TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Senior on a Cat

I'm finally able to take my Dad on his dream trip, 1 week on a catamaran in the islands. Problem is he's 74 and has some back/hip/knee issues. He says he's going to be fine but I'm a little concerned with him getting on/off from water & dingy. Didn't know if anyone on here has any experience with this or has any ideas for rigging something. He's about 225 lbs.

Brian

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What boat are you chartering. The French style cats are much harder to transfer to and from the dinghy. The South African style can be much easier for those with limited mobility. You can bring the dinghy parallel between the hulls and have them sit on the back of the boat and simply slide into the dinghy. Have one person in the dinghy to assist and you will find it's easy.

Moorings 4000 (leopard?)

About 7 or 8 years ago there was a cat full of men, possibly college alumni, mid 30ish. One of the men was in a wheelchair. They rigged a bosun chair to drop and retrieve him from the dinghy. His wheelchair had big fat tires and he went everywhere. We saw them several times and marveled at how they made his trip safe and easy for him. Just take it slow and easy. A gait belt might you just enough control getting in and out of the dinghy for both of you to feel safe.
https://www.amazon.com/Prestige-Medical-621-wht-Cotton-Buckle/dp/B000V4SV5G?th=1

Gait belt is an awesome recommendation!!

The Leapard 4000 should be fine. You can bring the boat between the hulls as I mentioned.
The davit system on the newer Leapards is also the best I have ever used. No need to ever tow the dinghy. It's quick and easy to hoist. A added side benefit of the davits is if you dive. Roll out of your gear in the water and clip it to the davits. Climb aboard and hit the up button and it brings your gear right to the cockpit.
G

Just returned from taking my wifes parents. Both around 70. She did quite well, but having not been on a boat much he had some troubles. The dinghy was a little dicey at times, and sometimes the dock is quite a way up for some. We learned to beach the dinghy, let them out and then go tie up on the dock He had a great time but did return with quite a few bumps and bruises. It was kind of a bucket list thing so i doubt they would go again. I would make sure to take it slow, transfer on your but as much as possible, and make sure someone in there to help all the time. We were on a lagoon 400. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

We took my in laws at Christmas and both in mid 70s. Be flexible with your itenary. My MIL did fine mostly. FIL had more mobility issues. Hopefully boat has a "Gate" in lifelines to make boarding easier at dock. Can assess dingy transfers when there, but can have a ball without ever leaving boat , or going ashore only at marinas. Leverick, Scrub Island (Email before to confirm TTOL discount), Harris's Place on JVD, Soper's Hole, and others all make this pretty easy.

Find "their spot" on boat and assist them to and from while underway. Good luck!

I'm 72, reconstructed left acetabulum leaving my left foot numb.. Really numb. And POOR mobility. Can't windsurf anymore due to inability to water start without mobility. I'm a wreck. LOL.. New hip also. Bad back needing surgery but just no time. Surgery would cut into my winemaking and two months sailing on a cat in Tortola. Does that answer your question. I would say Dad is right. He will make it work. My best suggestion is: Take a good boarding ladder with wide steps and deep enough that Dad can step easily on the deepest step. Make it a five step and he will do fine. The provided stern steps ALL SUCK. For us old guys and gals.

We've only ever chartered monohulls, and I've wondered whether we could try a cat and bring along some folks with limited mobility. Even in marinas, I've observed that the hulls on a typical cat are pretty high, and charter boats don't seem to be equipped with stairs that can be placed on the dock finger. And hopping from the sugar scoops onto the finger looks like a tricky maneuver.

Are there good ways to make this easier?

Dan <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

In BVI, most if not all marinas have steps for use. I found the staff(and other sailors) especially helpful when seeking steps for my elderly inlaws.
I would be reluctant to take my elderly in-laws on a monohull. Cats being so much more stable for them (I love a monohull with rail almost in water. In-laws would not like it, and even sitting in cockpit would be a challenge, much less going to head while underway).

3 years ago my wife and I took my parents, in laws and uncle with his partner on a 44' cat for a week. Dad was severely overweight with a fused ankle and limited mobility. MIL had been hospitalized earlier in the year for 8 weeks leaving her very weak and uncle's partner has Parkinsons. Four of the 6 had bareboat experience so at least we started with some experience.

First advice is have patience. Lots of it. Nothing happens fast on a sailboat and with elderly it's even slower.

Took two days of my uncle seemingly attempting to ram the bow of the dinghy up the stern steps so people could climb over the bow of the dinghy onto the steps before I convinced him that the parallel to the hull thing was better. With help at the dinghy bow and stern to hold it steady to the yacht, all the folks were able to easily sidestep onto the stern steps.

Someone mentioned docks. Cooper was tough for them to climb up but they made it. Slowly. Very slowly and with help from those more mobile. Dropping on shore then moving the dinghy is also an option but sometimes water movement isn't good for the already unsteady.

Baths only from a cab or car. We didn't know of the change. Got everyone in pretty easy but there was no way in h*** my 350lb father or the parkinson patient was pulling himself back up into a dinghy. Seeing the situation, one officer told us it was ok to pull the dinghy in to get them while the other one screamed at us over and over not to bring the dinghy in.

Bring games(at least cards) for the boat. When it's raining, regular crew will throw on a garbage bag and head to a bar to get off the boat. Putting elderly in an overly slippery dinghy wasn't an option so we had a couple days of staring at each other in the galley.

This one is odd but ... make sure the heads have a plunger or something to break up stool. Many elderly are on prescriptions that cause constipation. Boat heads can't always handle it.

Plan a day or two or three in a slip. The extra cost is offset by their peace of mind and ease of getting around.

One more time, patience. They move slowly so as you're scrambling to moor the boat or hang a fender or tighten a jib sheet, they're likely to be in the way and not moving quickly enough for you. Just accept it. The pace on the boat is generally just slower than normal vacation mode and that's ok.

There are never enough experiences with out folks so just relax and experience it at their pace.

Sadly it took my about 3 days on the boat to get there but at least I did.

That's where our crew of six now 69-year-old "seniors" was until about age 55, when we chartered our first cat and discovered the bliss of generators and A/C. We have never looked back. Next voyage is in late October out of St Thomas to the Spanish Virgins. Without the stability of the cat and electric winches, we probably would have given up cruising 10 years ago. Now, even as we are replacing our original parts with titanium, vanadium and an assortment of other iums, we no longer say "this is our last charter." Do I miss burying a rail? Sure, but time catches all of us sooner or later, and the modern cat, used by us seniors with the tips and techniques described in previous posts, will hopefully allow us to cruise for at least another 10 years. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

^^^^^^^
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />
We are just behind you and couldn't agree more!

My wife now has some mobility issues, so I was wondering if anybody knows of a CAT charter boat which has a dinghy platform? I was thinking a platform must dip down into the water and come up some. If she could get onn the platform, then she could access the stairs. Any names of boats? Can be crewed or bareboat. TY.

The larger lagoons. May have a hydraulic platform.

I think the Moorings 58 has an hydraulic dinghy platform, but the rate is pretty steep and the captain's requirements are higher than for the smaller boats.

Yes, I've viewed, but not sailed. Lift on stern transom.
Talked to crew, it is a three story condo!

ok, ty