I was a guest on a much larger sailboat than mine over the weekend. The owners had no problem letting their two kids sit on the bow pulpit. The kids were sitting in the forward postion with butts seated on the lower tube and they were holding onto the upper tube of the pulpit, their feet dangeling thru. The weather good and we had light boat traffic. I am sure this wasn't legal but I was wondering how many people sailed {not motored} with their kids sitting like that? To be honest it was nice to have them a few feet away for a while. Have anyone out their ever been ticketed for it? thanks, Jack
Children and the bow pulpit
- Thread starter sailor Jack
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Inteesting question
I was stopped by the florida marine patrol in the swash channel that runs from your area to tampa bay. My crew were sitting on the rail with feet over the water. He instructed me to bring in the feet or be ticketed. I was not to happy and did what he said, but should have raised the issue up the food chain.. Stupid rule but probably desined to keep kids from sliding under and getting ground up in the prop.
I was stopped by the florida marine patrol in the swash channel that runs from your area to tampa bay. My crew were sitting on the rail with feet over the water. He instructed me to bring in the feet or be ticketed. I was not to happy and did what he said, but should have raised the issue up the food chain.. Stupid rule but probably desined to keep kids from sliding under and getting ground up in the prop.
In RI...
...it's against he law to have anybody ride on the front of a boat with feet dangling! I never had anybody even want to go up there.
...it's against he law to have anybody ride on the front of a boat with feet dangling! I never had anybody even want to go up there.
Interesting question...
I've done it, and guests on my boat have done it. As you say, under sail, not power. I didn't even give it much thought at the time, although in hindsight any CG or police would have probably warned me not to do so if I had been spotted. As for children, it would depend on the situation. I wouldn't let my daughter at this point, but she's only 2. An older kid, familiar with the boat and sailing in general, maybe. It's a judgment call. Of course, conditions will dictate a decision, too. In heavy wind or heavy traffic, I wouldn't have anyone up there, children or adults. As for a patrol telling ed to get his rail meat off the rail - that's a little silly.
I've done it, and guests on my boat have done it. As you say, under sail, not power. I didn't even give it much thought at the time, although in hindsight any CG or police would have probably warned me not to do so if I had been spotted. As for children, it would depend on the situation. I wouldn't let my daughter at this point, but she's only 2. An older kid, familiar with the boat and sailing in general, maybe. It's a judgment call. Of course, conditions will dictate a decision, too. In heavy wind or heavy traffic, I wouldn't have anyone up there, children or adults. As for a patrol telling ed to get his rail meat off the rail - that's a little silly.
Jack, you didn't say if the kids were wearing life jackets or not
I think the Coast Guard rules apply only to small boats but the police could cite the skipper for child endangerment, unless they had life jackets on, and if so, I wouldn't think they would have a legal argument. Just a personal opinion, I'm no lawyer. Have Fun Joe S
I think the Coast Guard rules apply only to small boats but the police could cite the skipper for child endangerment, unless they had life jackets on, and if so, I wouldn't think they would have a legal argument. Just a personal opinion, I'm no lawyer. Have Fun Joe S
Freeport , Tx
I was in Freeport, Tx last week and a small power boat was leaving the harbor with a small child (5-7 years old?) on the bow with feet dangling. A patrol boat, dont remember if State or Fed, yelled out to them to not sit on the bow. It only makes sense to me with a power boat because with any kind of speed the bow might get swamped and pull the kid off. Tony B
I was in Freeport, Tx last week and a small power boat was leaving the harbor with a small child (5-7 years old?) on the bow with feet dangling. A patrol boat, dont remember if State or Fed, yelled out to them to not sit on the bow. It only makes sense to me with a power boat because with any kind of speed the bow might get swamped and pull the kid off. Tony B
I don't think we should purposely put our kids at risk.
On the other hand. I don't think we should forbid our kids from doing anything fun. My sailing buddy saw a tall ship sitting in Brunswik GA harbor. After taking pictures and admiring the boat for a while a 14 year old boy showed up and asked if thy wanted a tour. After the tour, my buddy asked the young man, "do you ever let anyone up there?" indicating the rigging. The young man said "follow me" and took off up the ratlines. Keith slowly followed to the first platform. When the young man's mother came out, she looked nervously at Keith up in the rigging apparently unworried about her son. We all know the abilities and limitations of our children better than anyone else. Foolishly dangerous acts should definately be discouraged but let the kids learn to be selfconfident. That being said, my brother once got a ticket because my girlfriend was riding in the boat with her leg resting on the the gunwhale. So illegal? Probably in GA it is.
On the other hand. I don't think we should forbid our kids from doing anything fun. My sailing buddy saw a tall ship sitting in Brunswik GA harbor. After taking pictures and admiring the boat for a while a 14 year old boy showed up and asked if thy wanted a tour. After the tour, my buddy asked the young man, "do you ever let anyone up there?" indicating the rigging. The young man said "follow me" and took off up the ratlines. Keith slowly followed to the first platform. When the young man's mother came out, she looked nervously at Keith up in the rigging apparently unworried about her son. We all know the abilities and limitations of our children better than anyone else. Foolishly dangerous acts should definately be discouraged but let the kids learn to be selfconfident. That being said, my brother once got a ticket because my girlfriend was riding in the boat with her leg resting on the the gunwhale. So illegal? Probably in GA it is.
Many times
My kids, and guests' kids, have done it many times under sail. Under power is a completely different question. Lifejackets are mandatory for kids under 13 yoa (state law), so that's never in question. I do not believe there is any danger in anyone dangling their feet over the rail, and therefore it would not constitute child endangerment. It might be interesting were such a citation issued to call a judge that sails (we have a few around here) as an expert witness. Years ago, as a volunteer SAR diver for the sherrif's office, I took part in a body search and recovery of a sherrif's deputy who had been out with a buddy waterskiing. The two were horseing around and the victim ended up falling off the boat and being hit by the prop and lower unit (I/O drive). Based on that, I could understand a restriction for under power. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo.
My kids, and guests' kids, have done it many times under sail. Under power is a completely different question. Lifejackets are mandatory for kids under 13 yoa (state law), so that's never in question. I do not believe there is any danger in anyone dangling their feet over the rail, and therefore it would not constitute child endangerment. It might be interesting were such a citation issued to call a judge that sails (we have a few around here) as an expert witness. Years ago, as a volunteer SAR diver for the sherrif's office, I took part in a body search and recovery of a sherrif's deputy who had been out with a buddy waterskiing. The two were horseing around and the victim ended up falling off the boat and being hit by the prop and lower unit (I/O drive). Based on that, I could understand a restriction for under power. Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo.
That is what the seat is for right.
My boys where 7, 9, and 10 when we got our first sailboat. We let the sit under the pullpit and on the rail all the time (with LV on of course). I don't know about girls (I don't have any but suspect they are similar) but I'm trying to raise young men, not wimps. We always had a rule that their legs had to be on both sides of a stanchion until they became confident and understood what might happen should the boat hit a big wave. Once they passed that test we allowed them to sit on the rail without the stanchion between their legs. The first time my eldest did it his hands got tired from clutching the lifeline so hard. This told me that he understood what he was doing and also the consequences if he got careless. Which was exactly what I was looking for. Now I almost never have to tell him to keep a hand on the life line when he goes forward and in fact he is telling his younger brothers to keep a hand on when he sees them being unsafe. I'm not saying that all children should be set on the rail at age 2 or anything but there are ways you can use this kind of fun activity to build confidence in them. I personally find the parent that will not let the kid out of the cabin without sunscreen, bug juice, hat, life vest, safety harness, shoes, and long pants only to make them sit in the cockpit pretty discouraging (dis--courage).
My boys where 7, 9, and 10 when we got our first sailboat. We let the sit under the pullpit and on the rail all the time (with LV on of course). I don't know about girls (I don't have any but suspect they are similar) but I'm trying to raise young men, not wimps. We always had a rule that their legs had to be on both sides of a stanchion until they became confident and understood what might happen should the boat hit a big wave. Once they passed that test we allowed them to sit on the rail without the stanchion between their legs. The first time my eldest did it his hands got tired from clutching the lifeline so hard. This told me that he understood what he was doing and also the consequences if he got careless. Which was exactly what I was looking for. Now I almost never have to tell him to keep a hand on the life line when he goes forward and in fact he is telling his younger brothers to keep a hand on when he sees them being unsafe. I'm not saying that all children should be set on the rail at age 2 or anything but there are ways you can use this kind of fun activity to build confidence in them. I personally find the parent that will not let the kid out of the cabin without sunscreen, bug juice, hat, life vest, safety harness, shoes, and long pants only to make them sit in the cockpit pretty discouraging (dis--courage).
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