Best way to secure a toddler

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Harry G

We're about to take delivery of a new Hunter 456 and need to keep our 21 month-old son secure in the cockpit while underway and on deck while docked. He's big (over 30 pounds) and very active. Any suggestions for a good harness or harness/PFD combo, jackline systems, etc., that work well for kids? Harry
 
G

Griffin

I have netting

along all of my lifelines. That seems to keep my 4-year-old out of harm's way.
 
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David Walters

Netting here too

I got the boat when my now nearly 5 year old was 2. Very active would be an understatement. Bless his heart though, he has always obeyed the rules on the boat pretty well. We used a tether tied to his life jacket and to a padeye near the center of the cockpit to limit his range. My boat is much smaller (23 ft) so he was not allowed on deck forward of the cockpit until about 3 1/2, when he was much surer footed. Now my youngest, Nick, might be a whole other ball game. I'm chuckling at the "Big kid" comment. Nick was 27 lbs at his 8 month checkup. He goes for his 9 month next week and I am thinking he'll crack the 30 lb. mark. Nick is a speed crawler and is now fingerprinting everything around the house 30" off the floor. I'm thinking 3/8" line for the netting, a 3" web strap for a tether and "Invisible fence" at the toe rails. LOL.
 

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Troy Schleben

Duct tape!!

Just kidding. Actually, I tied a line to my boys PFD's when they were little. That way, if they did go over, I'd just hoist them back up. It never made them fear the water, even after they went in a couple of times. The youngest started at about 2, and he's 16 now. But my boat was just 17'. Troy
 
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