Teach kids to row
One of the rants that gained full support from all YM hands was kids in dinghies with outboards. Of course a lad will grab the chance to go and play with the outboard if you let him. I would have, wouldn’t you? But I’d have learned almost nothing and neither will he.
Give him a pair of oars and he will find out how to manoeuvre a boat, he will get some exercise and will therefore sleep better; most importantly, he will discover the limits of his own strength when tested against a foul tide. He will never forget the lesson and, as a spinoff, he will no longer aggravate everyone else in the anchorage. When it comes to learning about the outboard, make him ‘boatman’ and have him run you ashore when you’re ready.