Family Boating – The Next Generation Takes the Helm

Boating Provided Great Memories for Our Family –

When our three sons were barely teenagers, Jim and I bought our first boat together. The configurations and possibilities seemed endless when we started our search for a used boat for our family. I had one requirement, it had to have a v-berth for overnighters. It didn’t take long to settle on a used, red (of course), 21-ft. Four Winns Sundowner.

We did a lot with that boat on Grand Traverse Bay; the boys loved to ski and swim behind the boat. We even did a few overnighters with them at local festivals. Jim and I would sleep in the small V-berth while the three boys slept outside under the stars in sleeping bags. Rugged accommodations, but it worked. We always thought they enjoyed getting away from our hot house in the summer to cool off on the water.

Seems Like Yesterday…

I remember one night at the marina in Elk Rapids, during the Harbor Days Festival. Jim tied our boat up on the outer dock during the fireworks display. Our boat was so close to the display, the ashes from the fireworks drifted from high above and down to cover our boat. We had to swat the embers off with a towel to save the finish on the boat. It was a happy time for our family; burning warm memories in our mind’s eye, just like those embers. I remember it like it was yesterday.

After we got our Sundowner (Jim and I – above – on our boat in the late nineties), we bought the boys a small Lake & Sea run-about from an auction. We required them to take a boating safety class before summer started. No class, no boat time, it was that simple. They all complied. So, we bought them each their own gas can in hopes they would learn to manage their own resources, skirting disputes on, who used all the gas. We drew up a list of rules of what to do and what not to do when using the boat on their own. Unfortunately, the boat they ended up naming, “Little Turd,” spent more time at the mechanics than it did on the water.

Jim and I Always Wondered if Our Passion for Boating Would Rub Off On One of Our Sons

Since that time, as you know from our blog, Jim and I became hard-core boaters. As one boat led to another, our first short adventure led to a long one followed by another and another. On and on like that for almost thirty years now. We always wondered if our passion for boating would rub off on any of our sons. This year we got the answer to that question as the stars aligned for our son, Skyler, and his new wife, Meghan. The seed we planted many years ago took root. Last year, after Skyler and Meghan got engaged, they started talking about buying a boat together and the momentum built over the winter. They decided they wanted to spend their “MiniMoon” on a boat somewhere in Northern Michigan.

Jim and I couldn’t be more thrilled to watch as these two become boaters. Meg was quick to get on board with the Favors/Nelles family obsession, even though she had not boated as a child. The first thing they did was take a boating safety course together over the winter, even before they bought a boat. Skyler would send us photos all winter long of possible used boats that he thought would work for them.

We followed Skyler and Meg’s selection process with great interest

Lots to consider as we reminisced over some of our own choices through the years and how we learned by taking it one step at a time, changing boats as our needs changed. Then came the ancillary questions on where to store the boat – on a trailer or slip rental. If stored on the water do they become seasonal slip holders or rent slips as transient? All the boaters in the extended family and many friends helped answer questions on trailers, dockage, accessories, and storage when not in the water. As it turned out they decided on a trailerable boat (Yay!!!). They were looking at boats that are a little sportier than our tugs—a Regal, Sea Ray, or Tiara. Over several months their personal requirements became clearer to them, as they learned the basics of trailerable boating, dockage, storage, and the ins and outs of life on the water.

As spring and the wedding approached, boat research was in full gear. They settled on a used Regal 29, before the wedding. The dream of spending their MiniMoon, onboard in Charlevoix, Michigan, became a reality. The sparkle in their eyes was unmistakable to Jim and me, as they got deeper and deeper into the grip of boat ownership bliss. The boating bug bit them hard this summer, and they’re now planning future boats and destinations, just like the water called to Jim and me many years ago. I think many in our boating community will agree, that a boat is a vessel providing, not only opportunities for adventure but, idyllic fun-filled days on the water with family and friends.

It’s a great place to grow a family and make memories!

Knot Approved splashed (above) for the first time in late May, and it was chilly. The happy new owners Sky and Meg (below).

These two are joining us and the Volvo Penta crowd.

The first time Knot Approved (above background-right) came to raft off Kismet was a fun time for all.