Cruising boat for a 62 and 63 year old?.

[Jim Cate]

That's the opposite of what this debate is about.

And here I thought the OPs were talking about either a 35 or 42 foot sailing yacht. Where did I go wrong?

And FWIW, we just encountered some old friends who sold their sailboat a few years back and bought a gorgeous 50+ foot custom steel trawler yacht. They thought thew were getting too old for sail cruising (hah, only in their mid 60s) They are now putting her on the market and going back to sailing. Why? They can't stand the rolling at sea, that's why.

I can't speak from personal m/v experience, but I've done many thousands of miles at sea in sailing vessels, and the rolling is seldom oppressive, and when it is, there are simple means of alleviating the discomfort. Lots of discussions on this subject...

Jim

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Plenty of cruising "trawler" type stinkpots, even full-time liveaboards.

Putter along slowly, very efficiently.

So, room for all among the over-generalizations.

Multi-hulls make the most fuel-efficient motorboats, but fuel efficiency isn't the be all and end all.

If it’s a motorboat puttering along very slowly and very efficiently then it’s probably a much bigger engine turning much more slowly than most sailboats would have. That’s not a good way to treat an engine. Also, chances are that a sailboat bought for the same money would be narrower but have a longer waterline length so would be puttering along less slowly and even more efficiently with a smaller engine operating up to temperature, and the cylinder walls of its engine wouldn’t be getting glazed.

Yes, the rigging of a sailboat does cost money to buy and maintain but for a sailor who isn’t looking for great performance and only uses his sails occasionally, it’s really not that expensive.

Motorboats are usually wider than sailboats partially because they use that width to give them stability in up to moderate conditions (in worse than moderate conditions they better be tied up at the dock because they have great initial stability but very little ultimate stability). A narrow sailboat without a mast to dampen out the roll, or a narrow motorboat will have a terrible, twitchy, motion in offshore conditions. So I get why most motorboats are wider than sailboats and it makes sense. But this extra width makes it a lot harder to push them through the water, especially as they approach or exceed displacement hull speed. If even the cost of some old cruising sails seems too high, why not, for the same money, buy a longer but narrower, sailboat with a smaller, more efficient engine that you can run at the rpm and temp it was designed to run at? You can leave your sails and even your boom at the dock, just make sure you keep the mast to dampen out the roll and to mount your radar and anchor light on. Happy motoring! [emoji4]

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

If it’s a motorboat puttering along very slowly and very efficiently then it’s probably a much bigger engine turning much more slowly than most sailboats would have. That’s not a good way to treat an engine. Also, chances are that a sailboat bought for the same money would be narrower but have a longer waterline length so would be puttering along less slowly and even more efficiently with a smaller engine operating up to temperature, and the cylinder walls of its engine wouldn’t be getting glazed.

Yes, the rigging of a sailboat does cost money to buy and maintain but for a sailor who isn’t looking for great performance and only uses his sails occasionally, it’s really not that expensive.

Motorboats are usually wider than sailboats partially because they use that width to give them stability in up to moderate conditions (in worse than moderate conditions they better be tied up at the dock because they have great initial stability but very little ultimate stability). A narrow sailboat without a mast to dampen out the roll, or a narrow motorboat will have a terrible, twitchy, motion in offshore conditions. So I get why most motorboats are wider than sailboats and it makes sense. But this extra width makes it a lot harder to push them through the water, especially as they approach or exceed displacement hull speed. If even the cost of some old cruising sails seems too high, why not, for the same money, buy a longer but narrower, sailboat with a smaller, more efficient engine that you can run at the rpm and temp it was designed to run at? You can leave your sails and even your boom at the dock, just make sure you keep the mast to dampen out the roll and to mount your radar and anchor light on. Happy motoring! [emoji4]

Makes sense as long as you don't mind living in a cave & going 4 knots into a 20 knot headwind.

Running diesels at lower rpms does not hurt them as long as you don't over prop them.

[waterman46]

Agree with most of last two posts. A full 60/40 motorsailer is perhaps a good choice for those who still want the occasional sailing experience but are looking for lots of comfort. With a big enough engine you can go as fast into headwinds and seas as any trawler, and you have the mainsail to steady you, essential for ocean cruising.

Not much mentioned previously is easy access (little crouching or other gymnastics) between deck and cockpit with a full cockpit standing headroom enclosure.

[Capt Phil]

A little late to the discussion but I sailed most of my life on the left coast from Alaska to Panama with about 6 months in the Med. it was not until I scared my self silly about 20 yeas ago at the tender age of 60 that I realized, with the help of a much younger and more agile wife in her late 30’s, that I did not have the strength or quickness I had in earlier years.
We were aboard our Transpacific 49 returning from the Sea of Cortez and got caught in a blow off the Baja. Not heeding the age old adage to reef when you first think of it rather than wait for conditions to deteriorate to the point you must reef, I was caught with too much sail up and only 2 of us to deal with it.
Lived to tell the tail but it taught me an important life lesson to have a vessel I could handle comfortably in all conditions given my age and declining strength and agility.
When we returned to San Diego, I immediately put our beloved ketch on the market and quickly sold her as she was in fine shape and looked great!
For the first time in many years, I was boatless and driving up the coast to Canada looking forward to a relaxing holiday with my grandchildren who live in Vancouver. My spouse was busily reading through boat porn magazines when she ran across a DeFever powerboat and as she was relatively close by we ducked over to Bainbridge Island to have a look.
Long story short, we made an offer on her and closed the deal quickly after a sea trial, survey and mechanical survey by the CAT dealer in Seattle.
We lived aboard Sea Rogue for close to 10 years and cruised her about 15000 miles in all kinds of weather and sea conditions. It was clearly the smartest and best move I ever made moving from sail to power. We never looked back and had many years of enjoyment from a life style we thought was over for us.
For those of advancing years and declining physical ability, I strongly recommend a similar decision if you love the sea and still need the challenge of piloting your own vessel through anything the ocean throws at you.
Phil

[Lost Horizons]

The above is the most valuable advice published in this thread that addresses original question. Sailboats are sports equipment, like bicycles. Powerboats more like cars in that respect. Arguing that bicycles use less fuel than cars, although it may technically be correct, is silly. Unless, of course, one lives in an area where petroleum fuel is not available, which is similar to crossing oceans in nautical sence.

[jtsailjt]

I’d agree that for anyone who feels they may not be physically up to a sailboat that a motorboat is a great option. But no physical impairment was mentioned in the OP. I’m about the same age (61) as the OP and the thought of switching to a motorboat has never crossed my mind. That day may well come and when it does I will listen to my body but not yet! My best friend since my college years, who’s also the same age, wants to sell his lobster yacht to get a sailboat. He had the motorboat because having a young child, with all their school activities, meant it was hard to get out on the water for long so a motorboat made more sense. Now his son is obsessed with hockey and a young lady (not necessarily in that order) so has no time for any sort of boating, especially with parents!! So they are looking to replace it with a cruising sailboat. To each their own. I just wanted to point out that, depending on what you’re trying to go with it and his fast you want to go, keeping a cruising sailboat with it’s safety, ride, and efficiency advantages, and motoring in all but optimum sailing conditions might be a good option.

[waswe]

I am that age and I maybe a bit slow - but with roller furling jibs and mains and most controls from the cabin I have been looking at Bene's, Bavaria's and Jeanneau's around the 40 ft mark - smaller and its too small and bigger becomes an issue handling as well as other costs. Cat are too expensive generally and those under USD 130K are usually flogged to death. But having said that there are bargains out there. Any thoughts?

[hamburking]

I think of sailing as a sort of "fountain of youth". I've always returned from sailing trips feeling younger, stronger, and healthier. The longer the trip, the better I feel, both physically and emotionally.

Joshua Slocum was 51 when he started his famous trip around the world. In 1895 this would have been considered quite old. When he completed his trip, he was considered to seem at least 10 years younger than when he departed. And he did his trip without the benefit of roller furling, autohelm, chartplotter, or even an engine!

Although not always true, sailing combines continual physical and mental requirements in a usually healthy environment away from the usual stresses of job and traffic. So if you are feeling old and questioning your ability to sail...going sailing may be the very best thing you could do for yourself.

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by hamburking

I think of sailing as a sort of "fountain of youth". I've always returned from sailing trips feeling younger, stronger, and healthier. The longer the trip, the better I feel, both physically and emotionally.

Joshua Slocum was 51 when he started his famous trip around the world. In 1895 this would have been considered quite old. When he completed his trip, he was considered to seem at least 10 years younger than when he departed. And he did his trip without the benefit of roller furling, autohelm, chartplotter, or even an engine!

Although not always true, sailing combines continual physical and mental requirements in a usually healthy environment away from the usual stresses of job and traffic. So if you are feeling old and questioning your ability to sail...going sailing may be the very best thing you could do for yourself.

Great post, I agree 100%! Unless there’s an actual physical issue that prevents it, spending time at sea on a sailboat is probably the best thing for us!

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

Great post, I agree 100%! Unless there’s an actual physical issue that prevents it, spending time at sea on a sailboat is probably the best thing for us!

Doesn't have to be a sailboat.
Simply being on the water works and the more comfortable you can be while doing it the better.
No cave dwelling for us.

[Scout 30]

“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”.

Sailboats, motorboats, rowboats... it's all good.

[double u]

imho with increasing age the effort to keep in shape & fit becomes more & more important. on the water in our 20ies, 30ies & forties I always thought so, now in our early sixties & the countdown days-to-TNB being in double digits I think even more so. & I am not talking of yoga or nordic walking once weekly but serious exercise & training with weights...
the boat is only 50% of the success...(at the most)

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by Simi 60

Doesn't have to be a sailboat.
Simply being on the water works and the more comfortable you can be while doing it the better.
No cave dwelling for us.

I really don't get these references to "cave dwelling" as a derisive term when referring to sailboats. Almost all boats, motor or sail, have most of their accommodations within the hull (cave) rather than on top of it and there's a practical reason for this. Having a cabin with big windows above the deck may seem great at the dock or on nice days while coastal cruising, but I've seen weather at sea that would absolutely scare me to death if I were in an under 40' (or some larger) boat with vertically mounted windows that aren't made of something like lexan and can't be securely dogged closed. When I see a smallish boat with big windows I can't help but think what will happen to that boat if it ever ventures offshore and a 15', many ton wave decides to hurl itself against that window. Many deck salon sailboats and cats have sloped windows that are broken up into smaller sections for strength and can be dogged closed but I've seen way too many 40' and under motorboats with sliding safety glass windows that wouldn't stand a chance at sea. They're fine for moderate, coastal conditions but I can't consider boats like this as appropriate for cruising if the owners ever intend to venture offshore.

Also, most "cavelike" sailboats have a cockpit with 360 degree visibility that is often used as living space for dining or just lounging when conditions are appropriate for that. We only live down in the "cave" when it seems more desirable to do so. Also, besides strength issues that large glass panels have, they also have a greenhouse effect that can make it uncomfortably hot inside in the tropics, where the insulated deck with smaller hatches of a "cavelike" sailboat provide a shaded escape from the heat.

So, I share the appreciation that motorboaters have for being able to look out their windows and see all around the harbor, and we enjoy that same experience from our above deck enclosure, but I wouldn't be at all "comfortable" in such a boat in offshore conditions. All boats are compromises but since this is a cruisers forum and therefore we are presumably talking about "cruising" boats, I don't think that most motorboats, at least in the 40' and under range qualify as any more than coastal cruisers that are appropriate only for good to moderate conditions. There's nothing wrong with that for those who are happy with just being on the water on nice days, but I take great comfort in the knowledge that my "cavelike" sailboat can easily be secured to be a safe haven in conditions that few similarly sized motorboats could survive. I guess it all comes down to how we define "comfort."

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

I really don't get these references to "cave dwelling" as a derisive term when referring to sailboats.

Not a cave dweller has all our windows under a 700mm overhang drastically cutting down on greenhouse effect.
Everywhere apart from the foredeck is shaded.

She has high bulwarks and no windows fwd on the lower deck so wave action thus far is a non issue and we have punched through developed 35knots plus on several occasions. Not something we will usually do as we have all the time in the world to pick a weather window, but nice to know she can if asked.
Spray is as bad as it got, no green.

Fair skinned red headed wife has not had sunburn yet in two years living aboard in the tropics, something she could never manage living in the cockpit of a sailing boat and of course, down below is a cave.

If you can do it and to those that do that's wonderful, but different people have different needs and I have yet to find a single person complain about the comfort level onboard our vessel and like I said, sailing background so many sailing friends.

As 95% of a cruisers time is at anchor it makes sense to spend that time in comfort.

Again, not pushing any particular type of boat but instead most definitely showing that many of your fears and claims are false and I am guessing not based on actual experience but more on hearsay.