re: Question for the OT - group of teenagers going out on a boat

Im not a parent, but IMO there seems like there are some things you have to put your foot down on and I would say your son boating with other teenagers (and no adults) is one of them.

I used to go in the boat all the time with friends who wake boarded. This was late teens and early 20s and looking back, that's what we acted like. On a few occasions we had close calls simply caused by the pilot being distracted (because he was joking around, not paying attention, etc). We don't go much at all anymore, but once they started having kids safety became a number one priority, etc.

Just knowing how teenagers are when they get together I would say you making the right call.