www.iFourWinns.com

It has been a beautiful, hot summer down here in NC and looking back in the spring I couldn't wait to get out on the boat this summer. I also underestimated at that time how difficult it would be to spend the day out on the water with our 12 month old son. He is a water baby, but getting him down for those afternoon naps on a hot day are SO difficult (i'm sure a cuddy or cruiser would help, but we really enjoy our horizon). Since our lake is used to cool the local power plant the water is often that of a hot tub in most parts of the lake (92-95 degrees and is not very refreshing on 95 degree days). Now that we are almost into August and I've had my boat out a total of 6 times this year I can't help but feeling disappointed at the "lost" summer of boating and have considered having it winterized in August because of this. Am I alone in these feelings or have others experienced similar with their young children?

How did your first summer with a newborn/toddler impact your summer boating? Hopefully next year will be much better. Thanks for allowing my rant

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2005 Horizon 200LE w/5.0 Volvo GXI

I can understand your dissapointment/frustration. Although I don't have a Horizon, it is still difficult with my 268. I have a 2 year old and she is a handful. I've been lucky that my family has been able to watch the kids on some Saturdays or Friday nights so that I can enjoy my time out. My marina has a pool so that is at least helpful, but I think I would like to get more out of my slip price than just a parking spot. I can't wait until my 2 year old is at least 5. Then things will get much better.

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2005 Four Winns 268 Vista

I hear where your coming from. We got the Baja for the cuddie and it does help with the kids, but it is still a lot more work boating with the kids (2 1/2 & 11 MO.) We got out less and for not as long when we do, but in a few years it will be worth it as my oldest already loves boating and the water even though he is just learning to swim.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

We're all pretty much in the same boat (as they say...).

I have a 12 month old also and that's the way it goes. My first is now 8 and grew up with the boat from the time he was a toddler - it gets better with time.

It's all a trade off.

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

I have a 2 1/2 yr and a 16 month old. Last year was difficult but we traded the cuddy in for a small pocket cruiser. Naps are difficult even with a cruiser. My kids don't nap until we get under way so we generally wait until early afternoon and pull anchor then head some where else to anchor works like a charm.
In my eyes any time spent on the water with them is worth it. I also found when we had the cuddy it was easier to have it in a slip rather than trailer it like we use to. Just show up and your ready to go. Not having to put the boat in and out is one less thing to worry about!

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

I'm not too far from you (Lake Wylie) and this is my 1st season with my 1.5 year old. We also have a Horizon and love it. We have a baby seat on board which we use to strap him in while underway. That helps with not having to have full attention on the little monster while under way. I agree it is a wonderful thing when he falls asleep (usually underway, after we pull up the anchor from our 1st stop also).

One thing my buddy on Lake Norman (north of Charlotte) mentioned to me, is that quite a number of his friends with small kids and a cuddy told him that when it's hot outside, the cuddy is the last place they retreat to, and instead utilize the bimini to keep the sun off. I can imagine a cuddy w/AC would be awesome tho!! But everyone loves the open bow on the boat so much, I'm torn!! Time for 2 boats!

One thing that I've found helps to deal with the high temps w/my little guy are those water-fan-spray bottles. I think they're $10 at Wal-Mart. I throw some ice and water in it and it sprays a nice cool mist to help cool off the little man. He usually ends up spraying himself, getting wet and staying cool in the process.

As others have said, it will get better with time and feel lucky you're fortunate enough to have a boat and a wonderful family to enjoy it with!

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'04 Four Winns Horizon 250 - Volvo Penta 5.7L DP

It gets better each season. Just keep telling yourself that.

What we found is our kids will zonk out if we just cruise. The mild rocking motion puts em out cold. When they were younger we'd just pull anchor around 2ish (or whenever meltdowns started) and cruised. They'd be out cold within 20 mins and we'd just do a lap or two of the lake and kill about an hour or so and they'd wake up all ready to go.

Words of wisdom for the 210 Horizon...be sure to keep the cold ones stashed in a cooler not under the stern seat if they are sleeping there.

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2005 Horizon 210, 5.7L Volvo

Even with our 348 the first summer did not see a lot of boat use. I cannot imagine doing it without a cabin though. It's just too hot out for the baby. Before the baby we'd put at least a hundred hours on the boat each summer. That summer I doubt we put more than 30 on it. Even now we're getting less time on it due to the heat (100F+ these last few weekends). It's just not a lot of fun being on the boat when it's that hot (and humid), to say nothing of the increased number of jellyfish in the water this soon.

It'll improve next season.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

We have a 5 year old daughter and a 6 month old. We purchased our first boat after years of frequent boating with good friends, whose boat was getting too small for our growing family. Our 5 year old was first on their boat by 4 months, and our new one has been on the boat since we first took it out in early May. We have challenges due to heat, but it really is manageable, and we all still have a blast. The key is planning, and having plenty of options for cooling off and keeping baby occupied. We take turns being in charge of her, and have appropriate sized life jackets. We can cruise when its hot, and when she needs to sleep, and also have a few fans that have rechargeable and fresh batteries, that can be run also plugged into our onboard socket if needed. We have a nice float toy with a canopy that she loves, which really cools her off, in fact, usually after playing a little she will fall asleep in the thing. We have used the bow cover before but we find the bimini top with good towel placement works better and allows for air movement. We usually tend to give her more frequent bottles of formula in an attempt to ensure proper hydration. Also, as said earlier by someone, make sure you don't put her to sleep on the cushion above the cooler (at least in my H250, where the cooler is located under a port side seat). If its too hot, or if she's not having it, then call it a day early. Another tip - bring people with you that will volunteer to do much of the baby stuff. We bring grandparents or friends who love babies regularly.

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2005 Horizon 250

I agree with everything you said except for the comment about sleeping in the floating toy. I'm hoping you're not serious about her actually nodding off while in it. Drowning is way too much of a risk to let that happen. Sure, it's great to tire kids out in the water. But get them out of it while they still have enough energy and wits about them to handle it. Drowning is not the flailing about you see in the movies. It's usually just a quiet slip under the water, often because the victim had gotten too tired to even be able to cry out. And this is true for both kids and adults. Better to get her out of the water completely before she's that tired.

As for sleeping, we use a PeaPod tent. It's one of those springy fiberglass pole things. Made of very durable nylon and screen material. It has pretty decent ventilation through it, but I wouldn't go leaving a child in there out in the hot sun without something else shading it. Ours is on the mid-cabin bed and serves more as a 'portable crib', keeping him in one place. They're not cheap but have proved durable and well worth it from a convenience standpoint.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I am talking about a 6 month old in a float that holds her torso and up out of the water. She really cant get her face into water. She can reach to where water comes thru some netting, and her legs are in the water free but with a cloth seat supporting her. We are always in still water and in control of this inflatable, looking (and playing) with her. We are not trying to tire her out. When she does fall asleep we carefully take her into the boat. I take water safety very seriously, and I think you misunderstood what kind of float I was talking about and how we use it. I am fully aware of what drowning is, thank you.

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2005 Horizon 250

It gets better over time. Our kids were 2 and 6 when we bought our boat. The first season was rough with our "energetic" two year old but it's gotten better every season. This year was the first I felt comfortable enough to go out with just me and my son (now 5). I don't know what to say other that it's great. The kids are getting memories that will last them a lifetime and experiencing a lifestyle that most don't have the opportunity to enjoy.

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'01 Vista 298

We have had that same trouble.......hang on they are now 15 and 18 respectively, when did that happen???. MY 2c worth plan well, kids sleep surprisingly well in the rocking boat
enjoy

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Yes...it is hard to boat with little ones. We have a 3 1/2 year old and 15 month old twins and the boat usage last summer was zero and this summer has been very limited. My wife and I are going to take my 3 1/2 year old out next week and the twins will stay home. The twins are right at the wrong age to be on a boat for an entire day...at least a day boat.

Next summer will be better for us...and the summer after that it will be back to normal using the boat a lot. Of course going to the in/out service at the marina will help out also.