Where are all the next generation of sailboaters?

[brackish]

I started sailing in my teens and at that time had a lot friends the same age who also sailed.  I'm 69 now and not one of those friends I sailed with are still sailing.  Many are still on the water, but have all moved to power more than likely for the convenience and ease.  My three sons all sailed when they were young and went through Yacht Club summer sailing programs learning from fairly good teachers (the youth program was run by a woman who was an Olympic sailor) and while they seemed to enjoy it at the time, it didn't stick at least at this point in their very busy lives with careers and families. 

Who knows?  Our extended family has vacationed in the same place on the Florida pan handle for 40 years.  Up to about 12 years ago, they rented Hobie Cats on the beach.  Then they were replaced with Jet skis.  I was told the Hobies just weren't renting any more.

I'll just keep going until I can't.

[Potcake boy]

Sail on Brackish - we can lead them to the water but we can't make them sail. Maybe I should just plan to be buried in my boat or given a Viking's funeral, no point in seeing a good boat go to waste.

[kickingbug1]

    im hoping to put the 9 year old granddaughter at the helm next week. im thinking we better take something for her to play with in the cabin. too cold to swim.

[NCboater]

Young people, in general, are all about environmentally conscious and sustainable activities.  The powers that be in sailing need to emphasize that aspect of sailing when marketing to young people.  I share the lament about youngsters glued to smart phones, but trying to divorce them from their phones is a losing battle.  A better idea for attracting young people is to integrate smart phones, tablets, etc, into the experience.  Using them for chart plotting, youtube how to videos, etc, should be encouraged.  I find that pretending to be ignorant (very little acting involved) and letting the youngster be the hero by using their smart phone to solve a problem works well for getting them engaged.  Just some ideas.

[Potcake boy]

NCBoater,

Yeah, you're right we shouldn't be hypocrites and try to discourage technology in sailing - how many of you use a GPS and wind instruments - raise your hand.

I think you are right about the youngsters being more environmentally conscience, I know my girls are. I think they may have learned some of that appreciation of nature by spending much time around the water as kids.

Ron

[Craig Weis]

Every weekend was spent with my parents on a schooner out of Belmont Harbor, Chicago, or I was racing a Rhodes 19 keel as spinnaker man, and dad had a salvaged Star boat, and I found a Rhodes Penguin to buy ... made my own trailer for it, and all along we spent about every weekend on the houseboats on two rivers through the years, the Wisconsin River and later the Illinois River ... even down to New Orleans in one of them and back to Starved Rock on the Illinois. Even had a letter waiting for me as we locked back up river from my H.S. gf. with only a crayola drawing of the houseboat on the envelope addressed "To Master Craig Weis some where on the Mississippi River." The lock master laughed as he passed the letter to my mom as she held the bow line in the Sampson post welded to the bow with a smile.  

And every once in a while on Friday afternoon in high school the P's would toss me the keys to the houseboat and say, " Get your buddies and go houseboating. Be sure to fill the water tank, the fuel tank and vacuum the inside. Have fun. " Friday night we'd motor up river to Seneca, Illinois and go girl hunting at their Marina. We'd get dates to take boating on Saturday and Sunday and over to Bull's Island to go swimming while their parents kind of followed in their Chris Craft cabin cruiser.

In college my girlfriends would go boating ...  usually end up sleeping on the roof of the houseboat with my P's down below. Funny story, we got caught in a huuuuuuuge [thanx Trump] down pore and by the time we went below, her white one piece swimming suit that she was in was drenched and went opaque and my dad asked if she had paid a lot for that suit ... she answers, " Not really." He says, " Good 'cause you didn't get a lot. And mom would say, "Ohhh, O'Lee, stop". My dad was always teasing my girlfriends.

Thinking about it, with the exception of dropping a few quarters into a Pac-Man game and having my butt beat'en badly at Calamity Jane's, a bar in Glenview, I never have played any electronic games. I never liked games. And I'm a proud owner of a dumb O' flip phone. I don't smart phone. My CP-19 is my first boat with any electronics on board [Rayathon 435i chart plotter and a Rayathon ST-40 Bi data unit],  ... even the houseboats had zero electronics 'cept for a radio ... and never a phone. Dad shoved off to get away from the phone or office on base.

Kids today are worthless ... but then again so am I. I don't have any kids.  

craig.

[tmw]

Kids today are worthless ... but then again so am I.

LOL.  I'm reminded of a story, which I may have shared before, but I'm getting old, so aren't I allowed to repeat myself?

A business owner had a crew of teenagers building pre-fab construction units, and complained that kids just aren't motivated today.  A consultant came in to observe the work--the young crew moved like snails stuck in molasses.  The business owner appeared to be right.

A while later, the bell rang indicating the lunch break had begun.  The crew suddenly became energized, running at full speed to the far end of the warehouse where they played basketball.  They played with enthusiasm, excited about the competition.  Once the lunch break was over, they quickly ran back and resumed the sluggish pace of work.

The kids were motivated, although the work didn't have the appeal of the competitive basketball game.  By changing the perspective of work, making it competitive with teams like the basketball game they found fun, the business owner easily increased the crew's productivity.

There are many in the next generation, and like the teenagers building construction units, they are motivated.  The may have different needs to make sailing something fun they want to do over and over.

[Potcake boy]

tmw,

Thanks for that, the positive approach always seems to be the real solution.

Just for amusement: I once spotted a bumper sticker that read - Hire A Teenager While They Still Know Everything.

[Bob23]

PCB:
   My father in law had a hand painted sign in his shop; "Teenagers are people who will someday grow up to be as stupid as they think their parents are".

[Mas]

Well since i started this topic figured i better be working on the answer to the question. Just got back from a productive three day stay with the boat where PeterG who is now sans boats was the best as he helped me rig No Mas for the first time in her new home. He said he's been sailing for 26 years and was done. I pointed out that he had started about the same time we had quit 26 years ago and now we are starting and he has quit! This may contain some of the answer to the question.

We did not live near large bodies of water when we started sailing but both of us had been exposed to boats and the marine community through our families as kids. My father's family was on Cape Cod, my wife's from the mountains but her dad had a boat (not sail) on the OBX. Thus both of us had imprinted being on boats.

We both are of the age where fiberglass revolutionized the boating industry about the time we were becoming of age as well. Nobody would have considered a wooden boat that just sat at a marina while they did other things in their lives. The sailing community by the wooden construction of the boats was small, near the water, and entire families participated. Heck the Chesapeake Skipjacks plied the water of the the bay doing the job that power boats now accomplish, and this was just a generation ago. Fiberglass changed all of that.

We are also of the age where even TV did not provide instant information and the internet, PC's, smart phones, etc. were tucked into the brains of the Steve Jobs and Bill Gates of the world. If you wanted something to do it usually involved other people face to face and many times were outside. The information age was just beginning and the wonder and mystery of the world was still palpable with every National Geographic i read. Robin Lee Graham's voyage was covered over a few issues and I was with him on board Dove the entire time. All this contributed to a culture of "get out and do something"!

In our case it was: Exposure to boats at an early age + boats being more viable (fiberglass) + a spark (Voyage of Dove) = sailing
Also in our case:    Starting careers (not near boat) + starting family (had small boat) + buying farm (lots of work) = selling boat
Finally in our case: Staying exposed to boats + lots of boats now available + a spark (getting older) - career (now retired) - family (parents all
                            gone, kids all grown up) = getting a boat again.

We only sailed for a few years ( when young then for the reasons above we stopped, however the desire never left probably also for the reasons above. I can see that we have a culture that says go to school + get good grades = get a good job. Success is now somewhat defined by position and income. Success is simply the attainment of a goal nothing else, but unfortunately we have narrowed what is considered successful by society. They are still out there but generally the Robin Lee Grahams now go to college not to sea. If you scroll back throughout posts you will find the wording on our son's diploma, it remains our belief. Now get out here and adopt a young sailor!!!

[brackish]

No Mas that is an interesting reflection on the subject.  However, I have to say that while I was certainly interested in the concept, the physics associated with the pastime, and being on the water in a quiet manner, I observed that non-sailing girls way back at the time I started sailing seemed to be impressed with those who sailed, interested in being asked along, and there were those nice Islands to sail to and...........

It, of course, was risky business.  As you well know, a sailing trip can end up anywhere on the continuum, from delightful to wretched depending on wind, weather, and the soundness of the craft.  My BIL for instance, partner in my early boats, had one of his dates never speak to him again after a particularly trying trip which involved doldrums, fog, and ultimately dumping her over the side in shallow water about a quarter mile from shore so she could wade up and catch her ride back to school, while we waited out the fog to make our way to the marina.  This of course was the pre GPS and cell phone era.

So maybe therein lies the key to rekindling interest in the sailing with the young.  Sell the concept to the fairer sex and provide the proper motivation.

[MacGyver]

I can say this, I am 34, and have been working my tail off since I started working at 15 years old.
I have lived on my own since late 16 years old, paying rent. Long story all that is.

I got into sailing after almost getting killed being struck by lightning. I worked for that marina almost 20 years, and didnt start sailing till the last few years. Why? Well, it is kinda expensive to have a boat, but in all reality, it is relative to what ever one is interested in overall.

Most guys my age here are drinking their money away, or drugs. They dont have the motivation to do things and maintain it.

Recently I have been going through some issues relating to the boat we own. We have it up for sale, but I really hate to sell it off cause it is truly enjoyable to sail. But, WE just dont have the time, our jobs feel like they own us, and frankly, it seems like they do. Working around 60 to 70 hours a week, salary, not including drive time is getting tiresome.

I was lucky enough to pick up a new hobby, which luckily doesnt have the same setup time as sailing. This has helped get me by the stress loads and such, but nothing compares to sailing in my eyes........ Oh, and I drink a lot more too, which doesnt seem to make the problems go away, but makes my brain stop for short bursts.

So where are all the young people at? Well, drinking due to long hours at their jobs, or the kids games, and the fast pace of buy this now lifestyles that dont allow the time it takes to sail, camp, etc.

Just my 2 cents. I am positive there are some other variables to this, but I need to go clean my guns, and my bottle of crown calls my name ever so sweetly, as work is in the horizon where I need to add yet another day to my rotations to prepare for inventory a few weeks away.......... (and by the way, I am able to sleep in my back seat of my car, which is a good thing, cause we work everyday up to inventory soon....)

Mac

[Mas]

Found some!

A young couple painting the stripes on the hull of a boat they inherited. They are pretty excited about getting her out. Also found out the the fellow knows many of the musicians we play with her in the center of the known universe.

Another young couple trying to raise the sail on a new boat to them on the hard on a VERY windy day. Actually rocked the jack stands before they could get it under control.  Lesson learned! The fact the couples were out and excited about being on the water was putting a smile on my face.

Finally met a gentleman and his son (23) who were out looking at boats. He was getting ready to return to sailing after 25yrs. (my exact time frame) and hoping to get his son on board. The young man looked pretty into it! Same plan for our son, who shed tears when we had our little boat trailer away to a new owner 25 years ago.

[Bilgemaster]

Thing is, it's not just sailing that's not super high on kids' agendas these days.  Have you perhaps noticed how driving seems nowhere near as "mission critical" for those coming up now?  When I was 15 my entire focus was on getting that learner's permit, getting through the test and getting behind the wheel.  I am not the only parent of a teenager I know who has noticed that their kid seems happy enough to take it or leave it.  I expect that in my own kid's case it could have something to do with his eternal quest to obtain the Sacred Dental Floss of Mordor from the Realm of the Unmentionables of Mylanta, or whatever the hell it is he's up to online.  When the abstract world blends with the "real" one priorities will get shifted around, and understandably so.  Freedom and self-determination and true "personhood" for me in, say, 1976, meant getting me and my coworkers to the Jack-in-the-Box under our own steam to ask the clown for soggy cat food tacos after a shift at the mall.  How exactly could you expect that to match up to being fresh from battle with the Haxxoids of Nebulon Gamma Prime. emerging resplendently from the fray in your bejeweled battle flip-flops? Eh?

If you think it's lonely now out on the waves, just wait 'til Virtual Reality, that perennial "next big thing", finally really gets in gear with adequate processor speeds and tactile feedback gear.  Never mind those tumbleweeds in the marina lot.  If you're an oldster still reading that last newspaper, it may well have a handy how-to article titled something like "How can I get my kid to poop in the porcelain, when I can't get him off the Planet of Drunken Dental Hygienist Taylor Swift Clones".  See you out there sooner than you think, Waterworld.

[bwhelton]

I don't know about the rest of the country,  but I sail in the Boston area and at Community Boating we pump through about 2,000 kids every summer.
I was on the hook in Situate last July and I had to wait an hour to get to the fuel dock because the kids would take turns sailing to the fuel dock to get their  freeze pops.  I also had a lot of fun watching the kids weaving between the large yachts and its amazing how coordinated  those 10 year olds are .
So things don't look so bad here.

Brian