Singlehanding Tips?

[hooligan6a]

Hake 32, that is a nice boat. I look at them all the time at the boat show">Annapolis Boat Show.

[Mauruuru]

after two swing keel boats--Catalina and O'Day, the vertically retracting keel is the only way to go if you want a thin water boat that can do blue water....

[Tymadman]

Originally Posted by Mauruuru

after two swing keel boats--Catalina and O'Day, the vertically retracting keel is the only way to go if you want a thin water boat that can do blue water....

Out of curiosity, what disadvantage(s) do you consider a swing keel has compared to a lifting keel?

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Tymadman

I actually sail single-handed regularly myself and I would think about 75% of those who have purchased one of my remote controls also sail single-handed. The most recent photos I added to my website are from a guy in Switzerland who was very happy after sailing his trimaran single-handed in a race as he was able to steer from the outside hulls using one of my remote controls. He even flew his spinnaker for the first time when solo because he was able to steer from the front of the boat. I know what single-handed sailing tip that person will be giving to anyone who will listen.

So you're right - not essential but definitely very handy.

Ohhh you've got me thinking now.

Do you have a remote that works with a Wheel Pilot, a "Navico" made by Simrad?

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by smacksman

We read about our heros to learn from their experiences but to then bless modern materials and technology which today make crossing oceans, solo or 2+ crew, easier and safer. The main reason sailors can't cross oceans is time, money or commitments not lack of competance.

I still say crossing oceans in a well found vessel at the right time of year is no big deal. Between the excitement and dangers of leaving and arriving, the daily routine of looking after your vessel and yourself can even get boring after a few weeks.




Ha ha! Yes, an anchor is more than a 'toy' though some I've seen in marinas would come into that catagory! You said you don't use 95% of the gear we have been talking about here and I agree with you that offshore they are not essential but nice to have.

But modern electronics are very useful inshore for the solo sailor and all of us. GPS Map, autopilot (I also found the remote wifi controller very useful), echo sounder, VHF, mobile phone, internet and so on have made life easier.

My plastic boat has lots of 'toys' but my 1885 smack in my avatar has no toys, no engine, no winches and no electrics. At 65 foot overall people assume that she has an engine and are suprised that I can't stop and go in reverse. When she fished, everyone knew that and when they bumped a bit in harbour and knocked some tar off the topsides nobody cared. A compass, charts and lead line see me through but I never go into a marina and never sail solo so sailing her is fun but more restrictive with no 'toys'.

It would be a very big deal to me crewing on anyone's boat (I wouldn't take this one across the Atlantic. There are probably people who could, but they have a lot more hours at the helm than I do.) (And then they would know enough not to use this boat. )

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by hooligan6a

My point is, that this started out about tips on solo sailing, not on what you should load your boat up with. There are some nice toys out there but they don't substitute for getting out there and sailing. I do not mean to insult anyone and I'm sorry if anyone took it that way. That is a very nice boat Smackman. But I still say that crossing an ocean, in a well found boat, at the right time of year, ALONE, is a big deal. Maybe I am wrong, but I still don't see many doing it. Maybe they don't have an interest in doing it. The one piece of equipment I would not sail without is a good wind vane. And a good anchor.

But for some people, they prefer to have the extra "toys." Assuming I had a different boat, heavier for its size, more selection in sails, full keel, sturdy rudder come to mind immediately NOT to mention a bigger water tank, I would want AIS on it. I would want RADAR on it. I would have EPIRBS on every occupied life jacket as well as one on the boat.

Those are things that come to mind immediately, but I haven't thought about it a lot because this boat isn't the boat to take on such a trip.

[hooligan6a]

We are talking about someone learning to singlehand. Why do you need a bunch of gear to do that? You need a boat, period.

[Mauruuru]

So Neil, in keeping with theme of single handing there are several advantages to a vertically retracting keel vs swing keel. The most obvious is that center of effort stays in the same place regardless of draft- where I want it under the mast. Secondarily with keel up I can fly downwind or off the wind with much less leeway. Because the hull is semispherical speed is enhanced and drag is reduced unless beating upwind and all that is controlled from cockpit using an electric winch to raise or lower the keel while sailing. None of my swing keel boats could do that

[sartorst]

Yea all you need is a bucket and a stick and a sheet wait till the wind blows your way! This aint for pleasure you know! Now getter dun! Ever wander why you gotta do it alone?

Thread drift!

[Sandero]

tips for single handing:

mid ship cleat for docking
slab reefing w/ lines led aft
self tailing winches (power assisted such a winch bit in drill)
electric windlass, all chain
auto pilot (below decks are more robust)
roller furling head sail
hand held VHF
jack lines
chart plotter or charts viewable in cockpit
protected helm location
basic working nav instruments visible from helm

experience

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Sandero

tips for single handing:

mid ship cleat for docking
slab reefing w/ lines led aft
self tailing winches (power assisted such a winch bit in drill)
electric windlass, all chain
auto pilot (below decks are more robust)
roller furling head sail
hand held VHF
jack lines
chart plotter or charts viewable in cockpit
protected helm location
basic working nav instruments visible from helm

experience

I would add, truly comfy clothes to sleep in. You don't want to have to go topside in a storm in the middle of the night in your jammies.

[sabray]

Be very conservative with energy out put. Get rid of your 8 hour work cycle.Be meticulous with routine and logging. Keep lists of things you need to do. Maintenance is your friend. It keeps some sense to things, keeps things in order. Gives objectives for tomorrow. Be decisive know that you are confident in your choices. Understand your options. What you planned may not happen. You might need to do something that you did not plan on. You should be okay that your not doing what you planned.
I think that is as best I can do for advice for a singlehanded sailor.

[sctpc]

A very easy method to reduce the length of lose line in the cockpit is to use a single, continuous sheet. This is rarely seen on boats but is incredibly practical. It will eliminate virtually the entire sheet piled in the cockpit. A single, continuous sheet will be longer than one normal sheet, but much shorter than two sheets. To create a continuous sheet, start with one end tied to the clew of the jib. Run the sheet backwards through the blocks on the leeward side of the boat, around the windward winch with three wraps, around the leeward winch, through the blocks on the windward side of the boat and tie the remaining end to the sail clew. Well that and a autopilot.

[Tymadman]

Originally Posted by Mauruuru

So Neil, in keeping with theme of single handing there are several advantages to a vertically retracting keel vs swing keel. The most obvious is that center of effort stays in the same place regardless of draft- where I want it under the mast. Secondarily with keel up I can fly downwind or off the wind with much less leeway. Because the hull is semispherical speed is enhanced and drag is reduced unless beating upwind and all that is controlled from cockpit using an electric winch to raise or lower the keel while sailing. None of my swing keel boats could do that

Good to know, thanks!

[roverhi]

There are swing keels, retracting keels and center boarders.

Most of the retracting keels I've seen are not meant to be raised and/or lowered under sail. They are designed to make the boat trailerable. Some of the multi's are using dagger boards but they are relatively light and unbalasted but who can afford one of those gold platers. Any thing that requires electricity to function, is an unseaworthy device IMHO.

Swing keels are pretty much restricted to small trailerables. Because of the possibility of retracting in a knockdown don't consider them safe for anything but sailing in protected waters where you can swim to shore if that happens in a knockdown.

Centerboarders are ballasted shallow keel boats with unballasted hinged boards for limiting leeway on the wind.

Stick with center boarders if you need shallow draft. Fixed keels other than that. Of course, if you are rolling in bucks, buy what makes you happy.