Solo cruising vs crew cruising

[Don C L]

Personally I find it very nice to have a boat with low freeboard... I'm always reaching over the side for something. I've often thought that something like the Pearson Vanguard or Tartan 34C seemed like a very good compromise in all dimensions and abilities for a singlehander. Mine is also good, though more a little space would be nice, but I wouldn't want to get so big it is a hassle to sail in to anchor or change sails alone. Don't overlook the classics from the 60s! There are some great boats in there; simple, strong and sail well. BTW while I enjoyed a little singlehanding when I was a young kid, I soon learned I preferred the company of someone who loves the sea, adventure and doesn't panic easily about things. They don't have to know how to sail, just be open to it. Fortunately! my wife, and now my daughter and son, are that brand of company. It is just a lot more fun when you see some amazing sight to share it, because otherwise you're standing there saying, "no one will ever believe this!"

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

There's repeated references on this forum to a very good online book, too, name escapes me.

Probably this one: http://sfbaysss.net/resource/doc/Sin...irdEdition.pdf

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Blues

Lizzy I'm looking into the Ohlson not to be confused with an Olson.

Very little info online, sadly. Especially in Dutch / English.
Even sailboatdata.com got it wrong

[Deep Blue Blues]

Wouldn't mind falling for a girl with a love for the sea. Although my lady in the waves might not like it.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Blues

Wouldn't mind falling for a girl with a love for the sea.

Haha!
Steep competition: if you want to know where there's a female solo sailor, just look for a bunch of male singlehanders anchored in a 'cluster'

[Juho]

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Blues

Juho I'm definitely interested in good wind vanes.

Just noting that in some weather patterns wind vane may not work properly (or when motoring when there is no wind), and you want to use an autopilot. They thus support each others. Some people have had a spare autopilot with them (a light weight tiller model that can be easily replaced).

[Deep Blue Blues]

Belle you have to post a picture now.

Don I want a 40 ft or less, flush deck and a single mast. Got any 60s in mind? I like the old ones best. If they're still sailing they'll sail forever.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by skipmac

In general almost any boat can be configured for single handed sailing. Not really an inherent function of the boat design but how things are set up. Like asking what vehicle is suitable for a handicapped driver. Answer, any vehicle by installing the proper equipment. Same for a sailboat. Install and setup up the proper equipment.

On a sailboat first and most essential will be some form of self steering. An electric autopilot is the most flexible and functional but some go for wind vane systems.

Then just have the proper winches, lead the sheets and other lines to the spot convenient for your method of sailing. So in other words, buy the boat you like/want/need and you set it up for single handing instead of trying to buy a boat made just for single handing.

Indeed.

Bulletproof self steering, and roller furling, are essential.

Radar and AIS to enhance watchkeeping. Radar guard zones and AIS alarms are essential, in my opinion, for a single hander.

A split rig (ketch) is very beneficial to a single hander.

Boat for a single hander should not be too small or too slow -- a very small boat will wear you out in rough weather, and risk of knock-downs and rolls is greater. It is true that the bigger the boat, the more and more things become beyond your strength, single handed, without mechanical aids. But that's why God made winches and roller furling, and balance that against the greater robustness and stability of larger boats.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Blues

Belle you have to post a picture now.

OK, I'll post ... remember: you have no one to blame but yourself for this!

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Blues

flush deck

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...es-162559.html

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Lizzy Belle

Damn. Now I have to sell my boat .. (which stays on track nicely, unless horribly trimmed).

Anything can be done. The OP asked: "Are there particular designs for monohulls that make cruising the deep blue more reasonable with less crew or no crew?"

[Cheechako]

and now....... for the single most important feature of a boat for singlehanding..... wait for it...... an egg timer!

[Valmika]

Originally Posted by Lizzy Belle

One of the reasons I share my boat with a feline

As long as she doesn't start talking back (and making more sense than you)

[sneuman]

Just don't get overcome by the romanticism of single-handing. Cruising in a sailboat is hard work -- and it's harder for one person. Even if you don't have a second permanent crewmember, consider picking up reliable crew along the way.

I used to think single handing was the thing real sailors strive for ... now that just seems silly.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Deep Blue Blues

Belle you have to post a picture now.

Don I want a 40 ft or less, flush deck and a single mast. Got any 60s in mind? I like the old ones best. If they're still sailing they'll sail forever.

Well, just about any boat from the 60s, as long as it has been well-maintained and/or refitted/updated. The hulls are still good and strong.
Flush deck? Hmm... I like the Columbia 40 but not flush deck, if you could find a Columbia 35 that could be nice, really rare, it's roomy and flush deck. There is one like mine, a Columbia 29, that was made in a flush deck version called the Defender, that I like too very much, though not sure if it has enough room for you. So, flush deck is a must? Just curious why. Personally, my own preferences have to do with strength and simplicity. For example if I were shopping for another boat I'd be looking for one like mine only a little bigger, like a Bounty II or Pearson Rhodes 41, long keel molded in, attached rudder, yawl or ketch would be nice, staysail too. I had a bad experience with a roller furling jib on a really windy day once that soured me on that. I'm probably the last boat in the harbor that still has a hank-on jib. However I could be swayed on that one, I understand there are some much better designs out now. You can get a much better sail shape with a hank-on though. Not a fan of CQR anchors after a bad experience with one of those too. (It only takes one bad experience for me to avoid something.) I would also avoid spade rudders on a cruising boat, skeg hung is good. I was on a big racing boat once that had the spade rudder fall off in the middle of the South China Sea so that left an impression. I also prefer not to have a bolt-on keel, but that is my own weird quirk, I am sure most are pretty stout. Now all that is JUST ME. I am sure you'll find many other perfectly valid opinions here who don't agree with me and a few who think I am crazy. BTW when you do go shopping, make sure the engine is in really good shape, because if it isn't, it is VERY expensive to get a new one. I learned THAT the hard way.

[Lizzy Belle]

Originally Posted by sneuman

I used to think single handing was the thing real sailors strive for ...

So married sailors have divorce as their ultimate goal?

Seriously tho, if I ever fall for a landlubber who's willing to live on a boat and go cruising, I'd be more then fine with that.

Thing is, landlubbers usually aren't (been there, done that, doesn't work), and I don't want to go back to land, so I opted for single handing.

I rarely sail with crew unless short afternoon sails (or 'floats', to avoid heeling etc...) with landlubber friends. Sailing with male sailors usually means ending up with 2 captains on a boat, and that never ends well

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by sneuman

Just don't get overcome by the romanticism of single-handing. Cruising in a sailboat is hard work -- and it's harder for one person. Even if you don't have a second permanent crewmember, consider picking up reliable crew along the way.

I used to think single handing was the thing real sailors strive for ... now that just seems silly.

I would not say I strive for it.. its more a matter of preference when it happens..