Would you....

[Jason B]

OWN,
Your banner-quote says it all

[illiniboarder88]

My parents turned me loose with the boat and jetski at 13. I had some restrictions, but they were pretty good about me using the equipment. I think it's all about the kids and their interest in using the stuff. I'd been using the boat with my dad for years. He liked that I was interested. They had no problem letting me take it out. My sister, on the other hand, was 5 years older, and they didn't give her the same freedom because she had no interest in using it with them. I did have a friend whose dad wouldn't let him take the boat out unless I went. I had to drive his boat there with his truck. It was pretty funny at the time.

[Guest]

Of my two daughters I would trust the youngest one who just graduated with her Masters In Physical therapy. She has proven herself to be mature and responsible and although she has had the misfortune to be in three car wreck in 5 years one was not her fault, one was inexperience in snow and the third was a insurance scam by the driver she hit. She has been driving one of my Jeep Grand Cherokee for 6 years and she used to drive the older boat.

Before she could tow the Tige with my Jeep she would have to go thru towing drivers ed and some lessons driving and docking inboard. She would be allowed to take a limited number of friends because she is responsible and will stay away from booze & beer. We trust this one.

Our 27 year old is a good person but she is not trusted with my toys. She started making bad decisions in Junior College and they continue. She is a nemesis to Colorado where she moved with her short term boy friend when she was 20.

They have to gain your trust.
Be responsible.
Be willing to be taught what they don't know.
Have respect for your property as well as others.
Be honest with you and limit her guests to people that we know and respect.

[laserfish]

Both of my kids started towing and backing the boat the summer they were 17 (they are 23 and 21 now). That summer I let them pull all the boarders and tubers they wanted, as long as I was in the boat. Both of them proved they could be trusted with the boat. My daughter even got a job a couple of summers later at a camp on Table Rock as the towboat driver and teacher. A summer of patient teaching goes a long way. The summer they were 18, they were allowed to take the boat on their own. Only you know your kids and what they are capable of. If they have earned your trust, they have to start sometime. You will have a few white knuckle times, but they have probably been watching you for a while. Explain why you do what you do on the water, and how it applies to safety.

[22ba]

She is a nemesis to Colorado where she moved with her short term boy friend when she was 20.

Gee... thanks for sending her this way!

[highrock]

I had our boat out by myself at 15. Im 20 now and just got my own Z1. I dont see a problem with letting them go out when they know what theyre doin.

[Guest]

Gee... thanks for sending her this way!

No Problem I can't accept the blame though. She charged off with Boy friend and next thing my wife and I knew is that they were living in a motor home in Estes Park. If you want send her back

[Jason B]

I had our boat out by myself at 15. Im 20 now and just got my own Z1. I dont see a problem with letting them go out when they know what theyre doin.

I knew what I was doing and it sure didn't preclude me from doing it!!
I think back on some of the things I did and MAN do I feel like a heel for doing that to my Dad's stuff. In fact, I still owe him a new truck...mud, a little beer, some girls, a big truck...not a pretty combination. That was so bad I didn't even get beat or yelled at or anything, just "the look" I think my Dad was sooo mad he was about to cry.

[mtnsmith]

Another ? is would you let a friend borrow your boat? I haven't but a friend of mine let me take his BU before I had my Tige'.

Depends on the friend. I have a couple friends that I would let take our boats out, they have both offered to let us take theirs when our tige was in the shop once. I grew up on a lake near San Antonio, TX, Lake Medina, and my parents let my sister and I take the boat out from time to time by ourselves. That was when I was once I turned 8 and my sister 13. They were MC or CC boats, depending on the year, my dad bought new every year. I started hauling a boat when I was 15 with my learners and a parent in the car and got to take the boat by myself as soon as I got my license. I guess it depends how much respect you were taught as a kid, I saw people both commend my parents on the teaching and ream them about what a bad idea it was to let a kid take the boat by themselves. Now convincing them to let me take their 42' catamaran out has not been accomplished though...I guess everyone has limits

[brody66]

When i was 14 i was on the jet skis and driving the boats without my dad all the time, he lived out of town during the week and trusted me completley, we had a house on the lake and then when i turned 16 he trusted me to use my truck to launch the boats, but one thing that made him trust me even more is i never left the boat dirty and before i was 16 i would always ask him to take the boat out of the water to wash/wax, and of course for him to fill it with gas. Every sunday he would leave me with 75 bucks for gas money, and he got a little angry maybe twice when he would get home because the boat may have been a "little" dirty, but never bad, we are picky.

[samw]

I think it comes down to what they (kids) have done up to that point if their life that they would have the nerve to ask me for the key to one of my toys. If you earn respect and have made good choices then you will be respected and all that comes with that. Growing up on a farm my sisters we never allowed on the tractors. Since I was the youngest you would think I also would not have been allowed. But at a very young age I should respect and made good choice. It's not every day when Dad lets 7 year old loose on a $100000 tractor and equipment. That always pissed the much older sisters off. Dad would not let them drive the cars and I am out in one his tractors.... Still makes me laugh......

RESPECT....MOST BE EARNED, NOT GIVE!!!!!!

[Lucky 275]

When I was 17, I met a Dad and his son out skiing on a slalom course. He was nice enough to take me on a run thru the course behind a real comp boat. Over the next few weeks we met up at the lake and he was happy to let me be a third. Pretty soon, I was picking up his boat and his son and heading to the lake where he would meet us after he got off work.

I think it really does depend on the person and their level of maturity. I had been around boats all my life and knew what I was doing.. However I have friends that are in their 30s now, that I won't even let drive my boat... Hell, there are some that I refuse to invite, because they are idiots.

[foxfam312]

I have great kids, and I trust them, the problem I have is, they want to see how big they can go, to out do the next guy, so unless somebodys there to settle them down, somebody always get hurt , and of course the little things when taking care of the boat and such, its just not quite there yet, soon but not there yet. Oh by the way sons 20 and daughter is 16.

[LovinPowell]

I let my oldest son take the boat while we are houseboating at lake powell, but as far as towing it to the lake, using it, and returning it; I haven't been able to release that yet. But then again, he hasn't asked, probably because he knows what I would say. Or maybe it is because I would be jealous that somebody is out having fun without me.

[Original Wing Nut]

Just another thought on letting kids take trucks and boats, or other things. If you don't trust your son to take your expensive rig to the lake, how should I feel if your son wants to take out my daughter. Now that's where true faith is involved. Some kids deserve the responsibility and respect and others don't, I have great kids and trust them with anything. So far I have no reason not to.