While I'm not a geezer (only 64), some of my favorite fellow single-handing boaters are. Here are some things they've learned and taught me:
1.
Winches are unnecessary if you're willing to settle for 'gentleman's luffs'. That means those geezer muscles won't have to spend five hours a week at the gym just to keep you in shape for those
winches. You can go there instead for the wenches (Sorry, couldn't resist.)
2. If you're unwilling to settle for gentleman's luffing, consider electric or hydraulic help with your
winches. There are a number of options here. Sailnet and most other major sailing supply houses will be happy to discuss them with you.
3.
Lazy jacks and in-boom
furling will help keep you off the cabin top, and your hip from needing surgery. Ditto roller
furling headsails.
4. Think about your crew: could your geezer body lift that twenty-something grandson of yours out of the water, even with a
lifesling and a block and tackle? See item 2, above, for consideration about some extra emergency horsepower.
5. Keep at least two days of your meds on board the boat, in case you find yourself unexpectedly away from your slip. You're on a sailboat, after all. Weather and mechanical things happen.
6.
Windlass. For the obvious reasons. Alternatively, see item 2 above, again.
7. Look at your
dinghy and your method of getting on and off while on the hook. Are they safe for a geezer? If not, what changes are needed? Make them.
8. If you don't do a lot of racing, consider setting your boat up w/ a self-tacking head sail. Life is so much easier for the cruiser!
9.
Autopilot. Even if you're not a geezer.
10. Think cockpit: what can you do to keep you from having to make unnecessary trips up and down the companionway steps? Every trip not made is one more opportunity to avoid a broken hip. Some possibilities include
handheld VHFs, ditto
GPS, ditto cooler for your Ensure and sandwiches, stainless thermos w/ coffee, etc. All in the cockpit, placed strategically to keep you from tripping over them.
Now, there may be some boaters out there who are not geezers who might think Hey, there's an item or two here that might save me some work. Go ahead, but when you're describing your boat changes to friends, you might want to use the word 'simplify' instead of 'geezerize'. It's an image thing.