmpt:Oriental, NC
aimless@nc.rr.com
You are missing the point entirely.........This is THE perfect arguement to convince SWMBO it's time to move up.....there isn't a woman alive who can argue with "But it's for the kids honey"......
Sieze the opportunity before you and don't look back.....skip over all the intermediate sizes and go right up to the 36 (ask Ken Coit for some good arguements here for that approach, he can supply them) Or get a 40 if you can find it.....you'll be set for retirement!...Last boat you'll ever need.......
G'luk
John & Amy
(with Harrison 7 & Piersson 4 )
s/v Aimless
CD31 (no it isn't big enough) #28
Hmpt:Oriental, NC
aimless@nc.rr.com
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Dan Hanlon
stay with the TY
I had a Ty as a teen and loved it. Simple, stable and safe. I have younger sibs I had to watch out for back then. Today I have a CD25 and three children from 13 down to 5. The bigger the boat, the more work. On the Ty you can reach everything and the cabin is small enough that the tot won't get lost or into something he shouldn't. Bottom line - when sailing with children, simpler is better. I liked Sean's comment about the Ty being an old friend, like the dog when your son is a little older. Get the bigger boat when you have both outgrown the Ty.
Hi,
djhhan@aol.com
Hi,
Richard Stephens wrote: We have a 16-month old boy who has turned into a real dare-devel: always climbing on things, never wants to stay in one place for more than five seconds. He thinks "No!" is some kind of a joke! This is a bit of a problem for us (and him) when sailing on our Typhoon.
Even when down below, he is climbing on the bunks and whacking his head on the deckhead. I figured if a little guy his size is banging his head, it's a sure sign that we need a bigger boat. On deck, with the narrow beam and no guard rails, we have to keep a tight grip on him. There is very little room to set him up with toys that are going to keep him entertained.
My concern with moving up to a bigger boat is, would it actually solve the problem and let us sail with safe and happy toddler and relaxed parents? That doesn't happen often on land, when I come to think about it.
What I like about the Typhoon is her simplicity, and being able to set sail with little effort, even for just a half hour's solo sail in the evening. A bigger more complex boat might mean sacrificing the sailing time that I do get these days.
So, what are your tips for sailing with toddlers? What is the right boat to do it in (balanced with the need for easy solo daysailing)?
Regards,
Richard.
djhhan@aol.com
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Ken Coit
Re: By all means, get a 36 !!!............. ;-)
I guess I set myself up for that.
The most logical reason, which we haven't fully appreciated yet as we continue to refurbish systems and add equipment, is that you only have to do it once every decade or so rather than each time you buy a boat.
Another reason is to avoid inching up on the ultimate boat, causing you to support the marine brokerage industry more than your share.
There is also the chance that your significant other will tire of the search for the next boat, which, if you underbought, usually starts a few weeks after purchasing the last one as you begin to have withdrawal symptoms that are only held at bay by wandering around boat yards. My wife finally said, "You'd better buy the boat you really want now because we are not going through this again." Don't quote me, but similar tactics work when househunting; just keep the pressure on by travelling all over the place looking at boats that don't quite fit.
Seriously, we don't have our own young kids any more, but have been pleasantly surprised at how well one energetic five year old did on his maiden voyage on our 36. He kept asking questions and we kept answering them. It was a great trip. The 100 or so dolphins didn't hurt.
Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC
parfait@nc.rr.com
The most logical reason, which we haven't fully appreciated yet as we continue to refurbish systems and add equipment, is that you only have to do it once every decade or so rather than each time you buy a boat.
Another reason is to avoid inching up on the ultimate boat, causing you to support the marine brokerage industry more than your share.
There is also the chance that your significant other will tire of the search for the next boat, which, if you underbought, usually starts a few weeks after purchasing the last one as you begin to have withdrawal symptoms that are only held at bay by wandering around boat yards. My wife finally said, "You'd better buy the boat you really want now because we are not going through this again." Don't quote me, but similar tactics work when househunting; just keep the pressure on by travelling all over the place looking at boats that don't quite fit.
Seriously, we don't have our own young kids any more, but have been pleasantly surprised at how well one energetic five year old did on his maiden voyage on our 36. He kept asking questions and we kept answering them. It was a great trip. The 100 or so dolphins didn't hurt.
Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC
John Nuttall wrote: Richard!
You are missing the point entirely.........This is THE perfect arguement to convince SWMBO it's time to move up.....there isn't a woman alive who can argue with "But it's for the kids honey"......
Sieze the opportunity before you and don't look back.....skip over all the intermediate sizes and go right up to the 36 (ask Ken Coit for some good arguements here for that approach, he can supply them) Or get a 40 if you can find it.....you'll be set for retirement!...Last boat you'll ever need.......
G'luk
John & Amy
(with Harrison 7 & Piersson 4 )
s/v Aimless
CD31 (no it isn't big enough) #28
Hmpt:Oriental, NC
parfait@nc.rr.com
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Richard Stephens
Re: Sailing with kids... is a bigger boat the answer?
Thanks for all your suggestions... maybe the answer is to get a bigger boat AND keep the Typhoon!
Or maybe I should have the Nautical Traditions Officer send Peter to the mizzen crosstrees for a couple of watches. That should cure him of this desire to climb!
We do have another baby in the offing... due next Feb. Added to that, my wife is not a really keen sailer, though she used to enjoy a snooze on the lee cockpit seat, before Peter came along. Ever since we first spent a weekend sleeping on board, she has been the one urging me to get a bigger boat!
Regards,
Richard.
richard@memory-map.com
Or maybe I should have the Nautical Traditions Officer send Peter to the mizzen crosstrees for a couple of watches. That should cure him of this desire to climb!
We do have another baby in the offing... due next Feb. Added to that, my wife is not a really keen sailer, though she used to enjoy a snooze on the lee cockpit seat, before Peter came along. Ever since we first spent a weekend sleeping on board, she has been the one urging me to get a bigger boat!
Regards,
Richard.
richard@memory-map.com
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Nautical Traditions Offic
Re: "Mastheading" the midshipman.....
Captain Stephens,
Yes, mastheading the middy may help with the discipline. Of course, you need to determine if he should be going to sea in the first place. Here's how, find an old rowboat pulled up on the beach with a little water in her. Give the midshipman a bucket and place him in the boat. If he immediately starts to "bail", he really needs to go to sea!
On a serious note, from the situation you describe, I'd opt for keeping the Typhoon. Sounds practical and affordable both in time and money for an up and coming family. Good luck and good health to the new one....still in the oven, right?
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
Nautical Traditions Officer
CDSOA, Inc.
Yes, mastheading the middy may help with the discipline. Of course, you need to determine if he should be going to sea in the first place. Here's how, find an old rowboat pulled up on the beach with a little water in her. Give the midshipman a bucket and place him in the boat. If he immediately starts to "bail", he really needs to go to sea!
On a serious note, from the situation you describe, I'd opt for keeping the Typhoon. Sounds practical and affordable both in time and money for an up and coming family. Good luck and good health to the new one....still in the oven, right?
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
Nautical Traditions Officer
CDSOA, Inc.
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jerry Cureton
Re: Sailing with kids... is a bigger boat the answer?
I have a Ty and a 48' ketch. My kids barely tolerate the Ty (they are 12 and 9 and learning to sail now in optis and lazers) and they love the 48. Of course they can't sail the 48 alone. I think they will come to love the Ty as they get more experienced. (I took my daughter racing in it last night.)
Last year I sailed to Bermuda, where I rafted up with a couple and their two young boys (7 and 9). They had just completed 2 years on a 38 footer in the Caribbean, after sailing from Denmark. The boys climbed the rigging and swung from the halyards like Tarzan. What a treat for them. Iwas impressed. You can't do those things in a Ty. But you can't beat it for an evening sail after work.
jcureton@curetoncaplan.com
Last year I sailed to Bermuda, where I rafted up with a couple and their two young boys (7 and 9). They had just completed 2 years on a 38 footer in the Caribbean, after sailing from Denmark. The boys climbed the rigging and swung from the halyards like Tarzan. What a treat for them. Iwas impressed. You can't do those things in a Ty. But you can't beat it for an evening sail after work.
jcureton@curetoncaplan.com