Older boaters

Bill-

You should be proud to be your age and boating instead of giving in to the rocking chair.

But then again, the 70's are the new Middle Age...right?
 
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Myself I am 58 and have been at it for 35 years we have a gentleman in my marina in his mid 80's. I have a good friend a few boats down from me who just turned 70 and anyone that didn't know him would swear he was my age. I like to think it helps to keep us young.
 
Lefty said:
Myself I am 58 and have been at it for 35 years we have a gentleman in my marina in his mid 80's. I have a good friend a few boats down from me who just turned 70 and anyone that didn't know him would swear he was my age. I like to think it helps to keep us young.
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i feel like 50......boating is a great stress killer and such an enjoyment....:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
54 years here...our 320 is our first boat. I wish I had gotten into boating earlier when my kids were younger. I was/still am in love with airplanes and we flew a lot, but kids can have more fun in a boat than sitting in the back of a plane. My daughter is now 27 and pregnant. We will have our first grandchild in March (a granddaughter), and my intention is to remedy this "boating deficiency" with my grandkids. I can't wait!
 
My dad was in the Navy so the docks were a common place for me. We moved to the midwest and had very little use for a boat but always had this yurning for water in my mind. I got married to my current girl friend 38 years ago and found out she loves to boat. She bought our first boat for me on our 10th anniversery. We have been boating every since. Our plans is to become fish food by having our ashes scattered on the lake we first went on in Wisconsin. Our way to giving back to the thing that has given us so much pleasure.
 
OldSkool said:
My dad was in the Navy so the docks were a common place for me. We moved to the midwest and had very little use for a boat but always had this yurning for water in my mind. I got married to my current girl friend 38 years ago and found out she loves to boat. She bought our first boat for me on our 10th anniversery. We have been boating every since. Our plans is to become fish food by having our ashes scattered on the lake we first went on in Wisconsin. Our way to giving back to the thing that has given us so much pleasure.
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Very nicely said.......:thumbsup:
 
I'm 66, will be 67 in April, wife is 64. We have had the 310 DA for 6 1/2 years. Been retired for a little over 2 yrs. I grew up with boats around Huntington and Port Jeff. Got this one here in Florida about 35 yrs later. We use it all year long. My wife says that she doesn't want to be on deck handling dock lines when she's 70. Well, I guess I can't argue with that. By then, we'll probably be ready to try a motor home.
 
Both the Admiral (of 44 years) and I are now 70. We started boating when we were 66 and really enjoy our time on the water.

We are still pretty active, an hour on the treadmill and a 1.5 mile walk around the city park at least 5 days a week keeps us healthy. Luckily (knock on wood) both of us have healthy hearts and no signs of cancer and enjoy our retirement.

We are 'boatless' now, but in the near future hope to get into a "new" boat.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!
 
Just turned 70 this summer so I do not qualify as and older boater. Been boating since I was sixteen, the 200 is easy for my wife and I to handle. Merry Christmas everyone and may the New Year be happy.
 
mddickens said:
54 years here...our 320 is our first boat. I wish I had gotten into boating earlier when my kids were younger. I was/still am in love with airplanes and we flew a lot, but kids can have more fun in a boat than sitting in the back of a plane. My daughter is now 27 and pregnant. We will have our first grandchild in March (a granddaughter), and my intention is to remedy this "boating deficiency" with my grandkids. I can't wait!
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MDDickens,

I didn't get my first boat until 2001. It is a 270SD 1988. My sons didn't grow up on boating either. As you can see in below my pic I am a retired Army Officer so we spent 9 years of my 20 in Germany. We did a lot but no boating.
I now have a 4 and a half year old granddaughter and she loves the water, boating and steering the boat. When that granddaughter of yours gets the understanding of being on the boat she I hope she loves it as much as mine does.
I have three boats right now, 400EC, 270DA and a 15ft Seadoo Jet boat that I bought for my son to use with his family when they lived in NY. Though the boat never got to NY they did come to Maryland and our granddaughter loved it.
Hope you get a lot of hours a year and many years with her.
 
ANYTIME said:
Both the Admiral (of 44 years) and I are now 70. We started boating when we were 66 and really enjoy our time on the water.

We are still pretty active, an hour on the treadmill and a 1.5 mile walk around the city park at least 5 days a week keeps us healthy. Luckily (knock on wood) both of us have healthy hearts and no signs of cancer and enjoy our retirement.

We are 'boatless' now, but in the near future hope to get into a "new" boat.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!
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Good that your staying active...we love our boat and will boat till we can't anymore..which i don't see coming anytime soon....:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Bill

You actually raise a subject I've got an interest in. I just turned 50 (had my obligatory colonoscopy yesterday and got a clean bill of health). I've been wondering to what age it's practical to boat. I grew up on the water and was on family boats practically from birth, but unfortunately left boating when we started having kids and didn't pass the boating life on to my kids until I was in my early 40's. I regret that but have made up for it the last few years with an overdose of boating, all 5 daughters, and my wife, love it. Back to my interest in your subject. There are days when I'm done with spring commissioning or winterization that I leave the boat feeling like a cripple and wonder how many more years I can maintain a boat on my own (I am an admitted desk jockey that gets way too little exercise other than the corporate exercise of jumping to conclusions, running things up the flagpole and running financial models). I'm not so concerned with operating the boat but I am concerned with maintaining it. I'd be curious to hear the thoughts of others on this.....and don't suggest I start with more exercise, I know, I know...btw I'm 5'10 and 205 pounds with a resting heart rate of 60....not obese but I just don't get any gym time.
 
Interesting subject. I am 62, active, and a sore back. I have seen older people sell their bridge boats to move to Sundancers because of the stairs and the constant going up and down in the boat. Now, when you get really old, just think of the things that can happen: loss of balance, hearing, sight, mobility...on and on. I find that we will keep boating until we cannot manage anymore. I admit that we do only minor work on the boat, plus the polishing. Everything else is done by the dealer during winter layup. And to finish on a good note, two years ago on the Rideau Canal, we met a couple, man was 81, wife 79. They came up from Florida with their trawler, and were going to Qubec city, then back to Florida, all that at 7knots... Enjoy it while you can. Merrr Xmas to all.

R.Blatter
 
Like Bill, I got into boating for the first time a year ago at age 60. Bmac you're a young pup at 50 so why the concern about physical condition? I'm 5' 7" and a 200lb couch potato. Other than getting overheated occasional on very hot days onboard, no problems. I don't do any engine maintenance myself since I'm not a contortionist and have little patience. I did polish the boat and made some gelcoat repairs in storage since neither requires much flexibility. At 61, I was one of the youngest people on my side of the harbor. The guy in the slip next to me was 76 and still did a lot of his maintenance. Another slip mate just turned 77 and was constantly doing work on his 40 year old Chris Craft. The point here, like golf, boating is something you can do well into your 70's and most likely your 80's.
 
rblatter said:
And to finish on a good note, two years ago on the Rideau Canal, we met a couple, man was 81, wife 79. They came up from Florida with their trawler, and were going to Qubec city, then back to Florida, all that at 7knots... Enjoy it while you can. Merrr Xmas to all.

R.Blatter
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I too have seen people in their 80's on the Rideau. Usually in their 36' diesel trawlers. And, really enjoying themselves. They are an inspiration.
 
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drob said:
The slip next to us had an 82 year old who was the captain. Unfortunately, he past away in the summer. He did use the pillings quite often to help get in and out. He was a great source of help and information. Also, told a great story over gin and tonics.

The admiral of the boat practiced docking last year and plans on getting some lessons this year. She is in her early 60's and is planning on using the boat this coming summer.
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did I read this right? 82 year old with early 60's?

Power of viagra?:huh:
 
bmac said:
Bill

You actually raise a subject I've got an interest in. I just turned 50 (had my obligatory colonoscopy yesterday and got a clean bill of health). I've been wondering to what age it's practical to boat. I grew up on the water and was on family boats practically from birth, but unfortunately left boating when we started having kids and didn't pass the boating life on to my kids until I was in my early 40's. I regret that but have made up for it the last few years with an overdose of boating, all 5 daughters, and my wife, love it. Back to my interest in your subject. There are days when I'm done with spring commissioning or winterization that I leave the boat feeling like a cripple and wonder how many more years I can maintain a boat on my own (I am an admitted desk jockey that gets way too little exercise other than the corporate exercise of jumping to conclusions, running things up the flagpole and running financial models). I'm not so concerned with operating the boat but I am concerned with maintaining it. I'd be curious to hear the thoughts of others on this.....and don't suggest I start with more exercise, I know, I know...btw I'm 5'10 and 205 pounds with a resting heart rate of 60....not obese but I just don't get any gym time.
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Brian,
I don't do any mechanical things on my boat, i'm 6.2 215lbs solid and cannot fit into any space in the engine dept and wont know what to do if i did get in there...., i leave that to M.M. But i do all the cleaning above deck,wash polish and wax by hand...i'ts a pleasure to clean all the glass and policarbonite and stratoglass on my new camper....im always polishing and maintaining her beauty...the admiral is in charge of below...and she does a great job of that..we are a great team....:thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
320Bob said:
..... Bmac you're a young pup at 50 so why the concern about physical condition? I'm 5' 7" and a 200lb couch potato. Other than getting overheated occasional on very hot days onboard, no problems. I don't do any engine maintenance myself since I'm not a contortionist and have little patience. I did polish the boat and made some gelcoat repairs in storage since neither requires much flexibility.....
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My concern revolves around the way I feel at the end of a long day of working on the boat, mostly spring commissioning or winterizing. I do all of the routine maintenance on the boat except for major engine work, and ofetn times leave the boat feeling like a poster child for arthritis. Last year I stripped and waxed the entire boat over the course of 5 days. I left every day feeling very sore. So I'm wondering, if i feel this way at 50, how much longer can I expect to maintain the boat on my own......:huh:
 
billnpat said:
Brian,
I don't do any mechanical things on my boat, i'm 6.2 215lbs solid and cannot fit into any space in the engine dept and wont know what to do if i did get in there...., i leave that to M.M. But i do all the cleaning above deck,wash polish and wax by hand...i'ts a pleasure to clean all the glass and policarbonite and stratoglass on my new camper....im always polishing and maintaining her beauty...the admiral is in charge of below...and she does a great job of that..we are a great team....:thumbsup::thumbsup:
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Bill, I'm sure you two are a great team together. You sound like you have the same boat assignments as we do, though I find no pleasure in cleaning the strataglass....could be why mine is being replaced this winter....:smt013
 
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