Single Handed Cats

[Strikhedonia]

I tend to enjoy a bit of controversy so let's hear it, what is the best Cat to sail single-handed including long (5+ day) passages?

[barnakiel]

A Nacra.

b.

[FLLCatsailor]

I dont it is fun to single hand any boat for 5 days... I'm pretty sure if you have a cruising cat you probably muster up a friend or two to go sailing with you...

Pretty much anything that leads all the lines back to the helm will do...

[boatman61]

[QUOTE=mnfish;1264926 sail single-handed including long (5+ day) passages?[/QUOTE]

Long Passages... EEEHEHeeehhhhheeeeee...... 5 days... ahahhhaaaaahahahaa.... hysterical....

[Factor]

There are many that are relatively easy to single hand:
good systems with lines back to the helms,
radios near helms,
good visibility,
AIS with easily settable alarms,
good visibility,
good easily used preventers on main,
good visibility,
good autopilot,
good visibility.

Good visibility is the key - if you can be relaxed and protected and be able to look around easily, you will be much less stressed and much less tired. I have single handed some otherwise excellent boats that required me to go outside to see what was around, that gets annoying in crap weather, even having to stand up to see gets old quick. Keeping a good lookout is the first principle and if you can do that in comfort it goes a long way to an enjoyable voyage.

[Roy M]

Adding a forward scanning sonar with an alarm zone set at maximum is a good idea to reduce the whale, deadhead log, container, sea pinnacle, reef or other underwater hazards. I have the Interphase SE200C. In deep water it reaches out 1000 feet, enough to give me a chance to switch it to horizontal mode and check an escape route. The occasional "meatball" of baitfish only serves to keep me alert.

[Strikhedonia]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

A Nacra.

b.

Affordable too, thanks for the suggestion!

[Strikhedonia]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Long Passages... EEEHEHeeehhhhheeeeee...... 5 days... ahahhhaaaaahahahaa.... hysterical....

Agreed thus the 5+ day - I wanted to limit the comments thinking the plan was to bounce island to island in the Caribbean.

[Strikhedonia]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Adding a forward scanning sonar with an alarm zone set at maximum is a good idea to reduce the whale, deadhead log, container, sea pinnacle, reef or other underwater hazards. I have the Interphase SE200C. In deep water it reaches out 1000 feet, enough to give me a chance to switch it to horizontal mode and check an escape route. The occasional "meatball" of baitfish only serves to keep me alert.

Agreed on the forward sonar, how long have your had the SE200C? Would you buy it again? Did you look at the EchoPilot's system?

I would also add as mandatory:

• AIS system (understood all boats do not broadcast)
• Anchor alarm
• 15 minute timer...

[Strikhedonia]

My thoughts are that the Lagoon cockpit looks too exposed but the dual helms on the Seawind with good protection (and close access to salon) would be a better options.

[Cotemar]

Have single handed my Mahe 36 for a few month with no problems. I can drive from inside the Saloon if I want to.

Have a friend with a Mahe 36 that single hands from Long Island sound to the Bahamas & FL keys every year.

[Mr B]

The totally enclosed cockpit of my Gemini was a Boon to me single handing from Fiji to Oz,
I was never out in the elements, when it got very cold, I was always snug and warm in the cockpit, I had good all round visibility, Auto pilot made it very easy, I could make repairs and still keep going,
I had maps of the ocean floor, so depth was never a problem, 300 foot depth sounder, and the GPS were pretty accurate, Especially when I was in 3 feet of water,
But it did have me sailing up the beach at Bundaberg, Nothing beats your eyeballs,

[44'cruisingcat]

Hey Mr B, how are the repairs to your boat coming?

(Sorry for the thread drift)

[Talbot]

It is not a matter of manufacturer so much as equipment installed with a view to singlehanding.

I have only singlehanded for 20 hours, max but have now set-up my boat to make this a lot easier. As a single hander, you need to minimise the reasons for leaving the cockpit. Thus single line reefing, or even in-boom reefing are high on the list of requirements. But the single most important item for a singlehander is a very good reliable autopilot.

[monte]

most modern cats are probably as easy as each other. my L380 is easier than my hobie 18 to single hand. Having sailed the seawind 100 and the L380 I would say the lagoon offers much better protection from the elements. The sliding hatch over the helm is nice too if it rains just pull it over. The things that make it easiest are
-all lines leading to the helm, including furling, reefing, halyards, both jib sheets
-auto pilot with self tack (self tack not necessary, but autopilot definitely)
-AIS, radar but not necessarily only for singlehanders
-ability to make food and drinks and still maintain watch (galley up)
-radio at the helm