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News + Tips

Kelowna Boat Rental Tips: Boating With Kids on Okanagan Lake

Kelowna Boat News and Tips
Ensuring you’re topped up with the right supplies will help you enjoy your day of boating on Okanagan Lake with the family.

Ensuring you’re topped up with the right supplies will help you enjoy your day of boating on Okanagan Lake with the family.

Most kids love the water. Throw a boat into the mix and their excitement is barely containable. But before you venture out onto Okanagan Lake, it’s a good idea to make sure you come prepared for a full day of fun and exhilaration on the water.

 

The Importance of Lifejackets

Whether you have your own boat, or you’re considering Kelowna marine boat rentals, safety needs to be your first priority. That means making sure your children are wearing lifejackets. You are required by law to carry an approved lifejacket, also known as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), for everyone on board.

If you want to set a good example for your children, you can wear a lifejacket as well.

 

The Maneuverability of Boats

Many boats these days offer a combination of:

  • High power
  • Extreme maneuverability
  • High-end speed

Of course, this is what makes them a lot of fun, but you also need to be careful when kids are on board. They can get bounced around the boat pretty easily, especially when it’s choppy on Okanagan Lake. In some instances, they can even get bounced OUT of the boat. This makes lifejackets all the more important.

Other tips for keeping children safe in boats include:

  • Making sure they’re comfortable with how a boat handles
  • Keeping them within arm’s reach while driving
  • Avoiding hard turns

 

Dress for All Occasions

Even though the temperatures might reach 30 degrees or more, you’ll still want to bring a few extra layers of clothing (and don’t forget the sunblock and towels). When you’re wet, the wind chill you experience in a moving boat can be surprisingly numbing.

 

Fuel the Boat, Fuel the Body

It’s just as important to bring along enough food and drink for your day out on Okanagan Lake as it is to top up with boat fuel at a Kelowna marina. The lake breeze can make it feel cooler than it really is, so make sure you stay hydrated with water. And activities like wakeboarding and skiing require a lot of energy. Having a cooler with snacks or a light meal will keep your energy level up.

 

Choose the Right Toys

Depending on the age of your children, there are a number of suitable water toys you can bring with you:

  • Tubes
  • Floaties
  • Wakeboards
  • Wake skates
  • Skis

You can even bring along some beach toys for when you anchor offshore and swim to a little secluded beach.

 

Loading the Boat

As you can see, you will be toting a lot of gear to keep your brood fed and entertained. A collapsible rolling cart or wagon will make it infinitely easier to take everything from the car to the dock (and back again).

 

If you want to get the most out of your day on Okanagan Lake, read our post: Kelowna Boats: The Best Way to Experience the Okanagan.

 

Are you looking for Kelowna boat rentals so you can enjoy a fun-filled day on Okanagan Lake? Call Downtown Marina to learn about our flexible rental options. Our Kelowna marina is conveniently located next to City Park.