Cheerful Chores
by David S. Yetman
October 16, 2007
Although our first boat was small enough to be trailerable and easy to launch, my wife and I chose
to keep it in a marina slip, since it made impromptu, after-work cruises easier for a couple of
hard-working professionals. We had a dockmate in the slip beside us who just lived to be on the
water. The problem was that his family expected him to do all the work in prepping and maintaining
the boat.
Upon arriving at the marina, our dockmate would park the car and head for the boat, lugging
gear, ice and coolers in repeated trips down the ramp. His family would sit in the air-conditioned
comfort of the car while he stowed the gear, erected the bimini top, set out the chairs and readied
the boat for use. On their return, he had to set out the fenders, ready the lines, dock the boat
and tie it up single-handedly. Then, once things had calmed down, the wife and kids would return to
the car and wait while he cleaned the boat, stowed the gear and retrieved their belongings.
Ordinarily, there's
nothing like a boat to bring a family together. The promise of fresh air and fun on the water is a
powerful lure, but the responsibilities and hard work that make all the fun a reality are often
unfairly and disproportionately divided. There are far more benefits to be enjoyed if the whole
family gets involved.
The maintenance of a boat provides opportunities for a lot more than just fun and games for
family members, especially the children. Every time I see a young person who is adept at handling a
boat and totally at home on the water, I regret that I was old enough to qualify for an AARP
membership before I discovered boating. I envy the lessons they've learned and the circumstances
under which they were taught. There are few situations other than running a boat where proper
operation, good maintenance and observing the rules are more directly related to the level of
enjoyment and safety. The person in charge isn't only raising the next generation of boaters, but
also has a unique opportunity to instill valuable traits of discipline and
responsibility without making the youngsters feel like they're being educated.
The process has to begin by encouraging everyone to recognize that no matter how much fun it
is, owning and running a boat isn't a trivial pursuit. A lack of proper maintenance can
result in breakdowns, which can range from inconvenient to downright dangerous. And most
importantly, they need to know that they'll enjoy it more, and it'll be safer if everyone is
involved and does their part. Each person must realize that the rest of the family is relying on
him or her to do their job, and vice-versa. The realization that the good times don't begin until
the boat is ready can be a big incentive too. Teens and pre-teens also have to be made to see that
their growing knowledge will increase their chances of being able to run the boat, tow their
friends, or even have a boat of their own someday. For younger members, being given a task can be a
matter of pride, and increasing responsibility will become a measure of their growth.
The
grease-under-the-fingernails type of maintenance may be best left to experienced adults, but
there's no reason that older children can't be responsible for helping with hookups, connecting
electrical cables, installing safety chains and checking to see that the hitch lock is in place.
Pre-launch activities like checking engine oil and coolant levels or oil reservoir levels for
2-strokes are all within the capabilities of a preteen. Their tasks will mean more to them once
they know what can result from the failure to do their chores correctly. Others can be responsible
for checking the water tank, seeing that the navigation lights are in good working order, or making
sure that there are enough PFDs on board for everyone. Even the youngest tots will swell with pride
if they know Dad won't launch the boat until he has checked with them to get their assurance that
the bilge plug is in place.
The children's involvement and attach-ment to boating can be encouraged through games played
while under way to identify boat types or features that will help increase their
knowledge while keeping them occupied. Their sense of ownership and being part of an important
activity can also be enhanced with special perks like T-shirts or other apparel that has been
customized with the boat name and "CREW" emblazoned on the back. Even some of the less attractive
maintenance chores like washing and waxing the boat can become more palatable if they're part of a
wider activity like a cookout with games or an ice cream party afterwards. If being
away from their friends is an issue, let them invite the other kids to join in. The children will
appreciate the chance to show their friends that they and their knowledge are an important part of
the family boating experience.
You may find that you're more successful in getting the family involved if you tailor the
task assignments to the individuals. Ask a youngster to take on a task, like polishing the hull,
that seems to take forever, and they'll soon lose interest. You're more likely to keep them happy
if they're given quick tasks where the results of their effort is immediately apparent to them. It
can also help to assign them to care for things that are particularly important to them. That
teenager who lives to ski should have no problem in taking complete responsibility for the upkeep,
conditioning and stowage of that equipment because it's in his or her own best interest to do so. A
younger child who enjoys being pulled around in a tow toy is a perfect candidate to keep it clean,
dry and folded neatly when it's not in use.
If
someone ever comes up with a definitive way of making hard work seem like fun, they'll become quite
wealthy. In the meantime, success in involving the kids in the continuing maintenance and care of
the family boat will depend on making it their boat in their eyes, and showing them how their hard
work not only benefits them but the rest of the family as well. The pride of ownership, involvement
and the knowledge they'll gain will start them down a path that will lead to being responsible
adults and expert boaters.
Tips For Family Boat Maintenance
1) Start teaching early. The sooner the kids begin
participating, the better.
2) Reinforce the seriousness. Make sure everyone realizes that
owning a boat is a serious undertaking, not to be taken lightly.
3) Tell them they're important. No task is insignificant - every
family member's job is important, whether big or small.
4) Make tasks age-appropriate. Designate the more technical jobs
to those who are older, and leave the simpler jobs for the young ones.
5) Create incentives. Encourage involvement by integrating perks
with the not-so-fun tasks.
6) Match jobs to individuals. Pairing tasks with those who'll be
able to appreciate the results generates positive reinforcement.