Boat-Gym

[David M]

Being thin and getting in resistance exercise is great but you still need to work the cardiovascular system. Any ideas on that?

[nautical62]

For island cruising, I swim/snorkel. Looking at coral and hunting for lobster sure beats 120 repetitive turns and lengths of the same pool watching that same lane line on the bottom of a pool over and over, day after day....

[SaltyMonkey]

David M - good question...at sea. There can be upper body action but not sustained very long.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by David M

Being thin and getting in resistance exercise is great but you still need to work the cardiovascular system. Any ideas on that?

Underway I just do weights. Onshore / traveling I bring my running shoes. Great way to check out a new area. It's a lot easier for me to run for 30-60 minutes than to swim for that long. For those of you who can get good swims in a few times a week consistently, more power to you. I wish I could.

[Mariness]

Originally Posted by David M

Being thin and getting in resistance exercise is great but you still need to work the cardiovascular system. Any ideas on that?

How about the old gym-class standby: Jumping Jacks?
Just not on the part of the deck right above the berth where the off-watch is trying to nap!
Or wind-sprints the length of the deck ... or up and down the companionway as many times & as fast as you can?

[SaltyMonkey]

Mariness - probably that last is the best idea. Just need to sustain about 60% for 20 or so odd minutes. If you are at sea for 2-3 months, gotta do something.

[Brent Swain]

Shadow boxing and double end bag is one of th ebest cardio workouts yet. You can lean to do the upper body part siting down ,for rougher conditions. When you are chilled, it sure warms you up in a hurry.

[SaltyMonkey]

Good idea, Brent! I like that boxing idea. Gets the stress out too. Another use for my out of date life raft

Need to work out that butt of mine. I guess doing stairs up and down the hatch is the only thing for that.

[osirissail]

Other good boat exercises are - swimming after the guy who just stole your dinghy. And the every popular naked anchor hauling by hand at 03:00 when a squall or mountain gust rips your anchor loose. There is no end to the boat generated exercise routines for active cruisers. Getting rid of a pot belly is easy, anchor off a French Island near to a boat full of young topless women - it is amazing how that pot belly disappears while you are on deck and stays taught until you can get below and can let your breathe out.

[SaucySailoress]

The kids broke it last time they visited - but the Wii Fit is a great way of squezzing 20 minutes of excercise into half an hour - it's fun, and you don't need a lot of space!

[Sabbatical II]

Here's a chance for all you engineering types to make some money. Why not build an exercise bike that powers a generator? Half an hour of pedalling might give you a few amps and it would be a great way to keep the night watch alert. Everyone standing watch has to put in more amps than they take out. No autopilot and handlebars hooked up to the tiller so that your arms get a work out too. Maybe a little gearbox to divert the chain down to the propshaft for those windless days. I'll have to see what my wife thinks of the idea before I buy one.

Greg

[Anzo]

Doesn't have to be any more complicated on the boat than rigging something to do pull ups, push ups, squats/lunges, and something for the abs. Virtually all the bodyparts are hit and you're not carrying around extra stuff. Just do them with proper form and intensity. And run/sprint when you get to shore.

[SaucySailoress]

Originally Posted by Eleebana

HWhy not build an exercise bike that powers a generator? Half an hour of pedalling might give you a few amps and it would be a great way to keep the night watch alert. Everyone standing watch has to put in more amps than they take out. No autopilot and handlebars hooked up to the tiller so that your arms get a work out too.
Greg

Have you patented it yet? If not, mind if I do?

[SaltyMonkey]

somebody do. I think thats a great idea. 1/2 on a bike every day and I can supply my SSB