Expecting a New First Mate for 2014
 

With all the winter banter about family friendly boats, proper head installation, and so on, I figured I'd share our news. The wifey and I are expecting a little boy (our first) in May. I'm a bit scared, I must admit, but I'm pretty excited about a new adventure. :D

He will be joining us for the week of Boyne Thunder, not the run, but I'm sure he will be out boating during the week. I figure he will be riding motorcycles and runnin' the sticks by fall, right? :party-smiley-004:

:drink:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...83676963_n.jpg

Well let me be the first to congratulate you both . May is a great month to be born ! Don't rush him on the motorcycles and sticks , that will come all too soon .

Thanks, Deep. I'm sure it will go all too fast. I will admit, the countdown to the last time i have to mow the grass has begun :daz:

Congratulations RT930turbo! My only advise is to slow down and wanting your boy to be on the sticks so fast. Enjoy each and everyday as it goes by way to fast as it is. My son just turned 15 and it seems like yesterday I brought him home from the hospital. Enjoy your bundle of joy, there is nothing on this world like having a child.

Flipper

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations! Enjoy your time with your little boy in May. :ernaehrung004:

Congratulations Artie

Congratulations on the new addition to the family. Some of our most treasured memories are with the kids on the boat. My daughter was 2 weeks old when she went for her first boat ride. Strapped her in the car seat and wedged the seat on the floor in the cuddy of our Cris Craft.

Dave

Once again, congrats to you and Doc Annie!

Congrats! My son is about a year and a half now, my first and only. All I can say is absolutely amazing! Every time we walk by the engines on the stands in garage he goes ooh ooh and points with a big smile. I get a kick out of it every time, it never gets old! He will be at Boyne Thunder as well.

Congrats!! Savor every moment... My oldest son is a freshman in college and I can remember his birth like it was yesterday... best of luck to you..

Very cool, congrats!

Man thanks guys make me want one. Haha but there aren't any plans for kids in our future unfortunately. Congrats RT930TURBO! I'm sure the apple won't fall to far from the tree! Sounds like you will make a great dad! And a cool dad with some bada$$ toys! ;-)

.

congrats!

take care of wifey, she will need every ounce of your patience and understanding during the 9 months!

Congratulations! Enjoy! They grow up fast! (Even though there will be times that it doesn't seem like it):rolleyes

Congrats! My son is going to be 21 in a month, and is making me a Grandfather. Best memories in my life involve him. Have fun!

Thanks guys. As for the apple not falling far from the tree, I guess that means I have a little payback coming my way! :poopoo:

But in all seriousness, I grew up around boating and have pictures on the boat at weeks old. Funny how the interest runs so deep. What have some of you done to make a HP boat kid friendly? Part of the 382 choice revolved around a Genny and AC, so he can be out of the heat and sun no matter what. Nice to have a cool quiet place at the sandbar.

I know AT Pat mentioned a rig he set up between the bolsters. Anyone else do something similar?

OH -- Sounds like you slipped one past the Goalie!!!

CONGRADULATIONS!!!

Like everyone else said - savor the moments - these kids grow up all to fast. Our son was born in May 1997 and now he is 6'2" 150lbs and our daughter was adopted in 2003- she just turned 11 Saturday. It seems like yesterday we brought this little hunks of protoplasm home and now they are turning into adults--- URGH!!!

I wish you all the best

3pointstar

On the sticks too fast?! Now wait a minute...

I rigged up a car seat. Bought seat belts at a junk yard and strapped her in! Plus we always had her seat with us if she would nap at lunch somewhere.

Congrats to you and your half... My wife and i will start after May.

I love the fact that your excited for your kid to become a Gearhead! It will make you 2 very close sharing hobbies together!

See you at Boyne! My other friends will have their family's there also

Congrats !!

My son hasen't been on the sticks yet but he was on the boat a couple times already. Before even going in the house ! ( see hospital tag on anckle) :D

Congrats! I had my first (a boy) on 30th June, 2013. I missed the birth because he came early (wife was in Miami and I was in BVI). It's an amazing journey. Enjoy!

That's cool. My son was born June 30, 1983, also my birthday. It's kinda neat to share that with him.

Our son is due May 11, my birthday is May 13. There is a possibility!

Love it!

Congrats RT, our kids started when they were very young and they still love it 17and 20. Oh yea May is great I`ll be 47 May 10.:lolhit:

We didn't change much at all. The counter top in the cabin became the changing table for a few years but other than that everything stayed the same. The anchor shade also became a necessity and I'm considering a bimini top for rafting because the anchor shade is a PITA when two anxious kids are running around the cockpit.

In the beginning I lowered our cruise speed from 65 down to 45mph. But last year I was able to bring that up to 55mph on a normal day and 65 on a calm day. For the first few years the kids rode in the back seat with mom. Now my 6yr old rides up front in the passenger seat bolster with Mom and 4yr old in the back for the most part. However, towards the end of the summer the 4 yr old wanted to be up front so we let her sit there a few times. Absolutely no high speed passes with the family on board, that is also a rule.

We boat every single weekend in the summer. Whether it's my 36' or the 21', they love them both!

Congratulations on your new journey!

Congratulations! You are soon to experience the best this life has to offer. Nothing will ever come close, enjoy!!!


As a side note they do adapt well to this hobby of ours. My son survived an 80 mph stuff and lit up like a 1000 watt bulb in a friends cat at 120, all before he passed his first decade mark.

Congrats again, the boys were on the water by 6 weeks old. I ll try to find a pic for you. I am sure if you get up here we can find a safe babysitter. The boys to this day can go set down on the V-birth and run on Lake Michigan. I just don't understand how they don't turn green.

Congratulations RT
Take your time and savor the moments. It moves fast. My bundle of joy followed me on motorcycles, professional pilot as a career, and enjoying boating. in fact they bought a Donzi too lol. You will wish you had more time.

It happens. My daughter was born on my birthday-August 2nd. Pretty cool sharing the same birthday with one of your kids.

Dave

Congrats man. We have 2 boys under the age of 3 - you'll have a blast.

The one thing that stood out to me was that The "sleepless" nights that everyone talks about goes by so fast it isn't even worth worrying about.

The first 5 months or so are kind of dull but then they start recognizing you and jabbering on and it just gets better from there.

Congrats man! Cool idea on the pic to "announce it"!

Thank you all for the well wishes, I'm sharing them with the wifey :coolcowboy:

Thanks, Bob. We rented "Half House" in Charlevoix for the inlaws so they can be our on call babysitters! I'm sure they will want a break here and there, though.


The first 5 months to a year is the "unknown" part for me. Fortunately my wife deals with that age all day every day, and she is MOST excited for the first year. I'm looking forward to it.

Well looks like he's already got his first race! My baby girl is also due May 11th

Awesome!

Congrats. I have no kids so no words of wisdom. Lol

Congrats Artie. It will change your life, all for the better. Me and the wife never wanted or planned to have kids. Well a well timed bachelor and bachelorette party on the same night, 9 months later... you get the drift. Anyway, I couldn't imaging life without our daughter (12 years old). Our daughter was raised on the boat. We take here everywhere. We seldom do anything without her. Aside from an occasional trip to PIB... But we have taken her with us a few times as well. Again Congratulations!!!