Sailing post heart attack

[Stu Jackson]

but I should have stated something differently

True. You didn't "understand" what I wrote, yet you wrote that. I think you did, because...:

That is usually different from your normal group of friends and family.

...that is what I clearly meant.

I think many of us wish you would look into it, for your benefit AND Sue's.

And remember, we ALL wish you nothing but the best.

 

[john6206]

@Scott T-Bird

Im a high school band teacher. Unlike most teachers, we don’t tend to take time off in summer, much like coaches, there is always something going on. I decided to take the week between band camp and start of school OFF. Not go to school, not check my email, not work on projects . . . .OFF.

We considered sailing, but we opted to do projects around the house instead, and maybe find a restaurant we’d never visited, get the kayaks wet, etc.

So I got back from band camp Saturday, took it easy Sunday, spent Monday and Tuesday building a fence. Tuesday I declared that we were either finishing the fence or running out of lumber. So we finished the fence at 9:30, I took first shower, my wife took second shower, by 10:30 I was at the er.

so my concern was . . . What if we were anchored an hour from port?

adding to my anxiety is that I am the age that my dad and my brother died (Heart).

still need to find a new restaurant.

 

[dLj]

@john6206 the question you ask is a very personal one that really only you can answer. What do you wish to do with the time you have left? We all have that question to answer for ourselves. What priorities do you have surrounding your life? Spouse, children, grandchildren, more? Where does sailing fit into your own needs for happiness? Only you can answer those questions. For each of us, there will come a day when we no longer sail. That time may come for many reasons. It is perfectly fine for you to decide sailing is no longer something you need to do. Accept it. But base that decision on what you truly want.

Most of us here are on the side of continuing to sail as it fills our needs for happiness. Many will share their stories of continuing to sail, but I'm pretty sure there are those that have decided it is no longer what they wish, but you likely won't hear that side much. Believe me, it exists. You need to decide for yourself and what you want most. If you are at peace with that decision, it is the right one.

dj

 

[jviss]

@john6206 the question you ask is a very personal one that really only you can answer. What do you wish to do with the time you have left? We all have that question to answer for ourselves. What priorities do you have surrounding your life? Spouse, children, grandchildren, more? Where does sailing fit into your own needs for happiness? Only you can answer those questions. For each of us, there will come a day when we no longer sail. That time may come for many reasons. It is perfectly fine for you to decide sailing is no longer something you need to do. Accept it. But base that decision on what you truly want.

Most of us here are on the side of continuing to sail as it fills our needs for happiness. Many will share their stories of continuing to sail, but I'm pretty sure there are those that have decided it is no longer what they wish, but you likely won't hear that side much. Believe me, it exists. You need to decide for yourself and what you want most. If you are at peace with that decision, it is the right one.

dj

I think I will significantly increase my sailing life if I can somehow afford a power halyard winch some day!

 

[dlochner]

I think I will significantly increase my sailing life if I can somehow afford a power halyard winch some day!

It is all a matter of priorities. A nice eWincher costs less than a week in a nursing home.

 

[jviss]

It is all a matter of priorities. A nice eWincher costs less than a week in a nursing home.

An eWincher, at around $2,100, is close enough to a Harken 35.2 electric at $2,900 that I would probably go with the latter. But I saw a Winchrite used at $400, I should have grabbed it! Oh, well. Also looking at the cordless drill stuff.

But, yea, if I could only pay for an electric winch from my HSA account. Maybe my doc will write a prescription for me.

 

[dlochner]

An eWincher, at around $2,100, is close enough to a Harken 35.2 electric at $2,900 that I would probably go with the latter. But I saw a Winchrite used at $400, I should have grabbed it! Oh, well. Also looking at the cordless drill stuff.

But, yea, if I could only pay for an electric winch from my HSA account. Maybe my doc will write a prescription for me.

The eWincher works on all 5 of my winches, that's $400 for 5 electric winches. Or I could go with 5 Harken electric winches for $14.5 K plus installation costs.

 

[jviss]

The eWincher works on all 5 of my winches, that's $400 for 5 electric winches. Or I could go with 5 Harken electric winches for $14.5 K plus installation costs.

Ha, ha, that's a good way of looking at it. I'm only interested in the main halyard winch, and not so much for 'strength,' but for expeditiousness when I'm deploying the main. I have no prob cranking the primaries and the winches for the reefing lines, etc.

 

[dlochner]

Ha, ha, that's a good way of looking at it. I'm only interested in the main halyard winch, and not so much for 'strength,' but for expeditiousness when I'm deploying the main. I have no prob cranking the primaries and the winches for the reefing lines, etc.

We use the eWincher to raise the main sail, hoist the dinghy on deck. Raise and lower the outboard for the dinghy, and once a year to raise the jib. Seldom use it for the sheets or reefing lines. Hope to never have to use it to hoist my wet butt out of the water after falling overboard. It has made septuagenerian sailing much more enjoyable and doable.

 

[jviss]

We use the eWincher to raise the main sail, hoist the dinghy on deck. Raise and lower the outboard for the dinghy, and once a year to raise the jib. Seldom use it for the sheets or reefing lines. Hope to never have to use it to hoist my wet butt out of the water after falling overboard. It has made septuagenerian sailing much more enjoyable and doable.

Sounds good, Dave. I'm not quite there yet, I'm 66, but feel I've aged 10 years in the last two.

I'm seriously looking at that Harken 35.2 electric, before inflation pushes it past the current $2,800 street price. I like that, if I get it, it would be "built in," wired-in, and maybe I'd even be able to sell the 32.2ST it would be replacing.

 

[Stu Jackson]

I'm only interested in the main halyard winch, and not so much for 'strength,' but for expeditiousness when I'm deploying the main.

Put a cam cleat on the mast, raise the main from there and stick the tail in the cam cleat, go back to the cockpit and pull in the tail, it'll pop right out of the cleat.

 

[jviss]

Put a cam cleat on the mast, raise the main from there and stick the tail in the cam cleat, go back to the cockpit and pull in the tail, it'll pop right out of the cleat.

Thanks, Stu, I had heard of that before and was considering trying it.

I was trying to avoid getting out of the cockpit when single-handing, but I guess it's inevitable.

 

[dlochner]

Put a cam cleat on the mast, raise the main from there and stick the tail in the cam cleat, go back to the cockpit and pull in the tail, it'll pop right out of the cleat.

The technical term for that when used on the jib or spin halyard on a racing boat is the a$$hole cleat. Because when the pit crew tries to drop the jib or spinnaker that cleat is often forgotten which causes the pit crew to yell "release the cleat a$$hole!"

 

[jviss]

Speaking of heart attacks and boats...

 

[Barnacle Bill]

I know people who have had much more severe heart damage than you and they still sail. Unless you are compromised to the point where you don't feel comfortable sailing, then don't let this change your life. It's there to enjoy so enjoy. When it's time to quit, you'll know. Follow your doctor's instructions.