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The answer ISN"T an electric or a bigger windlass
Some recent posts in another thread advocated getting a big, bigger or
electric windlass when it came to the point whereby a largish 65 pound anchor was difficult or injurious to the crew attempting to weigh said anchor. This is a stupid suggestion. The PROPER thing to do is get a smaller anchor. Get ground tackle that the crew can handle without breaking his or her back or giving themselves a stroke or heart attack. It is a well known fact that a genuine Danforth Hi-tensile or Deep Set anchor or two weighing 25 pounds each can securely anchor a vessel of up to thirty feet LOA. So, the answer is NOT a larger or electric windlass but, rather, a SMALLER BOAT! Many people tend to fall into the trap of believing that bigger is better. Not so! Bigger may be better but only if you are able to handle bigger. When it comes to elderly folks towards or at the end of their useful sailing careers - Bruce in Bangkok comes to mind - the wisest decision would be to take stock of yourself, your much reduced abilities and lack of youthful vigor and then chose a boat you can actually still handle. This means downsizing. This means simplicity. There is many a well-found and seaworthy vessel in the 25-30 foot range and the anchors for such a vessel are not such a great burden that they must be handled with heavy, trouble-prone, mechanical and electrical systems. Because with age often comes not only muscle and bone weakness but weakness of mind, eyesight, and hearing. Consequently, the ability to troubleshoot mechanical and electrical systems may be greatly reduced or non-existent (as is the case with Bruce in Bangkok or it would seem so from his embarrassingly simplistic mechanical and electrical posts). Rather than compound folly by trying to maintain such a large vessel that sailing becomes dangerous or burdensome and a menace to other shipping (as is the case with one Skip Grundlach as well as the captain of the erstwhile 'Red Cloud') it would be better for all concerned if such folks sailed vessels that they could handle comfortably and so enjoy to a greater extent and a longer time because of the reduced stress and wear and tear on the failing old body. Sometimes I think JimC has the right idea. For some people a Mac26X or M might just be an ideal vessel. They are small, light can sail and motor passably well and can even be trailored. They don't strain or stress their crew. And, try as I might I've found it difficult to find a MacGregor owner who was really dissatisfied with his small compromise vessel. Not that I'd dare take a Mac26 on a long ocean voyage but I suppose a body would probably be safer in one provided one knew how to sail her and realized her limitations than in some old steel boat that was for her crew too big, heavy, and ill-conceived and mechanically unsound to the point where her own rudder punched holes in the transom. This would never happen in a MacGregor. The rudders might break completely off without damaging the hull but that would not be a disaster as the outboard motor could then be pressed into service to do the steering. But, I digress somewhat! The point is as you age and near the end of your sailing career, think small. It will extend the days of bliss upon the watery world. After all, isn't that what sailing's really all about. Wilbur Hubbard |
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