I need a slower boat.

[Red_Dog]

I hear you, buddy!

As my knee surgeon said to me after my first knee surgery in my late 50s, “you’re going to want a new one of those one of these years. You’ve have too many adventures with that one”

I had my first conciliation with a knee specialist when I seventeen. He was honest enough to say to, "You can spent a lot of money on me and spend the rest of your life in pain. Or, you can save a lot of money - and spend the rest of your life in pain."
I opted for the latter.

 

[fstbttms]

I need a slower boat.

Fire your hull diver. Not only will your boat be significantly slower but you'll save a couple of bucks too.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

@Red_Dog this is motivation to ease into a fitness regime and healthy diet. Muscle soreness “tired and sore” doesn’t come from injuries, it comes from lack of conditioning so stop making excuses to yourself. Gravity and age eventually win for all of us but 50’s is too young to give in, so take control. You’re in training for the rest of your life.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

I'm 58 and I'm guessing you don't want know what I consider fast sailing.

Curiously, the older I get the less sore I get, because I have learned not to make mistakes or strain. Focus on doing things smoothly and under control. It will come.

Ditto, but I’m 67. But it’s because I regularly exercise, eat plants and avoid processed/fried foods, and keep my weight under control.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I think Cliff put a high performance rudder on your boat to replace the OEM Foss Foam rudder.
I’m in my 70s and I thought single-handling my 28.5 in 10-12 kts with a full main and 110 headsail was great fun and not difficult if the boat was not over-trimmed. Make sure your rigging is tuned and your sails are not blown out. This is a sweet spot for this boat.

 

[DrJudyB]

Give the guy a break, eh?

Some injuries do indeed result in long term loss of function and lead to severe arthritis with advancing age.

Some folks with knee injuries cannot do a squat or equal weight bearing on both legs. Same with hips.
Some folks with shoulder injuries cannot do a pushup or a chin up.
Some folks with neurological deficits due to arthritic changes in the spine or arthritis in the knee/hip/upper limbs have permanent loss of muscle strength, reductions in range of motion, and joint instabilty.

Some folks cannot perform certain activities and must avoid certain postures because they cause pain.

I'm all for exercise and eating right... but give the guy a break!

Just sayin'.

Judith Blumhorst
Doctor of Chiropractic

on edit: removed link to wrong video. oops

 

[RussC]

I've never needed a slower boat, but some days I've wished for a steadier wind. singlehanded all the time, but the only time I'm sore the next day is when the winds have been gusty/fluky the day before. give me a steady 20 over a gusty 12-15 any day.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

@DrJudyB you are right and I acknowledge there are exceptions that prevent people from staying in shape (or getting in shape). Age (alone) isn’t one of them, imho.

 

[Red_Dog]

Give the guy a break, eh?

Some injuries do indeed result in long term loss of function and lead to severe arthritis with advancing age.

Some folks with knee injuries cannot do a squat or equal weight bearing on both legs. Same with hips.
Some folks with shoulder injuries cannot do a pushup or a chin up.
Some folks with neurological deficits due to arthritic changes in the spine or arthritis in the knee/hip/upper limbs have permanent loss of muscle strength, reductions in range of motion, and joint instabilty.

Some folks cannot perform certain activities and must avoid certain postures because they cause pain.

I'm all for exercise and eating right... but give the guy a break!

Just sayin'.

Judith Blumhorst
Doctor of Chiropractic

on edit: removed link to wrong video. oops

Dr. Blumhorst,
Thank you.
One thing I would like to also mention is medication side effects. I don't want to go into a litany of my medical issues, that could be a whole discussion unto itself. I do have most of issues that Doc Judy mentioned. I've learned to live with them and work around them.
To all you age and health braggarts, I have only this to say: I am sailing. I ride a DR650 Suzi dual sport motorcycle - and, yes, I do ride it off road. I believe that says that I haven't given up, but do what I can with what I've got.

 

[Tally Ho]

Make sailing comfortable and enjoyable, no matter what your condition or abilities.

I enjoy a spirited sail, 20+ knots is a blast. My wife will not go on a day like that, so we do a lot of easy, “slow” sailing too.

If it is not enjoyable and your aren’t comfortable, you won’t be in the sport long....

So endeth the lesson.

Greg

 

[sailme88]

My log wheel filled up with tiny shrimp again...and stopped indicating. THEN I hit 8 kts GPS/SOG. Low and behold it started to indicate again...phew. BUT, it continually reports slower than the GPS. It was a new install this spring and I suspect that the thru hull body is not fully oriented forward.

 

[Ward H]

When I go sailing with my wife I trim for a comfortable sail. A flat boat, 4-5 knots speed and we have a relaxing time.
When I'm alone or with other sailors I worked on trim for max speed. Winds gusting and variable give me a workout but I don't mind.
On days we're not sailing we try to attend an Arthritis Aqua Therapy session at our local gym/pool.

We all have our limitations and just have to learn to work with them to get what we want out of sailing.

 

[Serenity on Hudson]

I blew out my left knee 4 times, right one twice. Mostly skiing but one was from dancing the twist. Never had surgery and have been told by several doctors that was a wise choice. Seems scar tissue has stabilized my knees so I can still ski the steeps. When sailing, the knees do not impede my getting about the boat to do what has to be done to balance the boat. The only problem is I have a hard time jumping onto the dock when it is windy and blowing me away from the dock. Still do it but always think about what happens if my knee says no more just as I land. I'm 72 so probably shouldn't do half the things I still do. Use it or Lose it.

 

[DrJudyB]

Use it or Lose it.

That's an admirable philosophy, but it doesn't work for me any more.
I've already "lost it"
And I won't be getting it back without some very expensive surgery.

 

[DrJudyB]

The only problem is I have a hard time jumping onto the dock when it is windy and blowing me away from the dock.

@Serenity on Hudson
Have you considered learning to dock in a way that doesn't require jumping, even in high winds and cross currents? You can use a bridle or a spring line to dock and depart so you never have to jump on or off a moving boat.

Google stern bridle or midships bridle for docking

Judy B

 

[Will Gilmore]

My log wheel filled up with tiny shrimp again...and stopped indicating. THEN I hit 8 kts GPS/SOG. Low and behold it started to indicate again...phew. BUT, it continually reports slower than the GPS. It was a new install this spring and I suspect that the thru hull body is not fully oriented forward.

It will make a huge difference as to where on the hull it is located. It will read the fastest at the widest deepest part where the trough of the wake is.

-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Serenity on Hudson]

Tried once with a stern cleat, it missed and the boat stopped with a thud crashing into the dock. Outboard decided to not stay in the water in reverse to slow it down more. I mostly have lost it but since the knees hurt all the time, except while I am skiing, no new pain. I get a certain satisfaction jumping off the boat in front of a gaggle of kids (or so they seem to me). They look at me a little amazed. No different than skiing moguls, jump bump jump. Six years competitive running have left a residual strength in my legs that allow me to do these things.
No place to put a mid-ship cleat on a Capri 22 except a stanchion which I do not trust to stop the boat without ripping off. I'd be happy to have a mooring but the only mooring field locally is associated with a boat club which I do not have the time to join in. On most days the wind pushes me into my dock using my now fixed outboard to slow me to a picture perfect landing where I step off, tie the stern and bow lines and attach the pier mounted spring lines. Most is not always.