Family Boating
Whether your boat is a dinghy, small sailboat, powerboat, or a large cruising vessel, boating and learning together is a great family activity.
Learn more about boating at Gulf Islands Cruising School
We are located in Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island. The Canadian Gulf Islands offer fine cruising grounds with islands, coves, and harbors to explore.
Contents at a Glance
Boating With Children
Involve the young crew
By studying the charts of your cruising area, children can learn chart symbols, the changing depth of the water, and the meaning of contour lines.
Next choose the ports to visit. Involve the children by asking them to research the facilities and activities offered at each port. It will be important to know if the port can accommodate your vessel. Also note if the choice of port offers fuel and water, pump out station, a store for supplies, showers, and a laundromat.
When selecting ports, take into consideration activity preferences such as swimming, hiking, beach combing, fishing, shopping.
Once on board and underway, the planning and research comes to life for the children. They can identify islands and ports they have studied and anticipate arriving at the planned destinations.
Involving children in planning your boating vacation will be a family learning experience.
Gift Ideas for a Boating Family
Suggestions are board games,a deck of cards, set of nautical glasses or mugs, hot chocolate or iced tea mixes, Audio Books, portable DVD player with DVDs, or a basket of food.
For more ideas visit my lens Gift Ideas For Boaters.
Books on Amazon
Children Infants Nautical Sweaters and Hat Great Britain
Amazon Price: (as of 11/17/2009) 
Little Billy. A nautical opera for children. Words and music by M. Hurd, etc. [Vocal score.]
Amazon Price: (as of 11/17/2009)
Nautical Nonsense (SpongeBob SquarePants)
Amazon Price: $4.98 (as of 11/17/2009)
Boat Types
When introducing your family to boating, choose the type of vessel to match the activities you are planning. There are many different types of boats available and not all are suitable for all activities.
If boating is a hobby your family is considering, an e-lesson is available on a variety of boat types.
"Visit our Boating Forum"
Boating Forum
Gulf Islands Destinations
Destinations in the Canadian Gulf Islands
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTwo Burner Cooking on Your Boat
Feeding Your Crew Using Two Burners
Menu Planning, shopping, and meal preparation are part of the activities involved when boating with your family. The whole family could help decide on the types of meals to be served. Perhaps there are meals the young crew could help prepare with supervision.
My lens Boating Two Burner Cooking includes outfitting the galley, and cooking on two burners.
Easy Family Boating Recipes Blog
Easy recipes to make on board a boat.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBoating with Children
Safety
Children need to be taught about the equipment required on board a boat and the reason it is there. Studying a boating guide together will give the crew valuable information on boating safety. Let the children know about distress signals, eg. flares, foghorn, and why they are used.
Boating with your children is a great learning opportunity for the whole family.
Safety Posts on Boating Forum
Safety is of utmost importance when boating.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byPFDs on Amazon
Extrasport Volks Child Type III PFD
Amazon Price: (as of 11/17/2009)
Extrasport Children's Type II PFD
Amazon Price: (as of 11/17/2009)
Kent Commercial Type I Jacket Style Life Jacket, Orange
Amazon Price: (as of 11/17/2009)
Small Boat Sailing
Starting With a Small Sailboat
Here's a lens on Small Boat Sailing Instruction
Boating Moms
Involve the Children
One secret to enjoying time boating is to provide alternate activities for the children. Bringing books, board games, and card games on board will occupy the young crew.
You can use the time on a boat for teaching about nature - plants, animals, birds, and the water. Another idea is to teach the phonetic alphabet which is needed when using a VHF radio. Note only certified operators can use the radio unless there is an emergency.
Giving each person a job on board will teach responsibility and assist Mom. There will be a captain, a first mate, a cabin boy/girl, a galley cook to name a few jobs. A booklet outlining the duties for each job can be referred to when needed.
Galley duties may be setting the table, washing dishes, emptying the trash, and helping prepare meals. I have found it is helpful to prepare lunch before leaving the dock or anchorage in the morning. If you enjoy sandwiches, involve the children in making them, wrap, and put in the icebox/fridge for lunch.
Choose destinations where Moms can take a break such as spending a day at a spa, hiking, or a place to read and relax.
Boating Books on Amazon
Essential Boating for Teens (High Interest Books)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/17/2009)
Kids in the Cockpit: A pilot book to safe and happy sailing with children
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 11/17/2009)
My First Picture Book of Boating Words
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/17/2009)
Family Boating Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byFirst Mate 101
Click on image.
Boating Knots
A few of the basic boating knots are:
* bowline
* sheet bend
* figure 8
* bowline on a bight
* cleat hitch
* rolling hitch
Visit Grog's Boating Knots to learn the use of knots and how to tie them.
You can give each person a piece of line and follow along on the animated instructions.
Featured Lenses
-
Small Boat Sailing Instruction
-
With this lens I will be sharing tips, techniques, hints, procedures and checklists that will assist you in becoming a safer, more confident sailor. This material is offered in good faith and no liability is expressed or implied. You are respon...
-
Boating-Gulf Islands Cruising School
-
Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd. offers sail and powerboat handling, and home study coastal navigation. Our location is Sidney, BC on Vancouver Island. Travel to Sidney via BC Ferries, Anacortes Ferry or arrive at the Victoria International Airport...
-
Boating - Two Burner Cooking
-
Information on preparing meals on two burners. Whether your boat is sail or power, large or small, the crew needs to eat. A well fed crew makes for a happy passage! My experience has been outfitting galleys and provisioning boats with two burner gal...
-
Boating Education, lessons, courses & tips
-
Educational resources, e-lessons, tips, course suggestions and Boating Forum for new and experienced sail and power boaters. Lessons and information covering: Buying a Boat, Anchoring, Uses for your Dinghy, Boat Types, Docking, First Mate 101, Coast...
-
Easy Family Boating Recipes
-
Eating well when boating adds to the overall enjoyment of being on the water, spending time together, and enjoying nature. Easy Family Boating Recipes include few ingredients and can be prepared on a two burner stove. Many vessels have a BBQ where a...
Boating Link List
- Gift Ideas for Boaters
- Nautical Gift Ideas for Boaters on your list.
- Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd.
- Courses and information on sailing, powerboating and navigation.
- Family Boating Blog
- Information on family boating, galley tips, and Gulf Islands destination.
- Boating Bitts Blog
- Information on instruction, courses and tips
- Boating and Fishing
- Boating and Fishing information.
- Boating Articles
- New website - Unlimited Articles. We've started with informational Boating Articles. More categories will be added.
- Dory Plans
- Step by step plans to build your own dory
by Fran-S
Explore related pages
Christmas Gifts for Boaters- This page has Christmas gift ideas for the boat and boating enthusiasts on your...
Gifts for Boaters- This page has a variety of ideas to help find that "perfect gift" for...
Brunswick and the Golden Isles of Georgia- Come Coast Awhile amid all the delights and discoveries of Brunswick & The G...
Boating - Two Burner Cooking- Information on preparing meals on two burners. Whether your boat is sail or powe...
Small Boat Sailing Instruction- With this lens I will be sharing tips, techniques, hints, procedures and checkli...
Twin engine Boat Handling- In this lens I will cover the basics of twin inboard engine boat handling. I wil...
