TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Question--Older passengers on a catamaran?

I'm looking at options for a warm weather family Christmas vacation in 2015 and am considering a bareboat vacation. I have bare boated several times in the past and sail my own boat in the northeast. However, I have never sailed, or even been on, a catamaran.

My question is: Would my 76 year old mother-in-law be able to handle it? She is in great shape, agile, and spry, has no medical issues, and she has enjoyed day-sailing on my boat in New York. She manages to get in and out of the dinghy (both from the dock and the boat) with only a little bit of help.

I wouldn't want to take her on an extended sail in a monohull because I'd worry that the rolling, heeling,and pitching motions would send her flying as she tried to move around the boat. Is a catamaran stable enough to bring elderly passengers aboard?

BTW--I know this is the BVI board, but I'm leaning towards Abacos for this one because I'm guessing the waters would be more sheltered. I wanted to post the question here because this forum is chock full of experienced catamaran sailors.

Thanks,

George

She would love the trip! Don't even consider going without her! Even though I am considering going back to a monohull from a cat the cat is a perfect vehicle for what you have in mind! The only thing I would do is get a cat with walk around rather then bridge deck berths. You will have a incredible family trip. You might get a bit is sticker shock on the price of a large cat over Christmas but it will be worth every penny!
I would also take the BVI over the Abacos. It can be very chilly there in Dec if you catch a cold front. The BVI is a overall very calm charter ground. With planning even if you get a Christmas wind you can do fine. You will also spend more time at anchor and less time underway in the BVI.
George

Wouldn't presume to give you advice on the rest of the question, but definitely agree with George on the NO for Christmas time for the Bahamas. It could be downright CHILLY in December in the Bahamas. I remember one time we were in the straw market in Nassau in December, and there was a COLD rain and the outside temp was about 65.. Just sayin'..

I'have chartered Exumas 3 times in winter, and had serious cold front 2 times. I won't charter again in this area in winter, and certainly not with my mother in law (she's 73). But, I'm sure she will enjoy a charter in the BVI, specially on a cat. My opinion !

My mother in law is only in her 60's but is very fit and she did great for 10 days on a cat, my mom is in her mid 70's and very active (Golfer) but she would NOT be physically comfortable chartering even on a cat. Her knees are the problem...getting on and off the dingy would be a major problem, there are relatively steep steps leading to the cabins that would also be a pain for her. I would describe everything to your mom... dingy, swim ladder, getting on and off docks and if she says no problem I would go to the BVI!! Good luck <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

Ditto on the "GO". If she can get onto/into your monohull, she will be fine on a cat. Forget the Bahamas. They're just Miami East. BVI is the way to go.

I wouldn't say the Bahamas are "Miami East", but they ARE on the same latitude, which equals to "not necessarily that warm in the winter"..

Watch it there Rick, Nina and I are in our 60's <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Don't worry about the number, worry about the person's condition.

JMO but I would think a cat would be easier than a mono...both have steepness (is that a word?) inside, but it seems like the dinghy would be easier with a cat. At least the ones I've used have nice steps down to the water

Haha...I was waiting for someone to comment on that.....I too define elderly much differently now that I am 50.....elderly to me now is more like 85 plus...isn't it funny how everything is relative <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

We just took my wife's parents (76) on our Leopard 46 and they did great. His physical health is not that great - has great deal of difficulty walking and requires a cane and a lot of time to move about. On the boat there are plenty of things to hold on to and the lack of heeling made it easy for him. He even went snorkeling once. The greatest challenge is getting into/out of the dinghy. But with a couple of extra hands to help, he did fine.

We just got back from a trip with my 83 year old mother with knee problems and my 78 year old father with back problems. A Cat is the way to go. My parents did fine, didn't get off the boat as much as everyone else but were comfortable on the boat. If my parents can do it, it certainly sounds like your mother in law can. I'd vote for BVI as well.

I'm closing in on 69, and a frequent crew member is a decade older. It's all about physical condition and the need for adventure, not age. Yes, I notice I'm becoming a little more unsteady on my feet, but I accept the fact, and therefore I very much agree a catamaran would be the best option. I also agree that perhaps the greatest chance of injury would be dinghy related, be careful. And finally, I also agree with no winter in the Bahamas, sort of defeats the purpose.

Bwahahaha! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Donna just said her mom is 71, so she was 70 when she went with us!! You guys look awesome for being so old!... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />....should I stop already? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Kim, saw Reef Song in Anegada as we were leaving the bay the morning of December 30th.

Your biggest problem will be getting her in and out of the dinghy.
Once she's on the cat all will be fine.

Thanks for all of your input. She's fine getting in and out of the dinghy, and she really liked sailing on a monohull in the New York harbor so I'm thinking a catamaran would be ok.

Also appreciate the input regarding the weather in the Bahamas. Sounds like the Virgin Islands are the way to go, plus I know the islands, so it would make it easier on me.

A few years ago I saw a cat with a man in a wheelchair aboard. The crew handled it quite well. They used the dinghy davit with a bosun chair for the dinghy in and out. At the dock they had a two man contraption to swing the young man out of the dingy and into his chair. Two of the guys were quite fit and the young man in the wheelchair was probably 25. His chair had big sand tires on it. They had the drill down pat. I thought what wonderful friends this guy must have to accommodate him in such a clever manner.

If you are worried about falls, I'd recommend taking a bath mat. We took one on our last trip to put right inside the door to keep the inside floors dry. Both of our kids have taken some real dingers on the boat - they move too quick and the floors are wet.

(And then we discovered that CYOA now has lots of mats on their boats! Yeah! And they had a dinghy ladder for people who have trouble getting in the dinghy from the water.)

We have only done one extended trip on a cat and that was many years ago--but we do multiple day trips on cats every year when we go to the BVI and I have no trouble navigating at all. The swim ladder, the dinghy--nothing is a problem. I am almost 76--and I must admit...in pretty good shape.

We were at cooper a couple of years ago. This family was helping an elderly lady get down from the dock into the dinghy.

She needed at least two or perhaps 3 helpers. I asked her if she could just jump into the dingy like my 84 year old father in law does.

She said that she is in her 90's and jumps no more.

Wonderful to get out on a charter in your 90's!

I believe they were on a cat.

We have had success with folks of all ages and sizes. The Puerto Rican Navy can be seen loading and off loading individuals of all sizes and ages. I have witnessed with lots of grandma's or elderly aunts hoisted on and off the boats. If you have the ingress and egress under control you are at least halfway there. No matter the age! The heat and different seated positions can be a challenge for some in less robust health. We have witnessed edema issues in the older, less mobile, and larger. The heat, change in diet, and more seditary that some become on the boat can lead to fluid retention and other health issues. Some may notice sitting on long flights leads to body swelling. If that same person gets on the boat and parks in a comfortable corner edema is not out of the questions. Others get on the boat and have greater activity levels some less. Skip the age. In general how health is the person and what known health issues may be exasperated by the days on the boat in the heat? Before you flame me. Consider if you have ever noted a fellow traveler with swollen ankles.

I'm a practicing physician Assistant in Atlanta. Part of my patient practice involves care of the elderly in assisted living facilities. This patient population is typically upwards of 80, are independent but need assistance much like the elderly we are talking about here who might sail with one of us.

You are assuming substantial risks by taking on the responsibility for a crew member, or passenger if you like, who has mobility issues. The first is falls. Osteoporosis is present to one degree or another in anyone over 60, some younger than that. If you are over 60, you already know you are not as agile and quick as you once were. That is a normal physiologic occurance with age. You can improve it by certain activities but it will never be as good as it once was when you handled the foredeck with ease. Balance in the elderly is a problem. Hence, a fall aboard can easily produce a fracture or other injuries requiring a medical evacuation. Are you comfortable mobilizing VISAR for that purpose?

Skin is fragile in the elderly and easily torn. Can you suture? Do you have the necessary supplies in a first aid kit aboard to undertake that procedure?

Do you fully understand the nature and treatment requirements of whatever chronic conditions that an elderly person might have that you are taking aboard? If you choose to do so, you should have at least some knowledge of what they are dealing with. For example, are they on blood thinners such as Coumadin or Pradaxa? If they cut themselves can you apply sufficient pressure with bandages in your first aid kit to deal with a bleed. Do they have a risky heart conditions?

What will you do if a chronic heart condition becomes acute and require immediate medical attention?

The bottom line is that the elderly can sail safely if they know their limits and the captain knows them too as well as has some level of basic life support procedures

I will have to dig out the picture I have from our first trip of the lady in her 80's who jumped off the WillyT! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> she was amazing, and no she was not naked!! but she got the tshirt anyway. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

To put a different spin on this discussion - my wife is handicapped (leg amputee), and finds a mono much easier to get around than a cat. As she puts it - on a mono, everyone is handicapped by the heeling and motion, and the boat is designed with that in mind. So, there are more handholds (formal and informal), and fewer wide open spaces with nothing much to grab.

Here is the truest statement in this thread -- well, this one and Kim's <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

There are people in their 70's who still run full marathons..."senior citizen" is directly related to what kind of shape you're in. I've seen people under 40 who I'm pretty sure couldn't get out of a dinghy without help. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Go for it -- you might run into some Christmas winds at that time -- but I still think the BVI is a better choice.

Although some of us are drifting off topic (as I am about to in a wordy fashion) - age truly isn't a number. I am 59 and my father was on his deathbed at this age because he allowed himself to get "OLD!" I personally have met SO MANY GREAT GREAT people on here that although the chassis may show the years (as mine does), the heart, physical stamina and attitude show a much different person than the one we see in the mirror. IMHO by pure fact that we are the type of people that share this love boating and visit the islands every chance we can says it all. I talk to people about sailing or boating in the islands that are in their 30s that say "there is no way I'd do that" and here most of us sit on this forum and if we aren't in the islands we are sick with DIF and planning our next trip! And then you have many people on here like Kim/Ward & Nina/Evan that think nothing of not only going and fitting as much in the schedule as possible but also work to maintain their boats! Between the islands and many of the GREAT people on here.....like many of you I have no intention of growing up or growing old. I think it was Henry Ford that said "If you think you can or you think you can't - you are correct!" If the the gal can handle being on a mono and cat will be a walk in the park! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Yeah, what she said. Willingness to participate is half of the battle.

That is good advice for having guests of any age. Someone on the boat should have basic first aid knowledge and the captain should be aware of any medical conditions that their guests might have.

I have often thought that being elderly, even if quite fit, does increase the odds of a medical emergency while traveling. Only the young dismiss this. If you have any concerns about getting "emergency" care/treatment beyond the capabilities of the BVI, then perhaps some travel insurance would be worth thinking about - it's not that expensive. I am certainly not paranoid about this, but there are plenty of stories where someone has needed to get evac'd to Puerto Rico or even Florida to get a needed level of attention.
Perhaps someone here can comment on the quality of medical services on STT, which I assume is the closest major facility.

If you are worried about evacuation costs, PADI dive insurance is a good deal. You don't have to be a diver:
http://www.padi.com/blog/2014/05/02/dan-scuba-diving-insurance/
(Obviously, you should check that it covers whatever situations you are anticipating.)

Anecdotally, I heard they keep a plane in Miami with a compression chamber that they use to evacuate anyone needing in it in the Caribbean.