Hey all!
Sailing is a great, cheap, kid friendly vacation! My experiance has been (so far) boating while I was growing up with my parents, and now as an adult with friends. Every time its been great. My sister and I both loved learning to fish for sunfish of the dock, and learning to swim in the middle of the lake, not to mention the month long vactions in the 1000 islands! My mom says we used to fall asleep easier because of the rocking of the boat.
Basically, here's how the cost breaks down. My boat could be bought for between $3000 and $8000, the cheaper, the more work needs to be done. Mine was about $3500, on the market, but I got lucky and inherited it. I joined a sail club, ultimatly it's cheaper the a marina, because members do all the work (in my club) and only pay for what can't be done ourselves. To join was about $3500, and every year after that is about $1200 for my size boat (24' sailboat). Now this is where it gets cheap. Every weekend last year from May to October, I was on my boat every weekend, at least one weeknight (club racing), though last year I didn't take a vacation. Gas to get in and out of the docks was about $40, with some extra. After that, I paid for food and booze. Sailors drink alot, and with how much other club members helped me out, its a good idea to have beer and tequila drinks to offer them, at least. For the help, that all that is usually asked for, a cold beer! For other boat stuff, used boat usually have it all, or close to, the rest people would offer if they had spares. So the fenders from a 60 ft. boat got tied to my dock, so when I'm single-handed (e.i., only me and the dog), I'm not trying to drive and get out fenders.
And yes the cost to start is a little high. But I can take the bus to my boat in downtown Toronto. And she sleeps four comfortably, and from experiance, when a friend is too drunk to drive, can sleep more. It'll be the same with kids, who are smaller. I hope. Otherwise I'll need a bigger boat.
With a baby on the way, I've been looking into child-proofing my boat. Things like weaving netting on the life lines, lee cloths in the berths, using car seats for babies, even hammocks, as well as a very close eye on kids of any age, and manditory lifejacket wearing on the dock, deck and cockpit. I'm already looking into swimming lessons for babies, because although myself and my sister, or my cousins, never fell into the water, it could always happen. Even my dog wears a lifejacket, she slips and skids around, and has fallen between the dock and boat many times, we even have a routine to get her out.
Kids never get bored on boats. Its a fact. We used to have great fun learning to fish, with my dad close in case we got stuck with a hook, but we never did. Exploring where we were was always fun, and many marinas and clubs have playgrounds in or near them. Many are located in parks. We always had special books and toys only on the boat. And even at about 4 years old, my dad would teach me about how the boat worked, what he was doing. Even just looking out the binoclulars was a blast!
Last summer I'd also go out with friends and watch the fireworks, and we watched the air show over the ex, from the water. Clubs usually have lots of events happening, every week or two.
Of course I love my boat, and in general, boating. For me, its been great, even more so that I don't get seasick.
I want to type more, its a topic I love, but my dog is asking to go out, and she's been asking very nicely. :)
If I can answer any questions, email me at birdy_sharp@hotmail.com!
Bridget
