Singlehanding a Cabin Top Mainsheet

[chas5131]

Had a Tartan 33 with a mid-cockpit traveler and loved it.
Seems everything I look at has a cabin top mainsheet.
How does one trim the main from the wheel?

[barnakiel]

By pulling on / easing the sheet perhaps.

b.

[chas5131]

Easy enough if someone else is steering and trimming the jib.

[ctl411]

I do it all the time on my 37c . Use a wheel lock or autopilot to get the trim right. If its puffy just head up instead of trimming down. It is easier if the boat is balanced my cutter holds course pretty well so I can leave the wheel unlocked for several minutes to adjust whatever needs doing jib leads traveler ect.

[Ex-Calif]

When the boat gets big enough that the mainsheet or jib sheets are out of reach it is time for a trusty and reliable autopilot...

[cruzer757]

I stand in front of my wheel on my Pearson 31. The main sheet winch is on top of the cabin but I also have a separate traveler to adjust which side of center to keep the boom. I end up steering with a foot while I make adjustments. But an auto-pilot would be sweet to have. Sometimes I feel like a one legged man in an *ss kicking contest.

[Marksman]

Going to windward, I tie the tiller off as Maelstrom ballences nicely, downwind, auto pilot is the only way to go.

[TheOffice]

I switched to a fiddle block with a cam cleat on it on my C&C 35. If it is blowing, I can wrap the line around the winch to trim the last few inches. Downwind the block lays over so I may have to go forward of the wheel to get the line in the cam. (still working on that one) Releasing is easy. Just pull down.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by ctl411

I do it all the time on my 37c . Use a wheel lock or autopilot to get the trim right. If its puffy just head up instead of trimming down. It is easier if the boat is balanced my cutter holds course pretty well so I can leave the wheel unlocked for several minutes to adjust whatever needs doing jib leads traveler ect.

Ha! I read your post and thought "yeah that's exactly what I used to do on my H37 Cutter"....that was before I looked a the "Boat" line on your profile...DUH!

A well balanced, well behaved boat sure does make a big difference for single handing. I've even gone forward to the mast and adjusted halyard tension on my old H37C with nothing more than light pressure on the wheel lock. Strolled forward too -- not rushed.

I also used to stand forward of wheel if I needed to jibe or maneuver under sail. From there you can reach everything. And have done this on other monos with cabin top sheeting.

For a study in contrasts, you should try single handing a Hobie 33 in breezy conditions!

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by chas5131

Easy enough if someone else is steering and trimming the jib.

Lock the wheel, take three steps, adjust the mainsail, take three steps, unlock the wheel ...

[hummingway]

I've got hydraulic steering with a second station so there's no locking. Still it doesn't seem to be a big deal to trim the main while reaching back and adjusting the wheel as needed. My boats 42 foot but the cockpit's pretty small which probably helps! Oh, I don't worry about it either which is probably of value too.