Aging bodies and keeping up with maintenance.

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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Funny, each new semester at the school, ( I teach Aviation Maintenance at the local JC) I scan the new cohort of students to find a scrawny little guy with a spark in his eye towards bending wrenches. Its worked out well a few times. The kid gets to hang out on a Yacht and I get a particularly difficult job done the way I want it done. One guy, a rather large Guamanian actually parlayed the experience to a lucrative side gig polishing hulls.
Carpe Diem
 
I'm 73 always did my own maintenance (not repairs, I don't have the tools or the knowledge!) on our boat and did a full top-to-bottom wax the last time I hauled it out.

We don't have a place here in town that has a Travel-lift but do Lampson Crane's world headquarters here, and the owner/CEO is a neighbor of ours. Round trip haulout using a crane, crew of 7 or 8, blocking it up then when I was done they put it back in the water for me. $2,000 for the whole job.

We are selling the boat because at 73 and after a year long bout with cancer I figured it was time. My wife is having balance issues and can't do the fenders and dock lines so the timing was right even through the decision was not easy to make.

So we made a quick trip to our place in AZ to bring our 13' Whaler home. I'm in the process of stripping some of the wood to redo it. This is more my speed now.


DSCN1686.JPG
DSCN1688.JPG


Getting on the water will now be much easier though I will miss the amenities of the 550.
 
Gofirstclass said:
I'm 73 always did my own maintenance (not repairs, I don't have the tools or the knowledge!) on our boat and did a full top-to-bottom wax the last time I hauled it out.

We don't have a place here in town that has a Travel-lift but do Lampson Crane's world headquarters here, and the owner/CEO is a neighbor of ours. Round trip haulout using a crane, crew of 7 or 8, blocking it up then when I was done they put it back in the water for me. $2,000 for the whole job.

We are selling the boat because at 73 and after a year long bout with cancer I figured it was time. My wife is having balance issues and can't do the fenders and dock lines so the timing was right even through the decision was not easy to make.

So we made a quick trip to our place in AZ to bring our 13' Whaler home. I'm in the process of stripping some of the wood to redo it. This is more my speed now.


View attachment 99583 View attachment 99584

Getting on the water will now be much easier though I will miss the amenities of the 550.
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Pretty little Boston Whaler, Our club just had ours stolen from the main parking lot right in front of the club. Another victim of the covid as there is so much less activity around there these days. Ours was used in the youth sailing progra which of course the libs in the club put the kabosh on. It needed a lot of TLC to bring it to look like your yours though so the thieves have their work cut out for them!
 
Great thread. I'm an 80 year old living aboard a 390 in NYC. I'm 6 foot and it's a squeeze in multiple areas of the engine room. A single day job is now requiring multiple days to complete. With the number of systems on a 390, I'm sure that when I clutch the chest, I'll have a tool in my hand. I try to do the maintenance but some of the repairs require a good mechanic. For 50 years and four boats, I've been looking for a knowledgable ambidextrous dwarf mechanic that knows how to schedule himself.
 
Ed Bacon said:
I've been looking for a knowledgable ambidextrous dwarf mechanic that knows how to schedule himself.
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That made me laugh and I needed it bad today.

If I find this mythical dwarf mechanic I’ll consider loaning him to you. I’ll have to find the key to the shackles he’ll be in first though.
 
I'm 50. 6'4" and 220. I now pay for my marina to do 90% of the work on my boat. I don't feel like working all week and then working all weekend. I'd rather turn the keys and go. My Father's Day gift from my wife every year now is having the boat cleaned every 2 weeks In June, July, and August. May is too disgusting with the mayflies to bother paying someone. We are all cleaning every morning anyway. That may finally change this year since my twins turn 15. They can start cleaning for me. I will sit back and supervise. You've seen some pictures on here of one of my sons contorted behind the salon TV trying to run wires from the ER to the helm. He won't fit anwhere anymore. He's outgrown me in weight. They are both close to 6' already. Here is a pic of them last year helping wire the new auto trim tab system. I had to reach in there, grab is feet, and pull him over the tank and coiler. Thank goodness we removed a prop. He was stuck. My kids work hard though.
IMG_0300.JPEG
 
spikedaddy99 said:
I'm 50. 6'4" and 220. I now pay for my marina to do 90% of the work on my boat. I don't feel like working all week and then working all weekend. I'd rather turn the keys and go. My Father's Day gift from my wife every year now is having the boat cleaned every 2 weeks In June, July, and August. May is too disgusting with the mayflies to bother paying someone. We are all cleaning every morning anyway. That may finally change this year since my twins turn 15. They can start cleaning for me. I will sit back and supervise. You've seen some pictures on here of one of my sons contorted behind the salon TV trying to run wires from the ER to the helm. He won't fit anwhere anymore. He's outgrown me in weight. They are both close to 6' already. Here is a pic of them last year helping wire the new auto trim tab system. I had to reach in there, grab is feet, and pull him over the tank and coiler. Thank goodness we removed a prop. He was stuck. My kids work hard though. View attachment 99643
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For the May flies I bought one of these Stihl battery blowers...it works really well instead of getting the boat wet....it’s also great for blowing out the cockpit all summer and drying the boat after you wash it
Black hose pops off so it fits anywhere
55D798C1-C1FE-47A8-A5FB-8640C3B77BF1.jpeg
 
The May Flies are another thing I don't miss...

Down here in FL we get 2 seasons of Love Bugs though. Every forward facing surface gets plastered when trailering down the road. Good thing they don't really hang out on the water.
 
Blueone said:
For the May flies I bought one of these Stihl battery blowers...it works really well instead of getting the boat wet....it’s also great for blowing out the cockpit all summer and drying the boat after you wash it
Black hose pops off so it fits anywhere
View attachment 99649
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I have one also. Blows most everything off. It will also dry the boat after a wash down.
Must have.
 
Interesting thread. 55 here, lots of aching joints, mostly my left knee. I still enjoy fixing something on the boat though and solving a problem. I give more to the mechanics/service guys then I used to though, sometimes because of the time/distance between me and the boat. If it was closer I'd probably do more myself. I want to use the boat on the weekends though, not work on her :)

I have a 2008 BMW 335i E93 N54 I have been tuning/modifying in my spare time. I wish I had a larger garage, my garage is tight/crampy. I have done most of the bolt ons myself so far. I get a kick out of it.

I think having projects/goals keeps me young, well younger.
 
60 this year and the The Office can be formidable at times. A few weeks ago I spent 8hrs on a Thurs working with my mechanic in the bilge, next day spent 12 hrs cleaning topside, by Sat I was shot. Did the teak in the cockpit a few weeks prior. I sleep good on the boat and a hot shower in the morning helps. Been rode hard and put up wet my whole life, just now settling down, cause the body is dictating it. I try to do as much as possible on all three of our boats (19' VIP flats, 23' Proline Bay, and The Office). For now. I got this way out of necessity while young, had plenty of time and muscle but no money, now it's reversed but can't break old habits. Plus- quality workmanship and care is difficult to find nowadays...my experience.
I'm dropping my 19' flats at my sons lake house (private ramp and boathouse there,convenient) today so I can redo the trailer. Just ordered anodes and gaskets to teardown my 23' bay (Honda 225 4 strk) engine and replace everything. Keeps me busy...
 
At 56yo, I'm definitely not a young buck, but I do love working on my boats! Here's my opportunity to brag about all of the projects, I myself, have completed on my current one since purchasing it in August, which has caused my wife to think I was having an affair at times!!

- Dieselview to vesselview upgrade
- Hardtop light upgrade to Red, White, Blue LED lights
- Conversion of all navigation lights to LED fixtures
- Conversion of all cabin lights to LED
- New faucets in both heads
- Install of USB charging ports throughout cabin and cockpit
- Hot water heater bypass kit
- Full winterization at the end of last season
- Removed, reconditioned and clear coated all 4-sea strainers, which included drilling and tapping the covers of the gen set and engine strainers for fresh water flushing
- Removal of damaged thru hull sea water scoop strainer for A/C units and replacement of bronze seacock
- Installed 3-Lumitac X2 Underwater lights, with 12-circuit Bluesea fuse block, 40amp breaker & contura 2 switch at helm
- Removed and reinstalled 82' of new hull boot stripes
- Scuffed entire hull and re-bottom painted it
- Stripped running gear and painted it with zinc-rich paint
- Fabricated aluminum bracket to relocate high water bilge float back further so that it I don't step on and brake it again when I step off the engine room ladder
- Removed and reinstalled props for tuning
- Installed Seaview dual mount, installed wired/configured m232 FLIR camera and new LED nav light
- Replaced stereo amplifier, cockpit speakers and Sub-woofer
- Replaced bellows and duckbill valves on forward head vacuum generator
- Replaced starboard fuel tank sensor
- I Just finished detailing with a toothbrush and simple green and touched up the paint on both engines this past weekend, while waiting for parts to be delivered so that my mechanic can complete the install of new fuel/gear and after coolers... among other stuff. When he's done, I will detail the bilge.

There is way too much effort required to do polishing and waxing! I leave that to the professionals!!

Last summer, I had flexiteek installed on the platform and a new helm and enclosure glass/cover made. I'm currently having a new bow pad being fabricated. All-n-all..... unless I find some money for an upgrade for a 5-zone Reverso oil extractor from the current 3-zone unit, so that I can pipe the transmission's to it when I change out the fluid in them at the end of the season, I'm done for the rest of the season!!

Thanks for reading and enjoy tour summer!!
 
Captsteve427 said:
At 56yo, I'm definitely not a young but I do love working on my boats! Here's my opportunity to brag about all of the projects, I myself, have completed on my current one since purchasing it in August, which has caused my wife to think I was having an affair at times!!

- Dieselview to vesselview upgrade
- Hardtop light upgrade to Red, White, Blue LED lights
- Conversion of all navigation lights to LED fixtures
- Conversion of all cabin lights to LED
- New faucets in both heads
- Install of USB charging ports throughout cabin and cockpit
- Hot water heater bypass kit
- Full winterization at the end of last season
- Removed, reconditioned and clear coated all 4-sea strainers, which included drilling and tapping the covers of the gen set and engine strainers for fresh water flushing
- Removal of damaged thru hull sea water scoop strainer for A/C units and replacement of bronze seacock
- Installed 3-Lumitac X2 Underwater lights, with 12-circuit Bluesea fuse block, 40amp breaker & contura 2 switch at helm
- Removed and reinstalled 82' of new hull boot stripes
- Scuffed entire hull and re-bottom painted it
- Stripped running gear and painted it with zinc-rich paint
- Fabricated aluminum bracket to relocate high water bilge float back further so that it I don't step on and brake it again when I step off the engine room ladder
- Removed and reinstalled props for tuning
- Installed Seaview dual mount, installed wired/configured m232 FLIR camera and new LED nav light
- Replaced stereo amplifier, cockpit speakers and Sub-woofer
- Replaced bellows and duckbill valves on forward head vacuum generator
- Replaced starboard fuel tank sensor
- I Just finished detailing with a toothbrush and simple green and touched up the paint on both engines this past weekend, while waiting for parts to be delivered so that my mechanic can complete the install of new fuel/gear and after coolers... among other stuff. When he's done, I will detail the bilge.

There is way too much effort required to do polishing and waxing! I leave that to the professionals!!

Last summer, I had flexiteek installed on the platform and a new helm and enclosure glass/cover made. I'm currently having a new bow pad being fabricated. All-n-all..... unless I find some money for an upgrade for a 5-zone Reverso oil extractor from the current 3-zone unit, so that I can pipe the transmission's to it when I change out the fluid in them at the end of the season, I'm done for the rest of the season!!

Thanks for reading and enjoy tour summer!!
Click to expand...
Omg
 
Captsteve427 said:
At 56yo, I'm definitely not a young buck, but I do love working on my boats! Here's my opportunity to brag about all of the projects, I myself, have completed on my current one since purchasing it in August, which has caused my wife to think I was having an affair at times!!

- Dieselview to vesselview upgrade
- Hardtop light upgrade to Red, White, Blue LED lights
- Conversion of all navigation lights to LED fixtures
- Conversion of all cabin lights to LED
- New faucets in both heads
- Install of USB charging ports throughout cabin and cockpit
- Hot water heater bypass kit
- Full winterization at the end of last season
- Removed, reconditioned and clear coated all 4-sea strainers, which included drilling and tapping the covers of the gen set and engine strainers for fresh water flushing
- Removal of damaged thru hull sea water scoop strainer for A/C units and replacement of bronze seacock
- Installed 3-Lumitac X2 Underwater lights, with 12-circuit Bluesea fuse block, 40amp breaker & contura 2 switch at helm
- Removed and reinstalled 82' of new hull boot stripes
- Scuffed entire hull and re-bottom painted it
- Stripped running gear and painted it with zinc-rich paint
- Fabricated aluminum bracket to relocate high water bilge float back further so that it I don't step on and brake it again when I step off the engine room ladder
- Removed and reinstalled props for tuning
- Installed Seaview dual mount, installed wired/configured m232 FLIR camera and new LED nav light
- Replaced stereo amplifier, cockpit speakers and Sub-woofer
- Replaced bellows and duckbill valves on forward head vacuum generator
- Replaced starboard fuel tank sensor
- I Just finished detailing with a toothbrush and simple green and touched up the paint on both engines this past weekend, while waiting for parts to be delivered so that my mechanic can complete the install of new fuel/gear and after coolers... among other stuff. When he's done, I will detail the bilge.

There is way too much effort required to do polishing and waxing! I leave that to the professionals!!

Last summer, I had flexiteek installed on the platform and a new helm and enclosure glass/cover made. I'm currently having a new bow pad being fabricated. All-n-all..... unless I find some money for an upgrade for a 5-zone Reverso oil extractor from the current 3-zone unit, so that I can pipe the transmission's to it when I change out the fluid in them at the end of the season, I'm done for the rest of the season!!

Thanks for reading and enjoy tour summer!!
Click to expand...
I saw some chips and cracking bilge paint/gelcoat in your other post about this work.
Get to it slacker. lol, JK
 
Has anyone upgraded their engine room lights? There are only four incandescent fixtures with frosted covers in mine, each of which are located in a corner and leave the most important areas without light.

LED is the way to go and ideally, would want to replace the existing four, add a couple in the middle fore and aft and possibly one centrally located on the bottom side of the hatch. Any thoughts?
 
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