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How old is too old?

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Cloudveil
1st Mate

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USA
60 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2007 : 16:34:15

Try this:
1. Bareboat charter with just your wife as crew for 10 days, preferably somewhere you will do some offshore sailing (Tahiti
is great!).
2. Crew with your wife on a boat doing an offshore trip, with a
minimum week of night watches, weather, etc. (A good way to do this is with a boat doing the BaJa HAHA in early November. Latitude 38
(Latitude38.com) has an annual crew list for those wanting to crew
on the trip.
My wife and I were very close to selling all, and purchasing a 42' boat (Had it all picked out and surveyed.) when we did the HAHA in '05 with a couple on their C&C 48. My wife discovered she does not like offshore extended trips, and so we have altered our plans to
coastal cruising as a couple, and her flying to meet the boat otherwise. (We are now shopping for a Catalina 42 Mk2, or Benetau
42CC.)
You are only 40ish, so you have lots of time, and lots can change.
(I am 67.)
Just look how much boats have evolved in the past 10-15 years. In
1990 a 42-45' boat was REALLY BIG, but now that is the norm.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2007 : 10:24:06

At 35 and 42 respectively, my wife and I just sold the contents of our house, rented it after having it redone inside and out, and are setting off for parts unknown. For us, NOW is the time! Why wait! I can always go back to the hampster wheel called work.

We bought a C&C 39 - www.svlysistrata.com - and made it happen. It was weird selling all of our stuff. It was like being dead and watching to see what your stuff was really worth. NOT MUCH! An entire house full of stuff sold for less than $10K! $4500 black leather sectional - $750... etc...

What was also interesting is to determine what stuff is actually going with us! Basically the realization that for years we have been paying to house and heat crap that is essentially worthless to anyone other than ourselves is very liberating! When you are on your deathbed, you will only regret the things you did not do, the treadmill will kill you! Read the obits! Go now!

sten
PO '82 C25 FK/SR #3220
Lysistrata - C&C 39 - www.svlysistrata.com

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2007 : 11:32:37

Way to go Sten,..... post some pics!!!!

Paul

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2007 : 00:42:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Oscar, The first sign of debilitation is having difficulty getting the cover off your medicine bottle.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I am fortunate that I don't regularly (have) to take anything......8 advils a year, tops.

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2007 : 09:53:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 We bought a C&C 39 - www.svlysistrata.com - <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I cannot seem to go past the "boat sailing across the screen" boat on your page. Is my browser blocking the rest?

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2007 : 16:13:11

We have not raced this year. Will get back to racing next season. My 100 jib is too worn-out to compete. Will order new one over the winter. We have a 150 but its too big for most of the weather we sail in.

We were out Friday night in the 25 -35 knot winds. What a hoot. Tore a hank off our smallest, and the best of our 5 jibs. First time this year we've reefed our mainsail. We had two reefs in.
We made it down to the first cove and the wind died, so we pulled in and overnighted. Spend most of Saturday sanding the woodwork.

We will most likely be out Friday and Saturday, all day, staying over at least one of the nights. We might have guests, so if we do, we will probably pitch a tent on Mouse Island for the guests. If you have a dog, its a great place to let'm loose.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2007 : 19:55:24

Redviking: Can't get past the first sailboat animation. Where are we supposed to click?

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2007 : 08:52:44

Sorry folks - that's as far as we have got so far.... To many things to do - so little time... We hope to get the blog thing working this week, etc...

sten

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2007 : 10:23:47

Hey, ya gotta have a good cover before you can write a book!

Edited by - on

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2007 : 11:05:29

I have a friend who has sailed Lake Superior every summer for the last 40 or so years, usually for as long as two months at a time, solo. Last year, at age 74, he had to ask for help with his boat, a 30' Nonsuch because he was having trouble raising his main and operating his manual windlass. Granted Lake Superior is not the ocean, but at times it can be as or more dangerous than any sea or ocean in the world. George has experienced it all at one time or another and, at 75, continues to sail his Nonsuch for extended cruises, normally with one crew person to help with the heavy stuff.

I have another friend who does extended cruising with his wife on Lake Superior in their 40' Beneteau. He is now 67 and his wife is 63. The only problem he has is with primary winches and raising his main. He bought an electric winch handle which he says has extended his cruising life by many years. We will see how many as time goes on.

I guess the bottom line is that as long as you stay in relatively good shape and can add equipment to compensate for heavy lifting and pulling, you can cruise into your late 60's and beyond.

Edited by - aeckhart on 09/25/2007 11:08:23

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2007 : 13:02:26

Our closest Mooring ball neighbour singlehands several times a week, and gunkholes almost every weekend. I believe he's in his mid 70's. He's not a timid sailor, he likes the big winds.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2007 : 14:45:10

There is an older sailor, mid 70's, with a Cape Dory 25D (very nice boat) slipped across from me at the marina. He's an interesting and very colorful person from Hungary and still fairly spry, but he doesn't go out alone anymore. Though when he does go out with crew, he insists on going forward himself to raise/lower/reef the sails while the crew mans the tiller. I've went out with him a few times this season when he was unable to scare up crew as have a few other sailors around me. I've also invited him along with me.

This guy has a suit of sails that would be the envy of most sailors in both quantity and quality, and although he takes particular joy in going forward to raise the sails himself, he's hinted that maybe its time for a furler. (I'm also one of those who likes to raise the main from the mast even though all the hardware is in place to lead them back to the cockpit). Although he recently sold them, his fleet also consisted of an Olson 25 and a Cape Dory Typhoon. Can you imagine having three sailboats at one time!

Edited by - dlucier on 09/25/2007 17:43:57

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2007 : 18:03:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 There is an older sailor, mid 70's, with a Cape Dory 25D (very nice boat)...his fleet also consisted of an Olson 25 and a Cape Dory Typhoon. Can you imagine having three sailboats at one time!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I'd certainly like to have two of them! (I'll pass on the hotrod.)

Edited by - on

pwhallon
Admiral

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USA
694 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2007 : 09:22:07

How old is too late

Remember this little guy. "Captain Evan".

Here he is now, on the left. "little" brother Everett beside him.

Evan in high school, Everett will be going to high school next year.
Both great. Good grades no problems (IRE MON).

As most of you guys know. Time flies.

I'm 48, Wife wants to live here and work here till

.

NOT ME!

Starting to realize its' time to start "living" again. Not a mid-life crisis, just waking up. I quit working weekends to have better family time, hitched up with some musicians to play guitar again and have been exploring the world of ADV motocycle riding and exploring the N. GA mountains.

2 good friends are fighting, and thank goodness beating, cancer. My mom died at 52 from cancer.

Most people, including me, spend too much time "thinkin about it". Time to quit thinkin and start livin. I realized one day that it is so easy to get stuck in "thinkin about it" mode.

Wad-ja do with your life Paul. Oh, I dun-know, I guess I was thinkin about it.

Okay my rant is over. Or maybe my declaration of independence.

To do list:

Sail the Bahamas or more.
Ride the Trans America Trail.
Do more photography and writing.
Play and write more music.
Get good at fly fishing.
Track down and say hi to old friends.
Quit real estate because it sucks!
Drink less.
Sleep better.
lose weight.

And last but not least: Still be a good father and husband.

Love this forum,

PW.

Edited by - pwhallon on 10/06/2007 09:49:44

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/06/2007 : 18:17:44

I've been feeding my dream all week, browsing web sites. Found these sites that I believe people sharing my dream will find very interesting:

Cruising Naratives and Cruising Logs
Very informative logs of people who crossed oceans, lived on their sailboats on extended voyages to many coutries as couples, singles and with kids.
[url="http://www.cruiser.co.za/links1.asp"]Web site[/url]

Blue Water Boat List
List and comments on good boats for offshore voyages. Very professional and knowledgable.
[url="http://www.mahina.com/cruise.html"]Web Site[/url]

My boat pick so far
Amel 54. Strong, well designed. Excellent passagemaker, great value. Low maintenance. Most older models (25 years old) currently sell for about $180K, new is >1.3M$ (a little out of my budget

). By the time I buy mine, it's probably be an Amel Maramu or Mango which is very similar. Electric winches and fully covered hard top cockpit (almost like a pilot house, is very attractive to me).
[url="http://www.amel.fr/"]Amel Web Site[/url]

Examples: (< $200K)
[url="http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatDetails.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet¤cyid=100&boat_id=1597029&checked_boats=1597029&back=%2Fcore%2Flisting%2Fcache%2FsearchResults.jsp%3FtoPrice%3D200000%26hmid%3D0%26sm%3D3%26enid%3D0%26luom%3D126%26currencyid%3D100%26toLength%3D50%26cit%3Dtrue%26boatsAddedSelected%3D-1%26ftid%3D0%26fromPrice%3D100000%26ps%3D30%26fromLength%3D40%26man%3Damel%26slim%3Dquick&searchtype="]Amel Maramu 46' (1983)[/url]

[url="http://www.yachtworld.com/core/listing/boatDetails.jsp?currency=USD&units=Feet¤cyid=100&boat_id=1760727&checked_boats=1760727&back=%2Fcore%2Flisting%2Fcache%2FsearchResults.jsp%3FtoPrice%3D200000%26hmid%3D0%26sm%3D3%26enid%3D0%26luom%3D126%26currencyid%3D100%26toLength%3D54%26cit%3Dtrue%26boatsAddedSelected%3D-1%26ftid%3D0%26fromPrice%3D100000%26ps%3D30%26fromLength%3D50%26man%3Damel%26slim%3Dquick&searchtype="]Amel Mango 53' (1983)[/url]

Videos (really worth watching)
[url="http://www.amel.fr/videos-amel-54/haut-debit/Amel-54.wmv"]From the Amel web site (32MB) Amel 54[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsFZURpfdYQ"]YouTube (shows electric winches and furling)[/url]

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 10/06/2007 18:31:04

SteveRoberts
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2008 : 17:27:48

Hey Steve, I'm late to the thread but I think I have some useful info:

In 1990, my wife and I sailed our Valiant 32 across the Pacific from San Fransisco to New Zealand. I was 32 at the time, my wife a little younger. It's a long story (any yearlong adventure is) but here are some lessons that might apply to your situation:

1) More boat isn't necessarily better. We were often (but not always) the smallest boat in the anchorage but we were comfortable enough and we were out there.

2) There were plenty of older couples and solo sailors out there. One old guy on a beautiful Valiant 40 was certainly over 70.

3) Electrical doodads are nice but it's just more stuff that might break and that you'll have to maintain. Simple is better as much as possible.

4) Fatigue isn't as much of a problem as you'd think. Boredom on longer passages is a bigger issue. You've got the windvane steering for you and unless you're in a big hurry you're not likely to be getting up to change canvas with every change in windspeed.

5) We got caught in one big storm that lasted a week. It was exhausting, mostly because in the troughs the windvane lost power so we had to hand steer or risk broaching-to. It sucked but I've gotten a lot of mileage out of that story. :)

At 55-65, barring health issues you'll still be in plenty good enough shape to cross oceans. Plenty of people have gone before you. Dream, plan, buy lots of books by folks like the Pardeys, John Rousmaniere and the Dashews.

-Steve Roberts

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2008 : 18:37:08

A recent acquaintance of mine bought a new Pearson Triton in the late 1950s or early 60s. The Triton was one of the first production fiberglass sailboats ever built, if not the first. He still owns it, sails it, and races it regularly. I don't recall his exact age, but it's in the high nineties (96-97.)

Sailing isn't primarily a physical sport. It's cerebral. Some of the most skilled sailors I've known were either significantly disabled from injuries or congenital defects, or from age or illness.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2008 : 20:01:13

Thanks for the posts! Very interesting.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/24/2008 : 21:19:07

Hey Steve Roberts... Good stories! If you're still sniffing around, what brought you here? Just curious...

Edited by - on

SteveRoberts
1st Mate

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USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2008 : 11:24:04

Dave,

We bought a C-25 (1976) last fall. I've been lurking for a while; this was the first post I thought I could contribute to.

I've already gotten a ton of good information from this forum, thank you all. I have a list of boat projects as long as your arm already; nothing too urgent although I intend to go with all-line halyards and stainless spreader bases ASAP and we have a couple of leaky windows that need fixing too.

I'll post occasionally and read often; it's my nature. =)

Edited by - on

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2008 : 20:30:27

If you are asking . . . then you are NOT too old!

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2008 : 22:32:51

Every time I shut off the outboard and hoist the main I feel 10 years younger.

You know you can't trust anyone older than 30, according to Dylan, but he's over 60 now, so what does that imply?

Edited by - on

Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 13:45:04

When I lived in New Zealand, "uncle Hughie" and his crew of 60+ year old geezers used to beat the pants off us every Saturday around the buoys of Wellington harbor. He finally sold his boat when he turned 75 because steering a 33 foot boat in 20+ knot winds with a tiller became too much for him.

I'm 55, and I race my own boat on Tuesdays and crew on a J-24 on Thursdays. I don't have any kind of exercise regimen except carrying a beer cooler, gas can, outboard motor, etc. I expect to do this another 20 years, at which time I will take up golf.

I'd cheerfully sail around the world now (if I could afford to retire) but I wouldn't do it alone. Having some younger crew is always a good idea. In the sailing world, there are lots of fat, old guys steering big boats, with young kids doing the skill work up front. That's how our economy works:)

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2008 : 17:17:54

Sail controls have increased in their ease of use. Blue Water Sailing is now very much a cerebral, more than physical endeavour.

I don't plan on crossing any oceans when I retire, but I do plan on sailing everyday.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/30/2008 : 08:13:05

I am reminded of this topic daily for the past week or so. There is a nice couple - easily in their 70's who make the trek to their vessel daily. Not sure if they have a land life too, but the husband is kinda hunched over and the wife walks VERY slow and deliberately after what appears to be numerous health issues. Anyhow, you can tell from the boat that they have been places. She can barely walk to the boat, it takes her at least 15 minutes from the ramp and they are the second boat in! I suspect their cruising days are over - it's so sad. But they find value in getting aboard daily I s'pose... Go now - OK it's my mantra...

I recently read the following in a latts & tatts... "A yardie died here recently.... Like most of the more reclusive Yardies, he was quiet and came and went with barely a wisper. In grave illness, his only desire was to get back on his beloved boat. He sat for two days dying, trying to get up the ladder onto his boat..... He died though, with his dream firmly against his back. And poetically and hopefully, maybe he finally got to sail this boat, a boat he had bought 20 years before, brought to the yard and dreamed the dream."

Enuf said... A young fellow was hanging out learning about living aboard the other day. i told him to jump in, the koolAid tastes just fine!

sten

Edited by - on

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