Compulsory for pensioners!

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ricky_s

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You often hear on the forums that there should be some compulsory boat license for everyone.

Should this be like a car license so when you get to a certain age you need retesting?

Can you imagine someone in their 70s bringing their Broom into a marina! Sounds dangerous to me.

I'll get my coat!:)
 
Silly sod, most of the Mobo's I see that are driven well are driven by pensioners. It's the young ones (under 50) that seem to be a danger to all around them. It's much the same as with cars where the kids are the killers that can't be insured for under a couple of grand.

Nouveau riche buying a trophy boat - all the gear & no idea!

See, I can Troll too.
 
ricky_s said:
Can you imagine someone in their 70s bringing their Broom into a marina! Sounds dangerous to me.

I'll get my coat!:)
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If they can fly Robinson helicopters in and out of pub gardens on The Thames and Cessna Citations around the world then parking a Squaddie must be childsplay:D:D:D
 
We met a pair of 74 year olds who own a marina in Chesapeake Bay USA and live aboard their 68 foot trawler yacht. When we met them they had just done the regular run back from Florida to Virginia (about 1000mls) to their summer home in their own marina and they had no crew other than themselves, they do the snowbird shuffle twice a year, Florida in winter Virginia in summer, so 2,000 miles a year without the added local cruising each end. I wonder how many 'youngsters' on here could handle something that size like that? BTW the boat was in pristine condition and they did most of the work themselves.
 
Robin said:
We met a pair of 74 year olds who own a marina in Chesapeake Bay USA and live aboard their 68 foot trawler yacht. When we met them they had just done the regular run back from Florida to Virginia (about 1000mls) to their summer home in their own marina and they had no crew other than themselves, they do the snowbird shuffle twice a year, Florida in winter Virginia in summer, so 2,000 miles a year without the added local cruising each end. I wonder how many 'youngsters' on here could handle something that size like that? BTW the boat was in pristine condition and they did most of the work themselves.
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but what really helps, is when you've got shed loads of dosh in the bank:D
 
epervier said:
but what really helps, is when you've got shed loads of dosh in the bank:D
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Don Mackinnon sailed worldwide in the engineless Iolaire on a shoestring making videos & writing books to pay his way. He was no youngster.

Slocum was retired when he set about rebuilding the wreck that he sailed around the world.

Chichester was no spring chicken when he sailed around the world.
 
ricky_s said:
You often hear on the forums that there should be some compulsory boat license for everyone.

Should this be like a car license so when you get to a certain age you need retesting?

Can you imagine someone in their 70s bringing their Broom into a marina! Sounds dangerous to me.

I'll get my coat!:)
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Eh - what did he say? Speak up young man!
 
Searush said:
Don Mackinnon sailed worldwide in the engineless Iolaire on a shoestring making videos & writing books to pay his way. He was no youngster.

Slocum was retired when he set about rebuilding the wreck that he sailed around the world.

Chichester was no spring chicken when he sailed around the world.
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But they were not the subject of Robin's post, in fact you're trying to compare apples and oranges, to sail a great distance without an engine or to motor a 68' trawler 2000 nm is no comparison at all, I doubt many could find the required wherewithall to feed a trawler yacht fuel for the round trip and extra poodling at both ends, in a years planned cruising.
I most certainly couldn't. it's not an ageist thing ,it's about being able to afford to do it.I feel even without the use of m'buspass I could do 2000nm but I couldn't pay for it unless of course I owned a marina aslo.
 
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You are welcome to come and "PARK" MY MY BOAT WHENEVER YOU LIKE, I will say nothing and let you get on with it, any mistakes will be dealt with summariliy (BIG STICK)
 
Here we go again knocking wrinklies. I,m well into my 70,s and I would like to see many a young one get into West Stockwith Lock on the Trent with a big spring tide running,I can do it and I hope to do it for many years yet!! Live and let live.
 
nedmin said:
Here we go again knocking wrinklies. I,m well into my 70,s and I would like to see many a young one get into West Stockwith Lock on the Trent with a big spring tide running,I can do it and I hope to do it for many years yet!! Live and let live.
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Hi John,

I was going to stay out of this thread but have to agree with you, West stockworth would catch 95% of the forum members out, trying to work the tides to get home would also prove problematic and I expect many would ground.

I have to say I didnt realize you were that old which is why I have chosen to post, you look 60 ish and I wander just how many other active 70 year olds are enjoying boating along side some of the above posters who are clueless as to the real age of the 'lads' joining them for a beer !

I hope I can still be boating when Im 50 , 70+ would be a real bonus and how much easier can it get with new nav aids ?

Cheers
Pete
 
It keeps you young!

DAKA said:
I have to say I didnt realize you were that old which is why I have chosen to post, you look 60 ish and I wander just how many other active 70 year olds are enjoying boating along side some of the above posters who are clueless as to the real age of the 'lads' joining them for a beer !
I hope I can still be boating when Im 50 , 70+ would be a real bonus and how much easier can it get with new nav aids ?
Pete
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I have concluded that (there are always exceptions to the rule) being active and out on the water keeps you young, with the looks and agility of the average non boaty person fifteen years younger.:)

I did say active though… and not one of these kept in a marina and only taken out a couple of times each season. :rolleyes:
 
I sold my boat some three months ago to a gent who was 70 next he bought my boat in Barcelona and told me that he was going to have it transported to Turkey. I have just had a wonderfull e-mail from him saying that he and his friend and taken the boat all the way under its own steem, and without any trouble. I thought this was great not only was he happy that I had sold him a reliable boat but that is some jeorney for the boat let aloan a crew of such years. I am delighted and full of respect the these chaps of latter years.
 
epervier said:
But they were not the subject of Robin's post, in fact you're trying to compare apples and oranges, to sail a great distance without an engine or to motor a 68' trawler 2000 nm is no comparison at all, I doubt many could find the required wherewithall to feed a trawler yacht fuel for the round trip and extra poodling at both ends, in a years planned cruising.
I most certainly couldn't. it's not an ageist thing ,it's about being able to afford to do it.I feel even without the use of m'buspass I could do 2000nm but I couldn't pay for it unless of course I owned a marina aslo.
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My post had nothing to do with being able to afford or to fuel a 68ft trawler yacht but had everything to do with these two 74 year olds being quite capable of handling a boat that size without the need for any crew other than the two of them and routinely doing 2,000 miles round trip each year just in switching between their winter and summer bases. They had previously had sailing boats but switched to power at 70 years old after they had to rescue people from a sinking boat and found it a struggle to get the sails down quickly on their then 45ft yacht to go to their aid.

For the record, I'm 65 and my other half 63 and we hope to buy a 50ft trawler yacht in the next 12 months on which to live permanently (no land base) and do the same snowbird shuffles from a Chesapeake base. We too have sailed for many years and many thousands of miles and have just sold our 41 footer over here. So not in the same league yet as our USA friends but we will also be just a crew of two with a fairly large boat of about 23 tonnes displacement.
 
The car license expires when you reach 70 so if we end up with boat licenses I suppose this might happen to boaters as well.

I started this thread as lots on here talk about having training etc. but I have never seen anyone mention age.

This isn't supposed to be seen as an ageist post and I don't have an axe to grind but judging by some of the replies it has obviously touch a nerve.
 
ricky_s said:
The car license expires when you reach 70 so if we end up with boat licenses I suppose this might happen to boaters as well.

I started this thread as lots on here talk about having training etc. but I have never seen anyone mention age.

This isn't supposed to be seen as an ageist post and I don't have an axe to grind but judging by some of the replies it has obviously touch a nerve.
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That might be because you said this in the original post?

Can you imagine someone in their 70s bringing their Broom into a marina! Sounds dangerous to me.
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