Boating with children? Good idea! Anyone planning to take the kids on board a charter yacht later on should prepare them “gently” for boating beforehand – for example, during a relaxed houseboat trip. Harald Kuhnle from Kuhnle-Tours explains what to look out for.
Anyone planning to set sail with children on a charter yacht, for example in Croatia, is well advised to prepare the kids accordingly beforehand. A good possibility can be a prior houseboat trip on calm inland waters, undertaken together with the whole family.
This way, the little ones learn the first basics of seamanship, how a boat works – and quite incidentally, how to move safely on board, but above all: that a trip can be fun. Good prerequisites for perhaps being “out at sea” on a “real” charter yacht later – without parents having to fear nasty surprises.
From the very first day, even the smallest family members can experience the adventure on board
“From the very first day, even the smallest family members, from newborns to teenagers, can experience the adventure on board,” says Harald Kuhnle of Kuhnle Tours, one of the major German houseboat providers with charter stations at many popular water sports areas. Unlike in a hotel or at a campsite, children here can experience nature up close – all within a safe and manageable framework.
For parents, this means relaxation and fun at the same time: “because you don’t have to worry about the children being unsupervised, as long as safety rules are followed”. Especially with the youngest ones, like crawling babies or toddlers learning to walk, it pays to coordinate travel times cleverly with nap times or plan for a third person on board who can step in at short notice if needed.
The safety of the children must come first on a houseboat trip
“The safety of the children is our top priority,” says Harald Kuhnle, who founded his Kuhnle Tours GmbH as an agency for houseboat trips back in 1981 and is thus considered a pioneer in the field of houseboat chartering in Germany.
Every child receives a suitable unconscious-safe life jacket upon arrival, taking weight into account. “For parents who want to bring their own jackets, we recommend ensuring they are also unconscious-safe and have a sufficiently high collar to keep the head above water.”
It is particularly important that all children – regardless of whether they are non-swimmers or have a basic swimming badge – wear a life jacket when outside on the boat, on the jetty, or in the harbor. From the Silver Swimming Badge onwards, children could forego wearing one in calm conditions, but should always be secured in wind, waves, or darkness, says houseboat pro Kuhnle.
“Our motto for life jackets is: As soon as you ask yourself if a life jacket is appropriate now, you should put one on.” In this way, parents could enjoy their time relaxedly while the children safely discover the world on board.
A houseboat is a great place to actively involve children, says Harald Kuhnle
“A houseboat is a great place to actively involve children,” Harald Kuhnle is certain. In 1991, he opened the first charter base in Waren an der Müritz, which signaled the start of modern water tourism in Mecklenburg. Children could help steer the boat – either on parents’ laps or under direct supervision – or take on simple tasks, like coiling mooring lines, scrubbing the deck, or helping with meal preparation. Choosing the next harbor or planning a shore excursion can also be an exciting participatory experience.
To ensure boredom doesn’t arise in the first place, it pays to bring a few favorite items: a magnifying jar, craft wire, snorkel, small model boats, audiobooks, or travel games like Uno or Yahtzee. For shore excursions, bicycles, books, or small musical instruments are ideal. Even simple things like an air mattress or a few meters of clothesline could lead to hours of playing fun.
“Children can use electric toilets independently after a short briefing; with hand-pump toilets, assistance might be necessary,” advises the houseboat specialist. Bedding and pillows are standardized on board, so for small children, it is recommended to bring their own sleeping bag or cuddly blanket. High chairs, travel cots, or strollers could also be brought along, but the – depending on the rented boat type – potentially limited space on board must be considered.
Sleepwalkers or children who do not stay alone at home yet should not be unsupervised on board either. Stair gates or fixed fall protection are deliberately not present on board, as these would restrict the crew’s maneuverability. In the harbor, cushions could be placed on the steps as a safety measure – at the same time, this could create a small slide for the older children.
Seasickness on board is not an issue, as travel is typically done under calm conditions
“Even though we are traveling on protected houseboat areas, there is always someone available: our emergency service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for questions and advice,” promises Harald Kuhnle. Seasickness is incidentally “very rare,” as travel is “predominantly in calm conditions.” Even crossings over larger lakes rarely take longer than 1.5 hours.
From navigation to weather forecasts to entertainment: Smartphones and tablets could be used sensibly during the houseboat trip, recommends Kuhnle: “useful apps include OpenSeaMap, Windy or Wetteronline for navigation, Komoot for shore excursions, Night Sky for star gazing as well as creative apps like ‘Photo to Sketch’ or ‘Clip to Comic’.” Practical helpers like “Walkie Talkie Communication” or the kitty app “Splidd” would also facilitate everyday life on board.
Why are inland houseboat trips particularly suitable for families with children?
Generally, inland houseboat trips are particularly suitable for families, as mostly calm and protected waters are navigated here, the crew moves slowly and relaxedly, creating time for nature, explanations, and safe maneuvers. Especially in attractive regions like France, Germany (partially), the Netherlands, or Ireland, many houseboats can also be driven without a license. This makes the entry easier for families.
Furthermore, many houseboat types offer a lot of space and comfort on board with large living areas, kitchen, bathroom, and separate cabins – children have plenty of room to play, and parents have more relaxation. Finally, houseboat vacations also offer the possibility to stop casually more often along the way – combined with short stages, this offers varied days for the kids.
Checklist for houseboat trips with children:
- Planning and daily rhythm: short stages, 2 to 4 hours a day are quite sufficient. Pay attention to regular breaks: Plan for playgrounds, cafes, swimming spots. Assess locks realistically: Locks can be exciting, but also take time. With many locks, therefore pay attention: start early, allow enough time.
- On board: always define where children can stay safely. During docking and casting off: Children not on the foredeck or at the railing, wear life jackets (also when locking and outside). Secure water access (door stops, lock sliding doors if necessary).
- Weather & Clothing: Sun protection: Hat, UV shirts, sunscreen (consider reflection on water). Rain gear + warm layers, as it can be cooler on the water.
Which boats are particularly suitable for families?
Besides the aforementioned houseboats from Kuhnle Tours, there is the “classic for families,” the Pénichette (Locaboat), the family-friendly boats from Nicols Boote, as well as the boats of the Horizon series from Le Boat (selection), which are also excellently suitable for trips with children.
Conclusion: if the family has found the houseboat that suits them, and the tips mentioned above are heeded, the inland trip can begin. Families then benefit from safety, tranquility, plenty of space, slow speeds, and diverse experiences.
With the right boat, the selection of the appropriate region, and a few clear safety rules, boating holidays can thus become a highlight for children too – and stress-free and relaxed for the parents.
And if the kids have taken a liking to houseboat driving, perhaps nothing stands in the way of a sea voyage on a charter yacht, for example in Croatia.
