How Old do you have to be to drive a boat?
 

The wife and I took my daughter out today for a boat ride. On the way back to the marina I stopped and let her drive the last few miles................she did GREAT. Ran it up to about 60mph before I noticed her hands tensed on the wheel. She is 11 years old and had a blast bringing it in. (I docked the boat of course) I'm damn proud of her. Taught her the proper way to tie off a cleat and to always wear the lanyard!!! A good day for me!!!!:D

I was driving a boat at that age, of course not at that speed.
So, I've got no problem with it, as long as she handles the speed responsibly and respects the water.

My oldest passed the Maryland Boating Course at 10 and holds an operator's permit. Get your daughter to take the course and maybe take it with her-she will likely learn a lot and be more relaxed, just don't leave the keys lying around:D

My 12 yr old boy can bring the diesel cruiser into the docks, spin it on its axis, and back it into the slip.

My 10-yr old girl can do it, too, with step-by-step instruction.

In MI you have to be 15 or 16. I was boating from the day I was born. Jet Skiing at the age of 5.

I think its great to start them out young, with your full oversight of course. My kids started at about ten years old. Had both of them take the safety course at 14 years old. I took the course over again when my oldest daughter took it (lost my certificate from 300 years ago!!). I took the course over again to get the ten percent off my insurance.

Anyway, Jessie ended up getting a better score on the test than I did!!!!!:eek: She got a 96% and I got like 92 or 94%. I argued a few questions and the instructor told me to take a hike. He said"your daughter beat you fair and square, no go sit down":D

I was pretty proud of her. She and her boy friend have bought a used 17' outboard together. She loves the boat and the freedom of cruising whenever she wants to. She still likes driving our "big one" better though. She looks pretty good when she takes our 311 out by herself. She likes those throttle handles though;) .

Keep the kids at the helm, watch them closely and have a good time. It brings you and them together:cool:

That it does:D

Here in VA, any age can drive a boat, however you need to be 16 or take a boating course at 14-15 to drive a PWC:rolleyes:

WILL

I'm breakin her in for a long run down to Kent Narrows!! For now the water has to be flat and not busy!!!;)

I started driving boats when I was around 6-7 with dad in the boat and docking, obviously. I was hooked and never stopped. When I was 12 my dad bought a 311 Formula and gave me the F-206 Formula to drive. I could go out by myself the first summer but I wasn't allowed to leave his sight. After earning the responsibility that year, I was free to run!

That was a long time ago. Now I think they require a drivers license.

R A, i believe you have to be 14 with a safe boating course for Maryland but dont quote me on it...it may be 16.

Legally, depends on the state. My son started driving/throttling the whaler at 2 1/2, I have the pic to prove it. Now at 8 he drives the Whaler, Proline and Velocity. He is also able to get the Whaler and Velocity on and off the lift solo.

Ohio-12 with course.

I love it being that low...Took the boat out alone years before I could legally drive a car... :D

Same here.....except for the Formula. :rolleyes: When dad thought I had enough experience in the little boat he let me take out the big boat! Circa 1960 16' Barbour with a 40 Johnson. Man was it cool driving with a steering wheel and throttle! :D

Proper instruction from a young age makes you a MUCH better captain later in life.

I could take the boat out at 14, two years before I could drive. Made the transition into the car a lot easier. Now 17 and thankful for every minute of it.

I don't know how Old you have to be to drive a boat, but I hear that if you're Too Old you never drive the boat, just play with it on the trailer! ;) :eek: :D

Sorry, T.O., it's Friday and I couldn't resist....

:D :D :D

My father started me driving when I was 7-8 years old. It was a 17 ft Bueler Jet boat. I think in CT you have to be 14, but I can't be sure.

Damn, It's a no mercy friday!!!!:D ;) :p

My son is 10 and he just passed the NYS boater safety course. So he's legal now to drive the boat. He's been driving it already. I haven't let him dock it yet though:)

My daughter's now 14 and we've allowed her to run it in open water since she was 9 or 10. She definitely likes the throttle! She's impressed me as to how much she watches for wakes, other boats, and her depth. The last couple of years, I've felt comfortable enough to sit on the rear bench while she drives (of course, I still watch closely). Um- I do the docking.....
The whole family took the Maryland Safe Boater course this past winter, and the kid got 100% (due to Dad's superb coaching, no doubt :p).

I looked up the Maryland age requirement, and it states (taken directly from the Safe Boater course book) :

"All persons born after 7/1/1972 must have in their possesion a certificate of boating safety education to legally operate a numbered or documented vessel (this includes Personal watercraft) on Maryland's public waters."
"Those born after 7/1/1972 are exempted from the above requirements if they are:
-Licensed by the US Coast Guard to operate a commercial vessel or
-Visiting Maryland for 90 days or less in a vessel from a foreign country or
-A resident of another state and boating on Maryland waters for 60 days or less in a vessel properly registered in their home state and
-Are at least 16 years of age or
-Have proof that they have passed a boater education course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators."

[In addition]
- "No one under 16 years of age may legally operate a personal watercraft, even if the person posseses a certificate of boating safety education.
-No one under 12 years of age may legally operate a vessel towing a person(s) on water skis, an aquaplane, a parasail or similar device."

Are we confused now? :confused: :confused: :confused:

Basically, it means a Boater Safety course is in your kid's future!

I was 10 - and my Dad was just consumating the deal to buy his boat - a 24' Reinell - the owner asked if I wanted to drive. I asked if I was allowed? I thought I needed a license, or at least be 16. it was no problem (at least back then).
By the time I was 11 ( next season) Dad would let me take the boat out from the dock - out to the harbor light , and back - (including Docking!!). I learned early how to handle a boat around the docks, How to watch the wind and the current.
Some of my best memories are when it was just Dad and me in the boat ( Mom got too nervous with me at the helm..) ( kinda a speed thing....)
Because of that teaching, I have no problem around the docks, I can put a boat in a slip easier than I can parallel park a car.
Thanks Dad!
There were plenty of times we went out and he never touched the wheel or the sticks, - great memories, and a great learning experience.

That's great. A big thumbs up for you!!In this day and age, (with mtv,cable TV, video games, and the internet) anything that we can find that children and us can enjoy together is a good thing.:) If my Dad was still alive:( I couldn't thank him enough for teaching me about Boating and Golf. Those are things that you can do for your entire life:D :D

Craig