Kids solo on skis

[Britrick]

What age do you think kids can ride a jet ski solo ? i know alot of kids are differant but i saw my 10 year old sat on mine on the drive the other day and he looked ok for size on it really , ok hes a biggish lad , star D man for his ice hockey team , he could use the controls ok see gauges and mirrors .shame the earlier models dont have the learner key mode ,Obviously the younger ones would have to go on with me sat behind them , especially the 2 year old lol.
I expect you guys in the states have some sort of age regulation ? as you have to have a licence i believe and official training? where as here you can just go buy any boat ,drop it in the sea and away you go . Lakes tend to be differant as they are mostly privatly owned and the only ones you can use are run by clubs with their own rules and regs .

 

[El Toro 33809]

Typically in the states it is around 14 WITH a boating safety course. If there are no laws governing age, is there somewhere that teaches boating safety? I would think you should have him do something like that before you turn him loose. He may be big for a 10 year old, but does he have the maturity and understanding of the responsibility that one should have to operate a watercraft safely?

 

[Dr Honda]

Yep... what he said.

In the USA... we generally have laws on age, because of all the idiots. When I was a Kid... there were no laws on age. But, if a 10 year old crashes the ski... who is financially responsible? (folks or the ski owner?)


To me... it all depends on the kid. My buddy's son is very responsible, and isn't the "Full-throttle" kind of kid. I allowed him to drive one of my larger skis when he has 10. But... this was a mid-week day... and there were very few people on the lake.

On the other side of that... my nephew wanted to ride my skis... and I had to say "NO"... and he was 16 !! He's a nice kid... but he's an idiot sometimes, and he's the kind of guy who would do something stupid to show off. The following summer, I made him take the safety class... and I allowed him to take my skis out when he was 17.


So...

1) Look at your actual laws. (because the ski owner will be responsible)
2) Use your judgment, and it all depends on the kid. The size of the Brain and Ego should be considered... and not physical size.

 

[anthonygrato]

ive been teaching my niece for two years now how to drive my 21' mako. shes th only one i trust at the helm. shes 12 now. i had her on the back of the jet ski this summer gave her a quick lesson. and had her drop me of 50' from shore so her mom and my wife wouldnt stop her from driving it. she did very well. didnt go top speed but she went fast enough for her she said.

 

[DA080682]

My first pwc was a kawi ts at the age of 10. Before that, I rode my dad's X2 starting at about 8. Before that, it was snowmobiles. Here in Illinois you can legally ride a pwc by yourself at age 12 after completing a boater safety course. I took the course as soon as I was 12. I'm with everyone else, size doesn't necessarily matter, its what's between the ears. Every kid is different.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

my daughter learned how to drive my yamaha at the age of 13 with me on the back, got her boaters permit on her own, printed it and walked into the kitchen with it in her hand along with the lanyard for the ski and said... "lets go to the river" I couldn't say no...

so we took two ski's to the ramp (i borrowed my brothers) and told her to keep it at half throttle.

her first run was a full WOT run for about 6 miles, it took me 5 miles to chase her down on the fxho and I was fully prepared to scream at her when I finally caught her but she stopped and had a grin from ear to ear and I just said.. "how was it ? " lol we went out every weekend after that together and by the time she had about a half a dozen runs in her i started just dropping her off at the ramp with a cell phone and a full tank of gas and turned her loose. She's a college student now and warns me a week before she travels back home to set up a ride, if it was up to her she'd have a ski at her apartment.

fair warning,,, every kid is different, there are many "kids" in their 20's that I think should be not allowed to ride

 

[KyleB]

This is a great thread to discuss. My boys learned to ride at 12 but I didn't let them ride solo until they had their boating safety course and license which in Alabama is 13 or 14 I think. Anyway, I think it all depends on the kid themselves and how they behave on the boat. My twins are very responsible and know that if I find out they were showing off and being stupid I'll take the boat away no second chances. On the other hand my oldest son who is 26 will probably never drive the boat or the seadoo. He just don't have the quick reflexes to handle the boats if he happened to get himself in a bind. He doesn't care to drive them anyway so that's a good thing. The bottom line is teach the kids well and make sure you reinforce safety by demonstrating safety while you are riding.

We had some neighbors on the lake last year who had a couple of kids get into an accident on their PWC's and one got his leg broke pretty bad. I look at how the dad rides and I see all sorts of unsafe practices and tell myself they were just doing what the ole man was doing. Sometimes you can't blame the kids for unsafe behavior if that is the way they were taught.

All this being said just make sure you follow the laws of your state because law suits can get really expensive if someone has an accident and is not supposed to even be on the craft. Those are my thoughts and my soap box. :cheers:

 

[Strizzo]

I was riding at 14 on my own after a boaters safety class, but i am a fairly cautious person and didn't mess around much, and of course it helped that it was just a 650 yami vxr. texas now requires anyone born after some time in 1985 to have a boaters safety class to ride a PWC.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

my daughter learned how to drive my yamaha at the age of 13 with me on the back, got her boaters permit on her own, printed it and walked into the kitchen with it in her hand along with the lanyard for the ski and said... "lets go to the river" I couldn't say no... ....................
her first run was a full WOT run for about 6 miles, it took me 5 miles to chase her down on the fxho and I was fully prepared to scream at her when I finally caught her but she stopped and had a grin from ear to ear and I just said.. "how was it ? " lol we went out every weekend after that together and by the time she had about a half a dozen runs in her i started just dropping her off at the ramp with a cell phone and a full tank of gas and turned her loose. She's a college student now and warns me a week before she travels back home to set up a ride, if it was up to her she'd have a ski at her apartment.

fair warning,,, every kid is different, there are many "kids" in their 20's that I think should be not allowed to ride

Spim, Great story about your daughter..

I know some adults (much older than 20) who SHOULDN'T be driving a boat or a ski.

In Michigan if you were born after 1978 then you must be 16 with a boater safety certificate to drive alone. You may obtain one when you are 14, but then for the next 2 yrs, you must be riding with an adult born before 1978.

 

[donkey]

my kids have been driving BIG farm equipment since they were 6,its just that way in farmland.so i wasnt really worried about the mental capacity aspect of it.if we trust them with quarter million dollar combines,i figured they have the were withall for a seadoo/boat.
officially ca age is 16.but my kids all ride when they can,the youngest is now 15,i wont let them ride on busy weekends,because even the most aware person on any craft can get hit by the idiot that isnt payin attention

 

[DA080682]

Spim, Great story about your daughter..

I know some adults (much older than 20) who SHOULDN'T be driving a boat or a ski.

In Michigan if you were born after 1978 then you must be 16 with a boater safety certificate to drive alone. You may obtain one when you are 14, but then for the next 2 yrs, you must be riding with an adult born before 1978.

I know some people who can't handle operating anything....cars, boats, lawn mower, bicycle, etc...

 

[Britrick]

Seems quite alot of people start young .Yes naturally all kids are differant attitude wise , but they would have to be a certain physical size too i reakon ,if only to be able to put their feet down and see over the controls and manouver it . As i said my 10 year old would have no problem i think but he would be more scared of doing so than his 8 year old sister who is the biggest roller coaster queen going ,where as he wont do hardly any park rides lol.
Plus if you start them young you can mould them to your way of doing it rather than some head strong 16 year old who could be a danger to everybody .
We dont have anywhere near as many regulations as you guys ,no permits ,training isnt compulsory , insurance isnt compulsory therefore no age limits , if you harm an innocent swimmer i guess they would have to sue you in a civil case rather than the police prosecuting you, and how could you sue an under 18 ?

 

[Hghgrad]

I let my 6 year old daughter run the controls while I'm on the back. She's been riding quads since she could walk...so it's pretty natural for her.

Around here, all the freshmen high schoolers take boaters safety. I'm sure things won't change too much by the time she gets there...and I'll let her ride alone the minute she's legally allowed. She already knows how to handle the ski well, and I'll keep driving the safety issue into her head for all the machines I own.

 

[kwiktsi]

I let my 6 year old daughter run the controls while I'm on the back. She's been riding quads since she could walk...so it's pretty natural for her.

Around here, all the freshmen high schoolers take boaters safety. I'm sure things won't change too much by the time she gets there...and I'll let her ride alone the minute she's legally allowed. She already knows how to handle the ski well, and I'll keep driving the safety issue into her head for all the machines I own.

I'm one of the ones who feels the 14 year old thing is just a hindrance to responsible people, but understand why they had to do it. I am 39 and grew up with dirtbikes, go carts, snowmobiles, boats, etc. I was driving a 65+mph Baja at 10-11. I would sit on my dads lap and steer as soon as I was big enough to see and my son is raised the same. When he was 2, he could pretty much steer the whole way to our friends house (in the same neighborhood). He is 4 now and has "driven" my ski a couple of times now. He sits in front of me and works the throttle and steers it. I have a picture of him operating my buddy's ski with my buddy's arms just dangling to the side. Rode for almost a mile like that.

Anyway, I guess that was just a long way of me saying it depends on the kid lol..


edit- had to attach the pic, I'm proud of him .

 

[anthonygrato]

Tho I agree with everyone. About it depending on the kid. I also believe it depends on the parent or teacher. I grew up a dare devil kid. Hell I lost my right eye doing stuip shit as a kid. But I was taught by my uncle Charlie. To have respect for the ocean. And the rules of the road ( water) now I'm a 45 year old man that should not be on a ski. But when children are around watching me I behave! So if we as teachers do the right thing. They should be great boaters. I try to teach my nieces and nephews as much as I can about boating because none of there parents have the boats or knowalge to teach them.

 

[bell99man]

Yep, agreed as well, depends on the stuff between the ears.

I got my skis two help me teach the girls a little about that true feeling of freedom, the wind blowing in their face at whatever speed they decide with no lines to follow and a little bravery or pride in self achievement. It's working a little bit, but if they go out, I go with them and this will remain for a while because water is dangerous and other people can be so stupid. If they fall off of a bike, they can walk home or call me. If they fall off of a ski, well bad things can happen.
I think if you are out there with him, it's good.

In Alabama, it's 14 by law and must have a license to operate. On a boat a 12 yr old can drive with a licensed adult, but no exceptions on the ski, must be 14. Of course, you rarely get checked if you are behaving and the kid looks grown.

Kevin

Kevin

 

[Dugout]

I agree with most of the replies. I don't agree with putting a young kid in front of you between you and the handles bars. What happens if you hit a wave hard that you didn't anticipate. You go forward and crush the kid between you and the handle bars? How is this safe?

 

[kwiktsi]

I agree with most of the replies. I don't agree with putting a young kid in front of you between you and the handles bars. What happens if you hit a wave hard that you didn't anticipate. You go forward and crush the kid between you and the handle bars? How is this safe?

I agree, that is why I only ride the river with him and only on calm days. Waves are virtually non existent there. Hell, it is rare to even pass another boat pretty much any time during the week! I would not take him on a busy weekend or anything like that though for the same concerns you have. It is also about riding with common sense, I would not be cranking out WOT runs through choppy waters or crossing wakes or anything with him. Your ride is as smooth or as rough as you make it when riding around here .

 

[Coastiejoe]

This subject can be a tuff one. In Ohio, they must be 14 or older and have a Safety Course. If you are born after 1982, no matter you age you must have a Safety Course, you are grandfathered if born in 81 or before.

This to me is much like learning how to swim. You can't teach them too early if for no other reason so they have an understand on how to save themselves or someone else. This rule stands true with swimming or boating as far as I am concerned. As far as operating a water type unit alone, that will depend on their ability and maturity regardless of the law. My older daughter is MUCH more mature than my younger daughter. For that reason, she was in a position to do things and gets things by as much as four-years younger. Same parents, just two different kids as far as how quickly they learned and were able to handle different situations.

As far as kids riding in front of you on a ski goes, I do agree this is not the best place for them. I have done it when they were just starting out so that I could let them drive and yet I was able to be in control in a second. But,,, in many cases, such as Ohio, at age 12 they can ONLY drive if another adult (licensed or born before 82), this is true until they are 14 where then can then drive alone as long as they have the safety course.

 

[kwiktsi]

As far as kids riding in front of you on a ski goes, I do agree this is not the best place for them.

Rather have him in front of me on a calm river than behind me on a gator filled river . Besides, he likes to "drive" it too! I know your post wasn't directed at me directly, but since I'm the one who posted the pic, I am the one defending it . I absolutely would not be doing this if conditions did not allow it .

 

[Coastiejoe]

You took my post personal and I was talking generic.

I have my younger kids in front of me for the same reason as you. I can see them and they can drive. But only in conditions that allow this. If it is ruff or she wants to jump waves then she is behind me hanging on,,,

 

[kwiktsi]

You took my post personal and I was talking generic.

I have my younger kids in front of me for the same reason as you. I can see them and they can drive. But only in conditions that allow this. If it is ruff or she wants to jump waves then she is behind me hanging on,,,

Nah, it's cool- not personal at all . Just stating my reasons for it. I agree 100% with the thought behind it .

 

[Dugout]

I wasn't wasn't slamming anyone specifically about having kids riding in front of them. I just brought it up as part of the conversation as an observation / question to take into account when you have children on the ski with you.


The following is one reason why I brought up what I did. In my area a mother took her young son out for a ride on the ski. The son was sitting between her and the handle bars and she was attempting to dock the ski. For some reason the ski went to WOT and went forward hitting a concrete break wall. Throwing her and the son off the ski. One onto the shore the other in the water. The mother was in the hospital for a number of days and the son died. Could the son have grabbed the throttle while mom was trying to tie off to the dock? Yes. Could the son have been crushed between the mother and the handle bars? Yes. This is a possible scenario but know one knows exactly what happened. Just that a family lost their young son.

I teach the boating class in my area and want to educate people to help them make a good choice and have fun on their ski or boat.

 

[kwiktsi]

I wasn't wasn't slamming anyone specifically about having kids riding in front of them. I just brought it up as part of the conversation as an observation / question to take into account when you have children on the ski with you.


The following is one reason why I brought up what I did. In my area a mother took her young son out for a ride on the ski. The son was sitting between her and the handle bars and she was attempting to dock the ski. For some reason the ski went to WOT and went forward hitting a concrete break wall. Throwing her and the son off the ski. One onto the shore the other in the water. The mother was in the hospital for a number of days and the son died. Could the son have grabbed the throttle while mom was trying to tie off to the dock? Yes. Could the son have been crushed between the mother and the handle bars? Yes. This is a possible scenario but know one knows exactly what happened. Just that a family lost their young son.

I teach the boating class in my area and want to educate people to help them make a good choice and have fun on their ski or boat.

As I told Coastie, nothing was taken personal . That is absolutely horrible! I hate stories about parents losing their little ones . Sad.