My wife and I recently purchased an 2001 Hunter 306. We are expecting our first child in April 2002. We don't know if we should sell the boat and give up sailing for a few years and wait unitl the child is old enough. Does anybody have any expierences to share good or bad?
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Andy Falls
Start em young
If you give in now you may never find another boat like the one you have. Put the kiddo in a rocker-roo and take him/her aboard. The first years with kids aboard are really not bad. The toddler years are the toughest because the get mobile and intriqued by things that can hurt them. By the time they are 6 or so, they are part of the crew.
If you give in now you may never find another boat like the one you have. Put the kiddo in a rocker-roo and take him/her aboard. The first years with kids aboard are really not bad. The toddler years are the toughest because the get mobile and intriqued by things that can hurt them. By the time they are 6 or so, they are part of the crew.
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Chris
Don't do it!
After our second son was born, we made the decision to sell our boat. It was the biggest mistake we ever made. The best thing you can do with a baby is make him or her part of the family as soon as possible. Sure things will be a little difficult, but they will be at home too. At least you will be on the water. Have fun and good luck. P.S. We know have a Hunter 33.5 and we've added a dog to the picture.
After our second son was born, we made the decision to sell our boat. It was the biggest mistake we ever made. The best thing you can do with a baby is make him or her part of the family as soon as possible. Sure things will be a little difficult, but they will be at home too. At least you will be on the water. Have fun and good luck. P.S. We know have a Hunter 33.5 and we've added a dog to the picture.
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Ed Schenck
Sail with the baby.
We daysailed with our grandchildren. Not a problem except for extra precautions: better weather eye, better conditions, stay closer to port, PFDs for EVERYone when baby aboard(on docks also), practiced single-handling. Occasionally get a sitter and go out and put the rail in the water for a couple of hours. Thing is that the seasons go by so quickly that the baby will soon be crew. And what better place to grow up than on the Chesapeake!
We daysailed with our grandchildren. Not a problem except for extra precautions: better weather eye, better conditions, stay closer to port, PFDs for EVERYone when baby aboard(on docks also), practiced single-handling. Occasionally get a sitter and go out and put the rail in the water for a couple of hours. Thing is that the seasons go by so quickly that the baby will soon be crew. And what better place to grow up than on the Chesapeake!
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Bob McDowell
Go for it!
We have 2 1/2 year old twins and we have sailed with them since they were 3 months old. They love going to the boat, although they could care less weather we are sailing or not. Start them in harnesses early and buy life jackets with built in harnesses (or sew a harness to the LJ), for our kids we take their life jackets home with us and they can wear them at home (and they do). They must put on a life jacket when they step out of the car at the marina. When they were infants (seems a long time ago) we put them in the vberth athwartship and "tacked the babies" as we tacked the boat. We still use the bed rail we bought before we took them out and put it across the front of the vberth. Learn how to sail single handed and make sure your sig other can handle the boat also as you will need to have "one sailor for the boat and one for the passengers".
We have 2 1/2 year old twins and we have sailed with them since they were 3 months old. They love going to the boat, although they could care less weather we are sailing or not. Start them in harnesses early and buy life jackets with built in harnesses (or sew a harness to the LJ), for our kids we take their life jackets home with us and they can wear them at home (and they do). They must put on a life jacket when they step out of the car at the marina. When they were infants (seems a long time ago) we put them in the vberth athwartship and "tacked the babies" as we tacked the boat. We still use the bed rail we bought before we took them out and put it across the front of the vberth. Learn how to sail single handed and make sure your sig other can handle the boat also as you will need to have "one sailor for the boat and one for the passengers".
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Andy Howard
Sailing with children
I've nothing to add to the already good advice you've received except to give you this little glimpse of the future. This summer, we were just sittin' around the dock, when my 10 year old daughter and 7 year old son, asked if they could take Neverland our Hunter 34 for a daysail by themselves. I agreed as long as my wife and I could come along as guests. I can't begin to tell you how I felt sitting on the coachroof, while Brian handled the docklines and Katie gently backed the boat out of the slip. They needed a little help raising the mainsail but that was it. They sailed around for a couple hours and then docked the boat better than their old man. If pride is a sin, I guess I was forever damned that day. Your right in thinking that the first summer is going to be a little tough and you might not get out as much as you want but I'm convinced that in the years that follow your "water baby" will grow in confidence and maturity at a faster rate and the memories you have on the water with you child will be the ones you keep forever.
I've nothing to add to the already good advice you've received except to give you this little glimpse of the future. This summer, we were just sittin' around the dock, when my 10 year old daughter and 7 year old son, asked if they could take Neverland our Hunter 34 for a daysail by themselves. I agreed as long as my wife and I could come along as guests. I can't begin to tell you how I felt sitting on the coachroof, while Brian handled the docklines and Katie gently backed the boat out of the slip. They needed a little help raising the mainsail but that was it. They sailed around for a couple hours and then docked the boat better than their old man. If pride is a sin, I guess I was forever damned that day. Your right in thinking that the first summer is going to be a little tough and you might not get out as much as you want but I'm convinced that in the years that follow your "water baby" will grow in confidence and maturity at a faster rate and the memories you have on the water with you child will be the ones you keep forever.
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Brian Leney
Enjoy family on the water!
Our first child was born last December. She has sailed with us since the first day we went out this spring and every sailing trip since, including overnights. Just like at home or in your car, you have to make adjustments to accommodate the new little resident, but it's easy to do and once you have the routine down, it's fun like (most) anything else about kids. Similar to advice already given, one of us has command of the boat while the other spouse has command of the baby. She is always strapped in to her carseat while we are underway. And the carseat is strapped to the boat somewhere somehow, in the shade. An autopilot is a real necessity to help the person who is in command of the boat, tweak sails, furl them or do other things that need momentary departure from the wheel. We are definitely sailing more gently at the moment (reefing early and choosing known weather conditions). For overnight in the first year, I highly recommend one of those folding portable playpen crib things. It's easy to transtport and set up, and she sleeps in it fine without us worrying about her. We put it on top of the salon table (lowered). We sail a Hunter 37.5. We feel very strongly that sailing and the water will be a great experience for her, as it has for us. We are jealous that she has the opportunity so young! Do not be deterred!
Our first child was born last December. She has sailed with us since the first day we went out this spring and every sailing trip since, including overnights. Just like at home or in your car, you have to make adjustments to accommodate the new little resident, but it's easy to do and once you have the routine down, it's fun like (most) anything else about kids. Similar to advice already given, one of us has command of the boat while the other spouse has command of the baby. She is always strapped in to her carseat while we are underway. And the carseat is strapped to the boat somewhere somehow, in the shade. An autopilot is a real necessity to help the person who is in command of the boat, tweak sails, furl them or do other things that need momentary departure from the wheel. We are definitely sailing more gently at the moment (reefing early and choosing known weather conditions). For overnight in the first year, I highly recommend one of those folding portable playpen crib things. It's easy to transtport and set up, and she sleeps in it fine without us worrying about her. We put it on top of the salon table (lowered). We sail a Hunter 37.5. We feel very strongly that sailing and the water will be a great experience for her, as it has for us. We are jealous that she has the opportunity so young! Do not be deterred!
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Bill Saint
Been There - Do It!
I was in the same spot 5 years ago. We sold our boat when my son was 6 months and hated it for four years. Finally bought another (310) this spring as my wife and I couldn't take being away from sailing any longer - the difference is we now have a new infant girl! This time we decided sailing with a baby wasn't a big deal, after six months on the water, it has been great! My 5 year old is now part of the crew and loves it, my infant daughter is learning to have fun at dock or under way. I hate that we missed out on 4 years of sailing with my son, so I urge you not to sell the boat - just be realistic about what you can and can't do for the next few years. Some suggestions which might help: 1) Auto pilot. Our new (used) boat just happened to have this. Didn't thought I would want it but the autopilot has proven to be a great help while one spouse is with baby the other can handle the boat - invaluable. This is now a "must have" for me. 2) Try different types of PFD's until you find one that he/she doesn't struggle with. Set rules for having on from the time they leave the car until return and never budge - my 5 year old still wears his at all times, even thought he is a strong swimmer. 3) Car seat for sleeping when infant. Bedrail works great for guarding the v-birth when a bit older. Try pillows or "wedges" to keep them from rolling while sleeping. 4) Sunscreen morning, noon and night! 5) Have fun and remember a bad day on the water is still a better day on land! Good luck - you will have a great time, make a few compromises and end up with a crew how shares your passion for sailing in just a few years, the time flies by! Bill Saint Satisfaction II H310
I was in the same spot 5 years ago. We sold our boat when my son was 6 months and hated it for four years. Finally bought another (310) this spring as my wife and I couldn't take being away from sailing any longer - the difference is we now have a new infant girl! This time we decided sailing with a baby wasn't a big deal, after six months on the water, it has been great! My 5 year old is now part of the crew and loves it, my infant daughter is learning to have fun at dock or under way. I hate that we missed out on 4 years of sailing with my son, so I urge you not to sell the boat - just be realistic about what you can and can't do for the next few years. Some suggestions which might help: 1) Auto pilot. Our new (used) boat just happened to have this. Didn't thought I would want it but the autopilot has proven to be a great help while one spouse is with baby the other can handle the boat - invaluable. This is now a "must have" for me. 2) Try different types of PFD's until you find one that he/she doesn't struggle with. Set rules for having on from the time they leave the car until return and never budge - my 5 year old still wears his at all times, even thought he is a strong swimmer. 3) Car seat for sleeping when infant. Bedrail works great for guarding the v-birth when a bit older. Try pillows or "wedges" to keep them from rolling while sleeping. 4) Sunscreen morning, noon and night! 5) Have fun and remember a bad day on the water is still a better day on land! Good luck - you will have a great time, make a few compromises and end up with a crew how shares your passion for sailing in just a few years, the time flies by! Bill Saint Satisfaction II H310
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