Living Aboard with teens

[Continuing]

Our youngest daughter was 15 when we moved aboard. We became very close, she became an excellent sailor and now at age 36 wants to spend Christmas with us on the boat in Florida even though it is in the yard. It was and continues to be a great adventure.

[redcobra]

Originally Posted by Lulu Too

The house is for sale & we are packing! Have done a 6month live aboard stint with the kids but are now making it permanent. Will be in San Diego with 13 &15 year old. We wont be cruising right away as I am not up for home schooling. Kids will be attending school in SD. Over the years we have not met a lot of live aboards with teens. Would love input/advice regarding teens living onboard as well as finding other families on board.

Having raised one myself, I would wall off a section of the boat and designate it as "their area." Make sure it has adequate insulation so the whining about gfs and bffs doesn't annoy you. An overhead hatch is a good thing as they can shinny themselves in and out. Throw mass quanities of food and Mountain Dew down the hatch daily. Tell them the hatch gets locked from the outside every nite at 9. When they turn 20, let them rejoin society and have access to the rest of the boat.
Just my $0.02

[capn_billl]

Originally Posted by redcobra

Make sure it has adequate insulation so the whining about gfs and bffs doesn't annoy you. Throw mass quanities of food and Mountain Dew down the hatch daily.

Actually I get much better behavior from mine on the boat, than on land. I put him in charge of the mainsheet, and tell him to give me more speed, to challenge him on sail trim.

I also give him time on the helm. And I made it clear the boat is a whine free zone.

Consumption of copius amounts of snack food is pretty much a given. I think it even goes up slightly on the boat.

[Thumbs Up]

Our boy was 17 when we left. Instead of homeschooling for his last two years of school, he took his GED test which he passed (with flying colors). There is plenty to learn cruising without having to deal with structured school curriculum.

[sww914]

We're cruising with our 15 year old boy and he loves it. He says "NO WAY" he wants to stop this and go back to school and work. Homeschooling isn't hard at all, my wife does most of it. We're waiting in Ensenada at Cruiseport Village until fall when we can head south. BTW, Ensenada is a lot cheaper than San Diego.

[nosinglesource]

Originally Posted by sww914

Homeschooling isn't hard at all, my wife does most of it.

He says..

[sww914]

Originally Posted by nosinglesource

He says..

EXACTLY!
But I take the trash out...