Owner aging along with classic Hatteras

[Pete]

Over in the Tech section, Pascal's thread on repowering has a couple of recent posts that got my attention on owner aging. Rather than continuing that discussion off topic in that thread I am starting one on the subject here.

My Admiral is fond of saying "life is what happens as you are making plans". Fully agreeing with her, as I always do, I accept that us humans are individual and each will get one of the remaining slots in the accrual tables. For now I would like to ignore who gets which slot and discuss the median expectation for those of us still here.

To set a base line, I am 74 and the Social Security statistics indicate about 68% of us who were born in 1943 are still alive in some state. I have found that stamina is my best indicator of my aging when it comes to the care and feeding of a classic Hatteras. 20 years back, when we acquired our current Hatteras, I was a six hour man, not what you are thinking, six hours of work activity on the boat before I was looking to call it a day. Today, that stamina number is more like 3 hours. And just for perspective, I consider my health to be about as good as one could expect at 74.

Which leads to my two areas of interest. First, for those going ahead of me, what is your view of the future I should anticipate on the stamina as I continue to age hoping for no unplanned health events. And second for those approaching or about the same vintage as I, what has been your experience.

One footnote on why this has suddenly become of interest to me. I am an admitted perfectionist, especially on the boat, and for the first time when I haul it for maintenance I will have others do much of what I have done to my exacting standards in the past. Reason being I just do not feel I can do it all myself any more.

Pete

 

[rsmith]

As a friend 15 years my senior says "what I used to do all day now takes me all day to do"

 

[SKYCHENEY]

From another perfectionist, I will tell you that although I am rarely happy with the quality of work that I pay for, I do still let others do some things. I pay for bottom painting and buffing/polishing. I also pay for most fairing/paint work.

So, don't feel bad that you are not doing it all. I have found that there are some good yards/workers out there. In some cases they do not do things like you would do, but you can always complete the job once they are finished. Or, you can say "good enough" and just enjoy the boat and be happy that you can.

 

[SEVEN]

Seems I to am a perfectionist that never let anyone do anything on my house or boat. However nearing 67 I find the knees and back can’t keep up with my mind. I think I’m 30 and can do most anything until I do it. Then I pay for back adjustments and pain pills which I think would have been the same cost if I paid someone to do it. I’ve always had a saying “ it is what it is” I’m going to enjoy doing it until I can’t. Get the most out of life because you never know.

 

[BobWaz]

I am also a perfectionist. However after doing a job myself, It may not be perfect but usually much better than I could pay for. At least now with age and needing glasses, I can take them off, stand back and admire that perfect work! Next time you are paying to have a job done, pre-tip the person. But a unique way would be to take a hundred dollar bill, rip it in half, give one half to him and say he gets the other half when the job is completed. I guarantee a better job. If not, never give him the other half. You will be out the hundred but he will not have it.

 

[krush]

My boat could use paint and look prettier.....but you know what? I don't see the flaws from the helm when I'm slow cruising at 20 knots. Use the boat!

 

[Walter P]

Wow......This has got to be the most uplifting thread. I have been mentally beating myself up for a few
years because I can no longer do what I used to. I am a bit older than most of you (81 this yr) so I
experienced what you are all describing some years ago. I think Krush has the best answer but it's
very hard for many of us to get our head around it. As a result I decided to sell my boat to a young
couple (early 50's) who are very talented and will make and keep her in great shape. I let it go very
cheap to them rather than just sell it to someone that may or may not take care of it, besides I'll
probably get to go on it once in a while. It is an emotional experience for sure since I have been an
active boater since I was a teenager. Worse case is we may just buy either a much smaller boat that
we can sit on at the dock or a much larger one that we will need a full time captain to take care of and
run it for us..... The jury is still out......


Walt

 

[bobk]

Wow......This has got to be the most uplifting thread. I have been mentally beating myself up for a few
years because I can no longer do what I used to. I am a bit older than most of you (81 this yr) so I
experienced what you are all describing some years ago. I think Krush has the best answer but it's
very hard for many of us to get our head around it. As a result I decided to sell my boat to a young
couple (early 50's) who are very talented and will make and keep her in great shape. I let it go very
cheap to them rather than just sell it to someone that may or may not take care of it, besides I'll
probably get to go on it once in a while. It is an emotional experience for sure since I have been an
active boater since I was a teenager. Worse case is we may just buy either a much smaller boat that
we can sit on at the dock or a much larger one that we will need a full time captain to take care of and
run it for us..... The jury is still out......


Walt

Walt,

Knowing how you stand fast on your buisiness decisions (LOL) I can't wait to see what the jury decides for you.

Bobk

 

[rjwilliams]

Wow, this post really hits home. At 76 I find that cannot comfortably do some of the mechanical maintenance I used to enjoy performing but we still enjoy boating. Gotten to the point that anything involving "boat yoga" gets farmed out to a mechanic. I still like to putter and armed with a pair of high quality gel knee pads and some strategically placed hand holds that still happens
.

 

[Finalee]

Well here's one. Rather than pull one of my engines and rebuild it, I'm looking at sail boats thinking it would be easier.

 

[rustybucket]

Good lord, what is this the geriatric ward of the forum? Suck it up nancies! Break out the wallet. Or put on a fresh set of depends, turn your jitterbug on silent, pop a couple viagra or extendz (or whatever you old geezers take to rock the boat all night) and crawl back into the bilge and get to work!!

lol, I'm just kidding. But seriously, even though you can only do 3 hours of work... you can do 3 hours of work 5 days a week and get more done than us young bucks b/c you work smarter (not harder). And you can do all this while us yearlings are at work making enough money so we can comfortably retire when we get old and gripe about only being able to work for 3 hours straight on our old boats!!

I'm looking at 40 in a couple years and I feel OLD!! I'm having trouble stomaching that!! Just doesn't seem fair!!

 

[Boatsb]

I know where a pair of 4 cyl yanmars are looking for a new home.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Today was first really pretty day in a while. After cleaning most of the boat on top of ongoing maintenance jobs, I fully relate to the thread. When someone tells you the sixties are the new fifties, they’re lying their asses off.

 

[Pete]

Perhaps I could have worded my interest better, as I definitely have nothing to gripe about, as I am definitely one of the winners. Of those born in the same year as I, 30% plus have passed on. Being in good health, I look at the average life expectancy for us male 74 year olds alive today, and the average one of us will make it to 85. So, unless life throws me a curve ball or two 85 plus is my plan. As another data point, I have not seen any 90 year old folks working on their boats recently.

With that background, my interest is what is the boating life between 74 and your upper 80's. With some members dating themselves as beyond my years they seem to be the best source of such opinions and experiences. My second interest is how my experience to date compares with others about my age, as I see a definite reduction in stamina especially in the past several years.

And just for the record, I did put in my three hours today, and do not own a rocking chair, which is why I am writing this at 7:00 PM local time. Here is to all us senior owners, who know exactly what needs to be done and how to do it, but just can't get to where it needs to be done anymore.

Pete

 

[bobk]

Good lord, what is this the geriatric ward of the forum? Suck it up nancies! Break out the wallet. Or put on a fresh set of depends, turn your jitterbug on silent, pop a couple viagra or extendz (or whatever you old geezers take to rock the boat all night) and crawl back into the bilge and get to work!!

lol, I'm just kidding. But seriously, even though you can only do 3 hours of work... you can do 3 hours of work 5 days a week and get more done than us young bucks b/c you work smarter (not harder). And you can do all this while us yearlings are at work making enough money so we can comfortably retire when we get old and gripe about only being able to work for 3 hours straight on our old boats!!

I'm looking at 40 in a couple years and I feel OLD!! I'm having trouble stomaching that!! Just doesn't seem fair!!

Hey Rusty, waddya need, gym time? Your trainer quit? You are as old as you want to feel. Hell I bought my 41' trawler new when I was 50. In the next few years I repaired some 60 fiberglass issues/mistakes, remodeled the interior, installed the AC's and painted the top sides with Algrip. At 55, I had the bottom peeled and I faired and applied 20 gallons of thickened vinyl ester for a barrier coat. I could go on and on, like I did all my own bottom painting until I was 71. I bought the 48MY at 70, and while I do less and less each year, I was still cruising 3000 miles a year at 80. Now I'm down to 200 mile trips. But the ship is ship-shape and always ready to turn the key for another short cruise. My problem is Gayle worries that I'll fall overboard and she won't be able to get the boat back by herself lol.

Yep, I hire out more and more, and get less and less. Like a topside wash in Baltimore was $50 in 2016. Here in the south with all the cheap labor it's $150 go figure. All right, so I work in one hour increments now and have to struggle to get off the deck after I've been crouching a while, but it's still fun. You youngsters need to remember we appreciate your keeping social security funded for us who are enjoying our golden ages so keep your strength up and quityabitchin.

Bobk
(God, I love to rub it in to kids.)

 

[spartonboat1]

You said "To set a base line, I am 74 and the Social Security statistics indicate about 68% of us who were born in 1943 are still alive in some state."

So which state is that? ... the "State" of Florida.

Age aside, my strongest recommendation, is for when you are "on the hard". Break down and buy one of those roll around Cotterman walk up set of steps, like you see at Lowes for high places. Absolutely stop using a standard ladder. One fall and you will know why. I did have a "fall" and my back looks like the Mackinaw Bridge on a X-ray. But, God-willing, they tell me I am the poster boy for recovery, as I do most everything, except certain twisting and bending. Basic strength is all back! (pun intended).

When I bought my harness, the counterman said I was not the only boater that bought a harness, after falling from a ladder and being injured!

 

[Pete]

I used the word state with a small "s" within the definition "the condition of a person or thing, as with respect to circumstances or attributes: a state of health.The numbers are sourced from the Federal Social Security Administration,thus it includes all 50 States.

Pete

 

[Finalee]

I know where a pair of 4 cyl yanmars are looking for a new home.

Appreciate that. The other 6bta runs like new.

 

[Pete]

BobK, my example of slow but determined is 5 new Lifeline 8DL batteries sitting in my garage that will be replacing the current set that the Admiral and I installed 14 years ago. At that time I did all the rigging to get them in and out without having to manually lift even one end of these 160 lbs. beasts. We will do it again using the same rigging, likely for the last time. When the stamina goes it just requires more mental time to figure out a solution. Even back when I was 60 there was no way I was going to strong arm the beasts.

Pete

 

[luckydave215]

I always heard that concern is the first time you can't do it a second time, and terror is the first time you can't do it the first time.....LOL