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15-10-2024, 08:31
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 2
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Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Hi there
I want to sell a property, buy a sailboat, and live on it. I've never owned a boat and only sailed a couple times.
How realistic is it to buy a boat, and live on it while learning to sail and work on it? Is Florida the best place? Mexico? Panama? Where are the communities who would make this possible? Certainly I would be looking for neighbors and crew to sail and show me the ropes. I'm in no rush to circumnavigate. I will start with simple coastal sailing while learning to make myself and my boat self sufficient, with a home marina that I can count on having boatyard and community resources.
Is this sort of thing possible? Anyone else who has done this successfully that can share links and advice as to where I can start getting ready now? I'm 60 and can't make any moves just yet. I'm caring for an elderly parent, and a dog. It could be 5 years, could be more. Is that too old?
Thanks
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15-10-2024, 09:07
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#2
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Port Credit, Ontario or Bahamas
Boat: Benford 38 Fantail Cruiser
Posts: 7,579
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Start learning now. Here is a clue as to the learning curve.
Marine Survey 101, pre-survey inspection
__________________
If you're not laughing, you're not doin' it right.
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15-10-2024, 09:07
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 655
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
We started to learn at 60 so it's not too late. You do need a decent level of fitness and agility, but nothing crazy. I'd suggest you don't go "all in" at the start - make sure you have an exit plan if it's not what you want or you have a medical issue that means you have to change course.
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15-10-2024, 09:18
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus

Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Lived aboard & cruised for 45 years,- now on a chair in my walk-in closet.
Boat: Morgan OI 413 1973 - Aythya
Posts: 8,506
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
It's not likely that you could predict how long you might remain healthy enough to actively maintain your vessel and continue enjoy sailing. I am now turning 78 and would still succeed at a cruising life; however, my wife developed mobility problems and was no longer safe on the deck or able to maneuver well on or off the boat. We still excel at "land cruising", but we sold our ketch 17 years ago. I can't imagine the loss of not taking the steps for adventure because you expect failure. If your finances can support the risk, then I would not hesitate to take on the sailing and cruising life. We met successful cruisers in many areas although our "home ports" were mostly from the Chesapeake to Florida.
__________________
Take care and joy, Aythya crew
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15-10-2024, 09:52
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#5
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Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 6,554
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
damage98:
Do not confuse learning to handle a boat, commonly but naively called "learning to sail", with changing your lifestyle. The former is easily learned - up to a certain point. The probability of success in doing the latter depends on many, many factors, your personal psyche being only one of them. Many determinants of success in such an undertaking are only partly within your control, and some of them are not so at all. So if and when you try it make sure you don't burn you bridges!
Pay attention to boatpoker's counsel up-thread! Learn to survey a boat, because some of the skills required to do that will be called upon every day you are aboard. Read his article and pay heed to it. It is excellent! But most importantly, pay heed to his gentle warning about the steepness of the learning curve!
What I call "fo'c'sl- living", living day in and day out in a space that even in a "big" boat is incredibly small, can be tolerated by some people, but not by all, so perhaps there would be wisdom in signing up for a "Cruise'n'Learn" vacation with a reputable sailing school, just to get a preliminary taste of what might lie ahead.
Recognize that to become a qualified master mariner - a skipper, in other words - requires not only the sea time for practical experience, but also serious academic study at college level.
Your ambition is a worthy one but recognize that many people conceive such ambitions on a whim only to discover that the realization of them is far more difficult than anticipated. That is why you should, IMO, leave yourself an escape route.
Bonne chance :-)!
TrentePieds
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18-10-2024, 11:41
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2024
Posts: 2
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. I will definitely be keeping an 'exit strategy'. I will keep my Nova Scotia home and be based out of there in the summers. Still dreaming...
Thanks again for the encouragement.
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18-10-2024, 11:50
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Warwick NY
Boat: Belliure 41
Posts: 879
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Quote:
Originally Posted by damage98
Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. I will definitely be keeping an 'exit strategy'. I will keep my Nova Scotia home and be based out of there in the summers. Still dreaming...
Thanks again for the encouragement.
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Where are you located in Nova Scotia? There are a lot of sailors up there. You can't be far from the ocean pretty much from anywhere on that island. go find a sailing community near you and make some friends. Are you alone or do you have a partner? If you have a partner, be sure to keep them in the decision process....
dj
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18-10-2024, 21:53
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Sydney Australia
Boat: Spacesailer 24
Posts: 40
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Quote:
Originally Posted by leecea
We started to learn at 60 so it's not too late. You do need a decent level of fitness and agility, but nothing crazy. I'd suggest you don't go "all in" at the start - make sure you have an exit plan if it's not what you want or you have a medical issue that means you have to change course.
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Agility is important. You will need to move safely on a surface that is not flat, and in motion. It is good exercise. I am pushing 80 and still having a go, although a younger crew to do the heavy lifting is a great help.
Live-aboard is another issue. Very limiting and can be isolating. Imagine living in a small caravan.
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19-10-2024, 16:29
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 21,199
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
If you are an Americain, Florida could be nice. You can sail there all year long, and there are nice facilities to duck when a hurricane may come. And doctors.
If you are not hell bent on the people to be americanophiles then you can find a very decent sailing boat anywhere in the Caribbean and hey life is good there. And sailing there is outstanding. Good facilities, good rhum, mostly nice people. Anchorages, marinas, airports ...
So I would go Florida or the Caribbean.
PS Off course what you want is doable. Just do it. Life is now, And people who take no risks get no rewards.
Cheers,
b.
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25-10-2024, 03:40
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2024
Location: Sydney, NSW
Boat: Catamaran 2 cruises
Posts: 1
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Totally possible to live on a sailboat at 60! Lots of folks do it. Florida's a great spot for sailing, especially places like the Keys.
Look for marinas with community events; you’ll meet other sailors who can help you learn. It’s all about taking your time and enjoying the process.
Age isn’t an issue; many people start new adventures at this age. Just take it step by step, and you’ll be fine! Good luck!
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28-10-2024, 07:35
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 281
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Quote:
Originally Posted by damage98
Hi there
I want to sell a property, buy a sailboat, and live on it. I've never owned a boat and only sailed a couple times.
How realistic is it to buy a boat, and live on it while learning to sail and work on it? Is Florida the best place? Mexico? Panama? Where are the communities who would make this possible? Certainly I would be looking for neighbors and crew to sail and show me the ropes. I'm in no rush to circumnavigate. I will start with simple coastal sailing while learning to make myself and my boat self sufficient, with a home marina that I can count on having boatyard and community resources.
Is this sort of thing possible? Anyone else who has done this successfully that can share links and advice as to where I can start getting ready now? I'm 60 and can't make any moves just yet. I'm caring for an elderly parent, and a dog. It could be 5 years, could be more. Is that too old?
Thanks
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Your in Nova Scotia now. Can you buy a boat now that is reasonable in cost and sail it now occasionally?
They are almost giving away 30 footers in the US that need some work. A 28 footer, running diesel, with good sails sold in my marina for less than a $1000 US. Crazy cheap. The guy who bought it motored by me the other day.
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28-10-2024, 07:44
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Florida
Boat: Beneteau 361
Posts: 57
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
I sailed dinghys as a kid and finally bought a 2003 Beneteau 361 a couple years ago, age 62, and home port at Port Canaveral FL. I have a home nearby so not liveaboard although that is not uncommon in our club.
First, never say that you are liveaboard especially to a marina. You are a long-term cruiser.
Second, Florida or Bahamas prefer a shallow draft and a lower air draft. Mine is 5 ft and 50 ft respectively. This allows for navigating the ICW in Florida and shallows of the Keys or Bahamas.
Third, find a vessel only after researching and touring many and discovering what will be comfortable. Also know that sailboats can be a bit complicated and require maintenance. It's a fair amount of work, so find one that is in decent shape. A survey can help but know that there are aspects of a boats condition that a surveyor may or not convey. Caveat emptor.
__________________
--
Two Finger Poi
2003 Beneteau 361
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28-10-2024, 08:02
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Ashfield, MA
Boat: Morgan 323
Posts: 83
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
I'll comment as someone who started a bit earlier. I'm currently 61, but started sailing at 56. Ironically, I started sailing due to the fact that my wife and I got involved in elder care. I had been heavily involved in flying; first airplanes, then I got totally addicted to chasing thermals with a paraglider for 6 or 7 years. Then my Mom needed help due to dementia. When we moved her in with us, I realized that I could no longer take the risk of paragliding, as I didn't want to leave my wife alone taking care of Mom. A friend knew I stopped flying and suggested we come sailing with him for a break when we had a PCA with Mom. This is <20' boats on fresh water. My wife loved it, and since it dealt with air and wind, I did too. We bought a Montgomery 17, restored it and sailed it hard for 3-4 years in VT. Then we got curious about the ocean, especially after watching various youtubers. Mom had now passed (2020), so we sailed for a week with Morse Alpha in Maine (highly recommended). This was exactly what we needed to do in order to decide to proceed or not. We did start looking at bigger boats, eventually buying a Morgan 323 on Long Island. We brought it to Maine, and for the last 2 years have spent the summers (4-5 months) aboard. They have been the 2 most amazing summers of our lives! No regrets whatsoever. We sail the area from Rockland towards Lubec, exploring many islands and anchorages. I don't know if we'll ever go further, but it's early. My wife just joined me in retirement, and we're not tired of Maine. I don't think one could ever be; it is fantastic.
One needs to stay in reasonable shape (at least on out boat). I'd highly recommend starting now with a small boat, even on fresh water. As others have said, we don't know when our health situation will change, but I have met people sailing into their 80s.
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28-10-2024, 08:07
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Currently cruising the eastern Caribbean
Boat: Lagoon 42, Minx
Posts: 357
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
Like any newbie thinking of getting into sailing, start out in dinghies. Local sail clubs often offer low cost sailing classes. If you don't have the mobility to get in and out of a dinghy at the dock, you might want to seriously reconsider your plans. A lot of cruising life is spent going to and from shore in dinghies and landing at low docks. Sailing lessons in dinghies also offers simplified sail controls. You will learn to balance the boat bow to stern and side to side. I have seen far too many "sailors" start up the engine and motor when conditions are prime for sailing.
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28-10-2024, 08:34
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Cormorant Island, BC, Canada
Boat: Lancer 44 Motorsailer
Posts: 1,878
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Re: Becoming a sailor at 6x years old?
I bought a motorsailer at 62 years old
. I had boated for many years prior but always motor types including 10 years with my own commercial troller. When I bought the motorsailer it was to be our summer home since we were 10 months of the year teaching ower seas. My wife passed when I was 65 and I retired on the boat. I have lived aboard full-time since. I am now 80 and still cruising the BC coast from Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert and all points in between. Sailing isn't hard if your boat is equipped to be senior friendly.
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