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Baby Safety on C25/250

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albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/25/2002 : 10:12:00

I've had a new addition to my crew. He'll be ready for sailing next summer. This is my first additional crewmember so I'm seeking guidance and advice from others with young children.

What type of modifications are recommended to keep the small ones onboard?

I've seen lifeline netting and canvas used to secure the topdeck.

How are these made/attached etc...

Albert Iturrey
al@comhertz.com
Abacus': http://www.comhertz.com/abacus

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2002 : 15:05:02

Albert:

First of all, if you are in South Florida, why wait for next summer? Managing heat with young children is a big concern -- I would guess the winter months there have far more comfortable temps for both you and your child.

You may want to view a previous post on this subject http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1064. Also, the book, Babies Aboard by Lyndsay Green, was very helpful (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0071560300/qid=1038252165/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/103-5242949-6869409?v=glance& s=books).

My windclothes (correct term?) came with the boat. They attach at the bottom with snaps. Here you can see how they attach at the top to the pulpit/lifelines.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cf04b3127cce926d9b7b43320000001410" border=0>

We started both our kids quite young -- now they're 1 and 3 years old. At a very young age, they both spent most of their time aboard in their carseat which fit perfectly into a home-made "bassinet" which was essentially a big, strapped down Tupperware storage bin with padding. At night they both slept in it, as well. This is Mary at about 2 months.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cf04b3127cce926d9b62c21b0000001410" border=0>

After they outgrew this bassinet, about the same time they outgrew their infant carseat, they slept and spent time under way in the port-a-crib which fits well in my traditional interior -- it provides pretty good protection until they learn how to balance well. In your dinette model, you might be able remove the table, enclose the opening at the end and add padding for a bassinet/crib area (the above book has lots of ideas). A bike helmet also provides good head protection until they find their balance.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cf04b3127cce926d9b6cc2150000001410" border=0>

I could go on...while the time spent aboard with our kids has no doubt been difficult, it has been very rewarding.

Sarah is now beginning to truly master the cruising lifestyle
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cf04b3127cce926d9b6143280000001410" border=0>

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - RichardG on 11/25/2002 15:07:57

Edited by - on

dgabel
1st Mate

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USA
75 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2002 : 16:59:41

I installed netting on the lifelines forward to the bow this past summer because I had grandchildren visiting. You thread the netting through the lifelines on the top (I added a 1/4-in. rope from the forward stachion to the bow pulpit, and secured with a hose clamp I taped securely). I ran a 1/4-in line along the deck secured with eye straps to hold the bottom of the netting down. Didn't get nets around the cockpit, but I figured we could watch them carefully when they're in the cockpit.

Worked pretty well, and the kids could go on deck without collective gasps from all adults aboard.

Dave Gabel
Walkure
Sail # 1484

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2002 : 17:12:59

"My windclothes (correct term?) came with the boat."

In the Navy, they are referred to as "windscreens".

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
Lake Erie

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2002 : 21:19:13

Common sense usually dictates what needs to be done when sailing with young ones. When our children were wee tikes we always had an adult present(Mom) whose primary and only responsibility was the kids. If you need two people to safely operate the boat, then bring along a third person to watch the kids.

Netting on the lifelines is a good precaution, but underway it is wise not to let young kids climb forward of the cockpit. At the dock or anchored, an adult should be present to escort a properly lifejacketed tot forward of the cockpit. As for jacklines for kids, I will first state that if you are comfortable with using them, by all means do so. However, we briefly tried them but found that the constant cockpit-to-cabin-to-cockpit activity of our kids made them somewhat of a hindrance. We had to constantly monitor lines to make sure they didn't become entangled. Instead we found it easier for the designated minder to either hold onto or to just hook a finger into the back of the kids lifejacket whenever they were seated in the cockpit.

Sail your boat at a level that is comfortable for all of those onboard. If a child(or an adult) is uncomfortable or unsteady underfoot, then don't beat to windward with the rail in the water.

The biggest concern for babies, small children, and adults is protection from the the sun. Make sure that kids are properly sunscreened and shaded. A bimini with kids is, in my opinion, worth it's weight in gold, because kids do not enjoy sweltering in the hot sun(think back when you were a kid sitting in the hot family station wagon without air conditioning saying, "Are we there yet?<img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle> ), so a shaded cockpit is definitely a plus.

Don Lucier, 'North Star'
C25 SR/FK
Lake Erie

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 11/25/2002 : 21:30:21

Sometimes that type of canvas is referred to as "weather cloths", ron srsk 1981 Orion #2343 SW FL Fair Winds

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albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2002 : 02:11:09

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Albert:

First of all, if you are in South Florida, why wait for next summer? Managing heat with young children is a big concern -- I would guess the.....
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Richard,

Thanks a bunch for the info! I just ordered the book from Amazon.

Do you have the weather cloths attached to the port and starboard pelican hook gates? If so, how did you attach those. How do you run the jib sheets with the weather cloths in place? Do you have pics of how this looks?

Albert Iturrey
al@comhertz.com
Abacus': http://www.comhertz.com/abacus

Edited by - on

RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2002 : 15:32:45

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Do you have weather cloths attached to the port and starboard pelican hook gates?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Sort of -- the 2" wide strap wraps over the top of that part of the lifeline just like they do in the rear pulpit area (shown in the first picture above), leaving the pelican hook gates partially exposed. Note the zipper is conveniently located so that the engine can be easily accessed.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>How do you run the jib sheets with the weather cloths in place? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

The jib sheets run between the gap between the fore edge of the weather cloths and corresponding stantion -- you can just see this gap in upper right edge of the picture in which Sarah is snoozing.

Notice the small cuttouts lined with leather on the bottom of the weather cloths -- the aft one is so that stern mooring/anchor/dock lines can run under the weather cloths. The one fore is to allow water to run off the deck at the gap under the genoa track.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cf07b3127cce926b784b6aae0000001410" border=0>

While I like my weather cloths very much, if they had not come with the boat when I purchased it, I probably would not have bought them. Running lifeline netting around the stern area is probably much less expensive. However, a clever person who knows their way around a sewing machine could probably make some. They can be handy to duck behind so as to avoid the brunt of the occasional big wave that comes over the side.

RichardG 81 C25 SR/FK "Sanity"

Edited by - RichardG on 11/26/2002 15:36:23

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albert
Captain

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USA
262 Posts

Response Posted - 11/26/2002 : 19:58:04

Thanks Richard.

Albert Iturrey
al@comhertz.com
Abacus': http://www.comhertz.com/abacus

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