I am 63 years old, my Admiral is 60. She has MS, and uses a cane on docks and on land. A wheel chair at boat shows and museums. Trawler with swim platform and walk thru transom. No ladders, molded F/G stairs to the fly bridge (MS 390) is our choice. We have railings and extra hand holds all around the perimeter of our MS 390. She LOVES it.
However, if several of those factors were not in-play, we'd prefer a sail boat with a keel, that can help us choose the outside routes more often than the ICW skinny waters... and then there is the *security* of getting home by sail if/when needed.
I grew up with my familiy's 31 ft Seafarer full-keel sailboat. I was heading out in the afternoons LOVING white caps while all my class mates (many of whom were lobstering) where heading IN when I was heading OUT!
It did not take me long to figure out that a cruising "rag hanger" puts their miles on in the afternoons, trying to make port at sunset before dark. Conversely, a "smoker" was up with the sun trying to make their destination by noon or 1:00pm before the wind picked up... which made for an uncomfortable day at sea. (generalizing in both cases).
SO, the crux of the matter for ME is the fitness of your CREW to be climbing all over a sail boat vs. making it easy to get on and off the boat without assistance in many ports of call. Imagine how my Admiral would feel if she ALWAYS needed my assistance to simply get on and off our boat?!?!?!
Then there is the issue of what YOUR crew's preferred time of day to be underway.
Do you "like" the idea of staying on the "inside" on the ICW?
OR
Do you "lust" for the ability to go out when you want to and have the *security* of sailing as a back up plan. Obviously, twins can help.
That's my 2 cents! Hope you enjoyed.
Ray
Shellerina.com
Doing the LOOP is easy... some open water for sure... but mostly no blue water.
If you want to follow the seasons north and south on the eastern seaboard, power is easy. If you have aspirations to go beyond those waters, and you [both] have the health and physical dexterity I would consider sail.
It depends on your desired "GO-NO/GO Criteria". That is the huge determining factor for your decision and discernment.