On Mon, 7 Mar 2011 11:38:52 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

"Waldo" wrote in message
eb.com...
"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message
anews.com...
"Frogwatch" wrote in message
...
OK, I have not hauled my anchor in the last 6 months but then it was
not too hard (28' 8000lb boat). Am I missing something? Does hauling
the anchor (slowly) get that much harder as one gets older (I am 55).
Generally, I haul her in slowly allowing the boats momentum to do most
of the work until the rode is vertical. That is when it requires a
bit of pull. I also use 1/2" nylon rode with 30' of chain so I am not
hauling all chain.
Does it get that much harder with a larger boat?
In place of a windlass, why not mount an old manual winch on the bow
and use it to help haul it in?



If you find yourself actually needing an anchor windlass then it should
tell you that what you really need is a smaller boat with smaller ground
tackle. Or, you might need to examine your technique. If you can't brute
force something perhaps you can finesse it - like using the displacement
of your hull to break the anchor free or reducing the chain length or
using the (heaven forbid) the auxiliary. Just a thought.


Wilbur Hubbard


A windlass is standard equipment on all serious boats, but as you say, a
day sailor like yours can make do without one.



Windlass = big electrical consumption = big motor with big alternator or =
big, stand-alone generator = big wiring = big battery bank = big weight =
big expense = big complications = big nuisance = big headache, etc. Is that
what sailing is supposed to be all about?

Waldo, the biggest part of the discussion here concerns aging sailors. There
comes a time when we MUST recognize the limitations that age imposes upon
us. In the case of ground tackle, the limitations are mostly due to a
reduced capacity in the aged to handle heavy weights. Sure, a windlass can
substitute but what happens when the windlass fails? Then the aged sailor is
stuck with no viable options often in dangerous situations. Would it not be
better to avoid danger than ask for it?

That's exactly what I was thinking... what happens if it fails...
mechanical and electrical things fail all the time, sometimes because
of your own stupidity (like, ummm... running out of gas) or because
there's a flaw or it wears out. What if something gets jammed in it? I
don't really think this is so much an age thing as it is a brains
thing. I know some pretty tough people in their 60's and 70's.


Would it not be wise for aged sailors to consider downsizing? Is it not more
gratifying to sail something one can still handle instead of being at the
mercy of systems that often fail at the worst possible times?

Just a thought. This bigger is better attitude is just plain stupid.

I think if everyone downsized a little bit, this would be a better
place to live. Do we really need all those SUVs on the road??

"Jessica B" wrote in message
...
snippage

That's exactly what I was thinking... what happens if it fails...
mechanical and electrical things fail all the time, sometimes because
of your own stupidity (like, ummm... running out of gas) or because
there's a flaw or it wears out. What if something gets jammed in it? I
don't really think this is so much an age thing as it is a brains
thing. I know some pretty tough people in their 60's and 70's.

Young lady, you display an ability to think more clearly than most of the
so-called men in this group (rbc). Windlasses are infamous for jamming (not
to mention taking off a finger or a toe of the unwary user). And you're
right about some of use sextagenarians being tough. But, tough as I am I'd
rather downsize than have to deal with something too big and heavy for my
own good.

Would it not be wise for aged sailors to consider downsizing? Is it not
more
gratifying to sail something one can still handle instead of being at the
mercy of systems that often fail at the worst possible times?

Just a thought. This bigger is better attitude is just plain stupid.

I think if everyone downsized a little bit, this would be a better
place to live. Do we really need all those SUVs on the road??

The SUV bunch is bad enough but what about the greedy people driving RV's?
Those things just seem to get bigger and bigger. Many are now bigger than a
Greyhound bus and they stink up the joint with diesel fumes every bit as
badly. They should be outlawed. Land yachts are just awful and so
unnecessary. Those people are just too timid to invest in an environmentally
friendly sailboat. They drive around demanding all the comforts of home. My
suggestion to them would be to just stay home then. Duh!


Wilbur Hubbard

"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message Those people are just too timid to
invest in an environmentally
friendly sailboat.


Not everyone wants to sit in a sailboat that's going 3 MPH, and look at
nothing but water.
When you have seen water from horizon to horizon once, it looks pretty much
the same the next time you see it.
Only someone of low intelligence could sit in a boat for weeks at a time and
do nothing.

--
JerryD(upstateNY)

JerryD(upstateNY) wrote:
"Wilbur Hubbard" wrote in message Those people are just too timid to
invest in an environmentally
friendly sailboat.


Not everyone wants to sit in a sailboat that's going 3 MPH, and look
at nothing but water.
When you have seen water from horizon to horizon once, it looks
pretty much the same the next time you see it.
Only someone of low intelligence could sit in a boat for weeks at a
time and do nothing.

You got that right!! One trip on the Atlantic ON A BIG BOAT has lasted me a
lifetime and I didn't even cross the whole thing!!
;-)

We did downsize our RV, but the smaller RV gets 1 MPG less mileage than the
larger one did. :-(

At least the co-pilot can help drive it!!
:-)

BTW, we did our recreational enjoyment for years with a boat on the lakes
and want no part of that any more either. Who has the right to tell me how
to spend the kids inheritance if they are not complaining?? :-)

Just put $110 fuel in the motorhome today and it's still not full, but that
was all we could get the 19 cents a gallon discount on. :-(

Tom J

On Tue, 8 Mar 2011 16:32:11 -0500, "Wilbur Hubbard"
wrote:

"Jessica B" wrote in message
.. .
snippage

That's exactly what I was thinking... what happens if it fails...
mechanical and electrical things fail all the time, sometimes because
of your own stupidity (like, ummm... running out of gas) or because
there's a flaw or it wears out. What if something gets jammed in it? I
don't really think this is so much an age thing as it is a brains
thing. I know some pretty tough people in their 60's and 70's.

Young lady, you display an ability to think more clearly than most of the
so-called men in this group (rbc). Windlasses are infamous for jamming (not
to mention taking off a finger or a toe of the unwary user). And you're
right about some of use sextagenarians being tough. But, tough as I am I'd
rather downsize than have to deal with something too big and heavy for my
own good.

I guess it comes down to how much work you want it to be to go sailing
and spend the night somewhere without worrying about straining your
back.

Would it not be wise for aged sailors to consider downsizing? Is it not
more
gratifying to sail something one can still handle instead of being at the
mercy of systems that often fail at the worst possible times?

Just a thought. This bigger is better attitude is just plain stupid.

I think if everyone downsized a little bit, this would be a better
place to live. Do we really need all those SUVs on the road??

The SUV bunch is bad enough but what about the greedy people driving RV's?
Those things just seem to get bigger and bigger. Many are now bigger than a
Greyhound bus and they stink up the joint with diesel fumes every bit as
badly. They should be outlawed. Land yachts are just awful and so
unnecessary. Those people are just too timid to invest in an environmentally
friendly sailboat. They drive around demanding all the comforts of home. My
suggestion to them would be to just stay home then. Duh!


Wilbur Hubbard



I am totally uninterested in RV life. It seems like you should just
get a motel room. I guess people might think it's more free when you
can roam where you want, but with gas prices the way they are, it
doesn't seem like much savings.

In article ,
says...

A couple of years ago we drove to Florida on business. On the way back north I
was struck by the flotillas of RVs going south, every one with a car attached
like a dinghy being towed. Why not do it the right way and get a boat?

LOL! You can't park a boat for free in the Wal-Mart parking lot!
(Actually, I think many Wal-Marts no longer allow RVs to park
overnight---sort of like all those Florida communities that are
restricting anchorages.)


Mark Borgerson