Why Creaky Backs, Gammy Knees, or Ticking off Years on the Calendar Don’t Have to Put

an End to Your Enjoyment on the Water Adapted from an Article By Tux Turkel for BoatU.S. Magazine February/March 2015

— Original Article Contributed by Bobbi Breslow

By 2030, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates one in five Americans will be 65 or older.

The baby boomers driving this trend are well-known for their determination to sail off

into the setting sun, figuratively and literally, but there are some hurdles – physical and

mental – to be overcome. People 60 or older typically need more than twice as much light

to see under dim conditions as a 20-year-old. Past age 50, high-frequency sounds can drop,

and more time is needed to react to stimuli. These shortcomings are widely recognized

behind the wheel of a car; on a boat, we can toss balance into the mix. Add the need for

body strength when tugging a line with a snagged anchor, and it’s clear that the effects of

aging at the helm of a boat are not without challenge.

Thankfully there are solutions, such as those offered by Banana River Sail and Power

Squadron in Satellite Beach, Florida. “I have a firm belief,” says Earl Gillespie, the

squadron’s commander, “that we have a lot of boaters leaving boating because they may

have tripped or had a near-accident. They don’t need to quit. They need to compensate

and do things a little differently.” Last winter, the Banana River squadron hosted what it

believes to be Florida’s first safe-boating class for seniors. Expectations were modest. A

small article in a local newspaper and online promotion attracted 15 people. Some had

owned larger vessels in their younger years, and all but one couple came from powerboating

rather than sailing. Their reasons for attending varied, but no one said they had come

specifically because of a mishap. “My suspicion is that people don’t often think that way,”

says Bill Veit, the squadron’s education officer. “We think we’re fine.”

Making sure your boat has wide side decks and strong side rails makes boating more carefree and safer as we age. So does using a marina with ADA-compliant docks

with rugged rails for more stable footing. First off, if you recognize you’re experiencing a high-risk trait or condition, such as

forgetfulness, vision impairment, slowed reaction times, unsteadiness,

etc. share that info with a spouse or boating buddy. Understand the

severity of the condition, possibly through a medical check-up, and carry

out specific changes needed to compensate. These might include new

boating habits, altering the boat, or repositioning gear. Along with your

spouse or friends, plan to monitor your condition to watch for any

progression or increased risk.

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Why Creaky Backs, Gammy Knees, or

BoatU.S. Magazine February/March 2015

Smart Solutions

■ Always use notes and checklists – for shutting the boat down, for starting her

up, for all important procedures aboard, especially infrequently used equipment.

■ Keep a whiteboard and markers nearby, perhaps mounted near the helm station,

to jot down numbers, waypoints, reminders, Coast Guard reports, weather reports.

■ Always bring a mate along to be your ears in hard-to-hear situations, and

someone who can operate your boat if need be.

■ Reduce long trips. Leave earlier. Arrive earlier. Don’t push it.

■ Add safety lines, rails, or higher rails.

■ Add extra handholds.

■ Add nonskid surfaces.

■ Add an electric windlass, one that can be operated remotely.

■ Remove obstacles from passageways and decks. Add steps where you

have to change levels. If they might turn into shin busters, use foldaways.

■ Keep a good pair of binoculars handy.

■ Invest in high-quality prescription sunglasses with UV protection and non-glare lenses.

■ Wear your lifejacket ■ Add a permanently-mounted boarding ladder with nonskid rungs and good handholds.

■ If feeling off-balance is an issue, ask your doctor or physical therapist for exercises

to improve your stability.

■ If you’re having trouble hearing your mate on the foredeck, agree to a system of hand

signals, buy walkie-talkies, or have someone at the helm to repeat what’s said.

■ If your night vision isn’t what it used to be, splurge on a nightvision or

thermal-vision scope for the helm and use a red light at the helm to preserve

low-light adaptation

■ Create easy-to-use tackles to help lift gear. A three-to-one tackle attached

to a radar pole or dinghy davit can be used to get the outboard onto the rail or groceries

on deck, and, with a webbing strap attached, assist boarding from the dinghy.

■ Older backs are prone to stiffness and soreness, Invest in high-quality cushions at

least six inches thick or a custom mattress for your berth. Consider upgrading

cushions in your cockpit or salon to add additional padding and, where possible, a bit of

lumbar support. If you have a chair that’s more than 10 years old in the cockpit, a

replacement will probably be welcome.

Never too Old to Learn

These and other suggestions all made sense to Mark Vance, who took a safe boating

class for seniors. “It’s a good reminder that I need to move more surely, instead of

dancing on the top of the boat, as I used to,” said Vance, now 70. He got his first taste

of sailing in 1978 when a friend took him out off Los Angeles, returning in big swells to

Marina del Rey. “I remember standing with one hand on the mast with this primal

feeling,” he grins. “I was hooked.”

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Vance now has a 27-foot English-built Snapdragon sailboat, a twin-keel classic named

Arwen. He said patience was a theme of the senior boating class. A relaxed frame of

mind comes in handy when he sails on the Indian River south of Jupiter, Florida. It’s a

congested waterway, which can be stressful in a sailboat. “You have to remind yourself

to be deliberate and remain calm. It’s easier to get flustered as you age.” Vance has

already made some concessions to age. Sailing singlehanded, he used to unfurl a genoa,

the large foresail, to capture more wind. Now he sails with his smaller working jib,

which is fast enough, but doesn’t demand as much strength. “At this point in my life,

I’m more interested in comfort than speed,” he said. How long does he intend to be in

his sailboat? “As long as I can walk.”

Dick Brilhart believes patience also means looking at the big picture. He and his

wife, Barbara, travel annually from Florida to their homeport in Maryland’s eastern

shore. Used to doing the trip in three weeks, they now plan to spend up to five weeks

sticking to the ICW rather than the open ocean. Brilhart, 82, acknowledges

since he tires more easily now, the couple sets off at dawn and plans to be

somewhere by mid-afternoon. They have taken steps to keep their senses

sharp; they work out regularly at the gym to stay strong and flexible. Both

have had cataract surgery, Dick wears a hearing aid. Dick offers advice

for senior boaters: “The single most important thing is to stay in shape, so you can hop

around the boat. Strength frequently means balance.” They plan to stay on the water

as long as possible. That could mean a smaller boat, at some point.

Fight Fatigue By Banning Vibrations

It’s easy to outfit your boat with vibration-dampening gear. If you stand at the

helm frequently, the easiest fix is to purchase an anti-fatigue mat, usually gel-filled, or

made of EVA, a closed-cell foam similar to what’s found in flip-flops. Brands include

Stream Machine, Sea Dek, Footcush, Sea Shock, and Aqua Shox. These can also be

used in other places where you or your crew stand for long periods, such as the galley.

Suspend Your Seat

You can upgrade your pedestal seats with a Seaspension pedestal (from Taco

Marine) that features shock absorption. The Seaspension pedestal uses a system

similar to the shock absorber in a car, allowing the seat to travel a few inches vertically

in response to wave or boat motion. Garelick also makes a version that replaces only the

seat base, and provides about an inch of cushioned travel.

Keep Your Hands Happy

If your helm features a bare stainless-steel wheel, have it wrapped with EVA foam.

You can find “wrap kits” in wind-surfing or bike shops that will cover your wheel and

provide a barrier to any vibrations being transmitted through the steering system.

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3,000 Workers… 600 New York Companies...

A Budget Just Under $4 Billion…

And Extensive Use of

Environmentally Friendly Technology! The New NY Bridge Presentation Proved

There’s More Going on Here Than Just

Steel and Concrete Yacht Clubbers packed the Marina Conference Center on

November 4th for the lowdown on the new high tech twin-span

bridge scheduled to replace the Tappan Zee in 2018. The

special presentation by Dan March and Mike Gunn of Tappan Zee Constructors LLC was

organized by Yacht Clubber and lifelong bridge super fan Al Shapiro.

Much more than a bridge, the project also encompasses:

• A community benefits program providing grants for preserving and rehabilitating

local infrastructure, improving recreation opportunities and road safety.

• An educational outreach program tasked with inspiring students to follow career

paths in science, technology, and engineering.

• A real sense of what’s right for the environment with 24-hour-a-day seven-days-a-

week measuring of noise, air quality, and vibration levels; less dredging; smaller

pilings; extensive clean-fuel technology; and a host of other earth-friendly

practices. For example: air bubbles are pumped around pilings as they are being

driven to prevent injury to fish; only a minimum of sediment is removed so as not to

impact the river bottom’s organisms. And, once construction is complete, a

peregrine falcons’ nest box and webcam will be relocated to one of the new towers.

With the planned-for six scenic overlooks, a pedestrian/cyclist pathway, and

historical and cultural installations the New NY Bridge will be like

a walk in the park! Watch how it grows online at

www.newnybridge.com or in person from viewing platforms on

both sides of the river.

This Year’s Peregrine Falcon

Chicks Seem to have Flown

the Coop for Now. Check

the Webcam Next Spring. Viewing Platforms