Single Hand a Tri?

[capthowes]

I have a little 35 Piver Lodestar that I keep on a mooring and love the lack of rolling when a large wake goes thru. I love to single hand it and hope to get north this summer, when going on deck to deal with sails or the anchor the wide decks are great it is like having acreage. I love living on the level.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

IMHO an electric windass is essential when singlehanded if the boat is 30' or over.

You'd be amazed at what isn't essential when you're on a limited budget. Besides, at my age (67) I need the exercise.

[callmecrazy]

If you have cheese, dragonflies are built specifically for singlehanding

[bobconnie]

It's Essential to have an anchor! but it's an extra to have a windless! ya Can pull em by hand on small boats or use a aft Winch or a mast winch to get it up !! Just my 2 cents

[Nemo55]

Hahahah,,,you said "Get it up"..hahahahaha...ooohh boy!!

Originally Posted by bobconnie

It's Essential to have an anchor! but it's an extra to have a windless! ya Can pull em by hand on small boats or use a aft Winch or a mast winch to get it up !! Just my 2 cents

[bobconnie]

AHH don't know where your mind is ?? but Im talking about anchors !! I hope you see that now maybe? it is sorta the subject !! LOL

[gjordan]

When I was in the South Pacific ,I fell in with the Sea Runner crowd. I got to do a round Tahiti race on a 37, sailed on a 40 several times and spent a lot of time on a 31. I liked them all but foot for foot they are more cramped than a similar size mono, and I dont like having to get up from bed and go out through the cockpit to get to the head. My friend with the 31 used to brag that he averaged 130 miles a day from Mexico to the Marquesas. I only learned later from his wife that he didnt figure in the 2 days becalmed in the doldrums. A little honest math and he would not have averaged much more than the 110 per day that we did in a Contessa 26. Overall, I would say IMHO that cruising Tris are a little faster over long passages,are a little less roomy, are weight sensitive, and have great deck space. Decide what is important to you, Pay your dime and take your chances.___another 2 cents worth._____Grant.

[SailFastTri]

Originally Posted by FSMike

You'd be amazed at what isn't essential when you're on a limited budget. Besides, at my age (67) I need the exercise.

If you can raise your anchor while single-handed on a cross 40 tri IN OVER 15 KNOTS OF WIND without windlass you're in incredible shape.

Remember, this thread is about single-handing. If you have someone at the helm to motor to windward its a different situation.

[Cavalier MK2]

Actually you don't need anyone at the helm, just put the motor in gear at a RPM to just make head way and haul away. I don't have a windless and singlehand often. On a wing deck tri the deckspace and more level sailing make everything easier and far safer. I'd say properly loaded you could look at being 5- 15% faster than a mono depending on the boat. We often take a little longer on a passage because we sail well in lighter winds and don't start the motor like most of the boats around us. Speed wise the differences start to become more significant as it breezes up but then many people try not to be sailing which accounts for similar averages.

[gjordan]

If my memory isnt failing, I dont think any of the Sea Runners that I was on had a windlass, but we were all young and strong back then. The owners were very weight conscious in there choice of gear. There is no question they can be handled without a windlass, but it only takes something like a sprained wrist or broken finger, and you will stay where you are until you are better. All boats are a compromise! ____Grant.

[zeehag]

friend of mine single hands a prindle nimble, and another friend of mine used to single hand 32 ft tri..isnt impossible. they were and are always solo sailors.