My H grew up on a lake and he had a boating license before his driver's license. He worked on the dock while still in high school would take tourists out on boat rides and jet skis.
HOWEVER. Now that I have a kid, I think 14 seems so young to be driving a boat. I don't know if I want my son out there on the water at that age.
Post by textbookcase on Jul 27, 2015 11:41:46 GMT -5
I grew up boating on the river. It was common for teens to take the boats out, probably starting at age 14/15. I don't know about the ocean, but it sounds like it has the potential to be much more dangerous if you don't know what you're doing!
The family has updated and said that they think the kids used their cooler as a floatation device. It was not on the boat when it was recovered. Hoping for a miracle.
Couldn't it have just fallen out though? Why do they assume the boys had it? If it capsized...
The family has updated and said that they think the kids used their cooler as a floatation device. It was not on the boat when it was recovered. Hoping for a miracle.
Were there life jackets on the boat? But I guess teens might think they're "too cool" to wear life jackets.
The family has updated and said that they think the kids used their cooler as a floatation device. It was not on the boat when it was recovered. Hoping for a miracle.
Were there life jackets on the boat? But I guess teens might think they're "too cool" to wear life jackets.
There were life jackets on board. One was found still on the boat. They know there were at least 2, but are unsure if there were more.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
The family has updated and said that they think the kids used their cooler as a floatation device. It was not on the boat when it was recovered. Hoping for a miracle.
Couldn't it have just fallen out though? Why do they assume the boys had it? If it capsized...
Probably because they have found other debris from the boat, but not the cooler. I am assuming here.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
The family has updated and said that they think the kids used their cooler as a floatation device. It was not on the boat when it was recovered. Hoping for a miracle.
Were there life jackets on the boat? But I guess teens might think they're "too cool" to wear life jackets.
Crazy anecdote -life jackets aren't actually a law. It is at the parents discretion. Crazy. My kids are never on a moving boat without life jackets. DD doesn't even get out of the car without putting hers on if we are at the marina.
ETA: wearing them isn't a law. You must have one life jacket per each person on your boat if you get searched or you get a huge fine.
The family has updated and said that they think the kids used their cooler as a floatation device. It was not on the boat when it was recovered. Hoping for a miracle.
Couldn't it have just fallen out though? Why do they assume the boys had it? If it capsized...
True. It could have for sure. They could just be clinging onto whatever hope they can.
They said there were lifejackets on the boat, and at least one of them was missing.
Were there life jackets on the boat? But I guess teens might think they're "too cool" to wear life jackets.
Crazy anecdote -life jackets aren't actually a law. It is at the parents discretion. Crazy. My kids are never on a moving boat without life jackets. DD doesn't even get out of the car without putting hers on if we are at the marina.
ETA: wearing them isn't a law. You must have one life jacket per each person on your boat if you get searched or you get a huge fine.
In FL they must wear them if they are under the age of 6.
eta: I only said that because I thought you live in FL. if you don't, ignore me
Crazy anecdote -life jackets aren't actually a law. It is at the parents discretion. Crazy. My kids are never on a moving boat without life jackets. DD doesn't even get out of the car without putting hers on if we are at the marina.
ETA: wearing them isn't a law. You must have one life jacket per each person on your boat if you get searched or you get a huge fine.
In FL they must wear them if they are under the age of 6.
Oh yeah - small children have to. But I could not imagine letting my 6 year old go without one!
I am pretty sure I had to wear them when I was 16 as well.
“Life is not orderly. No matter how we try to make it so, right in the middle of it lose a leg, fall in love, drop a jar of applesauce.” - Natalie Goldberg
I really hope they find these kids floating around somewhere.
I think how "normal" it is depends on where you live. I grew up really close to a bay and the ocean. I can't remember if it was 3rd or 4th grade, but part of the elementary school curriculum in our district is/was boat safety, and everybody took the test for their boating license at the end of the course.
So, a couple of 14-year-olds going out fishing or just hanging out on the water all day by themselves doesn't faze me.
I'm confused. Isn't MPG a quoted thing with motor vehicles? I don't know how far you can get in a boat on $110 in gas, that's all.
Sorry, yes. I'm being facetious because boats burn a TON of fuel. Depending on the size, the tank can be 100-200 gallons. My ex-ILs had a 24 ft fishing boat and I think a 200 gallon tank. They probably got about 30 gallons of gas for $110? at $3.50/gallon. The most I would imagine them getting would be 3 or 4 mpg, but it really depends on the kind of boat, the motor, the weight, the wind, current, etc.
Tangent to the story, but TR is kinda right. With boats fuel burn in typically quote in gallons per hour. Can't say I've ever seen it in miles. Our boat burns about 15 gallons per hour. At typical speed, we go 20-25 knots (depending on weather). So roughly 1.5 MPG. 15 GPH sounds so much better
$110 of fuel is maybe 25-30 gallons. I can't recall if the boat was a single or duel engine, but you wouldn't/shouldn't go offshore with a single.
Also, @laz - seriously no age restrictions on life jackets?! Here they are required under 12! Adults just need to have them on board. (Edit: phone call came while I was typing, I see this has been clarified. Sorry! But still only 6?!)
Our kids did. Like these two, they had a restricted area they could boat in, had to have their life jackets ON, take our handheld radio with them. They both took safe-boating classes and knew how to handle our 15' whaler. They could also handle our 32' cruiser.
We wouldn't let them take the whaler out on open Lake Erie but they could run around Sandusky Bay. They never took the big boat out alone but could drive with us along. They started driving the whaler at about 7 or 8 with one of us along, starting the back bay where it's calm and no traffic. By 12 or 13 they could take it by themselves.
Were there life jackets on the boat? But I guess teens might think they're "too cool" to wear life jackets.
Crazy anecdote -life jackets aren't actually a law. It is at the parents discretion. Crazy. My kids are never on a moving boat without life jackets. DD doesn't even get out of the car without putting hers on if we are at the marina.
ETA: wearing them isn't a law. You must have one life jacket per each person on your boat if you get searched or you get a huge fine.
Our kids were required to wear life jackets if the boat was moving or if they were off the boat and walking up the boat to shore - it's not just whether you can swim if you fall in, it's what you hit your head on as you fall in. If no one sees you fall in and you crack your head, you need the jacket to keep you floating until someone does see you and rescue you. I'm amazed at people that don't require kids to wear life jackets walking around on the docks. They were allowed in the cabin and the back deck without their jackets but otherwise, jacket on.
When we have guests on our boat, their kids have to abide by our rules - life jackets on until age of 12 or you don't go with us.
We have a lot of ski jackets and some of the big orange ones. H and I wear inflatable jackets, the thing with them is you must have them ON or they are not considered life jackets and if you don't happen to have the ski jacket/vest or orange life jackets with you and only have inflatables, you have to have them on. If you're boarded, don't have them on and no other jackets/life preservers then you will be cited.
Crazy anecdote -life jackets aren't actually a law. It is at the parents discretion. Crazy. My kids are never on a moving boat without life jackets. DD doesn't even get out of the car without putting hers on if we are at the marina.
ETA: wearing them isn't a law. You must have one life jacket per each person on your boat if you get searched or you get a huge fine.
Our kids were required to wear life jackets if the boat was moving or if they were off the boat and walking up the boat to shore - it's not just whether you can swim if you fall in, it's what you hit your head on as you fall in. If no one sees you fall in and you crack your head, you need the jacket to keep you floating until someone does see you and rescue you. I'm amazed at people that don't require kids to wear life jackets walking around on the docks. They were allowed in the cabin and the back deck without their jackets but otherwise, jacket on.
When we have guests on our boat, their kids have to abide by our rules - life jackets on until age of 12 or you don't go with us.
We have a lot of ski jackets and some of the big orange ones. H and I wear inflatable jackets, the thing with them is you must have them ON or they are not considered life jackets and if you don't happen to have the ski jacket/vest or orange life jackets with you and only have inflatables, you have to have them on. If you're boarded, don't have them on and no other jackets/life preservers then you will be cited.
Why life jackets only required until age 12? (Again I'm not a boater, so don't know the intricacies). Or age 6 as Laz mentioned? In my mind a life jacket is like a seat belt in a car, which I think everyone should wear.
As teens, we took the boat out by ourselves all the time in Havasu. There were some dirty raunchy things that want on in that poor boat. That's all I have to add
Why life jackets only required until age 12? (Again I'm not a boater, so don't know the intricacies). Or age 6 as Laz mentioned? In my mind a life jacket is like a seat belt in a car, which I think everyone should wear.
I get why you think that but boats are used for many purposes, go different speeds in different kinds of water etc. So it's not so easy to say everyone wears one all the time no matter what. Also, they're hot as hell when you're on the boat and not in the water. We're typically out for 4-6 hours, maybe an hour of which we are moving. It's just not practical to wear a life vest all of that time. Especially when we're below deck or eating.
After age 12 they were no longer, by us, required to have life jackets on walking down the dock and around the docks. They were physically big enough that that if they fell in, while they still could get knocked out, the chances were not as great and they'd be able to save themselves. Originally H and I had thought until age 13 but as the kids grew we stopped requiring life jackets when, basically, just running around the marina.
As for being on the water in them, in the little boat we all wear them all the time. In the big boat, it depend on weather (wind/wave action) and amount of boat traffic. Calm night, we're the only ones out, then we would have them right with us but not necessarily on.
Sorry, yes. I'm being facetious because boats burn a TON of fuel. Depending on the size, the tank can be 100-200 gallons. My ex-ILs had a 24 ft fishing boat and I think a 200 gallon tank. They probably got about 30 gallons of gas for $110? at $3.50/gallon. The most I would imagine them getting would be 3 or 4 mpg, but it really depends on the kind of boat, the motor, the weight, the wind, current, etc.
Tangent to the story, but TR is kinda right. With boats fuel burn in typically quote in gallons per hour. Can't say I've ever seen it in miles. Our boat burns about 15 gallons per hour. At typical speed, we go 20-25 knots (depending on weather). So roughly 1.5 MPG. 15 GPH sounds so much better
$110 of fuel is maybe 25-30 gallons. I can't recall if the boat was a single or duel engine, but you wouldn't/shouldn't go offshore with a single.
Also, @laz - seriously no age restrictions on life jackets?! Here they are required under 12! Adults just need to have them on board. (Edit: phone call came while I was typing, I see this has been clarified. Sorry! But still only 6?!)
I must admit, I've never put on a life jacket while on our power boat. It's a 24' pilot house (I.e. cabin) with at least 30 inch gunwales. Even growing up, we just wore life jackets when we were water skiing. Once you got in the boat, the life jacket comes off.
On the kayak, yes. On small Jon boats, yes. But on the bigger boats, it just isn't that common.
I must admit, I've never put on a life jacket while on our power boat. It's a 24' pilot house (I.e. cabin) with at least 30 inch gunwales. Even growing up, we just wore life jackets when we were water skiing. Once you got in the boat, the life jacket comes off.
On the kayak, yes. On small Jon boats, yes. But on the bigger boats, it just isn't that common.
Around here, kids wear life jackets on boat - if underway, at the dock they don't as long as they are on the boat.
I must admit, I've never put on a life jacket while on our power boat. It's a 24' pilot house (I.e. cabin) with at least 30 inch gunwales. Even growing up, we just wore life jackets when we were water skiing. Once you got in the boat, the life jacket comes off.
On the kayak, yes. On small Jon boats, yes. But on the bigger boats, it just isn't that common.
Around here, kids wear life jackets on boat - if underway, at the dock they don't as long as they are on the boat.
Sorry, should have clarified - we have no kids on our boat. And the "growing up" was in the 80s. Times have changed. On the lake, we do make nieces and nephews where life jackets. I was kind of responding to more of the everyone should wear life jackets at all times.
I took the Coast Guard Claases at 13/14 and was boating frequently with family all summer. I could take the boat out alone as soon as I had my own transportation to the boat, around 17. But I didn't love taking it out with non-boaters because it was stressful for me (I learned the hard way). So, boating with other experienced boaters and sailers in my late teens was NBD.
Kids wear jackets on the boat when it's moving. Adults don't. The size of the boat and conditions just don't warrant it.
Post by adhdfashion on Jul 28, 2015 1:30:34 GMT -5
Grew up with boats. All my friends and I started taking the boats out by ourselves around 14 ish. Nothing crazy. Just day fishing trips,or out to the local islands.