Semi-answer here:
I have let my 17 year old son drive our 24ve with his 3 friends when I am in eye-shot of him. In our small resevior, with few boats out, in the general pool with no obstacles. He has passed the Boaters Certification, I was on the boat with him and friends (whom I also know) before I let him take it out. We've had a boat for 5 years, so I felt he was ready, he has driven the 24ve effectively with me on it. He had it for 30 minutes, not out of my sight, and I think he had the time of his life.
ALso, there was no alcohol on the boat. We don't drink on the boat--we don't want them to equate boating=drinking because it is so much fun without drinking. So since I knew the area, knew the kids, no traffic on the lake, within my eyeshot, and knew what was (and wasn't on boat), I let him take it out.
Without us there, no way. Although I trust his judgement as an individual, I do not trust any teenager's judgement when there are more than 1 or 2 kids without adults present. Their collective IQ comes down. (I know my IQ comes down when I am out with the guys). Not ready for him to take it out on his own.
ALso, while I let him drive the truck/back down the ramp with me there, I NOT let him trailer/drive vehicle/launch or operate the boat without us there yet.
I am grading him at C+/B- on backing up down the ramp test the other night--luckily we keep the boat in a lift on the lake so we don't do much trailering. Slowly we'll build up confidence. 30 minues may be 45 by end of summer, in my eyeshot. But not ready yet for "take it", see ya later.
I have let my 17 year old son drive our 24ve with his 3 friends when I am in eye-shot of him. In our small resevior, with few boats out, in the general pool with no obstacles. He has passed the Boaters Certification, I was on the boat with him and friends (whom I also know) before I let him take it out. We've had a boat for 5 years, so I felt he was ready, he has driven the 24ve effectively with me on it. He had it for 30 minutes, not out of my sight, and I think he had the time of his life.
ALso, there was no alcohol on the boat. We don't drink on the boat--we don't want them to equate boating=drinking because it is so much fun without drinking. So since I knew the area, knew the kids, no traffic on the lake, within my eyeshot, and knew what was (and wasn't on boat), I let him take it out.
Without us there, no way. Although I trust his judgement as an individual, I do not trust any teenager's judgement when there are more than 1 or 2 kids without adults present. Their collective IQ comes down. (I know my IQ comes down when I am out with the guys). Not ready for him to take it out on his own.
ALso, while I let him drive the truck/back down the ramp with me there, I NOT let him trailer/drive vehicle/launch or operate the boat without us there yet.
I am grading him at C+/B- on backing up down the ramp test the other night--luckily we keep the boat in a lift on the lake so we don't do much trailering. Slowly we'll build up confidence. 30 minues may be 45 by end of summer, in my eyeshot. But not ready yet for "take it", see ya later.
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