"DSK" wrote in message ...
Y'know, I can see both sides of this argument. Further comments interspersed:



Teach "some small kid" to stay clear and keep an eye open.


Jeff Morris wrote:
Not a very good answer when the hazard is in the middle of the cockpit.

I don't see that it matters that much. Children who don't know what's what should be
kept
clear of things like lawnmowers and mid cockpit travelers. It also is smart to keep the
traveler control lines taut on both sides, and keep the boat firmly under control... and
teach
all children (whatever their age) where NOT to stick their fingers.

Pain is Mother Nature's way of saying, "You just made a mistake. Don't do that again." A
little bit of pain is a marvelous teaching tool. Seems to be out of favor in modern
educational doctrine.


You could use that argument to justify any behaviour. Why not leave loaded guns around;
all children should know enough not to play with them. Bottom line - some boats are setup
safer than others.




Sailing can be dangerous, keep it safe.

That's my point. Some boats are safer than others. That's why some boats that may
be
well suited for racing are not good for family cruising.

Again, both sides have good points. OTOH I grew up sailing on family owned racing boats,
often
in hotly contested races, and with impatient & vocal skippers. My grandfather, father,
and
uncles, were/are not among the worlds most mild mannered and calm voiced men.

Keeping circumstances under control may be a problem for most skippers. Forseeing &
forestalling any possible boo-boos is a must. This is going to be a lot easier on some
boats
than others. So (as always) the boat must be matched to the goal.


That's my point. You have to have a special talent to take children on a racing machine.
And even then, you probably don't want to take their yound friends as guests.



Oh and cam cleats rarely let go if loaded properly and replaced when
worn.

Yep, almost never, in fact.


As a racer I learned to avoid certain risky things, like being in the bight of a jib
sheet. Blocks don't let go often, but you don't want to be in the wrong place when they
do. A family boat should minimize these issues.



Yes, and uncontrolled jibes never happen.

Well, they shouldn't. Maybe you should spend some time sailing with my father, he'd
teach you
about uncontrolled gybing.

I'm not the person I'm concerned about. I've sailed for 45 years including 6 years as an
instructor in dinghies. I don't have accidental jibes (when people are looking), and
I've never had a crew or guest injured. I sailed the Irwin 30 with the cockpit traveler
for a season without mishap, though I was always wary. It was the owner who has a
history of sending people to the hospital.

A side story - he's the only person I know that has run himself over in car. He was
working under it with the front end on jackstands when he accidentally shorted the
starter. The car was in gear an jumped on him, breaking his hip. Its people like this
that should not have a traveler in the cockpit!





And the traveler doesn't move across on every
tack. And any little kid that get his finger caught in it didn't deserve to play the
violin.

-jeff, whose kid has had a safe cockpit to play in since she was a week old.

Personally, I worry more about child safety with regard to automobile wrecks &
household
chemicals than sailing. But then, safety is in the eye of the beholder... and between
the ears
of the skipper, when sailing.


My kid is eight and we still keep her in a booster seat - it reduced the chance of injury
75%.

I'm not saying boats shouldn't have travelers, or that kids shouldn't be allowed on racing
boats. I'm just saying that since a cockpit traveler is required, it should be avoided in
a family cruiser.


Fresh Breezes- Doug King
who was sailing from infancy and often got hurt and/or scared doing so, but never
permanently,
and who since has taken many children from toddlers to 20 year olds and pretty much
avoided
trauma.


-Jeff, who may have banged himself around a few times, but never done so to his crew or
guests.