WHEN DO WE RETIRE FROM BOATING?

I will be 74 next month , just had back surgery and will need another. I love having a boat , it's all I ever did my whole life. The hardest thing for me now will be getting my boat to the Marina than putting the boat into my slip. I will see next May when the Marina opens. If I can't I will probably sell my boat , I will see when the time comes.
 
I built my first boat when I was 14. Since that time I have owned a series of boats and have boated in a variety of locations around the world. I am now 80. Currently I own 2 boats. Last year I put 100 hours on my big boat and 40 on my small boat.
 
KevinDU":3825vdpz said:
I will be 73 years young next month. I wonder how many years I might have left to enjoy my C-Dory fishing/cruising trips, expecting continuing good health of course. Who is the oldest C-Dory owner on this forum and still going out there on adventures?
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Re: WHEN DO WE RETIRE FROM BOATING?

The day your ashes are spread on the SEA!
 
I want to say " when I die" but it sounds rash. But I just don't see a day I don't have a boat of some sort. I just love it to much. even if I am that old guy sitting in a fisher play house tug with a rod in my hand and the line in a bucket or water I will be happy. That would make a great t shirt. grandpa said " if you stop moving you will stop moving so dont stop moving" He was still living by himself and walking a mile a day at 96 when he passed.
 
My theory is that as we age, we should increasingly take more risk. When younger we more carefully considered our life choices to reduce risk enabling us to live long fulfilling lives and generally be responsible adults. Venturing a little closer to the edge each year helps keep us young. The worse that can happen if we misjudge is that we will have had a great ride. Way more fun than long life and expense of long term health care insurance.

My wife has not fully bought into the concept yet. 🙂
 
Listen to your wife
 
I have to agree with Kenn. I retired a few years ago, turned 65 last October and was in the best physical shape I've been in years with 130 days on the water last year (between my kayak, C-Dory, and sailboat) and then in November was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic melanoma. Changes your perspective on life. When to retire from boating?...When it is no longer fun or when one cannot physically handle it. Otherwise, keep boating! If it brings you joy, just keep boating. Age doesn't matter.
 
Paraphrased from "First You Have to Row a Little Boat" (R Bode):

After taking a good turn at life,
at the moment, now I know all
I need to know; the day will come
when I will die. This gives me two
choices: stay, frozen on the shore,
or trim my sails and dip and soar
in the breeze.

Here's a bloke who's doing the latter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wDANEI0o9w

I can't say I don't envy, at least a little,
Bill's confidence, abilities and joie de vivre.

Aye.
 
Foggy":8ymmgcvi said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wDANEI0o9w

I can't say I don't envy, at least a little,
Bill's confidence, abilities and joie de vivre.
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Interesting video. Don't know if Bill is related to Derek Hatfield or not but he raced the "Spirit of Canada" in the "Around the World Alone"race several times. I had the pleasure of meeting him through our Power Squadron as he lived near us and spent his winters practicing in Lake Ontario. He had many interesting stories to tell. Climbing 60-80 feet of green with another 20' of white on top. Being pitch poled rounding Cape Horn. Above a certain sea state being at the helm without relief until it calmed because the auto pilot could not react fast enough when cresting the tall ones. Other than that he said the boat could pretty much drive itself.

RIP Derek

Rob
 
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