Dock Games for Kids
Every marina has that stretch of afternoon, boat's fueled, gear's loaded, everyone's just... waiting. That's prime time for dock games. No water, no equipment run, just a few minutes of open dock and some imagination.
Here are a few favorites that keep kids busy while the grown-ups finish tying up.
Cleat Toss. Grab a few dock lines or bean bags and take turns tossing them around a cleat from a few steps back. Move the line back after every three hits.
Dock Chalk Art. Sidewalk chalk turns weathered dock boards into a canvas. Bonus points for anyone who can chalk a boat that looks better than the one you actually own.
Rope Coil Races. Hand two kids identical lengths of rope and see who can coil it properly, fastest. Sneaky way to teach a real skill.
I Spy: Marina Edition. Classic I Spy, but everything has to be something you'd only see at a marina: a flag, a fender, a specific boat name.
Knot Relay. Teach one simple knot (a cleat hitch is a good one), then race in pairs to tie it correctly. Great for slightly older kids.
Boat Name Bingo. Before you go, jot down a simple bingo card of things to spot: a funny boat name, a dog on deck, someone waving. First to fill a row wins.
None of these need anything fancier than what's already sitting in a dock box, which is really the point the best dock games are the ones that don't need packing.
Dock day gear should stay simple too. If you're setting up for the season, Big Bumper Company makes fenders that deflate for easy storage, so there's more room in that dock box for chalk and bingo cards instead. Their Size Matters chart makes it quick to figure out what fits your boat and if you want the story behind why they started building bumpers in the first place, Adam and Kelly's story is worth a watch.