Re: Build for Bad Knees
Two posts, combined:
liked it a lot, and it sailed very well. But in the cabin, there's
nothing but a flat area, with a cushion throughout.
I think it's not as comfortable to be dead flat for all "indoor" time. I
think that just a couple of inched would really add to comfort. Now I
was in my early 30's (late 20's maybe) when I did this, and I am years
older now. I am sure that even an inch or two would make one's life
nicer. It adds complexity, weight, difficulty, and raises the metacenter.
Of course, one good thick flotation cushion would serve the purpose
admirably.
-Chris
> I see two difficulties with a thwart. One is the helmsperson and<SNIP>
> passengers sit with their backs against the sides. So you lose back
> support with a thwart (sorry for that inadvertant rhyme). Second, it
> puts crew weight up off the bottom, and the higher the weight the
> more unstable it make the boat, especially in rolly conditions.
> I have a septuagenarian friend who wants to teach his grandsons toI rented a Black Skimmer in Florida Bay, all these many years ago. I
> sail. I was thinking that something about 3 or 4 inches high might be
> easier on his knees. On reflection, thwarts would not be the way to
> go. What about some kind of bench arrangement?
liked it a lot, and it sailed very well. But in the cabin, there's
nothing but a flat area, with a cushion throughout.
I think it's not as comfortable to be dead flat for all "indoor" time. I
think that just a couple of inched would really add to comfort. Now I
was in my early 30's (late 20's maybe) when I did this, and I am years
older now. I am sure that even an inch or two would make one's life
nicer. It adds complexity, weight, difficulty, and raises the metacenter.
Of course, one good thick flotation cushion would serve the purpose
admirably.
-Chris
Chris:
Benches, like decks, will add some construction complication but
probably are worth it for comfort. Old Shoe comes immediately to
mind, if your friend can stand the keel. MY BWAOM isn't handy, but
isn't there a leeboard boat with a pram bow (Japanese Beach Cruiser?)
with bench seats? Sweet Pea (sailing version) has decks and might do,
also. Spartina isn't an instant boat, but is a great sailer. Jim
Michalak (don't shoot me for heresy) has designed some small boats
with bench seats, Ladybug and Mikesboat, for example.
An aside: while talking with Phil & Susanne about the Everglades
Challenge I mentioned the Zephyr could do it based on my experience,
although it would need a pivoting leeboard and it would be a wet
boat. Susanne immediately said a Birdwather topsides could be added
to handle that! Guess that doesn't address the knees problem, but
it's an interesting thought . . .
Gary
P.S. the most common spelling I've seen is "gybing."
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Christopher C. Wetherill"
<wetherillc@...> wrote:
Benches, like decks, will add some construction complication but
probably are worth it for comfort. Old Shoe comes immediately to
mind, if your friend can stand the keel. MY BWAOM isn't handy, but
isn't there a leeboard boat with a pram bow (Japanese Beach Cruiser?)
with bench seats? Sweet Pea (sailing version) has decks and might do,
also. Spartina isn't an instant boat, but is a great sailer. Jim
Michalak (don't shoot me for heresy) has designed some small boats
with bench seats, Ladybug and Mikesboat, for example.
An aside: while talking with Phil & Susanne about the Everglades
Challenge I mentioned the Zephyr could do it based on my experience,
although it would need a pivoting leeboard and it would be a wet
boat. Susanne immediately said a Birdwather topsides could be added
to handle that! Guess that doesn't address the knees problem, but
it's an interesting thought . . .
Gary
P.S. the most common spelling I've seen is "gybing."
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Christopher C. Wetherill"
<wetherillc@...> wrote:
>is
> Gary,
>
> These were exactly my concerns. Another problem with a decked boat
> that it requires more agility to get under the boom when tacking orgybing.
>be
> I have a septuagenarian friend who wants to teach his grandsons to
> sail. I was thinking that something about 3 or 4 inches high might
> easier on his knees. On reflection, thwarts would not be the wayto
> go. What about some kind of bench arrangement?back
>
> V/R
> Chris
>
> BTW does anyone know how properly to spell gybing?
>
>
> gbship wrote:
> > I see two difficulties with a thwart. One is the helmsperson and
> > passengers sit with their backs against the sides. So you lose
> > support with a thwart (sorry for that inadvertant rhyme). Second,it
> > puts crew weight up off the bottom, and the higher the weight thethose
> > more unstable it make the boat, especially in rolly conditions.
> >
> > A boat with side decks might be what you're looking for, but
> > add weight, cost, and complexity in construction.
> >
> >
> >
>
Gary,
These were exactly my concerns. Another problem with a decked boat is
that it requires more agility to get under the boom when tacking or gybing.
I have a septuagenarian friend who wants to teach his grandsons to
sail. I was thinking that something about 3 or 4 inches high might be
easier on his knees. On reflection, thwarts would not be the way to
go. What about some kind of bench arrangement?
V/R
Chris
BTW does anyone know how properly to spell gybing?
gbship wrote:
These were exactly my concerns. Another problem with a decked boat is
that it requires more agility to get under the boom when tacking or gybing.
I have a septuagenarian friend who wants to teach his grandsons to
sail. I was thinking that something about 3 or 4 inches high might be
easier on his knees. On reflection, thwarts would not be the way to
go. What about some kind of bench arrangement?
V/R
Chris
BTW does anyone know how properly to spell gybing?
gbship wrote:
> I see two difficulties with a thwart. One is the helmsperson and
> passengers sit with their backs against the sides. So you lose back
> support with a thwart (sorry for that inadvertant rhyme). Second, it
> puts crew weight up off the bottom, and the higher the weight the
> more unstable it make the boat, especially in rolly conditions.
>
> A boat with side decks might be what you're looking for, but those
> add weight, cost, and complexity in construction.
>
>
>
Chris:
Had a Zephyr for many years and loved it. You don't tend to move
around much when the boat is underway, so didn't have that much of a
problem.
I see two difficulties with a thwart. One is the helmsperson and
passengers sit with their backs against the sides. So you lose back
support with a thwart (sorry for that inadvertant rhyme). Second, it
puts crew weight up off the bottom, and the higher the weight the
more unstable it make the boat, especially in rolly conditions.
A boat with side decks might be what you're looking for, but those
add weight, cost, and complexity in construction.
Gary
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Christopher Wetherill"
<wetherillc@...> wrote:
Had a Zephyr for many years and loved it. You don't tend to move
around much when the boat is underway, so didn't have that much of a
problem.
I see two difficulties with a thwart. One is the helmsperson and
passengers sit with their backs against the sides. So you lose back
support with a thwart (sorry for that inadvertant rhyme). Second, it
puts crew weight up off the bottom, and the higher the weight the
more unstable it make the boat, especially in rolly conditions.
A boat with side decks might be what you're looking for, but those
add weight, cost, and complexity in construction.
Gary
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Christopher Wetherill"
<wetherillc@...> wrote:
>
> Has anyone built Surf or Zephyr with thwarts? It occurs to me that
> crawling around in the bottom of one of these would be hard on aging
> joints.
>
> V/R
> Chris
>
Chris ...I have been using knee pad for my knees..another thing you can try is deep heat ...from the drugstore...Don
--- On Fri, 1/16/09, Christopher Wetherill <wetherillc@...> wrote:
From: Christopher Wetherill <wetherillc@...>
Subject: [bolger] Build for Bad Knees
To:bolger@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, January 16, 2009, 4:02 PM
Has anyone built Surf or Zephyr with thwarts? It occurs to me that
crawling around in the bottom of one of these would be hard on aging
joints.
V/R
Chris
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Has anyone built Surf or Zephyr with thwarts? It occurs to me that
crawling around in the bottom of one of these would be hard on aging
joints.
V/R
Chris
crawling around in the bottom of one of these would be hard on aging
joints.
V/R
Chris