Is It Time to Stop Sailing?

[Greg Mason]

Chotu, here's how i see it. I was a lifelong sailor until I suffered a Christopher Reeves injury 12 years ago. I wasn't safe to be on the boat with no balance and little strength. I couldn't let go. I struggled and asked questions, always wanted my body back the way it was. The 9.5 hours of spinal cord surgery was nothing compared to the challenges ahead. Learning to walk at 58. I couldn't let go. Now, I am back on the water with a vessel more equipped for the destination than the journey and I love it. Each of us has a journey, we decide what route to take, who and what to have around us. What you are asking us, is what is your journey? You can see the results and suggestions of others that may help you make a choice, but it will always be your choice. I couldn't let go, and if that is your ultimate decision, you will find a way. Options and possibilities, choice and decide. Good luck and safe travel.

[taxwizz]

Have you considered selling:
the monohull
the catamaran
the camper

and using the money to spend a LOT of time on cruise ships?

That's what I do and it is a GREAT option.
Good food
Travel
Live entertainment
Doctor and clinic on ship
Someone to make your bed and clean daily. (no mold)
People to talk to and play bridge with
Great life.

I recommend Princess Cruises.
Try the math.

[BandB]

Wifey B:

Chotu

It's time for drastic action. Every time you fail to take action you further endanger your health and while you get through the immediate attack, the damage to your lungs and to you in other ways accumulates. My hubby has allergies and we go to great lengths to protect him against them. Some are easy, some more difficult. However, if we go somewhere and he feels an allergic reaction about to hit, we turn and leave. We have to. No smoking allowed on our boats, at our home, in our businesses. No oranges allowed on our boats or in our home. None. Never. Not for guests or anyone. No live Christmas tree. No cedar or pine so no log cabin vacations for us. No perfumes or fragrances, not for myself or any of our friends. All fragrance free shampoos, bath products, cleaning products. Certain work to be done in our home and we leave while happening. You only get one life.

Sell the two boats. That doesn't mean giving up boating. Maybe charter or rent some to see. Maybe buy one after testing which may not equal the two. Or maybe find a different way to enjoy boating.

I'd cry and sob and so would hubby if we had to give up boating. I'd look for some way for us to safely boat after dumping the offending boats. But I'd never accept staying in anything that was endangering our health as yours is being.

You haven't accepted your limits well, like the epoxy. You haven't protected yourself. My hubby can't go near paint of any sort. He can't mow a lawn or even be outside when it's being done. He can't have a real wood fire burning, only gas and electric logs.

I know you sense when you're near something that's unhealthy for you. Listen to your body. This is life and death. Not immediate death but potentially years off the end.

There are ways. Search for the right ways. Maybe it's a 20' fishing boat or maybe a Hobie Cat or maybe one very carefully selected boat. Or maybe it does require finding another hobby to love. I don't know.

As you said, you know the answer. Now you must stop fighting the obvious, embrace change that protects you. I hope for you in every way.

For those without severe allergies or loved ones with them, you can't fully understand. I've stepped in a door to a building and hubby immediately said, "There's painting being done." He stepped out and I went to investigate. Far end of building in basement, but he was right. We were sitting in a movie and suddenly he smelled orange and we got up and left. Yes, someone was peeling an orange about 6 rows down. His throat was closing within a minute and I quickly handed him two Benadryl, then he took two more four hours later and prevented a serious reaction. Oh, his typical reaction, 103-104 degree fever within 20 minutes, sore throat, congestion, leading to lung congestion, bronchitis, and pneumonia. I fear, knowing how many times as a child he had pneumonia before they knew it was allergies and fearing the permanent damage.

I feel so sad for your situation, but you must put your health first, then everything else. The world doesn't end if you sell a boat, but if you expose yourself to things poisoning you, then it does one day. You'll find a way to keep boating in some form or find other interests. Like the RV formaldehyde poster. He did. For all those who think no big deal on that one, the only difference between the one who reacted was his body told him and warned him. Like mold, it affects us all, some just know it quicker. Epoxy or painting needs to be with masks and gloves for anyone. No, can't live in a bubble, but can't ignore the warnings either.

Please let us know as you figure things out and find a way to live pleasantly without tormenting yourself.

[Cpt Mark]

Originally Posted by stewie

Sounds like it is time to take up flying. You would be surprised how many yachtsmen do that when it is time to move on. I did and and I am sure you will enjoy it.

Many sailors become pilots and pilots become sailors. I've done both and am back on boats. Can only afford 1 expensive hobby. Airplanes, if you do owner assist annuals and find a mechanic that will let you repair things are way less expensive that boats are. Surprising but true.

An allergist as others have said is where I'd go first.

Best of luck.

[peter loveridge]

epoxy is not good for repairing poly/vinylester. Coefficients of expansion are different and the bonds eventually fail. Have to say the maintenance on two large boats is a huge commitment. I've used the borax solution in good old boat and it didn't stir up my asthma. Ozone will kill mould spores but don't stay on the boat, or for 12 hours afterwards when using it

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by taxwizz

Have you considered selling:
the monohull
the catamaran
the camper

and using the money to spend a LOT of time on cruise ships?

That's what I do and it is a GREAT option.
Good food
Travel
Live entertainment
Doctor and clinic on ship
Someone to make your bed and clean daily. (no mold)
People to talk to and play bridge with
Great life.

I recommend Princess Cruises.
Try the math.

Excellent suggestion, I second that.

[TideTime]

I do believe LittleWing77 has stated it correctly. If you really love sailing as much as you indicate, sell both boats and purchase a new smaller sailboat that does not present either the health or financial issues you mention. I have had colon cancer, have prostate cancer, and presently preparing for open heart surgery; if I survive the latter, I have no plans to give up sailing at present age of 78. Your problems do not really seem all that significant - stick with it!

[Sirago]

Try using a ozone generator on the Cabin to remover mold

[rowingdude]

Sell the two boats and buy a boat made of steel.

You're riding around on a molded can of glue...

[JPA Cate]

Hello, Chotu,

First, see the allergy doc. I had a boyfriend years ago who was allergic to molds, and the allergy interfered with his livelihood. He would see the doc for desensitization treatment, and it worked well for him. Now, imo, the downside here is that you would need to hire someone to get at all the hidden surfaces of your mono, and have a thorough cleaning. It might or might not lower the mold levels to a tolerable amount, with treatment. If it didn't, yes, I'd say you will have to leave what you love, and cultivate safer travel and exploration for yourself. Some molds tend to grow on long passages, it will partly depend on what it is to which you are most sensitive. [There are threads on eliminating molds on boats here on CF--use the CF Custom Google search, not the first one, which requires an exact match and is case sensitive.]

It is possible that the cat could be finished up using vinyl ester resin. We have a shipwright friend with epoxy allergy, and you're right to not push that window further. He was able, however, to build a boat with vinyl ester. Discuss this with a boatwright in your area. The cat, when finished, also could develop mold problems, so I'd say the mold issue is the one with the highest priority, and it is the long passages that pose the greatest risk to your health [because there's nowhere to get off the boat.]

You're right, this is a crisis point for you. And it is a really tough one. It might come out okay. It may not be worth the candle for you to suffer to try to continue, and the choice, of course, is yours. Fwiw, i don't think you yet have all the data you'll need to make it. You need to give the allergy specialist a go; there's the question of whether the catamaran's surfaces could be kept mold free enough for you--same for the mono.
There's the question of how hard to struggle to keep the dream alive when there are other activities to attract you. Good luck with it, man.

Ann

[Compass790]

Do you have a dehumidifier running full time on board whilst boat is closed up? They are good for preventing mould.

[Skip A]

There was an article in CF about a year ago concerning mold remediation on boats. It mentioned a product you can buy at Amazon and Home Depot and using it in a fogger or mister to get rid mold. I tried it and it has worked until January when I left the marina. Being that my boat is closed up for months at a time, it was getting mold between each visit until I fogged it. I also left a small dehumidifier running. I'll know how well everything worked when I return to the boat next week, I'll let you know. The product I bought to fog the boat with is Concrobium Mold Control Household Cleaners, 1 Gallon. I got it at Amazon, but Home Depot is supposed to carry it or something similar. Good luck.

[Chotu]

I would like to post briefly just to say thank you to everyone for the advice. I am reading each post carefully and dwelling on it. Pondering the different ideas. My allergies are well known. Mold, epoxy, and citrus just like the post above talks about. Frankly, I’m surprised to see that. It is very rare. Luckily, the mist from an orange does not destroy me to the same level as above, but any contact with green epoxy does. Much like him sniffing out the paint in the far corner of the building. I had a severe allergic reaction just walking into a West Marine once were there was an epoxy spill. I could smell it from across the store and it just hit me. The dust from grinding 3 year cured epoxy (exposing the amines when breaking the polymer), got me good this winter.

It may be time to reevaluate. Please keep the advice coming. It is very helpful. It’s also somewhat reassuring to see that other people share some of the same problems and have even given up a sport or hobby they have enjoyed their whole life to change to something else.

[weavis]

As a medic, I tend to see a lot of allergic reactions. If severe will reduce your life quality and in some cases, life expectancy.

The best advice given is to change your boat to aluminum or steel or wood.

jes sayin'

[GPSocal]

In addition to an allergist, look for a consultation with a Naturopathic MD. The MD part is important as you want a realistic assessment of your condition before you decide on what to do with either or both of your boats.
Best of luck in your quest for good health.