HG02 said..

samsturdy said..

Got to agree with that MB. Boats hold you safe in their bosom while you are in a potentially deadly situation.
Just like a good Mum......and we all love our Mums, don't we.

Absolutely Sam but I'm glad she never gave advice on buying a sail boat

My old Mum was born back in 1917 so when I bought beetle boots home.
I never got to wear them.
Jeans took 5 pair before she gave up.
Brandie in the bottom of the piano for medicinal purposes only
A very Methodist up bringing for me But I loved her and miss her just the same Sam

Good onya HG. My Mum's still going strong at 94......she's 95 next month. I hope I have
her longevity genes, but I don't think I'll be sailing at 95......unless the Missus wants to of course.

Yeah, I have stopped counting the dollars on fixing this and that on our 1984 model Northshore. I think I am nearing the end of the jobs after 3 years. I just dearly want to stop a few leaks I have through the deck. The worst is coming through the pull pit stanchions where the nav wiring comes through.
Though it does annoy me sometimes that the small jobs seem never ending, I do really enjoy working on boats. Its great to sit there and think through how you can make this particular repair last another 10 or more years.
Just need to make sure we get our value for money from her and go on some lengthy cruises.

Theres another side to this thread that has only just been touched on.
It's not just what we do for our boats but also what our boats do for us.
I'm closer to 70 than I am to 60 and I spend the bulk of my time cruising.
If I didn't have a boat to sail I may as well not have retired as I would die of boredom.
When I am at home (on land) I do bugger all and just fill in the days like most other retired people. When I am cruising I have so many things to do. Everything from maintenance to fishing, sightseeing, socialising with other yachties, planning the next leg etc. Add a few nips of port, a nice wine and a cool beer on a hot day.
Only by being on the water can you do this.
Theres one other BIG plus for older yachties. The other day I was chatting to two other yachties, both single, both full time cruisers and both well over y/o. One mentioned that being an older cruiser he never really felt his age. That he was doing what he liked, doing it at his own pace and enjoying every minute of it. From his perspective age played no part and as far as he was concerned he would keep on cruising until his health dictated otherwise.
I realised as he said it that although I had never really thought about it, that was how I felt too.
One more thing. We were all cruising in early or mid 80's heavy f/g boats. One of which spent a week on the bottom after cyclone Yassi. The owner thought that much of the boat that after the insurance company refloated it and wrote it off he bought it back off them and bought it back to it's former glory.
Now it doesn't matter whether you sail a small coastal cruiser, a lovely restored older timber vessell, thirty to forty year old production boat or the newer lightweight things. Money just can not buy the contentment and satisfaction that comes from the enjoyment they provide.

Hgo2,
Thats my plan. I have been afloat ever since I retired. I planned my retirement around cruising.
I hope I never finish up in an old peoples home but if I do it will not be before I have many more years of cruising behind me.
When I stay ashore occasionally I actually feel like a retiree but once I slip off the mooring lines I feel like a kid again, racing my VJ on Sydney harbour.

samsturdy said..

I totally agree with the sentiment of the guy you were talking to Ausie. I didn't sail into old age, I LEARNED to sail in old age (still learning).
And age does not dictate.....health does. Fortunately for me and Missus (who's older than me by one year) we are still healthy enough to
get off the couch go to the boat and have a great day pretending we're sailors. As you say.....it's not what you do for the boat, but what
the boat does for you. Well done.
HG...what a great way to set up for your retirement. Some people retire without having a clue what to do with themselves, but not you
my old buddy. you will have the BEST time.

Sam when I was young Id see old farmers around the 60 mark retire and build a house in town once the garden was done they would throw thew hat in .
My old man retired at 50 and went around Australia 8 times even bought a potential wheat farm virgin land on one of his trips and ploughed up 5000 acres.
I can remember him saying one night he fell asleep while ploughing and had to follow his plough tracks back for about an hour or so silly bugger
I guess he got bored. He had a great outlook on life.

Auscruisers said..
Theres another side to this thread that has only just been touched on.
It's not just what we do for our boats but also what our boats do for us.
I'm closer to 70 than I am to 60 and I spend the bulk of my time cruising.
If I didn't have a boat to sail I may as well not have retired as I would die of boredom.
When I am at home (on land) I do bugger all and just fill in the days like most other retired people. When I am cruising I have so many things to do. Everything from maintenance to fishing, sightseeing, socialising with other yachties, planning the next leg etc. Add a few nips of port, a nice wine and a cool beer on a hot day.
Only by being on the water can you do this.
Theres one other BIG plus for older yachties. The other day I was chatting to two other yachties, both single, both full time cruisers and both well over y/o. One mentioned that being an older cruiser he never really felt his age. That he was doing what he liked, doing it at his own pace and enjoying every minute of it. From his perspective age played no part and as far as he was concerned he would keep on cruising until his health dictated otherwise.
I realised as he said it that although I had never really thought about it, that was how I felt too.
One more thing. We were all cruising in early or mid 80's heavy f/g boats. One of which spent a week on the bottom after cyclone Yassi. The owner thought that much of the boat that after the insurance company refloated it and wrote it off he bought it back off them and bought it back to it's former glory.
Now it doesn't matter whether you sail a small coastal cruiser, a lovely restored older timber vessell, thirty to forty year old production boat or the newer lightweight things. Money just can not buy the contentment and satisfaction that comes from the enjoyment they provide.

What's age go to do with it? There's a guy in the states 95 and still racing with a short handed crew. I'm 84 and thought I should stop living on my boat, bought a unit and tried to swallow the anchor but it got stuck in my throat. I've got the little 1970s Ranger up to scratch now after her refit and loving her. If I could afford the Cat 1 gear I would give her a swim in the Gladstone.

NSW, were not talking about being old. Were talking about sailing.

BTW, I think I saw you in the Whitsundays last winter. It sure looked like the boat in your pictures.

Auscruisers said..
NSW, I think I saw you in the Whitsundays last winter. It sure looked like the boat in your pictures.

Yes I was up there last year. Went as far as Bowen and turned south after the Shag Is. do.
Got back to the Camden Haven NSW in October.

Seaka is a Mark 1 Top Hat, sail number 977.

See also www.sailblogs.com/member/seaka

+1 ^^ Jode5
Hope Meg doesn't have a copy right on that