Aging bodies and keeping up with maintenance.

[GypsmJim]

My earliest life recollection was at age 4 sitting next to grandpa at the helm. I've had enough issues with poor dealers sending the boat back scratched or not working 100% that I do all my own work unless it requires "tools" that I don't have.

I can't say that I've always taken care of my body as well as I should have, nevertheless at age 71 I can and do everything I did when I was 19 and bought my first boat. Now it may take a little longer and I may have a few aches and pains the day after, but since boating is my life I can live with it.

If it ever comes to a time that I can't do the work, I'll hire it out. If it comes to a time that I can't take the boat out, I'll check into the nursing home. Not having a boat and not going boating is not an option.

 

[Blueone]

we have an older friend with a big 60’ Sundancer and he hired a captain... outsources all the maintenance.... he uses the boat a lot but when he doesn’t he lets the captain take it out himself... good gig for the captain ...it’s a win win...when there is a will and a bit of money there is a way

 

[highslice]

54 and phasing out. I always did the maintenance on our boats except for the outdrive. I really enjoyed it because it reminds me of working with my dad on our cars in the 70s. My youngest son taught himself mechanic skills working on various MazdaSpeed cars he has owned. He blew up the engine in his Speed6, sourced a new block and rebuilt the engine without benefit of a lift in our garage. After working on those super high output 2.3 liter modified Ford 4 bangers, our 8.1 looks simple. So he and his brother now handle all the regular stuff. Multiple back injuries, shoulder injuries and years of working construction have taken their toll.

 

[sbw1]

Compared to most sea rays I have seen, those Tiara engine rooms are a sight for sore eyes. I was in one today. I'm a big fella, and I could get down there, turn around, move and get to just about anything.

Tiara used to advertise that their boats returned value to the owners in 10 or so different ways. One way was smart design that save the owners money on maintenance. They assumed most buyers would hire work done, and time spent would be less if things were conveniently arranged. This boat is pretty good that way. Also, this boat is very easy to detail. The surfaces are smooth with no sharp crevices to polish and wax. No decals to scuff and replace. Only two logos that are easy to clean and wax. Owning it was an eye opening experience..My 370 SR Express was even easier in the engine room, but it was bigger and it had fewer systems. So not as many things to maintain and they were not as close together. Detailing it was a pain.

 

[Soulshine]

59 here and could lose 20 pounds but otherwise healthy.

I do everything except squeeze into the few spaces I’m afraid to get stuck in. For that I have a 5’4”, 27 year old friend who I pay $50 an hour for those occasional instances.

The buffing and waxing thing is insane. I’ve never paid more than $300 for a compound and wax below the rub rail and this is using employees of friends who own body shops.

My stepson and I contorted into, onto, under and around my port engine last year to change my remote oil lines. PITA

I think twice about what I’ll do when I’m there alone though.

When I can’t do it at all anymore I’ll make a decision that will not involve pontoons. That’s a line I’m not crossing.

 

[Blueone]

When I can’t do it at all anymore I’ll make a decision that will not involve pontoons. That’s a line I’m not crossing.

LOL.... don’t do it... I did it and my family had to do an intervention.... I was cured...thank god

 

[Soulshine]

LOL.... don’t do it... I did it and my family had to do an intervention.... I was cured...thank god

The funny thing is the few times I’ve been on a pontoon boat, I liked the roominess and ease of getting around.

I don’t consider them boats at all but rafts with amenities...sometimes extravagances even.

About 10 years ago I went to the marina and found the strangest and ugliest boat in the slip next to me. Not a pontoon but not far off. It was a Yukon Delta “houseboat” that looked like a ratty, old camper on top of a barge.

It was named Trailer Trash and owned by the funkiest couple. Years and many boats later they’ve become our closest friends who now own a 35’ Chris Craft. They still pine for that old tub and apparently had lots of good times on board.

 

[Golfman25]

Guy used to keep a pontoon in our marina next to his regular boat. It was all decked out with a tiki bar and everything. Basically a party boat.

 

[Blueone]

The funny thing is the few times I’ve been on a pontoon boat, I liked the roominess and ease of getting around.

I don’t consider them boats at all but rafts with amenities...sometimes extravagances even.

About 10 years ago I went to the marina and found the strangest and ugliest boat in the slip next to me. Not a pontoon but not far off. It was a Yukon Delta “houseboat” that looked like a ratty, old camper on top of a barge.

It was named Trailer Trash and owned by the funkiest couple. Years and many boats later they’ve become our closest friends who now own a 35’ Chris Craft. They still pine for that old tub and apparently had lots of good times on board.

Every time I would leave the marina...I would blast this song.... the kids would scream...Dad stop !!!

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I will be 59 at the end of the month and have worked on almost every thing I ever owned myself as did my dad and his dad. I guess its just in my DNA. I can't say that I will always do all my own work but I think it is very possible that when the day comes that I can't bring myself to do my own work I will probably just get out of boating. I am 5-10 158lbs and except for a little stiffness in a joint or two I am still pretty limber. One very important attribute of the new boat and any future boats we may own is the engine room access and head room. The 506 is definitely roomier and easier to get around than the 44.
As to washing and waxing, I took a hose to the 506 yesterday and for the first time really pondered how much surface area the boat has with the hard enclosure and aft cabin. I decided I will be washing it and waxing it myself still but doing it like I could imagine my self eating a horse. One bite at a time. The 44 I could wash and apply a hand coat of wax in a good spring day. I won't even try to do anything on this boat in one day.
Great thread actually. Its fun getting to know a little more about our boat bros.
Carpe Diem

 

[cod]

This post is very relevant for me at the moment. I am 58 years old and just spent the last 2 days in the bilge stripping down both mains removing the turbos, aftercoolers, heat exchangers, and exhaust manifolds for servicing. And of coarse I was away last week when it was cooler down here in Southwest Florida and now it’s back in the 80’s!. Ugh! The aftercoolers are heavy and I’m sure my back would be screaming if my son wasn’t there to help me get them out of the bilge. I was moving pretty slow after the first day because I did the starboard side first which was difficult to access. I’m 6’-1” so not to easy getting in tight spaces. If there is another large boat after this one, bilge size is definitely going to be a big priority. But these center consoles are looking more and more attractive to me..... nice and simple...

 

[bmac]

we have an older friend with a big 60’ Sundancer and he hired a captain... outsources all the maintenance.... he uses the boat a lot but when he doesn’t he lets the captain take it out himself... good gig for the captain ...it’s a win win...when there is a will and a bit of money there is a way

If he's got a 60' Sea Ray and a Captain I think you meant "A LOT" of money, not a bit.....

 

[Ken Wolkens]

...And of course I was away last week when it was cooler down here in Southwest Florida and now it’s back in the 80’s!. Ugh!.... If there is another large boat after this one, bilge size is definitely going to be a big priority. But these center consoles are looking more and more attractive to me..... nice and simple...

Yep, I've determined mother nature hates me and is watching me every day. It never fails to be sweltering hot when I have a physically demanding activity or cold and windy when I am dealing with water and will get soaking wet. My wife and friends really give me a hard time because they see the trend too.

As for a center console being simple that's what I thought too. I've had 2 and find that you still have to fight mold in every compartment and if you have vinyl seating you are still dealing with that too. Basically I've figured out that my 25' open boat requires just as much maintenance in the cockpit as my 39 EC's cockpit did. The only thing that's not there is the big windshield. And since it's on a trailer the total washed area top to bottom is the same as washing the deck and cockpit on the 39.

So basically I'm still putting in the same amount of work, have the hassles of trailering and can't really go to the boat and hang out on a whim. I'd considered going up to about a 37 CC but have all but purged that idea from my head because of the lack of creature comforts. No real cabin, having to huddle up under a T-top to get out of the sun/rain and dealing with the mountain of canvas does not appeal to me so I'm circling back to the cruiser.

I'm just trying to do it with my eyes wide open this time and better understand my increasing limitations.

 

[cod]

Yep, I've determined mother nature hates me and is watching me every day. It never fails to be sweltering hot when I have a physically demanding activity or cold and windy when I am dealing with water and will get soaking wet. My wife and friends really give me a hard time because they see the trend too.

As for a center console being simple that's what I thought too. I've had 2 and find that you still have to fight mold in every compartment and if you have vinyl seating you are still dealing with that too. Basically I've figured out that my 25' open boat requires just as much maintenance in the cockpit as my 39 EC's cockpit did. The only thing that's not there is the big windshield. And since it's on a trailer the total washed area top to bottom is the same as washing the deck and cockpit on the 39.

So basically I'm still putting in the same amount of work, have the hassles of trailering and can't really go to the boat and hang out on a whim. I'd considered going up to about a 37 CC but have all but purged that idea from my head because of the lack of creature comforts. No real cabin, having to huddle up under a T-top to get out of the sun/rain and dealing with the mountain of canvas does not appeal to me so I'm circling back to the cruiser.

I'm just trying to do it with my eyes wide open this time and better understand my increasing limitations.

Good points Ken in regards to the CC. I had a 27’ Scout up in NY and didn’t have to deal with mold and the humidity so it was real easy to maintain. Kept it on a lift behind the house. Obviously different down here. I live in a community that has a marina that does dry storage. Call up and they launch it for you. When you return, they haul it, flush the engines and wash it down. Sounding more and more attractive.........

 

[ttmott]

This post is very relevant for me at the moment. I am 58 years old and just spent the last 2 days in the bilge stripping down both mains removing the turbos, aftercoolers, heat exchangers, and exhaust manifolds for servicing. And of coarse I was away last week when it was cooler down here in Southwest Florida and now it’s back in the 80’s!. Ugh! The aftercoolers are heavy and I’m sure my back would be screaming if my son wasn’t there to help me get them out of the bilge. I was moving pretty slow after the first day because I did the starboard side first which was difficult to access. I’m 6’-1” so not to easy getting in tight spaces. If there is another large boat after this one, bilge size is definitely going to be a big priority. But these center consoles are looking more and more attractive to me..... nice and simple...

That Starboard aftercooler assembly is a session in purgatory getting out and worse reinstalling.

 

[cod]

That Starboard aftercooler assembly is a session in purgatory getting out and worse reinstalling.

You ain’t kidding...... Not happy to hear it’s worse reinstalling.... Tom, since you tackled the starboard side. I have a question. While removing the Heat Exchanger, I had a hard time getting it out because of the lack of space with the fuel tank. So I was able to remove 2 of the 3 bolts connecting the turbo pipe to the Aftercooler. The pipe then swung down give me enough room to remove the H.E. I would like to install the pipe to the A.C. before installing the H.E. so I can torque properly having easier access to the mounting bolts. Do you remember if you were able to install the H.E. with the A.C./Turbo pipe installed?

 

[Ricochet]

69 1/2 and still going strong (most days) just installed new bilge hoses and new stainless thru-hulls, painted the bilge area while I was there also new water heater...that’s what started it all. Half way through buff and polish then bottom paint and launch.
Rick

 

[Ken Wolkens]

I live in a community that has a marina that does dry storage. Call up and they launch it for you. When you return, they haul it, flush the engines and wash it down. Sounding more and more attractive.........

If it's in a building I tried that and it was worse than being outside. Because the floor is always wet from moving wet boats around the building is like a humidity chamber inside even with both doors open. I couldn't clean the mold EVERYWHERE fast enough. Damp Rid Buckets everywhere in the cabin and treatments on the vinyl and in the lockers only slowed the mold down. Add to that the soot from the diesel forklift all over the gelcoat and it was a bigger nightmare than leaving the boat outside.

The best solution here in Central and South FL. is to have it in the water with the AC on or outside on a rack or lift.

This was the biggest boat Bluepoints Canaveral ever had on their inside rack storage plan.

 

[Ken Wolkens]

69 1/2 and still going strong (most days) just installed new bilge hoses and new stainless thru-hulls, painted the bilge area while I was there also new water heater...that’s what started it all. Half way through buff and polish then bottom paint and launch.
Rick

The Pic you put up just gave me a bit of PTSD. That's what we referred to as the "Hell Hole". Had to go in there a few times without taking the exhaust system apart to deal with the rudder position sensor. Never again.

 

[Tacoma290]

This is a great thread, with clearly a great bunch of folks here!
I am a little younger than some (am heading to 50), and have long followed the advice of doing active things while you still can. I am actually doing more of the maintenance now than ever, partially because I finally have v-drives (oh the money spent on outdrive parts and upkeep in salt water on the last boat...), and partially because we are heading out further and longer, and do not want to rely on others.
While I am envious of those of you in the Florida boating scene, I never realized how good we have it in the NW. No humidity issues, and I can happily hang out in the bilge any time of year.
My wife would love to get into RVing, and my thought is that it will make more sense when the boat becomes a maintenance chore.