Lower back issue - dinghy or keelboat?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Beginner questions
Forum Discription: Advice for those who are new to sailing
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13014
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 5:02am
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Topic: Lower back issue - dinghy or keelboat?
Posted By: pij27
Subject: Lower back issue - dinghy or keelboat?
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 11:24am
| Just a question relating to peoples thoughts or experiences. I have a lower back problem caused from a car accident resulting in two damaged discs and occasional back spasms. I am looking at taking up sailing after a number of years, either in a dinghy or a small keelboat. My question is which would be better for me? Probably no simple answer, but any thoughts or guidance. Doctor told me not to try powerboats or off road driving due to possible shock loads. |
Replies:
Posted By: Do Different
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 12:32pm
| I know nothing of medical issues. However, although I currently sail trapeze dinghies if I wanted a simple and easy time with the safety net of some stability to limp home if I had an issue I would definitely go for a K1. I know a past wild man now of a few more years and he loves his, especially for a winter series; no falling over 😏 |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 1:26pm
| What launching facilities do you have ? |
Posted By: pij27
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 1:57pm
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Not sorted out anything yet. Depends on whether look for dinghy or keelboat
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Posted By: jeffers
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 2:42pm
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I would say dont go for anything that requires full on hiking dinghy wise. It also depends on what sort of sailing you wish to do (cruising or racing). ------------- Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74 |
Posted By: pij27
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 3:58pm
| Would probably look at cruising as most racing seems to be lots of leaning and or hiking on a trapeze |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 6:07pm
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inland or sea ? You need to think about handling boat ashore, more likely to injure yourself handling boat ashore than sailing.
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Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 6:15pm
|
Most dinghy racing does indeed require much hiking and effort, the physics is quite unescapable, the more righting moment you have the more power you can generate and the faster you will go. For cruising that doesn't matter as speed is not usually of the essence. I have a slightly dodgy back and would probably not be happy racing a Laser, the Blaze is pretty kind to knees and backs but it is not a suitable boat for cruising. I'd suggest a sit in dinghy like an Enterprise, anything heavier is pretty much unmanageable singlehanded off the water (which you say you are considering in your other thread). or, provided you can use a vehicle to launch and recover, a small keelboat. You'll need a winch on the trailer too and a slip you can use for a vehicle launch to have any chance of managing it alone (my mate with the Stratos Keel manages fine on his own.) ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 7:15pm
|
Get a sailing bag with wheels and a dolly wheel on the front of the trolley. It was the lifting my back spasmed over. Otherwise, get a boat with some depth to the cockpit, and one which you can perch on the deck and still keep it upright, rather than having to always hike.
For a single-handed boat, I've found the Lightning 368 ideal. Old-fashioned double handed boats tend to behave well, and reefing is always an option. Only get a keelboat if you don't have to take it off the water every time, I'd say. The K1 is small enough, but you'd need a team for the Stratos or Venture keels. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Wiclif
Date Posted: 12 Mar 18 at 7:51pm
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All back problems are different. I had a back operation back in the year 2000. Some days are ok and some when I wake up the next morning my back says “you shouldn’t have done that yesterday”
I have stuck to dinghies - or nearly, I currently own and enjoy a K1. I have tended to avoid bigger keelboats as the loads are a lot higher. You are as likely to have back problems with the rigging or launching of any boat as when actually sailing. If you sail the same class of boat as others at the club then you are more likely to get help when launching or recovering the boat. |
Posted By: pij27
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 9:03am
| So advice seems to be if possible have the boat kept rigged and maybe on a mooring? Try to sit in the craft and avoid hiking or trapeze where possible. |
Posted By: Time Lord
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 9:52am
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Really you need to have some trial sails in whatever boat you think is appropriate to you. Remember all backs are different. I have a lower back problem caused by a blown tyre and an off road trip down a 6ft embankment into a potato field in the Pyrenees. In my case lifting is ok but i can't sit in positions where my knees are above my a*** without my back giving out so i sail a merlin as it has plenty of room for me to sit on the side deck and keep my feet straight out. Moderate hiking is not a problem and the crew does the extreme kind. Also check how well you can depower the rig when you are sailing as conditions change when you're on the water. The merlin is great for this as almost everything can be changed on the fly. ------------- Merlin Rocket 3609 |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 2:49pm
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Trapezing is good for your back but not suitable for cruising, the very nature of most trap boats is a degree of instability and a big rig. ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 6:00pm
|
I find trapezing does my back in something rotten. OK when out, but the transitions are a killer.
As said in an earlier post?, all bad backs are different, so it is a case of elimination to see what works for you. Borrow or hire any boat you think might work and test it out. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 14 Mar 18 at 6:23pm
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Fair comment..... ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: pij27
Date Posted: 18 Mar 18 at 11:56am
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All good advice to take onboard. Generally avoid the more extreme movements and for the rest take care and sit in rather than on the boat. But mainly try a few boats to find one that is comfortable. Many thanks.
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Posted By: NickM99
Date Posted: 18 Mar 18 at 4:09pm
| I had to give up dinghy sailing in my mid-30s because of a prolapsed disc but years later I find I can now hike comfortably again provided I keep doing core strengthening and mobility exercises and avoid carrying weight - like Rupert, I have a dolly wheel on the trolley and wheels on the sailing bag. |
Posted By: pij27
Date Posted: 21 Mar 18 at 10:26am
| My back issue is two degenerating discs in the lower back, I always have a degree of discomfort and therefore try not too expose myself to to much shock loading. I have looked at dinghies and small yachts/keelboats and all look good. Although mainly through sitting in the boat and not perched on the edge. As such older designs of dinghies and keelboats/yachts look better for me. As such, looking for a club which uses these appears to be a problem. Think will have to look at discussing issues with local clubs and seeing if they can recommend a boat or if they will teach me the basics in a suitable boat after I have purchased one. |
Posted By: SUGmeister
Date Posted: 21 Mar 18 at 11:02am
Maybe a Foxer?  https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=foxer+jpg+site:http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrzv_fof3ZAhVqJMAKHVy5Am4QsAQIKA&biw=1920&bih=934" rel="nofollow - https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=foxer+jpg+site:http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/&hl=en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjrzv_fof3ZAhVqJMAKHVy5Am4QsAQIKA&biw=1920&bih=934
------------- Simon SUGmeister I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 21 Mar 18 at 4:08pm
You know, they may be the best suggestion in this thread  ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 21 Mar 18 at 4:12pm
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Can't find the class rules BTW but are toe straps prohibited? Otherwise the keen guys will be hiking as hard as ever when the wind picks up........ ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: SUGmeister
Date Posted: 21 Mar 18 at 4:39pm
|
As I understand it no toe straps, you can perch on the side deck but not hike This looks serious fun.... [TUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Selmn3Bq6Y[/TUBE] ------------- Simon SUGmeister I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me. |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 21 Mar 18 at 5:41pm
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I might have to get me one of those when my back finally gives out....... I saw a couple of pics on that first link that looked as if the helm was leaning back. IIRC when I sailed an Oppie back in the mists of time (around 1964/5) sitting on the side was prohibited.....  ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: Gordon 1430
Date Posted: 22 Mar 18 at 8:38am
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Looked at Apollo duck and they have a section for cruising dinghies. Not sure the Farr 3.7 counts. There was a Cornish cobble that might fit the bill. Depends on your launching access, if you can use a car then it would be ideal. ------------- Gordon Phantom 1430 |
Posted By: The Moo
Date Posted: 22 Mar 18 at 12:18pm
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If you are thinking about a Foxer do try before you buy.
A guy at our Club had one before he retired from sailing. I sailed it on a couple of occasions and personally found its sailing ability to be awful, particularly when attempting to go to windward. I do accept they seem to be quite popular in certain quarters but following my experience I am struggling to see why. |
Posted By: pij27
Date Posted: 23 Mar 18 at 11:29am
| I will try a few before purchasing. However, I am looking for a boat to potter and cruise in, not looking to go racing with. Just like to go for a nice sail and enjoy the open water |