How To Have A Safe And Fun Family Day Out On A Boat.

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A family boat trip can be a lovely way to spend a sunny day, but while taking to the water can be great fun, there are a few things to consider before you go – especially if you have young children– that will ensure it is a safe – and thoroughly enjoyable – trip. In this article we will cover everything from boat safety to boat insurance to what activities to enjoy on your adventure!

 

Is my boat suitable for children?

Unless your boat is a little sailing dinghy or rowing boat – which are hard work and too small for spending a whole day on – most boats are suitable for children; just make sure you are safe and explain the dos and don’ts before you go.

Yachts and big sailing boats can be great fun, as kids tend to enjoy being on the sea more than rivers and canals, but there is obviously work to be done, meaning you cannot watch the kids the whole time. If your yacht has a motor, this will make life much easier as you can rely on that, and maybe even let the kids have a go!

Motorboats, cabin cruisers and narrow boats are probably the most suitable for children, as they are powered by engines, are fairly stable (i.e. not hugely impacted by people moving around ) and tend to have quite safe and large cabin areas, and a fully or partially enclosed helm area – so plenty of places for children to sit and stand, so you won’t be worrying about them falling overboard.

 

How do I ensure children are safe on my boat?

While kids don’t always like wearing life jackets, you should insist that they do, especially if they are new to boating. You can get quite light, slim life jackets that are much less restrictive, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

It is also really important you make sure everyone knows how to get on and off of the boat safety – if there is quite a big gap between the pontoon/shore and the boat, or they have to step up or down, make sure they can do it safely themselves; if they can’t, insist they do not try and get on and off without help.

Most motorboats and canal boats have walkways around the edge and handrails along the roof of the cabin, meaning most older children can walk around the edge of the boat to get from the back to the front – which is often a good place to sit – so long as they are careful.

All boats have ropes for tying up, when mooring, or – on rivers and canals – waiting to go through a lock or swing bridge. You may also have lock keys on the boat if you are on rivers or canals, so make sure children know what the ropes and lock keys are and that they don’t mess around with them – lock keys are heavy and cause quite a bit of damage if they are dropped – especially on a small person’s foot!

If your boat trip does involve going through locks, don’t leave children in the boat alone while the lock is emptying and filling, as they may try and put their hands out or climb out, and this can be extremely dangerous if they get caught between the boat and the wall. It is also important to make

sure children know not to touch the engine, or mess around with any of the controls – you can get an engine cover for outboard motors – these can also work well as an extra seat.

 

What are the essentials for a day boat trip?

The first essential is insurance – not only is it costly if anything goes wrong and you are not covered, but you could be prosecuted if you don’t have the right policy in place. The type you need will depend on how and where you use your boat – details can be found here https://www.gov.uk/owning-a-boat/insurance. The bare minimum will be ‘third party’ insurance for at least £1million, however, most boat owners choose a compare boat insurance policy which gives you the peace of mind that you are covered for any damage. So be sure to get cover by looking at boat insurance comparison sites to find the best policy and price to suit you.

You will also need to ensure you have all the safety essentials – life jackets, a plank to get on and off if you are moored up, a lifebelt and fire extinguisher – if you have electrics and gas on the boat, you will need to make sure the battery is fully charged and you have enough gas, and of course, plenty of food and water. Most boats have a tank that supplies drinking water and – if it has one – the onboard toilet, so make sure that is full, and take drinks bottles full of water too.

If your boat has an electric fridge, you will have lots of options in terms of what food you can bring and will also be able to keep milk cold for tea and coffee. If the facilities are fairly basic, just take a cool box or bag with plenty of food – take lunch and lots of snacks, especially if you have young kids. You may want to also take plastic plates, cups, bowls, and cutlery with you too.

The other essential, if you are out for the day with kids, is toys and games! These could be board games, packs of cards and puzzles for on board, as well as outdoor games if you moor up near a field – bats, balls, frisbee etc. If the water is safe, you could also consider taking a paddle board, inflatables or maybe even a little blow-up dinghy for the kids to play in.

If you are cruising on the river or canal, there is lots of wildlife to be seen, including kingfishers and herons, butterflies and dragonflies, and even water voles and otters – so why not create a game around spotting birds, insects and mammals?

 

Can the children help out on the boat?

Children love to help out on the boat – especially when there are lots of specific boating jobs to be done – so it can be really nice to let them have a go. If you are sailing, you could start teaching them about jibing and tacking and maybe let them have a go at the tiller.

On motorboats and cabin cruisers there are lots of things kids can help out with. They can have a go at steering – the wheel is usually quite easy to handle, and if you are out at sea and are planning to anchor up, maybe let them help with lowering the anchor. If you are on the river and they are steering, make sure they know which side of the water they should be on if another boat is coming towards them (the right!) and you are watching them and on hand to take over if needed. They may also want to help with any locks or swing bridges – most kids love pushing the lock gates – and they can also help lift or drop the locks gates too – they’ll enjoy watching it fill or empty, especially if the boat is bobbing around in the lock. You could also let them hold onto the boats’ ropes while moored up or waiting to go in or out of a lock.

 

When is the best time to go?

There is no wrong or right when it comes to when you should go out on a boat, but like most day trips, it is best to avoid extreme weather as this not only makes it more difficult to control and steer the boat – but will be a pretty unpleasant day out, especially if your boat is an open sailing boat or speed boat with no cabin or covers! Like most activities, a warm, sunny day is going to be the best type of weather for an enjoyable boat ride, that way, if the boat is open, you don’t have to worry about getting wet, and if you have a motor cruiser with removable covers for the helm area, you can take them off and enjoy the weather and the views.

There is usually a bit of a breeze on the sea or river, which can make it feel cooler than it is, so don’t forget hats and sunscreen.

 

So, now you know what you need, all that is left to do is pick a day! Whether you are planning an exciting day on the waves, or a relaxing cruise down the river, make sure you are well prepared, not forgetting of course to get cover for your boat.