Am I Too Old ?

[Boracay]

Why not a power catamaran like the PDQ 34?

There is a Forum here. They may not give the most unbiased answers, but they should know the boat well.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by iamsteelrose

Hi All,
I am in the process of deciding whether to embark on cruising adventure in a catamaran. I am a 60 yr. old woman who has arthritis and has limited strength in my arms and shoulders. How hard is it to pull lines and raise and lower sails?

I want to sail from florida into the Caribbean for lengthily explorations of beaches, shells and pirate treasure, lol. I don't know much about the various brands of catamarans but am doing my best to research this. The Ft. Lauderdale boat show is coming up in Oct. and I plan to attend that so I am sure that will help me.

Can you please advise on the largest cat I could handle by myself? I want a reliable, easy rider that has a low center of gravity as I am prove to sea sickness. So far, the top brands that I have learned about that might fit my demands are the Leopard, Maine Cat and Gemini.

Ohh, and one other thing. I have an Australia Shepherd and wonder where he will go to the toilet while on board. Do I train him to use those blue pads and then dispose of them much like one would with a diaper?

Thank you for any suggestions.
Paula

Now this is one of those rare times when I say....
" Yer having a Laugh......"

[janice142]

Hello. I hear you say catamaran Paula, and worry for you. With physical difficulties already, you might consider joining the dark side, i.e. a power boat. Yes, I have engine issues (sailboats do too) but for me, I simply do not have the strength nor stamina I had 30 years ago.

UNLESS you want the compounded problem of having to pick up crew whenever you wish to move your boat (bad!!!) then it's my belief that whatever boat you chose should be something you can handle alone. Relying on others isn't a good thing and no matter how cheerily folks might be willing to help you...

So, though you might wish for the stability of a cat, perhaps the living space and comforts of home may best be found aboard a smaller power boat. Mother used to say "The ideal boat sleeps two, feeds four and parties six."

P.S. - Smaller means less time spent cleaning and scrubbing and more time for reading (even if it is a manual on how to fix something that's broken)

P.S.S. - Australian Shepherds are brilliant dogs -- very bright, and I would not worry about training her until you're aboard. My girl adapted quickly (less than one week) to the puppy pads; the one problem I had was initially she treated the dinghy as "outside" (if you get my drift) so I started putting her on the swim platform until she performed. Now she asks to go out to use it -- indeed there are weeks when we don't find the need to come ashore at all. And yes, she wears her life jacket when on the platform (she's fallen in enough times that I keep her puppy shampoo tucked into a locker by my sink!) Believe me when I say she's not her most attractive wet.

Good luck with your decision, but definitely THINK SMALL.

[Mexdon]

Originally Posted by zeehag

there is a tea made in mexico from elephant trees that is awesome good and really works against arthritis....copol, i believe is the name.. but is from elephant tree, and really works. friend of mine used it and is recovered, worked for me for 4 1/2 months...
his form was traumatic, mine is secondary to reynauds disease..

Great Zee, thanks for this I have never heard of it in 22 years living in Mexico.


iamsteelrose: No you are not too old I give you an few+ years and I am about to start again, and it will make you feel much much younger day after day.

Go for it!

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I think of this when people talk about being too old for something.

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Dan_78

I think of this when people talk about being too old for something.

Thats rich..

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by roverhi

Why a Catamaran??? The quality built ones are damned expensive and very costly to berth if you are stuck in a marina. With the windage and stability, they can require way more physical strength to anchor and sail. I know!!! Cats don't heal much and they are supposedly fast but that doesn't make up for dollars required to purchase. Also, the smaller cats are severely effected by the weight of the detritus that a cruising boat picks up. You have to be anal about weight on a smaller multihull and just an a**hole about it on larger ones.

Here we go again.

Mono v. Cat is one of the classic fights on Cruisers Forum. I'm a mono guy myself, but I have to disagree with Roverhi. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with a cat, if that's the way your taste runs. It is really purely a matter of taste. Cats are NOT more expensive than monos, IF you compare them properly. They are actually not faster, either. That is because you can't compare them by length. A 40' -- 42' cat is more or less equivalent to a 50' mono in cost, interior volume, and speed. So really it is just a question of how you prefer your boat to be laid out, and what your preferences are concerning boat motion and heeling.

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Here we go again.

Mono v. Cat is one of the classic fights on Cruisers Forum. I'm a mono guy myself, but I have to disagree with Roverhi. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with a cat, if that's the way your taste runs. It is really purely a matter of taste. Cats are NOT more expensive than monos, IF you compare them properly. They are actually not faster, either. That is because you can't compare them by length. A 40' -- 42' cat is more or less equivalent to a 50' mono in cost, interior volume, and speed. So really it is just a question of how you prefer your boat to be laid out, and what your preferences are concerning boat motion and heeling.

A moderators job well done..they are both sailboats after all...DVC

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome!
I don't think 60 is too old. The shame would be if you reach 65 and haven't done it yet and say, "I think I should have started sailing 5 years ago."
kind regards,

[imagine2frolic]

Sailing to the Caribbean may be a challeng for you. Why not buy a boat already there, and take the easy way out? After that it's just day hopping, and drinking drinks that have an umbrella while watching sunsets..........i2f

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

Sailing to the Caribbean may be a challeng for you. Why not buy a boat already there, and take the easy way out? After that it's just day hopping, and drinking drinks that have an umbrella while watching sunsets..........i2f

Definitely the way to go... done it twice... great fun.
Heres a link to get you started... www.allatsea.com
Have a ball..

[nosinglesource]

The folks who have already spoken have actual experience, whereas I do not (yet!), but as they have addressed your concerns about your physical ability, I have this to add:

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese Proverb

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by nosinglesource

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese Proverb

I like that one.

[oldcal46skipper]

Hi Paula,
Welcome.
I do not feel you are ever too old. Maybe health issues can cause some compromises. At 73 I feel much more fit than some folks half my age, but I do have some problems.

Single handing any boat is difficult, a big catamaran even more so. Assess your experience and knowledge of the many things a sailor must know.
Routine maintenence - there are no mechanics at sea.
Navigation - sounds easy with GPS, etc. but there is more to it than that.
Watch standing - there are many overnighters in the Caribbean.
I have been sailing over 50 years, USCG licenses, crossed the Atlantic, 18 years living aboard, 9 years full time cruising, etc.

I would not consider cruising the Caribbean alone! The dog will be a comfort and good security, but can he stand a watch? I, personally consider single hand sailors to be a HAZARD at sea.

I suggest you charter some catamarans, then try some real boats. I am not totally biased about cats, I have had several beach cats and loved them. I have been invited to sail with my 78 year old friend on his 37' cat.
Who knows I may like it?

Finally, I would never consider going to sea without my best friend, my wife of 30 years. All of things you have mentioned are much better when shared with a significant other. If you wish, you may speak to my wife. She will convince you to go cruising. e mail bobbie@bshmarine.com

Tom

[iamsteelrose]

Not yet but I plan on taking lessons.