Age for hauling boat to the lake

[blongfishing]

I had a great question that I don't think I have seen on here before. At what age did you start hauling your bass boat to and from the lake either alone or with someone else? This is something that recently came up in my life when I got my license a few years back. 

 

Enough from me! What age did you start? Kayak/Canoe/Other Vessels can pitch in too. Just thought it would be an interesting topic! Fire away!

[gim]

When I was 16, because that was the age I was legally allowed to drive a motor vehicle which towed the boat/trailer.

[Scott F]

First boat when I was 33 years old. 30 years later, I still have and use the same boat.

[fishnkamp]

I started when I was 16. Also when I could get a drivers license.  40 years later I am still doing it.

[flyfisher]

does riding my bike to the local *** lake count?  if so i did that with my rod taped to my top tube when i was probably 10-11

[JLBBass]

Bought my first boat at 16, and never been without one since

[TOXIC]

First boat was a 1973 Ebco Stinger tunnel hull glass speed boat with a 135 tower of power merc.  Pure ski and speed boat.  I was 18 an towed it with a 1976 Mercury Cougar.    Spent every weekend at the lake slicin up the water and camping with friends.  Then some a-hole stole the motor and destroyed the transom in the process.  

[J Francho]

We had a place on the water with a large dock and boat hoist.  There were always a few power boats around.  Around 14 I started taking the tiller out on my own.

[the reel ess]

While I was still not legal to drive,, my dad would leave the truck on the ramp with the boat hooked up and let me back it in and use the boat in the summer while he was at work. We had a lake house. I would go scout the spots during the day and take him back after he got home.

[J Francho]

19 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

While I was still not legal to drive,, my dad would leave the truck on the ramp with the boat hooked up and let me back it in and use the boat in the summer while he was at work. We had a lake house. I would go scout the spots during the day and take him back after he got home.

Reminds me of a funny story.  When I was 13, and working at my family's restaurant, I would take a wheelbarrow across a busy 4-lane road to the bank to buy change for the registers.  When my grandmother found out, she was not happy.  My uncle's solution was to let me drive his truck across the street to get the change.

 

 

It was a different era....

[MassYak85]

16 (20 now). Lol when I was looking for a car my two main concerns were 1) can it take roof racks for my kayak, and 2) can it swallow 8 foot rods. I bought roof racks very shortly after being able to drive by myself and have been taking my kayak places ever since. When me and my dad go together and take his boat I am always the person to launch and park the trailer so while my current car can't haul a boat, I at least have the experience to be comfortable doing it eventually. 

[Further North]

If we define "bass boat" as "Boat we caught bass out of", 12 years old.  14 ft. Starcraft, Johnson 9.9. Got 'er done...

 

If we stick to a narrower definition...still haven't...

[Czorn]

When I bought my first boat at 29 years old. 

[SWVABass]

I was 28, but was pulling a trailer @ 12 on the ranch to feed with.

[drscholl14]

Apparently 31, since last summer is when I bought my first boat....

[Boomstick]

Hopefully at 37, when I will have enough putaway to land my first (and maybe only?) boat.

[Way north bass guy]

Rode bikes to fishing spots as a kid for years, used my dads steel workboat when allowed from about 12-17.  Bought a brand new Triton TR17 ( 12th one ever sold in Canada, first year they sold em here), before I even had my own truck!

Used moms Ford Explorer to tow it to tournaments for the first summer, then bought my own truck and never looked back. Four boats and several trucks later, luanching every chance I get now, and I’m sure my 8 year old will soon be ready to start biking to his “honeyholes”. 

[haggard]

I'm thinking more like "what age will you stop hauling your bass boat..."

 

I'll be 50 this year, and more and more the fleet (and haul methods) revolve around the ability to safely solo launch and load the boat or yak. I ain't getting any younger.
 

[WRB]

I learned to drive a WW2 Jeep on private property at 12 so I could help haul gas cans to the boat landing and trailer rental boats back to the repair shop and bring them back. My older brother taught me and was his helper. 

Our family always had boats so I grew up running them, you still don't need a license to drive power boats in Califorina. I started trailering boats legally at age 16 when I got a drivers license, still trailing a boat to the lake as long as I can safely do it.

Tom