I am the president of my local club and I have introduced a young member to the club.  He is 16.  I have received a email about this young man being a liability to the boaters that he is with.  My response was that the boater always has a certain amount of liability no matter how old the  person is fishing with him.  My question is how do you feel about having young members in your club?  I say the more the better.  I am a firm believer in getting young people involved in the outdoors.  

We have some young kids in our boat club and we have no problem with them at all. We actually had some kids that were too young to drive a vehicle so their parents had to launch for them. I believe in the more people the better. I would recommend that anyone under the age of either 18 or 21 be required to have a boaters license.

You have to be 18 to be a member of our club.

With so many people "sue happy" and the risk of having any minor claim he/she was molested or abused there is always a chance that either something could occur that would place one of our older members in an awkward situation or there be an acquasition that something occurred.

I only take kids with me if their parent joins us.

So as I view the situation, it is not a matter of how good or bad the young person can fish or operate a boat, it is a question of assuming a risk that you would normally shy away from.

In addition, if the minor is injured on your boat the minor's parents can bring a legal action and then the minor can bring their individual legal action when they reach their majority.

I love to take kids fishing and help with youth events, but always with another adult around to back my story should there be any charges of impropriety.

Call me paranoid but I believe that avoiding the risk is the best course of action when it comes to taking minors fishing when it is you and the minor, only, on the boat.

A word to the wise is sufficient!

You have to be 18 to be a member of our club.

With so many people "sue happy" and the risk of having any minor claim he/she was molested or abused there is always a chance that either something could occur that would place one of our older members in an awkward situation or there be an acquasition that something occurred.

I only take kids with me if their parent joins us.

So as I view the situation, it is not a matter of how good or bad the young person can fish or operate a boat, it is a question of assuming a risk that you would normally shy away from.

In addition, if the minor is injured on your boat the minor's parents can bring a legal action and then the minor can bring their individual legal action when they reach their majority.

I love to take kids fishing and help with youth events, but always with another adult around to back my story should there be any charges of impropriety.

Call me paranoid but I believe that avoiding the risk is the best course of action when it comes to taking minors fishing when it is you and the minor, only, on the boat.

A word to the wise is sufficient!

Very valid concerns I would say.

We have quite a few that are sons to our current members. We have on occasion had a younger person that was a friend of one of our younger members and we required a letter of release from the parents to allow him to fish. Works out well so far.

I would say let him stay in the club, but have a release form like fishfordollars' club did. I myself am a 16 year old fisherman and I'd hate to be turned away from a club due to my age. but thats just my input.

I was a youth member when I first joined my adult club at 15 and I didnt have to file any release form, however my dad did join with me and we fished tournaments together. Both as riders in seperate boats but he was there.

I wasn't turned down, but if I was I know the rejection that I would feel. In turn I can also see how Sam's points are good ones.

Since my dad joined with me I can't say that I'd want just a youth member in the club. Maybe if he could bring his father, or mother, with him it would make your club feel better about it.