Aging bodies and keeping up with maintenance.

Soulshine said:
I used to do the preemptive pill thing knowing I was going to ache but a recent colonoscopy revealed an ulcer so I’m to avoid them now.

I do find that a quarter of one of my dock neighbor’s Oxys is a freaking miracle.
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The 72 year old guy I bought my previous boat from said he was hooked on Tramadol and it all started with his neighbor giving him one. At the time he told me about the headaches if he didn't take at least 1/4 pill per day with his morning coffee.

I've avoided Opiates all my life. I'm afraid I'd like them too much. :)

A botanical tea called Kratom (the Red Strain) will make you feel 20 years younger without the side effects of NSAIDS but stopping its use is similar to quitting coffee with a headache that won't go away for a couple of days. I liked how my body felt but it did slow me down and I didn't like that feeling. I now only drink it when I've really beat myself up. There's lots of hate on the internet on the topic of Kratom so read with an open mind.
 
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Shoyrtt said:
Or you could name the boat "Livestrong". He only had one, but the mention of his name usually results in some sort of steroid joke. o_O

At 53, I am starting to feel the aches and pains of getting older, but as a pencil pusher, I shouldn't complain. I do agree that the engineers at Sea Ray must all have been 5'3" and 120 pounds to believe that a human body can squeeze into some of the areas of my engine room. I had to replace the impeller on my generator which is on the back or aft side of the unit. I contorted my 6'2" 220 pound body every which way I could and finally gave up. I called upon my trusty mechanic who just happens to be Vietnamese, around 5'3" and less than the 120 pounds required for the job. I try to do most of the maintenance, but it is good to have the little guy around to bail me out. :D
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The truly perfect mechanic 5'3" 120 lbs and 3 arms.
 
Blueone said:
I still have cuts healing from winterization :)
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My sea Ray dealer salesman is 5’-6 skinny as a rail... he says it’s a curse... every time the mechanics need to get into a tight spot they come and get him.... he has stories of them holding him upside down by his feet to change a part :):)
 
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When I was young (20’s and 30’s) I did everything myself. House, yard, pool, oil changes, wash n wax. Everything.

Then I started earning well. I now outsource everything.

You know... contributing to the good and welfare for all. :rolleyes:
 
Ricochet said:
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
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your bilge looks awsome. what did you use for paint?
 
b_arrington said:
Also, maybe this? Back Cove 41. Has the advantage of a single engine.

Check out the space in the engine room.
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Not bad.

Best bilge I've ever seen for at twin diesel setup. Australian built Mustang 430 Sports Coupe. Have seen these boats and bilge in the flesh and amazed with the layout considering what we've come to accept as typical. Could easily maintain one of these into my twilight years.

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I'm 70 and do all my own maintenance. I'm 6'3" and 220 pounds so the contortions to get some of the work done are comedic but it gets done. I know that it takes me longer to complete any task but I really enjoy doing this stuff. I have found a few of the right tools make routine jobs quick and easier. I use a flex extension and a small, cordless impact gun to get the five bolts out for the impeller change. Tape the socket and extension together so they can't fall into the bilge. I use an 18" hose with a locking end on the grease gun to do the zerks on the coupler. I have a rolling lift to carry the Bravo 2 off the transom for any drive servicing. I just replaced the fuel line assembly. Putting it all together outside meant only two fittings to connect inside the engine compartment. I only work 3 or 4 hours at a time. My aching body is the alarm clock. Doing my own maintenance also provides me with greater confidence in knowing the work is done and is done correctly.
 
I still do everything I can myself - it does hurt a little more now than it used to. And funny, I remember my grandfather working on his boats - he would always bang his hand or arm and start bleeding like a sieve, then mumble some swear words and tell me not to say anything to Elizabeth (my grandmother) -- I do the same thing now! I just take a little longer now and honestly I enjoy working on the boat, cars etc. But like my grandfather I come home looking like I've been in a fight!
For me it is not about saving $$ so much as time to have someone else do it AND do it right. Case in point, my daughter's car was due for service over Christmas - I could have done it myself for about $100, but given the holidays and a time crunch I took it to the dealer and had it serviced. Now it has to go BACK to the dealer to fix something they apparently screwed up doing the service - wishing I had just done it myself!
 
Blueone said:
This was the best bilge I ever owned...a 2005 260 Sundancer.

We have it pretty good in our 420 Sundancers too

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I wish the 460 had like the 420 where the whole deck came up.

The one thing for all the services that i have found just like the rest of you. If you plan to do it over three to four days dont work to long in the engine room and the more organized you can have all the right tools and all the materials the better it goes and you wont be spending time getting in and out of the engine room.
 
Joint Custody said:
I wish the 460 had like the 420 where the whole deck came up.

The one thing for all the services that i have found just like the rest of you. If you plan to do it over three to four days dont work to long in the engine room and the more organized you can have all the right tools and all the materials the better it goes and you wont be spending time getting in and out of the engine room.
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Having to get in and out is another real pain. My wife has taken more interest in this boat and has certainly been a huge help handing tools, etc....
 
Blueone said:
We have it pretty good in our 420 Sundancers too
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I agree that the 420 engine room has me spoiled. In fact, when I look at my favorite boats (48 DA and 540 DA), price aside, the engine room gives me pause. But I'm sure that I could learn to love it!

I've learned a few things when working in the bilge: It ain't bilge work unless I bleed; and keep my movements slow, like Mr. Miagi doing a workout. I clocked my head on the hatch ram one time and that was enough. At 58 years old, I still am able to get to most places in the bilge. From this board I've learned how to do a lot of the maintenance. Where I struggle is not having the mechanical accumen when things don't go exactly as planned.

I'll finish with a good story that my wife often shares. She's always aghast that when I'm down in the bilge, I'm working around sharp things, metal things, sometimes with wet feet, often working with electricity! She says that if I get in trouble and need help, there isn't a lot she can do. So, she is going to walk, slowly, up to the restaurant/bar, order a double Gin & Tonic, sip it real slow........give it a solid 30 minutes. Then jump up and yell "help!". Hopefully by that time, I may already be dead! :D

Jaybeaux
 
This doesn't help @Ken Wolkens much but from a Sea Ray perspective there is really no better access around the engine room than the 52DB and it's derivatives; much better than even the 58DB (I was helping on my buddy's 05 a couple of weeks ago). With the full lazzerette including space under the swim platform and separate engine room it is relative luxury. Even with the davit, it's hydraulics and a large watermaker there is still plenty room to move around and access pretty much everything. The only old man thing that would help is to be able to stand up and better access to that Port raw water impeller.
I've been on the L590 with the triple Zeus and Seakeeper; surprisingly enough there is pretty good access in it also but it seems even lower head room around the engines than my boat. The L590 has separate access in front of the engines and behind the engines.
The absolute worst and painful access is the SR MY's; my mechanic turns down work on those.
 
Blueone said:
This was the best bilge I ever owned...a 2005 260 Sundancer.

We have it pretty good in our 420 Sundancers too

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View attachment 99321
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The 260 Sundancer is great. Your 420 also looks fine and similar to my 38 for a twin setup, but still not as spartan as the Mustang with IPS's I previously posted.

Love the standing room in the DA's with the hinged deck which makes engine checks and maintenance bearable. The bilge is still a blood bank when doing maintenance as something always seems to bight me :cool:.

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