Healthy Boating

The Crapper Wars - Marine Battle

2010-11-13T07:45:00.000-07:00

Fun exercise in boating

This is just another post that illustrates the opportunities for healthy exercise to be found while on a boat. A good example for healthyboating.blogspot.com.

There are, of course, many different types of exercise like;

running and jogging to give the heart, lungs and legs a good workout
swimming and rowing gives the body a soft workout without shock loads on the feet and knees.
Yoga and Tai Chee
and muscle building exercises in a gym lifting weights.

These are all exercises of choice. Boats at times dictate mandatory exercises you get when something breaks or plugs up and you must remedy the problem.

Murphy's law and the nature of boats usually mean that one must crawl into a very tight place to reach the item in need of repair or adjustment. Then when in an awkward position, the arms reaching as far as they can, try to loosen, tighten or adjust the item with a tool that is difficult to use at the proper angle. Naturally, according to Murphy's Law, if a screw nut or tool falls,90% of the time it will fall overboard, in the bilge or under an inaccessible spot.

This type of operation rewards you with the mode of exercise that selects all those muscles that are underused in normal life. You know this because when you wake up the next morning you can tell exactly which muscles have been underused.

My recent experience with one of these episodes started out with my wife calling my attention to a small water leak behind the toilet in the head. I suggested that we leave it alone for a while to see if it would stop on its own. You never know. When she disagreed with my theory the next thing I know I had spent 2 hours with my stomach leaning on the toilet taking apart the 3-way valve and re-assembling it and it still leaked. In this round I ended up removing the 3-way valve, then disassembling the toilet, carefully reassembling it taking care that the seals were in their assigned positions and pronouncing it fixed. I could see no reason for it to do anything but behave like new.

I sometimes forget that Murphy has a great sense of humour and a devious mind so when someone boasts like I did he naturally wants to bring me down a peg. It just so happened that it was time for my morning bowel movement so I sat down to demonstrate my prowess as 'Mister Fixit'. You guessed it, the toilet wouldn't evacuate the bowl at all. To shorten the story, it ended up that the little bit of calcified urine in the outlet hose had broken loose during my ministrations and when I flushed the toilet these calcified bits failed to pass through the small opening in the heavily calcified outlet hose downstream of the vented loop. What a mess.

The people who had built my boat had taken a great deal of care to hide such odious things as sewage hoses from sight which normally is a good thing. However when one wishes to remove such hoses for cleaning or replacement it would be much easier if the were out in plain sight. This usually means that the hose is awkward to reach and maneuver. Then being good craftsmen they made the holes through the bulkheads barely large enough for the hose to go trough. And finally they installed sticky ribbed wire wound rubber hose that stiffens with age. I do not have 5 foot arms like 'Plastic Man' or the strength to reach and remove hose while lying on my side squashed between the engine and bulkhead. I just barely had the strength to lever myself upright from this position. Luckily I had lost my love handles I had put on while in Canada or I'd still be there.

Currently I have given up on removing the hose and am using muriatic acid to dissolve the calcium blocking it. If this doesn't work I have a backup plan to bypass the old hose by installing a new white hose through the engine room in plain view.

The positive side of this experience is that this seven decade old body is now in better better shape with all those unused muscles hardened up. See, boating has a way of improving our health even if some of the exercises are not so pleasant at the time.

PS. The old hose is now bypassed by a shiny new white hose installed with the looped vent completely in the engine room where it is accessible and has a constant drop to the outlet. The old hose, although well hidden, had a 2 foot section that was level or slightly uphill which caused effluent to gather creating a blockage.

The only task remaining is to drain the spent acid out of it and seal the ends so my wife's keen nose won't detect it.

Sailboat rescue by fellow boaters.

2010-10-31T08:20:00.002-07:00

The established cruisers are a close knit community. If anyone is in trouble and needs help, cruisers selflessly rush to their aid. Boaters who come from the city, where people don't greet passers-by or know their neighbors and don't want to become involved, will jump in their dinghy to go and assist a fellow boater. Boating brings people back to their natural human affinity of kindness and concern of others welfare.

I remember when we were anchored in 'The Waiting Room' at Puerto Escondido, BCS. The call went out on the VHF that a sailboat had broken loose from her mooring and was drifting towards the rocks. Within a few minutes 8 or 10 dinghies were streaking to the rescue. Lines were grabbed and/or attached to the drifting vessel and a chorus of screaming outboards strained to stop her drift to the rocks. When I inserted my dinghy between the rocks and the vessel it was only about ten feet from contact. With the combined effort of all the dinghies pulling together the drift of the sailboat towards harm was arrested and she slowly began to move up wind.

Ray, one of the resident boaters, suggested we move it onto a good mooring buoy in the inner harbor where it would be safe until the owners returned. I climbed aboard to steer the sailboat while the rest provided propulsion. The boat was moved into the harbor and attached securely to a mooring. In 5 minutes the fleet of rescue craft were back to where they were before the call for help had gone out.

This is how people should behave and work together for mutual benefit and safety. We know that the next boater that may need help will be ourselves. Maybe this is one reason we feel more secure out here on the water in less travelled places than we do in civilization with all its emergency services.

Happy Days

Gary

s/v Apolima

http://strattons.myshaklee.com

Dinghy Wars - Inflatable vs Hard

2010-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

In the previous post we covered inflatables so this post is about the pros and cons of hard or rigid dinghies. A hard dinghy can be made out of fiberglass, wood, plywood, plastic, metal, fabric or any combination and is any dinghy that is obviously not inflatable. For ease of reference I will use the term 'dinghy' to refer to any small boat used for personal transportation instead of names like skiff, punt, wherry, etc.

Hard dinghies predate inflatables by at least 2000 years. If you count dugout canoes and such then they go back a long time before recorded history. Since the outboard motor is a relatively recent invention, dinghies were usually powered by paddle, oar or sail. This being so they were empirically optimized for these means of propulsion over the years.

Today we have great many proven designs to chose from, some of which are in production. There are only a few hard yacht tenders in mass production and widely available on showroom floors but there are a many different designs available for the homebuilder to build from scratch or with a kit which has all materiqals precut and ready for assembly. Many builders have ready built dinghies available in stock or made to order.

The purpose of these posts is to compare the advantages and disadvantages of inflatables and hard dingies to be used mainly for the job of yacht tender. Since we have covered the inflatables in the previous post here are the pros and cons of hard dingies.

Advantages of a hard dinghy:

They row very well. It is probably safe to say that all hard dingies row better than inflatables. On our yacht 'SeahorseV' we had a 12 foot Whitehall which our family of 6 in choppy seas and with 1 or 2 rowers would outpace inflatables with up to 4 HP outboards.
Rowing is an excellent way to exercise. Rowing uses most muscles in the body in a low stress way and provides a good cardio vascular workout. Hard dingies are a delight to row which encourages people to exercise.
Simple. There is just the hull and a pair of oars. All one has to do is pull on the oars and you are moving at a good pace. There is little to go wrong, malfunction or break.
Longevity. They will last for many years with minimal upkeep. Just maintain the rub rail fender, clean the inside and outside regularly and every 5 years or so slap on a coat of paint.
Ruggedness. Drag it up on the beach, tie it up to a rough dock with sharp things sticking out or leave it out in the sun all year. It will need only a little paint touch up.
Thief resistant. There is little black market demand for a hard tender compared to the demand for an inflatable, which bring an attractive price on the black market.
Puncture resistance. Sharp tooth and claw resistant. One can drag a hard dinghy over rocks, sharp shells, nails and even broken glass with only a few scratches and still return to your boat. Air filled tenders can be easily deflated by angry animals and sealife.
Room. They have much more interior room compared to similar sized inflatables. There are no large inflatable tubes taking up room.
Sailing. With the addition of a sail, a daggerboard and a rudder you can have a fun sailing dinghy to explore out-of-the-way places or just going from your anchorage to shore.
Quiet. No noisy outboard (although you can have one if you insist). Just the relaxing sound of oars and hull slicing through the water. It is a great way to come up on wildlife to just watch or to photograph.
Low stress. The combination of being on the water, listening to the quiet gurgling of the water and the exercise of rowing lowers the stress of the mind and body. One finishes the row feeling relaxed and satisfied with life.
Stowability. A small hard tender can usually be stowed on deck or on davits. If space is really at a premium then a nesting dinghy will solve the dilemma of needing a decent size tender and only having 4 feet or so to store it in.
Size. When you are out on the water in your tender you want it to be as large as possible to cope with the sea conditions and to carry a good load of supplies. Longer is better for capacity, seaworthiness, stability and speed. The limiting factor is stowage space and weight. A nesting dinghy allows one to divide it in both length and weight for easier handling and stowing. I am working on building a nesting dinghy 13 ½ feet long as I have 7 ½ feet of space.
Cost. There are no cheap dinghies, however inflatables usually start about $1200 and go on past $6000. Hard dinghies are in the $1000 to$3500 range. However inflatables have a finite life due to deterioration of the fabric and the glued joints depending how much exposure they receive and the number and severity of punctures.. It is common to have inflatables last less then 5 years in the tropics and up around 15 years in temperate climates. Hard dinghies can have an indefinite life. There are wooden ones over 100 years that are still being used and fiberglass ones over 50 years. Usually a bit of repair and a coat of paint will see a good dinghy look like new despite her age.

Disadvantages of a hard dinghy.

Initial stability. Some boats that are designed more for rowing, like the classic Whitehalls, will seem a little tippy when you first step into them. All of them, however, stiffen up the further they are heeled over. Other hard dinghies with flat bottoms are quite stiff initially. My teenage children would climb in over the side of our Whitehall without shipping any water.
Fenders. Hard dinghies need to be provided with an effective fender all along the gunnel to prevent paint damage.
Load carrying ability. Generally hard dinghies are designed to carry less weight than an inflatable of the same length because they have less beam.
Availability. There are few hard dinghies which are mass marketed and appear in stock in chain stores. There are hundreds of different makes available on the Internet or from a local builders if one seeks them out.
Stowability. Hard dinghies must find a place on the deck, on the cabin top or on davits. However nesting dinghies can fit in smaller spaces.
Keeping-up-with-the-Jones. If you must have an inflatable to be one of the majority to feel included and one of the crowd, then rowing a hard dinghy is not for you.

It is your choice.

Phyllis and I on the sailing vessel APOLIMA have a 10 foot inflatable with an aluminum floor and a 7 ½ foot fiberglass hard dinghy to meet our needs. I personally find I prefer hard dinghy but find our hard dinghy too short to row with any speed. I have plans for a 13 foot Chameleon nesting dinghy designed by Danny Greene in Bermuda which I plan to build as soon as I get permission from my wife. I have a nice 7 1/3 foot space on deck saved for it. Memories of our 12 foot Whitehall rowing boat that accompanied us on our 5 year cruise of the South Pacific still find me dreaming of effortlessly rowing an easily driven hull.

Healthy rowing

Gary

KEEP IT SiMPLE STUPID

2010-10-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

In times long gone boating was very basic, one just clung to something floating down the river hoping that it washed up on a shore eventually. Simple. No complications. Of coarse, you couldn't control your destination so you just went with the flow. Even at this stage man had to complicate the situation. They tried to influence their vessel by paddling, at first by their hands and feet and then with sticks. From there it has gone down hill ever since.

Look where we are now; high speed diesel engines, computerized automatic engine control and steering, bow thrusters, stern thrusters, satellite communication and navigation systems, radar, sonar, electrical generators, battery banks, converters, regulators, trash compactors, microwave ovens, water heaters, fresh water on the demand, stereos, TV's, home movie systems, lights everywhere, autopilots, electric anchor and sheet windlass's, masts, sails, miles of ropes and wires, refrigeration and air conditioning systems, automatic furnaces, solar panels, wind and water generators, hot tubs, etc, etc. Once we have a boat with all the goodies then we have to stock it with the 'necessities', lockers full of 'stuff' only 30% of which we know where to locate.

Human beings just naturally want to complicate their lives with stuff. Now that we have a boat with all the above complications we find we need an army of technicians, mechanics and troubleshooters to keep it all working. We seem to go from port to port to replace and fix things. Instead of enjoying the life on board and experiencing the local wonders, we are increasing our stress levels coping with the ordering, shipping a installing parts that are not quite right or searching for a mechanic that knows what he is doing.

A few boaters have not gone on the above route. They have learned that “Less is More”. Less high tech gadgets is more time to relax in the cockpit. Less boat is more sailing earlier because we can do it sooner. Less automatic navigation systems results in more self satisfaction by using our skills at DR, bearing compass and sextant. Less mechanical and electrical complications is more time to appreciate the local attractions of your destination. Less stress of complication is more health and enjoyment of life.

Everyone should stop, contemplate and search ones soul for the right answer to the question. Will this decision result is more or less satisfaction of life? Let that honest little voice in your soul provide the answer.

Gary Stratton

Inflatable versus Hard Yacht Tender .

2010-06-17T13:35:00.001-07:00

In the last 30 years the inflatable type of dinghy has overtaken the hard dinghy in popularity so at the present time they account for about 90% of all dinghies used on boats. Their advertising and marketing campaign has been steady and effective. Nowadays when a person thinks about a dinghy for their boat they usually only consider the inflatable. Indeed there are only a few hard dinghies that are mass marketed to choose from. These seem to be lack luster designs made out of plastic. Not much to choose from. There are, however, many small manufacturers of specialty rowing, sailing and outboard powered dinghies available but you have to seek them out. They are not usually displayed at your local marine stores next to the large array of inflatables.

So, aside from availability, advertising campaigns and market share, what exactly are the relative pros and cons of inflatable and hard dinghies?

Lets start with advantages of the inflatables.

Availability. It is easy to find and buy them as they are in every marine store and boat sales yard.
There are a wide variety of choices such as soft bottom, hard bottom, lengths, tube material and price.
They are relatively stable in the water so that when you step on the side to get in the inflatable does not tip very much.
There are built in fenders. The inflated tubes do not harm the mother boat when coming alongside.
Most boaters have an inflatable. So if you like to be one of the crowd having the same type of dinghy is comfortable.
They can be deflated, rolled up and put into a bag then stored below or taken home. This allows smaller boats with limited deck space to carry a much larger dinghy than otherwise. This does not apply to RIB's which have a hard shell of a bottom which will not fold so it takes up just about the same space even when the tubes are deflated.

Now lets look at some of the inflatables disadvantages.

Cost. Common yacht tenders cost anywhere from about $1500 to $5000 and on up.
Because of Uv damage and wear and tear they may have to be replaced in about 5 to 7 years if not protected from the sun and punctures. This Uv damage is not as pronounced in higher latitudes as it is in the tropics. The ones made from a material called 'Hypalon' have much greater resistance to Uv degradation so will last longer.
Inflatables are subject to punctures from anything relatively sharp like nails, bolts and metal edges on docks, rocks and shells on the beach or vandals with a nail file. Most punctures can be repaired with patches by professional inflatable shops.
Inflatables can be rowed as they are all supplied with oars of that range in effectiveness from just about useless to ok. The combination of poor hull shape for rowing and short ineffective oars makes it an exercise in frustration if one wants to get somewhere in reasonable time.
One of the tasks for a dinghy is to be able to row out an anchor if the wind comes up. In moderate winds and above this becomes just about impossible because of this poor rowing performance and excessive windage. Also handling a sharp pointed anchor and the chain while bouncing around increases the chances to puncture the tubes.
The size of the inflation tubes restricts the useful interior volume for carrying cargo like groceries, water, propane tanks, etc and passengers.
Most inflatables are rarely deflated. One of the benefits of the inflatable, indeed its greatest benefit is its ability to store it in a relatively small space while deflated.
The inflatable is a bulky object that takes up a lot of room which makes it awkward to store. Most boaters have developed means of storing it inflated aboard the boat while under weigh.
Poor planing performance under power because of lack of bottom rigidity and shape. There are quite a few ways manufacturers have developed to alleviate this by the use of inflatable floors and , of course, the RIB with a hard bottom made of FRP, plastic and aluminum. The RIB design performs as well as a hard dinghy under similar power but are much more costly, heavy and cannot be reduced much in size even when the tubes are deflated. These are essentially hard dinghies with inflation tubes.
Some inflatables have a soft floor which provides poor footing when getting in and out especially for those who are not as agile. Falls and injuries are reduced when the inflatable has a floor with solid footing.

This post is becoming too long so it will have to stand on its own. The next post will continue with the pros and cons of hard dinghies.

Rowing is good exercise

2010-06-04T11:19:00.002-07:00

Most doctors agree that rowing is one of the best all-around workouts for many reasons. First it has no impact on joints unlike most other aerobic exercise forms. Secondly all of the major muscle groups are worked, producing a calorie burn that is double that of other activities such as jogging or tennis. It a safe way for us seniors to keep our bodies in good shape with little risk of injury. A leading North American Physician, Dr. Paul Donahue, states the following in his syndicated newspaper column 'Good Health' (click here). There is something about quietly moving though the water with the gentle chuckling of the water under the bow, watching the sea life around us that rejuvenates our soul. We seem to be more part of nature and the great scheme of life. Rowing is good for both our body and our soul.

Boaters are perfectly placed to partake in rowing as they have a boat on the water and most carry a dinghy. Seniors can remember when most boaters had a hard dinghy that was rowed to shore. Sure a few people put a little outboard on the back and putted around, but a lot rowed. There were a few Zodiacs and Avons out there with 25 HP outboards the roared around sometimes pulling a water skier. 30 years ago SeahorseV, our Mapleleaf 48, carried a 12 foot Whitehall rowing skiff. It carried our 4 teenagers, my wife and myself safely with enough freeboard. With 2 sitting side-by-side it would outpace some with small outboards. It was a joy to row so it became our water taxi, our runabout. The whole family used it with the skill of much practice and so it also became our exercise machine.

Today almost all boats carry an inflatable of one type or another. Inflatables are the popular, you might say the 'style' or what you must have to be like the rest. Indeed there are fewer other choices readily available than there was. So do we use them for exercise? Oh no, they do not row well at all. It becomes frustrating to put a lot of energy into the short oars that just seem to stir up the water without much effect on the forward motion of the inflatable. But they do move out very well with an outboard of 9.9 or more HP. The only people that seem to row them are those that are out of gas or have a malfunctioning outboard.

However the point is to row for exercise so who cares if the inflatable waddles like a duck at about the same speed, you still can enjoy the results. Just remove the outboard or even easier raise it up and row. Tell yourself that it does not matter how fast you are going. It will do you good even if you only row one way and motor back. After all if you were sitting on a rowing machine you would not be moving at all. Think of it as a rowing machine with a view. Come on you seniors! Row! Row and smile!

uglyboats.blogspot.com
strattons.myshaklee.com

UGLY BOAT

2010-05-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

What a strange name for a blog. Who would be interested in "ugly boats"? Well perhaps this idea needs to be put in context. For instance when you look at a typical yacht costing upwards of $100,000 you do not think ugly, right? You see the nice lines, the gleaming hull, the shining stainless steel railings and accessories and the lustrous varnished wood trim. ugly does not ever enter your mind at all. You see, that kind of a boat is not what I am talking about.

We started out with a yacht that met the above description. In the 8 years we had this yacht we spent quite a bit of time and effort cleaning, polishing, painting, varnishing and waxing to keep it looking yachty and in 'bristol condition'. It was a good looking boat that we thought met our needs and we were very proud of it. It also served us well when it became our home and mode of adventure during the 5 years my wife, 4 children and I spent cruising from Glacier bay, Alaska to Stewart Island, New Zealand and many ports in between. Seahorse V was not an 'Ugly Boat'.

Our next boat was an 'Ugly Boat'. It was names Steveston2, a 65 foot double ended salmon packer built in Steveston British Columbia in 1919 by a Japanese/Canadian shipbuilder for the booming fishing fleet. When I first looked at her abandoned on a BC Packers dock in Prince Rupert she looked worse than an 'Ugly Boat'. She seemed to be about ready for her last run to the graveyard. With closer inspection I could see that even though she looked abandoned and unloved, she could maybe be repaired enough to get another year or so out of her. A lot of time, effort and money later she was chugging up and down the coast if not like a youngster at least as an spry dowager.

Steveston2 was not a yacht. She was a work boat designed to go out in all weather to load fish from the commercial fishing boats and transport the load to the packing plants located up and down the BC coast. You would not call her pretty but as it is said "form follows function". Everything about her was designed and built to do the job, not to look good. She did not need shiny stainless steel fittings, varnished teak trim, fancy white fenders, gleaming polyurethane painted topsides, or fancy canvas covers. Instead she was functional with galvanized steel fittings, plain painted interior, old car tires for fenders, topsides covered with common house paint and plain tarps.

For some reason I found that I was more comfortable with Steveston2, my 'Ugly Boat', than I was with Seahorse V, my 'Yacht'. Maybe this reflects my plebian upbringing. Whatever it is I was more comfortable with a 'workboat-like' vessel than a 'yacht'. An 'Ugly Boat' if you will.

This blog is about people and boats that emphasize function rather than fashion. An plain functional boat will go anywhere a yacht will, be just as comfortable and rewarding. As a bonus it will likely take less upkeep, and maintenance, while costing much less in effort and money. I hope to write about ways of doing things easier, more reliable and more efficiently. Hopefully others will share their experiences and ideas related to their practical boats and practical boating ideas.

GPS Chart Plotter dangers

2010-04-23T08:36:00.003-07:00

Cautions to be observed when using GPS with Chartplotters and Paper charts.

Important - Read this list of cautions before using GPS chartplotters and/or GPS positions in conjunction with paper charts. Many people have sailed into danger and have come to grief by assuming that because the GPS satellite systems are extremely accurate that they are out of danger. There are hidden inconsistencies that you must be aware of. You may be sailing into danger without realizing.

Many people sail off blissfully ignorant of basic DR and the use and value of other navigation aids. They think that their up-to-date modern technology will keep them on course and safe with pinpoint accuracy. The smiling salesman that extolled the wonders of the latest technical marvels did not tell everything. If you read all the manuals and information that came with the GPS chartplotter you may have come across some warnings which gave you a hint that you had to use the system with caution.

If you have used a GPS chartplotter outside of Canada or the USA, you will have noticed that sometimes the chartplotter shows your boat sailing on land or when you are only a few boat lengths from shore it tries to convince you that you are a mile or more out to sea. This not because the GPS is inaccurate, but that the people who surveyed the seas to make the charts did not have GPS or any aids that were as precise.

The charts are quite accurate in themselves in a relative sense. If you navigate as you would before GPS came along you would find your way safely without any trouble. One point on the chart is quite accurate relative to all the other points.

The people who surveyed the waters to produce these charts picked a few points of land where they took astronomical sights with painstaking care to establish a datum to which they could anchor the position of the chart relative to its position in the world. In other words they established a Datum Latitude and Longitude from which they plotted all the land and sea features accurately using transits and cross bearings.

The problems they had were;

Their timepieces were the best available but were not atomic clocks. Even an error of less than a second would move the position of the datum.
Their sextants also were the best available but had small instrument errors.
The people doing the surveying had varying degrees of skill, some more precise than others.
Their methods of calculation assumed that the earth was a perfect sphere. it is not. Another small error.

Now GPS comes along. The GPS gives us an accurate Latitude and Longitude (relative to the earth). When you plot this latitude and longitude on a chart that has not been corrected for this difference in datum, it will not match the actual physical position where you are standing.

Most electronic charts in modern chartplotters are made from the data on paper charts, by scanning and digitizing the data so it will operate in these chartplotters. The most common charts used in North America and Europe are corrected so that they show your position accurately. However, most other charts in the world still do not.

What can you to do? How can you navigate safely all around the world?

The most important thing to get into your head is that you are the navigator, not the fancy GPS system which displays your boat position in the chartploter. The most expensive machine in the world is no more than another aid to the navigator. YOU!

The GPS is just a technical box of tricks that does what it is programed to do. It is nothing but one of your aids that you use to make your navigation decisions. Get this idea firmly in your head and you can sail safely where ever you wish to go. On the other hand if you let the 'Black Box' take over the responsibility of guiding your boat, you are going to land in trouble.

There are other aids to navigation. The best one is the old Mark IX eyeball. Use you eyes and your brain to cross check your position using charts, bearing compasses, sextants, radio direction finder, depth sounder,navigation lights, compass and Dr plots as aids.

❑ Carry paper charts for more information and to backup the electronic charts. GPS and all electronics are subject to failure. Lightning, electrical failure, terrorist EMP, military security, or electronics that just plain quit working are some of the many ways you could lose your fancy, expensive magic boxes. Then what are you going to do?

❑ Read the 'Coast Pilot' or 'Sailing Directions' for your area to find out about any datum errors and changes in lights, buoy and navigation regulations.

❑ Get a current 'List of Lights' so you can identify the correct light to guide you.

❑ Get a current 'Radio Aids To Navigation' book to use radio as an aid.

❑ Seek out local knowledge for areas in which you intend to sail.

❑ Learn to read the sea. The waves and swell can give you good clues.

❑ Learn to read the clues in the sky to predict the weather.

❑ Cross Check. Cross Check. Cross Check. Note the depth sounder reading. Does the reading agree with the depth indicated on the chartplotter. Take cross bearings on points of land, buoys, lights and other points to double check the electronic position. Learn to take vertical sextant angles on objects of known height to get a distance off.

❑ Keep a detailed log book.

❑ Do not approach land or dangers closely at night.

❑ Remember that depth soundings on charts and chartploters can change in area of fast currents like rivers and estuaries.

❑ Enjoy your sailing adventures. Stay safe. Treat the sea with respect.

How to cope with boating hazards - Swimming

2010-04-18T07:40:00.001-07:00

Boating - What are some of the risks to our health

This blog is based on the idea that boating is inherently a positive healthy avocation

but we have to acknowledge that boating has a few risks to our health. Most of these

risks are accidental injuries. Now let's identify some of these risks, discuss them and

perhaps find some ways to reduce these risks. Listed below are some of the risks of being near the water and how to cope with them.

Drowning. One of the main reasons so many enjoy boating is that it is done on the

water, be it a pond, lake, river, swamp, bay, coast or open ocean. We can talk all

about the benefits of being on the water but all boaters run the risk of drowning or

water related injuries.

Swimming is a healthy exercise that most people enjoy. Using caution and being prepared with diminish the risks.
Wear a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) if you cannot swim or there is any doubt about your ability to cope with the conditions.
Swim with a buddy. If you must swim alone take some precautions like making sure you can get out of the water even if you are tired. A good ladder that extends down a few steps below the surface will facilitate climbing back on board.
Having a line trailing with a float attached trailing in the water allows you to grab onto it if there is a current flowing past the boat.
Wear a wetsuit or a 'Lycra' suit to protect from cold or stinging creatures.
Know your swimming abilities and energy levels. Swim up current outbound so you can come back easier.
Tides and currents. be aware of potential currents caused by tides. If caught in a tide rip swim across the current to get into slack water rather than try to fight it.
Poisonous sea creatures. Wear protective apparel for protection from stings. Avoid stepping on stingrays that hide on the bottom in the sand. Stay away from poisonous fish and shellfish.
Aggressive fish. Try not to swim in areas where aggressive fish abound. Do not wear bright, flashy objects like jewelry. Do not go in the water while bleeding.
Alcohol and drugs. Do not go swimming or operate a boat of any size while using these. While it is a sociable thing to go over to another boat for cocktail hour when the 'sun is over the yardarm', more than a drink or two increases the risk of falling while getting in or out of your dinghy to return to your boat.
It is hard to judge how much our reaction times and movements are retarded by small amounts of alcohol. I remember when I was a much younger man windsurfing in Tonga. After stopping at another boat for two drinks I was unable to sail back to my own boat in a brisk wind because I was not able to react quickly enough to wind shifts. The incident made me realize how much a small amount of alcohol can affect the body.
Sunburn. Be SunSmart use at least 15+ sunscreen, wear a long-sleeve shirt and broad brimmed hat. Limit you time in the sun. Beware of the reflected UV off of the water

Enjoy the water. It is part of healthy boating. By using a little prudence swimming off

your boat can be a fun, easy way to improve your health through exercise.

Removing old finishes by scraping

2010-04-12T07:51:00.003-07:00

Topic

▼ ❑ Scraping - An easy way to strip off paint and varnish to refinish a surface

• ❑ There are many methods, such as heat gun, chemical stripers, sanding, scraping and flame used to remove old finishes from wood. Human beings seem to go to great lengths to save on physical exertion. The majority of the effort in refinishing is spent in preparing the surface for the new finish to be applied. Most defects in the final perfection of the project can be traced back to an error in surface preparation. It is most frustrating to work for hours on a project only to find a scratch or blemish in the final finish.

▼ ❑ Scraping can be an efficient way to remove the old finish if it is approached the right way. You need the right tools then the knowledge on how to sharpen the scraper blades and skill in using them.

▼ ❑ The right tools. A good set of scraping tools can be purchased at Lee Valley Tools

• ❑ The scraper blades are pieces of metal about 1/16th inch and 2 inches wide by 6 inches long for general use. (Figure 'A') Special curved shaped blades can be used for complicated shaped projects. Just general use blades will be discussed here. It is best to have a number of spare blades so that the dull blade can be changed for a sharp one without having to stop scraping to resharpen.

• ❑ A file holder that ensures that the file is perpendicular to the blade makes it much easier to file accurately. (Figure 'C')

• ❑ A carbide burnisher that allows a burr to be formed at about 10 degrees below horizontal is necessary. (Figure 'D')

• ❑ A good blade holder that secures the blade and bows it slightly so that the corners do not dig into the wood. (Figure 'E')

▼ ❑ Sharpening. The key making the finish removal job easy and smooth is to sharpen the blades properly to keen edge. You want to be able to lift the finish off the wood in wide thin wafers with great physical effort. The proper way to sharpen a scraper blade is as follows;

• ❑ Lay a sheet of sandpaper of about 180 grit on a good flat surface with the grit side up. Lay the blade flat on the sandpaper and move it around on the sandpaper to remove any burrs or previous scraper edges.

• ❑ Next mount the blade horizontally in a vice firmly. Using a fine file mounted in a holder to ensure the edge will be perpendicular to the blade, file the long edge of the blade in long even strokes until the entire edge has a fresh flat surface. While you are at it do the opposite edge at the same time.

• ❑ Finally burnish the fresh edges of the blades with a burnisher set to about 10 degrees. With the blade securely mounted in a vice, push the burnisher across the whole edge with moderate downward pressure until you can feel a sharp burr on the side of the edge. Now turn the burnisher around and burnish the other side of the same edge until it also has a sharp burr. turn the bottom edge of the blade in the vice and burnish both side to that edge too.

• ❑ To insert the sharpened blade into the blade holder, unscrew the 2 brass knurled knobs a few turn then rest the knobs on a flat surface which allow you to insert the blade. Next screw in the center knurled knob to bow the blade. Finally snug up the 2 knurled knobs that hold the blade in place. It is now ready to use.

• ❑ Using the scraper. To start removing the old finish grip the blade holder in both hands and lay it on the work at an angle towards you. Using moderate pressure on the work pull it down to take off a shaving of finish. The scraper can be used pulling or pushing. Use it lightly on flat or rounded surfaces.

• ❑

• ❑ The scraper will leave the wood smooth free of the old finish that only needs a light sanding with fine sandpaper. No more cross sanding marks to remove.

Back to Canada

2009-10-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

This senior is has benefited enormously from boating these last 11 months health wise. I am in better physical shape than I have been in 15 years. Now I am going to make use of this health and energy to go back to my country of birth to complete some personal projects. One of the method of making life more simple by moving aboard a boat is to get rid of all the things(stuff) that hold us captive. Try as we might we were not able to get rid of all our stuff so we ended up with a storage shed full of things we couldn't possibly live without.
One year later watching the sun go down in a peaceful anchorage we find that all that stuff that we couldn't live without is costing us a good amount of money for storage that we could better use for cruising. In other words we find that stuff is not so essential as we thought it was. We decided that I must return to Canada to reduce the amount of stuff to a size that would fit in our daughter's basement box room.
So here I am in Calgary preparing to drive to our storage shed to begin the task. It is great to visit my son and his family here. The two grand daughters have grown more beautiful and more mature. My son has a little job for me to do before I start my project. He has just sold one of his large car carriers and would like me to deliver it to Inuvik, Northwest Territories before the winter closes the road around October 20. It is a trip of over 2000 miles with about 500 miles of gravel roads. What a contrast to Mexico.
There is a scramble to find the winter boots, parka, gloves and long-johns. It is already winter there now I must be prepared for anything. One is liable to become stranded during winter storms so one must be self sufficient. It is like living on a boat, one must be prepared, equipped and self sufficient.
It looks like I will be leaving tomorrow for Edmonton where a number of vehicles will be loaded and then on northward. I will continue these posts as I progress on this adventure.

Gary

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Some boaters comments about health and boating

2009-09-25T10:44:00.001-07:00

I know that I am convinced that it is more healthy being in a boat on the water but what about other boaters. Have they noticed a difference in their health and well being which aboard a boat? Below is a collection of responses to a post I made in a few cruisers forums asking for their opinions. It is interesting to see the diverse benefits people have experienced. The benefits range from dramatic improvement to all the way to negative results.

S&S

"No specific health effects, but I always feel better sailing ( or even puttering around on the boat). Maybe sailing releases endorphins or something like that, but my wife calls the boat an antidepressant."

GeoPowers of Everett, Wa

"Absolutely. Lost 10+ lbs moving aboard. Of course, that may have something to do with moving from Louisiana (great fried food, poboys the size of footballs, etc) to Washington state (salmon, organic/free range/co-op, and coffee!). This is something a buddy of mine and myself talk about every so often...cruisers always seem less "old" for their age compared to their peers ashore. Maybe it is the attitude they have, but I really think it is a combination of more physical activity aboard, decreased stress, and healthier diet (no fast food). In spite of the healthy dose of sun-downers!!"

Talbot of Stavanger, Norway

"I got rid of 100lbs of useless fat, but then had to sell the boat in the finance work for the divorce"

Barnakiel

"26 footer, two crew, round the world. Age 35 and 32.

I can't say our health improved in any way.

We lost weight (we were on the skinny side before anyway). We lost plenty of muscle during long passages - to the extent that it was impossible to climb relatively low peaks of Polynesia before we got back into shape (we are keen climbers as well). None of conditions we had before lessened (allergy, i.a. - sure it was absent when at sea but came back when in the islands). Our sight did not improve, nor worsened.

Back home we discovered we brought two minor health issues and a serious one (all three - skin problems).

On the mental side no wonders either - mostly negative (?) reflections - lost touch with most of my landside friends who went ahead with having goods and children. On the other hand, we met many fantastic people and made new friendships - so it sort of balances out.

Well, I believe, in our case sailing could be just a bit less healthy than living ashore would have been (mostly because of worse diet, less regular sleep and insufficient amount of exercise)."

Beverly Stayart of Elkhorn, Wi

"I think boating is healthy because you are in a totally different environment from your normal daily life. Being on the water relieves stress and has a calming effect."

Blu

"I think it may have something to do with not wanting to be here (on land,work whatever). Last on the water 26mths ago. Been bored , lost and not interested since then. Put on weight, blood pressure up, temperment is not good. Been to the quack ???? times in last 12 mths, went twice in twenty years playing on water. New plans started 3 mths ago, pressure is slowly coming down, I'm smiling and cracking jokes, joined forums, the missus even kissed me the other day. Watch this space there's a mad red head revamped and headed for somewhere."

Hurricane Harry of Sweden westcoast

"I totally agree.

Im a lil on the heavyside and i loose weight when sailing I forget to eat and i move more and are just a happier individual sailing or around boats. Was without a boat for 2 years and know the feeling of being lost and semidepressed.

If the shoe fits, sailing is it./Harry"

Nauticat62 Iowa

"Reasons cruising increases my health/well being:

I love it so it's easier to be more active. I'd much rather snorkel for an hour than watch the lane line on the bottom of a pool while lap swimming for an hour.

Emotionally, it's much more satisfying than many other pass times. Being satisfied is emotionally better for my health. I also tend to exercise more and eat better when I'm satisfied.

Reasons cruising is not as good for my health/well being:

From an exercise point of view, it's much harder on the body and has a greater risk of injury and is not designed as efficiently as other alternatives. Lap swimming, weights and exercise machines are less expensive, lower impact, and target both cardiovascular and muscle development better than cruising. Medical help if needed is generally closer to a gym/home, than a cruising boat. Bunks and bending over make my back hurt and winches break my bones (twice now). Overall, healthful food is more convenient, less expensive and easier to store at home than when cruising. I'm exposed to more harmful UV when cruising that at home."

It looks like it is not cut and dried. There are some who feel that boating is a negative on their health. It could be said that 'it depends'. It depends on;

where you are coming from. healthy low stress lifestyle or high stress eat junk food on-the-run lifestyle

what age you are. Young people tend to be more resilient.
what type of boating. Liveaboard, leisurely cruise or singlehanded race around the world.
Personal genetic makeup.

The net result seems to be that many boaters experience positive benefits on the water. They just enjoy life more than most non-boater.

Gary

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Boaters Do It Better

2009-09-21T06:36:00.002-07:00

To those of you who follow this blog you know by now that the theme is boating is more healthy for all us boaters, especially us senior boaters. So you can appreciate my enthusiasm when I found this survey that proves that we are more healthy and are enjoying life more than our non-boating friends.

Rather than quoting the whole survey I will condense it somewhat and give you the link to look up yourself. Boaters Do It Better - World Maritime Exchange

THE BIRDS, THE BEES, THE BOATERS! FRISKIEST SPRINGTIME COUPLES LIKELY TO BE BOATERS, SURVEY FINDS

National Survey Indicates Boat Owners Rate Marriage, Romance, Health, Other Key Areas of Life Satisfaction Higher

The survey of nearly 1,100 Americans was conducted on-line by Impulse Research Corporation, Los Angeles, and commissioned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. The survey queried 542 boat owners and 536 non-boat owners.

Boaters average nearly seven and a half hours per week in active recreation, compared to less than five and a half hours for non-boaters. Landlubbers have been hospitalized slightly more than boat owners (14 percent to 11 percent) and tend to be more overweight than their boating counterparts.

In addition to physical benefits, when asked about the overall quality of their lives, boat owners rated it about five percent better than did non-boat owners. Boat owners expressed greater satisfaction with their accomplishments, relations with their families and their ability to enjoy life. Non- boat owners are more prone to feeling useless, lonely, unhappy or excessively fatigued. Here are few of the findings:

* More boat owners said their health is excellent or good (83 percent) than did non-boat owners (77 percent).

* Sixty-seven percent of boat owners said having a boat has contributed to their well-being.

* Boat owners experience greater self-esteem (+10 percent), ability to enjoy life (+9 percent) and a better sex life (+7 percent).

* Non-boat owners are more prone to feeling useless (+8 percent), lonely (+7 percent) unhappy (+5 percent) and fatigued (+4 percent).

* Nearly two-thirds of boat owners said owning a boat has brought their family closer.

* Most boat owners said the benefits of owning a boat include being outdoors (89 percent), spending time on the water (85 percent), being able to unwind and leave pressures behind (79 percent), and finding tranquility (71 percent).

So what do you say? Is boating a great life or what?

I would like to acknowledge and thank Gord May of Thunder Bay, Ontario for his post on the Cruisers Forum for the information in this post.

Gary

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Hurricanes can be unhealthy

2009-09-12T07:49:00.001-07:00

This blog is about seniors and healthy boating. It is dedicated to collecting ideas about boating and how us older people can enjoy boating while improving our health and well being. So how does hurricanes affect us seniors?

They tend to challenge us physically when the forces of nature overcome our physical abilities. For instance during hurricane Jimena a young man who was on a boat moored 2 boats over from us had one of his mooring lines chafe through. He jumped in the swirling waters, swam over to the buoy and attached another line and then swam back and climbed on board. Now I am not saying that someone my age (70) could not have done the same, but I know that I am not as physically able as I was 30-40 years ago. As a matter of fact 30 years ago while anchored in an atoll in the Tuomotos our boat was caught at midnight by a squall which dragged us up to a coral head. I attached an anchor to a buoy and swam it out to windward in 35 kts in order to pull the boat off the coral head.

This is just one example of physical challenges for us at any age. For seniors it is much more daunting due to our diminishing physical condition. We don't have the strength, endurance, coordination or reactions that we had in the past. But thankfully there is another side to this situation. We do have many other advantages over our younger counterparts. For instance we have more experience, more wisdom and increased caution. This physical wane can be compensated for by preparation, planning and practice.

Preparation; Equip the boat with labour saving devices like electric anchor and halyard winches, roller furling sails, proper davits for dinghy retrieval, autopilots, wind vane steering, bow thrusters and satellite communications for instant weather information. By using these devices prudently we can keep up with those younger than ourselves physically.

Planning; Plan ahead, think ahead. There is a saying that the success of a voyage is 90% determined before the boat leaves the dock. Make sure you cover all the bases by equipping, testing and refining both yourself and the boat.

Practice; You can buy all the goodies, take all the courses and make thorough plans but if you don't practice the skills you learned in the books and courses you will not be prepared to safely sail to your dream destination. All those goodies you spent all that money on will be worse than useless if they don't work as advertised. Try them out, put them through their paces in local adventures in all kinds of conditions to test them and test yourself. Do not leave until you and your boat are both ready. Of course I am talking about things that matter for the safety of yourself and the boat. Cosmetic item like paint, varnish, SS polishing, decorations and other non essentials can be left for later down the road.

Boating is a great life of us seniors. We can do it as well or better than those younger boaters by using our assets; experience, patience, practice, planning and determination.

For instance this senior was able to cope with hurricane Jimena by; heading for a reliable hurricane hole, maintaining a well equipted boat, gaining knowledge about hurricane preparedness, planning ahead, preparing the boat for the worst, having backup system ready to go if needed and being ready when it comes a little earlier than forecast. I had 3 separate chafe-free lines to the buoy instead of 1 before it started. Much easier than having to go for a swim during the hurricane.

Gary

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How we survived Hurricane Jimena

2009-09-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

The first full blown hurricane of the year was heading our way. What should we do?

The 8am weather forecast on the cruisers VHF net on Friday 28^th August 2009 at La Paz, Mx jerked us out of our torpor. Phyllis and I looked at each other and decided to head for a hurricane hole rather than face a possible category 2 or 3 hurricane Jimena in Pa Paz. By noon we were heading out of the harbour. The boat had full water tanks, nearly full fuel and had enough food for months.

Our choice of Puerto Escondido where we planned to hole up was 115 miles north. Apolima motorsailed up in 2 ½ days, arriving Sunday afternoon. Puerto Escondido seems to be a first class hurricane hole with excellent protection from the seas and good protection from the wind in the westerly direction. The harbour is protected all around except for an entrance channel 65 feet wide leading in from the south and is 45 feet deep. It is only a mile across so there is not enough fetch to raise large swells. There are about 80 buoys in good condition.

When we heard the latest forecast on Monday we congratulated ourselves on our decision to act as Jimena was turning into a category 4-5 hurricane that could come near La Paz. Hurricane Marty had caused a lot of damage to boats, docks and infrastructure there in 2004. It has very little natural protection, shallow anchorages, large bodies of water allowing huge steep waves to build and only a medium bottom for anchoring. Plus it is subject to storms surges. We felt it was not the best location for us to face our first hurricane.

Monday and Tuesday was spent preparing the boat. The idea is to secure the boat to one spot by anchor, mooring or tying to shore, reduce windage and to close up all openings that will let in water. In our case we attached the boat to a Singlar mooring buoy which consists of a large concrete weight with a heavy chain held up by a metal buoy. These are only a few years old and are regularly inspected. I connected our heavy nylon line from our waterline bobstay fitting to the buoys pickup line. Most boats are satisfied with this pickup line but I wanted some backups so I got into the water and shackled 2 more lines directly to the main chain then led them over 2 specially made rollers at the end of the bowsprit then secured them to the anchor winch. This means that is one line broke or chafed through we would have 2 lines in reserve to prevent up from drifting ashore.

Reducing windage a lot of physical work. This involved taking down all sails and storing them below, deflating and storing dinghies, taking down canvas dodgers, biminies, etc, securing halyards so they won't slap the mast, removing wind generators, solar panels and flags.

With 70+knots of wind driving a deluge of rain means that water will come in through any crack or crevice. All hatches, opening ports and ventilators should be closed, Some may have to be taped up. All bilge pumps should be serviced so they will be fully functionable.

Tuesday after working hard on preparing the boat Phyllis and I went to the marina for lunch. The skies were sunny and warm with a few clouds about. The pizzas, beer and companionship was pleasant until a dark cloud approached causing us to run for the dinghy. The skies opened up with wind and rain that put 2 inches of water in the dinghy before we reached Apolima. One reason for the rush was our realization that we had left all the hatches and ports open. After closing all openings we started to sop up the water that had come in. The hurricane had not even arrived and the interior was wet. What was it going to be like once it arrived?

That squall was the beginning of the storm. Tuesday night the wind gusted over the hills to the east with lots of rain and spray. Because it blew from the east the hills caused the wind to hit us from any direction within the eastern quadrant which caught the boats side on every time the direction changed. It was hard to say what the sustained wind was because of the frequent gusts and changes of direction but some were announcing gusts of 60-65kts. Needless to say, either Phyllis or I was on watch throughout the night checking the mooring lines for chafe and watching other boats.

The next morning, Wednesday, the wind veered more southerly and with less gusting but an increase in velocity. At times we could not see boats next to us because of spray and rain in the air. When the gusts peaked the noise was horrendous like a jet plane attempting to take off. Normally ( it is said here in Puerto Escondidos) hurricanes pass through in about 12 hours but this one just kept on blowing past 12 hours to 36 hours of storm force winds.

During the day 2 boats, Waverly and Spirit, broke loose from their mooring and drifted into the mangroves hard aground. It was blowing so hard that any skiff or dinghy that tried to help would most likely be overturned with likelihood of personal injuries or worse so all we could do was watch them drift away. These boats were l2 of many that were left to take care of themselves as their owners were absent. With someone aboard to tend to lines and anchors the chances of a boat weathering a hurricane rise dramatically. Later in the afternoon Saltshaker, a ketch, also broke loose but the owner was aboard so he was able to anchor and save the boat. The unattended boat next to us, Neka, broke loose just before dawn Thursday and went aground by the east window. 2 hours later the Singlar ponga pulled it off and dragged it back to its mooring.

Thursday morning the storm died down in Puerto Escondido to southerly winds of 15-20kts accompanying some showers. The hurricane now had downgraded to a tropical storm over San Carlos with much flooding. When it was affecting us here it was a category 2 hurricane. It also hit Mulege and Santa Rosalia just north of here with much damage and flooding. There was destroyed docks, palapas, roads, a bridge washed out on highway 1 and electric power, telephone, cell phone, water service out. The only communication with the outside was HF radio and satellite for 5 days after. We had notified our friends and relatives by email that we were in a safe hurricane hole but were not able to send a message to say we made it through safely for 5 days.

In Puerto Escondido itself the 2 boats that washed up on the mangroves were pulled off and returned to their moorings without damage by volunteers from the boating community here and Singlar crew.

In summary Puerto Escondido seems to be a first class hurricane hole with excellent protection from the seas and good protection from the wind in the westerly direction. The harbour is 45 feet deep and only a mile across which is not enough fetch to raise large swells. There are about 80 buoys in good condition. Of course it is only good seamanship to dive and check any mooring you want to depend on. The staff at Singlar Marina who manage the moorings were very helpful.

Phyllis and I felt confident in our location and the moorings so that during the hurricane we were watchful and stressed but not in fear of our boat or lives. It was well worth it to travel 3 days to a good anchorage. Yes, as it turned out La Paz only had 35-40 kts of wind so we would have been safe there as well. Considering the size of the hurricane, its predicted path and the protection offered In La Paz we would make the same decision to head for Puerto Escondido again. We learned much firsthand knowledge with Hurricane Jimena that will help us to better survive the next one.

Surviving hurricanes is good for your health!

Comments anyone?

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How going sailing has changed our health.

2009-08-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

May 2008 we found a Durbeck 46 cutter in Los Angeles that fit our needs and that we could afford. We bought it and made a plan to work for another 4 or 5 years, then to retire onto the boat and go off sailing. Great, a retirement worth waiting for.

Phyllis has had trouble with blood clotting and high blood pressure so took medication for. She was also overweight and had trouble breathing so that she had to rest to catch her breath after walking 300-400 yards. She used to have days and days when she was totally drained of energy. Wasted days lying around unable to do anything. Also she was pre-diabetic.

As for myself I did not take any medications but my blood pressure was up to 140-145 over 90-95. I had a beer belly, love handles, little muscular strength and little energy.

We took September off to work on the boat and cruise around Catalina Island. After 3 weeks we took our blood pressure and found that hers was down 25 points and mine down 15 points. We were feeling better and had more energy. Phyllis looked at me and I at her and said “If we keep working for another 4-5 years one of us is likely to be dead so lets retire now”. It would mean that money would be really tight but we could just do it on our pensions. Suffice to say we drove home, sold most of our 'stuff', rented our condo, filled the suburban to overflowing and moved onto the boat.

Getting the boat stored, repaired and cleaned ready to go was more physical work that either of us had done for years. We left LA in December and worked our leisurely way down the coast to San Diego where we topped up our supplies before heading into Mexico. We are now in La Paz, Baja California having cruised around the beautiful islands and anchorages in the Sea of Cortez.

It is August 2009, I have turned 70 and Phyllis not too far behind. The change in our health is as follows;

Phyllis' blood pressure has come down from 150/95 to 125/82 and mine from 140/85 to 118/75 as it was at age 45.
Phyllis was able to reduce her medications for blood pressure and blood thinners. She has better circulation and less leg pains.
We have both lost significant weight and gained much muscle tone. Phyllis can now walk a mile to the supermarket and back in 90F+ heat with a backpack of groceries. My beer belly and love handles are gone. I have much more physical strength and endurance now.
We both sleep well through the night.
Phyllis used to have trouble breathing but its now much better.
Both of us have more energy, Phyllis especially.
Our sex life has improved considerably.
Finally we are both very relaxed enjoying our lives together.

What are the factors is this improvement in our health and wellbeing?

Much less stress due to;

The relaxing effect of living on the water.
Elimination of work stress.
Lack of fear stress from mainstream media.
Life aboard is not so complicated.
Less worry about making money.

More exercise.

Boats move. Just standing aboard gives us isometric exercise.
The companionway steps provide exercise as we walk up and down them many times a day.
Boats are built with a shape designed to go through the water which results in compartments and lockers that are odd shapes and sizes. Repairing, maintaining and accessing these spaces requires stretching and reaching that builds muscles and flexibility.
Sailing vessels have sails which must be raised, trimmed and lowered. On most boats the halyards and sheets are brought in with manual winches which build up upper body strength.
Most cruising vessels anchor frequently when possible to provide privacy and to reduce marina costs. Some anchor winches are manually operated. Sometimes boaters will dive on their anchor to ensure the anchor is set properly.
All boats carry a dinghy of one sort or another as a means of going back and forth to shore and to carry needed supplies. Some dinghies are propelled by oars which provides excellent exercise. Even with an outboard motor there is exercise just launching and retrieving the dinghy and attaching the outboard and fuel tank.
Once on shore cruisers must travel to buy supplies and food. Some people have bicycles or mopeds but most walk carrying packsacks. Without cars most walk to do their errands.

Cleaner air to breathe. Most marinas are by the water where there is cleaner air. Cruising away from cities and built up areas leaves one breathing clean sea air. The sea is a great engine for taking contaminants out of the atmosphere.
More healthy diet. While boating people like to catch fish and seafood. There is more time to cook and to eat so the meals are more healthy and are eaten in less of a rush. Local food here in La Paz is more basic made with fresh ingredients. We also use an anti aging supplement called “Vivex”
Less costly to live. One can spend as much when on a boat as on land but most live on much less.
Spiritually refreshing. There seems to be something about being out in nature at its best with the sea, shore and sky to improve the health of the soul.

Any comment?
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BOATING___THE HEALER

2009-08-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

It has long been known by the "well-to-do" from the time of the Romans and earlier, that a sea voyage will improve ones health and well being. They would embark with their servants and staff on a luxurious cruise, usually to a warmer destination with clear skies and a warm sun.

Nowadays the cruise lines offer luxurious accommodation and great food. They even supply the servants. The ships abound with health spas, tennis courts, swimming pools, exercise rooms and lawn bowling. Recreation coaches organize passengers in walking, jogging and skeet shooting. The sea air, exercise, sun and holiday atmosphere away from the job and stress all help to increase health and attitude. Some people, of course, choose a less healthy lifestyle by eating and drinking too much, then spending most of their time in the ships casinos.

Others would rather become more intimate with the sea. They like to sail in smaller boats where they are only a few feet above the water so they can feel the waves lift the boat and appreciate the sea life firsthand. When anchored they dive into the sea instead of a warm pool. Without air conditioning they enjoy the gentle warm breeze wafting over the cockpit while they salute “Father Neptune”. Barbecuing freshly caught fish that tastes better than any cooked at home. The servants are not missed.

Some just enjoy going to the lake or the seashore. They swim, make sand castles, picnic, kayak, row and explore. This is a short change of pace to relax them so they can face the grind next week.

Then there are those who live more or less full time aboard a boat. These people seem to be on vacation all year long. They enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle that is the envy of their friends and associates. These lucky souls are the main subject of this blog “Healthy Boating”, weather they are moored in a marina, anchored out or cruising the world.

These are a few ways to enjoy the sea and lakes in order to relax, recharge and to appreciate the world we live in. Even if we just are on a short vacation, we come back to our day-to-day life more able to face the pace of modern day living.

I invite anyone that has any thoughts on the health benefits of boating; especially living aboard, to comment on this blog.

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Will moving aboard improve your health?

2009-07-31T06:19:00.000-07:00

Moving aboard our sailboat and leaving our stressful work-a-day life certainly has improved our health. We are in better physical, mental and spiritual condition now than we were just 10 months ago. My wife, Phyllis, and I moved aboard our sailboat, Apolima, in November 2008 in Los Angeles, Ca and are now anchored in La Paz, Baja, Mexico.

What are the factors that determine this change of health? Is it just a simple thing like the salty air we breathe, the increased exercise aboard, better food intake, less stress, or just a different location?

Of course it depends in each individual case. It depends on where you are coming from and where you are going to. Generally most people that move aboard and go off cruising do so to get away from a stressful, complicated lifestyle.

What are the factors in your life that cause you to think about a change in lifestyle?

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My first post

2009-07-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Human Health!
It is said that our health is only a priority when we notice that we are losing it. The young act as if they are immortal sometimes. As we grow older we become more conscious of our health, both physical and mental.

There are many things that affect our health. Such as;

Our mental attitude
Our genetic makeup
Our mother's health and habits during gestation
Our nutrient intake
Our proximity to dangerous environmental conditions
Our social habits
Our physical exercise habits
Our spiritual health
Our exposure and response to stress
Our history of accident and trauma

Some of these things we can control while others we cannot. We can optimize those which we can control and put aside those which we cannot change.

This blog is about those things we can choose to control to benefit our health and to improve our lifestyle while enjoying our life on the water Boating.

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