do you start taking your kids offshore? I saw the offshore office vid with their kid on the boat and was wonding when most of you start.
It depends on if someone else in the boat is capable of driving home if something were to happen to the captain.
My kid has been going since he was in one of those child carrier thingies and he’s 23 now. My Dad took me before child carriers were invented. Kids are tough and adaptable.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
I think it depends on the maturity of the kid I know adults that I would take offshore much less an 8 yr old.
Yeah, I think it depends on the kid. My 7 year old son begs to go offshore. My 9 year old needs more time. Each one is different.
I think it depends on the kid, the boat, and the parents. I’ve caught 2 blue marlin with a 3 yo on the boat in St Thomas. I thought that was a little extreme, but then again I started going when I was 5.
I was 8 when I was first taken offshore. A friend of my Dad’s had a 25’ mako. We caught a sail, yellow fin, cudas… I remember the sail tailwalking still. It got tail wrapped and could not be revived. We brought it in and had it mounted. 72 pounds.
Before then my Dad used to take me out to where the ships moor to wait for the harbor pilots to bring them in trolling for kings. It was in a 13’ Whaler side console with a 40 HP Evinrude. There was only one rod holder for the boat. Me. I remember like it was yesterday when we were 50 feet off one of the big shipping vessels* and a king busted the lure on the end of the rod. It didn’t hook up, but that tug and eruption of the water had me hooked.
I decide based on whether I think the child could psycologically and physically handle having to go in the water. Some young kids are more ready than older ones.
Was on the water offshore before I was 6 months old, and did the same with mine. But, as stated above, depends on parents, kids and boat.
Brother and I were running 30 miles out into the Pacific by ourselves in a 16ft Zodiac before we were 13yo to dive and fish.
Got pitched out of the bow overboard once going thru the surf in a little Avon raft when I was 8 yo and my Mom who was in the stern just waited till I was even with the stern and reached down 3ft under water and hauled me back on board by my hair! Ouch!
Will say tho we were a above average family when it came to the Ocean, having sailed around the world before I was 11 yo.
Boating has been a major driving force in my family forever and is what I think has helped to keep us all so close to each other and also to be self reliant.
I think there is nothing in the world that can replace the joys of boating with ones Father/family. I feel so fortunate to have spent the time on the water with my Father and family that I did.
So Dads, Moms, Uncles, Grandads, get your kids, grandkids, nephews, nieces out there fishing with you as often as possible! They will truly cherish the memories for the rest of thier life as I do.
Russ B.
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy
Amen Russ! Well stated you are my new hero ; ) That brought back memories.
Maturity of the kid and the size of the boat. Probably the most dangerous thing for a kid out that far is the sun (sunburn) and dehydration. Also, the kid has to be a good listener and follow instructions. Kids that don’t listen probably shouldn’t be around hooks.