Staying fit while cruising

[slowgoesit]

Regarding staying in shape . . . On another forum, discussion was "staying in shape while cruising" Lots of discussion re/ free weights, resistance bands, recumbent bikes, and where to store them/use them,etc.) One poster said they liked their new rowing machine, but were having trouble figuring out where to put them out to use, and where to store . . . .
I posted that if the water was too cold for swimming (great exercise in itself), most if not all boats already had a dinghy on board, so why not use the oars that came with them, and actually ROW, you know, a real BOAT for exercise . . . . that way, they could see the sights at the same time they were getting exercise, so the time would be more enjoyable, and go faster! Great idea, right? . . . .

For the next two pages of posts, no one, NO ONE would even touch the elephant in the room and respond to my post, or even consider discussing swimming, or actually ROWING a dinghy for exercise . . . .

Heck, I guess we're old school. We even use Walmart 10 speed bikes. Less than $200 for the two, and 15 months in, they're doing great! Not even ELECTRIC bikes . . . . wow, how Stone Age! They're a little cumbersome getting to shore in the dinghy, but manageable. I figure if they last two years (probably 5 the way they're going), we're ahead of the game!

 

[Jklotz]

Interesting topic. I use cycling to stay in shape. Definitely will keep a couple of bikes onboard when we get our boat, but I like your idea for rowing also. I've never done it, but will certainly give it a shot now. Thanks for the idea.

 

[slowgoesit]

Just know that most RIBs row like pigs! But heh! That's more exercise, right?

 

[tiltrider1]

I keep a bike on board. I won’t ride the streets of Seattle anymore so I have the bike set in a trainer. I use a product called Zwift that allows me to ride with my friends all over the world. When off in the islands the bike leaves the trainer for shore riding.

Water is to cold here so swimming is out.

Rowing would make sense but I feel the bike has me covered.

 

[tpbrady]

I recommend owning a big dog, 80 lb lab, who needs to go to shore 4 times a day for a walk or a swim. Paddle to shore in the morning in the inflatable kayak, walk the beach or logging roads for an hour, paddle to shore at noon to swim, paddle to shore before dinner for another walk, and finally just before dark.

Tom

 

[slowgoesit]

I recommend owning a big dog, 80 lb lab, who needs to go to shore 4 times a day for a walk or a swim. Paddle to shore in the morning in the inflatable kayak, walk the beach or logging roads for an hour, paddle to shore at noon to swim, paddle to shore before dinner for another walk, and finally just before dark.

Tom

Tom, you forgot the part where the boat doesn't have a transom door, so you have to lift that 80 lbs from the dinghy, up over the transom to the aft cockpit!

 

[Mac2]

Great topic. As someone who has worked out avidly for the last 45 years I can say, without hesitation, you need to make working out convenient. Although I like the idea of rowing with my dinghy, I know I won’t do it (consistently) if it’s raining, snowing, or dark outside. I have a rowing machine on my flybridge under cover.
I have an adjustable bench on my covered aft deck with a rubbermaid container with dumbells and weights. I plan on purchasing powerblock pro exps. They are square rubber coated dumbbells, so they won’t rust or roll away. Quick weight adjustments as well. A pull up bar with adjustable rings completes my mini gym. Keep in mind the weight lifting is not just for muscles, but for tendon strength, which all aging people should do.

 

[ksanders]

Scott, people for some reason do not consider life as working out. They need something seperate, like a machine.

Walking, or rowing your skiff, or riding your bike are perfect cruiser exercise activities.

But... Does it count if you ride your bike to the store to get groceries???

Or do the exercise enthusiasts need a separate activity just dedicated to exercise?

 

[rslifkin]

Scott, people for some reason do not consider life as working out. They need something seperate, like a machine.

Walking, or rowing your skiff, or riding your bike are perfect cruiser exercise activities.

But... Does it count if you ride your bike to the store to get groceries???

Or do the exercise enthusiasts need a separate activity just dedicated to exercise?

That's a good point. I find I get more incidental exercise from day to day activities when we're on the boat compared to home, as we end up walking to get places more often, walking the dog instead of sending him out in the yard, launching and retrieving the dinghy, etc.

 

[Sababa]

We try to get a hike or a kayak paddle in every day while we are cruising, and plan our itinerary with that in mind. We have a set of “dial a weight” dumbbells that we’ve talked about moving on to the boat, but never landed on a great place to store them. We instead bought some TRX straps that allow for a variety of body weight exercises with the intention of using them next season. Remains to be seen if we actually do. We are also in the market for some folding bikes that are compact enough to store in the lazarette or engine room. There are so many choices out there that it’s hard to decide!

 

[slowgoesit]

Scott, people for some reason do not consider life as working out. They need something seperate, like a machine.
Walking, or rowing your skiff, or riding your bike are perfect cruiser exercise activities.

But... Does it count if you ride your bike to the store to get groceries???

Or do the exercise enthusiasts need a separate activity just dedicated to exercise?

Kevin, it depends on what you buy! If I'm buying donuts and ice cream, it's probably not doing me much good!

 

[GoneFarrell]

I should rename my boat "StairMaster" ! So many trips up and down to the flybridge and 3 steps into cabin, then beam walking to/from the foredeck for anchor workouts.

Then there's the isometric engine bay routines, the stretches into the chain locker and grinding on the dingy davit winch.

I love rowing, but that's for my sliding seat "real" rowboat. It's the best cardio rehab boat ride reward (after 4X bypass op last October).

 

[O C Diver]

If you aren't getting enough exercise, you're not getting off the boat often enough.

First row to shore.

Then go for a walk.

You might meet some new friends along the way.

When you provision or go out to dinner, if less than 5 miles, walk. Any time you are tied to the dock, go for a 2 mile walk after dinner.

If you're not getting off the boat, you're missing most of the sites.

Ted

 

[Mac2]

Kevin, it depends on what you buy! If I'm buying donuts and ice cream, it's probably not doing me much good!

Soooooo…. I guess we won’t be talking about staying in shape

 

[Dougcole]

My wife and I are pretty serious longtime runners, and it translates really well to cruising. We manage to get runs in pretty often, even in the Bahamas. Not as consistent as at home, but we make up for it in other ways. For me it is freediving, bonefishing (lots of wading) and some stand up paddle boarding.

We also tend to eat a little healthier on the boat, we seldom eat out at home, but even less while cruising. We spent two months in the Exumas/Berrys/Grand Bahama last summer and ate out three times.

On the downside, we (especially me) tend to drink more on the boat. Not crazy, but average perhaps two beers a day rather than three a week like at home.

I'm a naturally thin guy, but at 59 I have begun to pay some attention to my weight. I somehow seem to lose a little weight on our cruises every summer. Not sure how that happens, but personally I think it is stress related. I'm just happier when I am on the boat and not working as much. Happier=healthy I think.

 

[Mac2]

My wife and I are pretty serious longtime runners, and it translates really well to cruising. We manage to get runs in pretty often, even in the Bahamas. Not as consistent as at home, but we make up for it in other ways. For me it is freediving, bonefishing (lots of wading) and some stand up paddle boarding.

We also tend to eat a little healthier on the boat, we seldom eat out at home, but even less while cruising. We spent two months in the Exumas/Berrys/Grand Bahama last summer and ate out three times.

On the downside, we (especially me) tend to drink more on the boat. Not crazy, but average perhaps two beers a day rather than three a week like at home.

I'm a naturally thin guy, but at 59 I have begun to pay some attention to my weight. I somehow seem to lose a little weight on our cruises every summer. Not sure how that happens, but personally I think it is stress related. I'm just happier when I am on the boat and not working as much. Happier=healthy I think.

I know it’s stress. I have high blood pressure. After a 3 week cruise last winter my blood pressure dropped to 129/79. Haven’t seen those numbers in 20 years. Caveat-My wife wasn’t with me

 

[DavidM]

When I crushed full time, mostly anchoring out and taking an aluminum bike in on the dinghy for land transportation for provisioning and sightseeing, I lost 15 lbs transitioning from a sedentary land based life to a marine based life.

Part of the weight loss was a result of doing my own cooking, part was the bike and part was the maintenance I did myself.

Good enough for me!

David

 

[cfr]

i started wingfoil this year at 60 and it is a nice not too dangerous activity in the warm waters, good full body exercise, we also have a hard dinghy and like to row and try to go hiking and a using our brompton biobikes....but we are in the MED, whre activity is not easy too to the heat beside wingfoiling. srupping the barnacles on your hull is a nice actovity too...

 

[PierreR]

Exercise is definitely on our minds. We are setting out on a loop this summer and our needs are quite different. I can exercise riding a bike, walking fixing stuff on the boat and any number of curious activities. My wife is much more limited and very concerned about the aspects of exercise. So much so that she is concerned about going at all.
Her situation is very complex and complicated and nearly impossible for most people to comprehend. Even I have difficulty comprehending it. She has advanced forms of Ehler's Danlos syndrome and has undergone many orthopedic surgeries. She has full length rods and cables in her back, two shoulder replacements, two knee replacements and both feet are totally fused including the great toe and subtalar joints. She cannot build muscle tone and has very poor proprioception. She has balance issues and cannot easily walk on uneven, or unlevel surfaces. she cannot step up over and 8".
Dinghy and bicycle rides are absolutely out of the question. We use marinas and ask for ADA docks when available.
She currently uses bands and weights plus goes to a therapy pool at least twice a week for resistance balance challenging exercise.
My boat is totally set up for her condition and is safe for her so that part is taken care of. We have ideas to handle the balance challenged exercise portion but no real answers yet. I single and the boat, she is of no help in docking.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

Just know that most RIBs row like pigs! But heh! That's more exercise, right?

Be sure to use 2 foot collapsible oars with a blade no bigger than your hand. Practice the "hummingbird manuever" in case the current/wind is against you. Always take your go bag. Just thinking of the possible problems can get your heart rate up.

 

[psneeld]

On my inflatables, I liked the longer oars with normal sized blades as long as the oarlocks allowed you to feather the oars.

Still used a shorter choppier stroke against the wind, but well over 180 degrees around the compass when not into the wind, the longer oars made rowing easier (at least for me).

I have been rowing all my life and did some crew in college, don't know how much of an advantage that really is.

 

[WestCoastMcgyver]

Topic I've thought about a lot. Agree with getting off and hike/walk and usually row to shore. On days where shore excursions aren't appropriate (PNW anchorages) I have a set of Bowflex adjustable dumbells on the flybridge and also skipping for cardio. Cardio was the issue I struggled with but 15 min of skipping really jacks the ol' heart rate!

 

[Mac2]

Exercise is definitely on our minds. We are setting out on a loop this summer and our needs are quite different. I can exercise riding a bike, walking fixing stuff on the boat and any number of curious activities. My wife is much more limited and very concerned about the aspects of exercise. So much so that she is concerned about going at all.
Her situation is very complex and complicated and nearly impossible for most people to comprehend. Even I have difficulty comprehending it. She has advanced forms of Ehler's Danlos syndrome and has undergone many orthopedic surgeries. She has full length rods and cables in her back, two shoulder replacements, two knee replacements and both feet are totally fused including the great toe and subtalar joints. She cannot build muscle tone and has very poor proprioception. She has balance issues and cannot easily walk on uneven, or unlevel surfaces. she cannot step up over and 8".
Dinghy and bicycle rides are absolutely out of the question. We use marinas and ask for ADA docks when available.
She currently uses bands and weights plus goes to a therapy pool at least twice a week for resistance balance challenging exercise.
My boat is totally set up for her condition and is safe for her so that part is taken care of. We have ideas to handle the balance challenged exercise portion but no real answers yet. I single and the boat, she is of no help in docking.

Very tuff situation. Bands and weights are good, but getting the blood up (cardio) for 15 minutes will be the hard part. Might seem ridiculous, but you might want to look into something like the virtual glasses for exercise programs. Obviously dependent on the movements she’s able to do. Good on you guys for getting out there.

 

[alormaria]

I lost 40 lbs on my summer cruise.
Never noticed it was happening. Get out from behind the desk and go.

 

[Sababa]

Exercise is definitely on our minds. We are setting out on a loop this summer and our needs are quite different. I can exercise riding a bike, walking fixing stuff on the boat and any number of curious activities. My wife is much more limited and very concerned about the aspects of exercise. So much so that she is concerned about going at all.
Her situation is very complex and complicated and nearly impossible for most people to comprehend. Even I have difficulty comprehending it. She has advanced forms of Ehler's Danlos syndrome and has undergone many orthopedic surgeries. She has full length rods and cables in her back, two shoulder replacements, two knee replacements and both feet are totally fused including the great toe and subtalar joints. She cannot build muscle tone and has very poor proprioception. She has balance issues and cannot easily walk on uneven, or unlevel surfaces. she cannot step up over and 8".
Dinghy and bicycle rides are absolutely out of the question. We use marinas and ask for ADA docks when available.
She currently uses bands and weights plus goes to a therapy pool at least twice a week for resistance balance challenging exercise.
My boat is totally set up for her condition and is safe for her so that part is taken care of. We have ideas to handle the balance challenged exercise portion but no real answers yet. I single and the boat, she is of no help in docking.

Good man.

 

[slowgoesit]

I lost 40 lbs on my summer cruise.
Never noticed it was happening. Get out from behind the desk and go.

Yep, I lost 15 in 8 months cruising, then promptly gained in back in the 8 months since we've finished the cruise. I attribute most of it to boredom eating on land, rather than exercise while cruising . . .

 

[ABfish]

We walk everywhere when we're in a walkable town. Just walking to the dumpster or marina laundry is a hike at a lot of places. Without realizing it, you'll walk three or four miles a day.

Check out the Original Strength Reset, book or videos. It's been good to me as far as maintaining balance and flexibility. No equipment needed. Easily done on a boat.

 

[ScottC]

Have carried resistance bands and an ab-roller for the six-year duration of our Med cruise. They are still in their unopened boxes in my locker in the forward cabin. Sigh.
But we do a LOT of walking round the ports we visit, averaging 2-10 km on the days we do walk.
One "sport" I occasionally engage in is to walk out every pier/finger of any large marina that we happen to find ourselves in. That can be quite a long total distance sometimes...and the "scenery" on the walk is, of course, very interesting.

 

[BoondocksHawks]

Just know that most RIBs row like pigs! But heh! That's more exercise, right?

I hope to lose my RIB for a hard dink for exactly this reason! (Enjoying 'good rowing' vs suffering a hawg.)

 

[ABfish]

Heck, I dock walk at my home marina. Always something to see.