help with boat handling while striper fishing

[Big Wig]

OK, I'm very new to any kind of salt water fishing but I do know a few methods of catching stripers... and a few decent places to fish for them. My problem is that I mostly fish with my 7 year old son and of course, he is no help with the boat... and he needs help from me a lot.

I would like to fish the Merrimac river - I launch at the Res in Salisbury, MA - but it seems a difficult task to be drifting in all that current while trying to prepare bait, rig rods, cast, help the kid.... all while keeping the boat out of the rocks. Last Friday we had our first saltwater trip just the 2 of us and I stayed out front the whole time. It just seemed easier. The problem was there were no bass out there!

I really need some tips from folks who fish alone or with young kids without another adult to help. I'm used to sitting in a bass seat on the bow with a trolling motor while doing everything... and without current. So how I do I begin to take on the task of putting my kid on the bass?

Any advice is really appreciated.

Thanks
Jay