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Boating with children: keeping the family safe on board
A day on the water with children and grandchildren is at its best when a few things are settled before you cast off: which lifejacket fits, which rules apply on deck, who watches whom, who may take the helm and who is covered if something goes wrong. This guide walks through each point in turn, so that everyone stays safe, and ends with a checklist you can tick off or print.
Children on board: lifejacket, netting and firm rules
For a child, the single most important piece of kit is a lifejacket that genuinely fits. Children's lifejackets are sized by body weight rather than age, and they need a crotch strap. Without one, the jacket rides up in the water and the child's face is no longer held clear. Our lifejacket finder suggests the right buoyancy class and type for your child and your waters.
Try every child's lifejacket on before the season starts, because children grow faster than a summer lasts. A quick test: fasten the jacket, tighten the crotch strap, then gently lift the child by the shoulder straps. If the chin stays free and nothing slides up over the ears, it fits.
Seven rules that work for families
Lifejacket on as soon as the lines are off
A rule without exceptions is easier to keep than a fresh debate about the weather every morning. Small children keep their jacket on on the pontoon and in the marina too.
Rig guardrail netting
Netting between deck and guardrail keeps toddlers, toys and the dog on board. It does not replace a lifejacket, but it stops the most common slip at the edge.
One adult watches only the children
Agree before every departure which adult is looking after the children. Whoever is steering or handling lines cannot do that as well. During mooring and casting off, children sit in a fixed spot.
A safety briefing children take part in
Show them where to hold on, where to sit during manoeuvres and what happens if someone falls overboard. Older children like having a job, such as keeping a lookout or handling a fender.
Sun and drinks
The water reflects sunlight, so exposure is higher than on land. Hats, sunglasses, long sleeves and sun cream belong on board, with water bottles within reach. Children often notice thirst late, so plan regular drink breaks.
Spot seasickness early
Paleness, yawning and a child who suddenly goes quiet are often the first signs. Fresh air, a seat on deck in the middle of the boat and eyes on the horizon help. Reading or screens below deck usually make it worse. Give seasickness remedies to children only on the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.
Shorter passages
Plan legs that are comfortable even with breaks, and keep a harbour or anchorage as a fallback. A swimming stop does more for morale than another two hours under way.
Teenagers at the helm: what the rules say
Many teenagers want to drive the boat themselves, and with an experienced adult beside them they learn a great deal. How far that can go depends on the country, the boat and the water. Always follow the rules of the waters you are on. A few examples we have checked against the law:
Germany: licence free up to 15 hp
A boat with a combustion engine may be driven on German inland and coastal waterways without a licence if the engine delivers no more than 11.03 kW, which is 15 hp. For electric motors the limit is 7.5 kW continuous output.[1]
Germany: at least 16 at the helm
On German inland waterways, the person at the helm of a moving boat must be at least 16, even if no licence is needed. Only small boats without an engine are exempt.[2]
Germany: licence from 16, sail from 14
The German recreational boat licence for motorboats is issued from age 16; for sailing only, from age 14.[3]
Austria: no certificate below 4.4 kW
In Austria, nobody needs a certificate of competence to drive a leisure motorboat with less than 4.4 kW of power, whether electric or combustion.[4]
Spain: no licence up to 5 m and 15 hp
In Spain, private motorboats up to 5 m long and 15 CV may be driven without a licence, by day only and within 2 nautical miles of the port or beach. The person driving must be at least 18.[5]
Spain: Licencia de navegación from 16
Schools and associations issue the Licencia de navegación for boats up to 6 m, valid by day within 2 nautical miles. It requires age 18, or 16 with parental consent.[5]
What it means for your insurance
Boat policies commonly make cover depend on the person in charge holding the licence that the boat and the waters require. If someone without it is in command, a claim can fail. Read the clause on the required licence in your own policy, and check who counts as an authorised skipper.
For families that means: let your child take the helm only where the law allows it, and stay within arm's reach.
Who is covered if a child gets hurt?
Most injuries on board are nobody's fault: a slip on a wet deck, a tumble down the companionway, fingers caught on a cleat. Liability cover does not help then, because it only pays when someone else is hurt and you are legally responsible. For your own children the relevant protection is personal accident cover, and the first question is who counts as an insured person.
Look at the list of insured persons in your accident cover and ask three questions:
Owner only?
If only the policyholder is insured, children, partners and guests have no cover from it at all.
Owner and close family?
If close family is included, check how it is defined: children and parents only, or grandchildren too.
Everyone on board?
The widest wording covers every authorised person aboard, including your children's friends and other guests.
Also look for a clause that divides the sum insured by the number of people on board at the time of the accident. With four people aboard, each one is then insured for a quarter. The calculator below shows what that means for your usual crew.
Example: what is left per person?
Each person is insured for €25,000.
An example only. Whether and how your cover divides the sum is stated in your own policy.
When liability cover pays
Liability cover is there for injuries to other people for which you are legally liable. For example, a friend of your children comes along and hurts a hand because a mooring line was badly made fast. Their parents may then claim against you, and your insurer assesses the claim.
Check whether your policy excludes claims by family members who live with you. Where such a clause exists, an injury to your own child is a matter for accident cover, not for liability.
Holidays and charter with the family
If you charter a boat with children, sort out the equipment when you book. Ask the charter base explicitly for children's lifejackets in the right weight class and for guardrail netting, and get both confirmed in writing. To be completely sure, bring your children's own well fitting lifejackets from home.
Before you go, check whether your own boat liability policy covers you as the skipper of a chartered boat, often called skipper liability. Look at the cruising area, the maximum length of the charter and whether damage to the charter boat itself is excluded.
Gather the paperwork early: licences, charter contract, proof of insurance and the children's passports or ID cards. Our boat papers checklist lists what has to be on board in each country, and boating abroad covers the rules by destination.
What to check in your policy
These questions are worth asking once a year, ideally before the first trip of the season. Tick off what is done or print the list for the noticeboard.
Questions about insuring your boat? Get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
At what age can a teenager helm a boat?
It depends on the country, the boat and the water. On German inland waterways, for example, whoever is at the helm of a moving boat must be at least 16, and the motorboat licence is issued from 16. In Spain, driving a small boat without a licence requires being 18.
Is my child's friend covered if they get hurt on board?
Only if your accident cover insures every authorised person on board, or if you are legally liable for the injury, in which case your liability cover may respond. The list of insured persons in your policy tells you which applies.
Does my boat liability cover me on a chartered boat?
Only if your policy includes skipper liability for chartered boats. Check the cruising area, the maximum charter length and whether damage to the charter boat itself is excluded.
Read on
Lifejacket finder Boat papers checklist Boating abroad Contact
Sources
Legal limits as of October 2026. The rules of the waters you are on always take precedence.
