Aging Cruisers Choose Battles

[thinwater]

Back on-topic....

Stairs vs.ladders and 7.5-inch rise stairs. Bad knees.

[nimblemotors]

I would like to design my boat so it can be singlehanded from a wheelchair if necessary.
This is not a simple task, but has been done:

Impossible Dream: singlehanded crossing the Atlantic by a quadrapilegic:
impossible dream

[deckofficer]

Since this thread has such good traction and this post will be close to on topic......

Need advice from delivery skippers
Folks like atoll and others that have vast experience crossing oceans in many different types of boats.

My personal sailing experience is very limited. Even though I have a lot of miles, with the exception of my Cal 40 they have all been on large ships. My only sailboat experience is a Flying Junior as a kid and one solo run from Long Beach to Muluge on my Cal 40. That is it.

From this very limited experience, I am trying to decide what type of boat would be the safest and easiest to sail solo in my late 60's. I am leaning towards a boat like the Chris White Hammerhead 54 tri. My reasoning is since it is such an easily driven boat for the amount of sails up, it offers a wide speed range. This allows the obvious safety factor of quicker passages for shorter weather windows. The capability that I really want is to be able to shorten sail for the night watch and still make acceptable headway. Is this how it generally works for a performance tri? Nothing would make me happier than to maintain 6~8 kt in conditions that I could be going twice the speed in the daytime while alert and fully awake, but having reduced so much sail that even in a squall I don't have to fight the deck and reduce even more sail at night.

So as to not hyjack this thread, respond here http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1357798

[Teknav]

If you intend on sailing solo, pick up a mono-hull under 40 feet; preferably 32-37 feet. Anything bigger than that, you'll need to have a mate on board. Good luck!

Mauritz
Knows his limitations!

[zeehag]

¨If you intend on sailing solo, pick up a mono-hull under 40 feet; preferably 32-37 feet. Anything bigger than that, you'll need to have a mate on board. Good luck! ¨

¨Stairs vs.ladders and 7.5-inch rise stairs. Bad knees.¨
__________________


i will see your bad knees and raise ye a broken back. and a bad hip secondary to the broken back. and an underlying condition.

so i am to be TOLD to sail a certain size boat, now???

come on...i am already in a 41 and finding it just perfect for one. the more i read from others , the more convinced i am that it is perfect for one.

excuses are just that.

one does not know what his or her body will do unless tested.
keep living.
john of i2f published that he saw inspiration in my signature i use in cf. he was awesome. i wish i could have met him.

[sailorboy1]

I did my part on boating while aging yesterday by putting my windlass back together. Boy was the anchor easier to get up today compared to the last time, when it broke!

Far as boat size if anything sailing on a bigger boat solo is better. More waterline is pretty much always better.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by zeehag

¨If you intend on sailing solo, pick up a mono-hull under 40 feet; preferably 32-37 feet. Anything bigger than that, you'll need to have a mate on board. Good luck! ¨

¨Stairs vs.ladders and 7.5-inch rise stairs. Bad knees.¨
__________________


i will see your bad knees and raise ye a broken back. and a bad hip secondary to the broken back. and an underlying condition.

so i am to be TOLD to sail a certain size boat, now???

come on...i am already in a 41 and finding it just perfect for one. the more i read from others , the more convinced i am that it is perfect for one.

excuses are just that.

one does not know what his or her body will do unless tested.
keep living.
john of i2f published that he saw inspiration in my signature i use in cf. he was awesome. i wish i could have met him.

Zee, the advice was for "single-handed" sailing ... have you sailed your Formosa a lot solo? I thought you brought on crew.

[zeehag]

long passages wont be until i have this boat safe for solo travel after my refit--i have handled her sola for shorter passages..
she is not a problem. she does have issues which are being cleared up for this, as i will be sailing sola and without my diesel mechanic,who has been indispensible so far.
there are structural interior frame issues and fuel delivery issues yet to fix. finally was able to cease the dripping inside from packing gland--we aligned the engine, presto!! no more leaking. funny thing about how there is less vibration also. lol. just because i have issues with my body doesnt mean i cannot do what i am doing. i know my stuff, i merely am unable to effect the repairs in full.
this is a very good boat for sailing by myself.
the new to be done mods are going to be fun and impressive.
i have been sailing 58 years..how much more do i need to do before i know if a boat is decent for me long passages.. rodlmao

[Teknav]

More power to you Zee! Unfortunately, not everyone can push the envelope as you can. With that in mind, and knowing the OP's physical limitations, I suggested the 32-37 ft boat in length for solo sailing; I have sailed that size range solo, inter-islands in the South Pacific. You really have to be nimble to sail solo on a medium-size boat, let alone on a big boat/cat.

Just because I am experienced in flying a twin-engine (18-seater) small plane, and know how to use the same navigational charts and instruments that the "big guys" use, that doesn't make me confident to fly solo a twin-engine jumbo jet. I know my limitations.

Mauritz

[deckofficer]

Mauritz, I want the training wheels of a tri, plus already did the 40' mono, don't like the heal.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Teknav

If you intend on sailing solo, pick up a mono-hull under 40 feet; preferably 32-37 feet. Anything bigger than that, you'll need to have a mate on board. Good luck!

Mauritz
Knows his limitations!

IMO, this is nonsense. Seems like there are heaps of folks single handing much larger boats than this. When well set up, larger (up to a point) is easier, not harder.

Your signature says that you know your limitations, and perhaps you do. Don't project your lack of experience onto others.

As for the big tri... I don't have personal experience so won't offer specific advice, but the concept of being able to turn respectable speeds while under much reduced canvas is well established. We ( as 70+ y.o. yotties) sometimes do this on our fairly quick 46 foot monomaran. Surprising how fast she will go with a staysail and double reefed main in 10-15 knots apparent... and that sailplan is fine up to around 30-35 apparent, so it covers a wide range of conditions with no fussing with further reefing.

Cheers,

Jim

[JPA Cate]

"¨Stairs vs.ladders and 7.5-inch rise stairs. Bad knees.¨"

First, let me say "ouch". Don't worry, I'd probably have said it anyway. And I want to stipulate that your original knees are the best you'll ever have. However, that said, there exists the real opportunity, with total knee replacement surgery, of having many wonderful days of walking and sailing. Yes, sometimes things don't go as planned. But one continues to lose condition as one lets the pain keep one from doing what one wants.

I am entering my second week of recovery from bilateral total knee replacement revision with exchange of insert surgery. Am I happy? not yet, actually, but I have ahead of me the prospect of at least being able to walk for pleasure and chores that I would not have if I hadn't undergone this. I am hoping to be going home in a couple of months or so, to my boat, and let's just say I'm motivated to make it work.

Am I brave? not to me. To me, I'm just trying to make the best of a situation I find myself in. YMMV 'cause we're all different. However, I will remind you about regrets: one seldom deeply regrets the things one actually does, it's the ones that fall off the list 'cause, cause.....those we feel sad about. However, if you decide it really doesn't make sense for you to follow your number one choice (there will be a number of factors in the decision) then my sincere advice is to go find the next best desire that meets most of the criteria, and follow that one. For Zee, making her give up her love affair with the sea would be like tearing her heart out. YMMV Above all it's your life and your choices.

Ann

[deckofficer]

Thanks Jim, that is the angle I'm going for. With powered windlass I'm not concerned about hoisting a large main, just hoping my theory is viable, easy driven hull, reduced sail for night watch, still decent turn of speed.

[Pilgrimtex]

As part of my post purchase outfitting will be training wheels mounted to the hull. LOL. Actually I hope to be in a new Catalina 315 in 2014. I'll be 68 then. Maybe I'll mount an easy chair lift to the ladderway.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Thanks Jim, that is the angle I'm going for. With powered windlass I'm not concerned about hoisting a large main, just hoping my theory is viable, easy driven hull, reduced sail for night watch, still decent turn of speed.

Night watch? Geez Louise. At 71, I'm in my bunk by 9pm.

On topic, I'm considering a mast climber. I hate asking for help.