Singlehanded on a 49' Ketch

[Mexdon]

Capt.Fred, I really appreciate your tip on preserving teak. My first boat had teak and I used to wash it down with salt water regularly. That was in NZ so I could not get to do it after ever rainfall. Since then I have not had a yacht with teak but I am in the process of buying one that has a LOT of teak. My signature caption is actually a bastardization of the expresion " Tell me how much I like working here.....I keep forgetting". I though the reference to teak much more fitting to this forum. I love teak, the only drawback is in the tropics I cannot walk on it in bare feet....it gets a little too hot. I would never sacrifice a teak deck for plastic. That statement should draw them out of the woodwork.

[Capt Phil]

Having had teak decks on my last 3 boats, I wish I had known/thought of Capt Fred's secret of maintaining them. I tried to wash them regularly in ocean water but the use of water softening salt is a great idea! Too often in a harbor there might be an imperceptible sheen of oil or other contaminant that required a thorough washing with detergent to remove it. The water softening salt is a great alternative. I always did varnish the toe rail, however... mainly because the Admiral loved the look... Capt Phil

[Capt.Fred]

Single handing my 50 ft 23 ton cutter yawl "Daedalus" or my 23 ft 1 1/2 ton Rob Roy Is about the same except on the 50 footer I have a bit more elbow room. My point is in a tight anchorage, I would love sailng around all the anchored boats doing figure eights and just showiing off. With the self tacking staysil, Mainsail and mizzen sail, (The foresail would remain furled) I had a multitude of sail options instantainiously from my center seat behind the Wheel. All lines led to my finger tips and I have an excess of clam cleats right at hand. Ok, to drop down you immediately free the mizzen and haul in on the staysil. Ok, not to drop down you haul in on the mizzen and free up the staysil. With parctice you'll get the timing right and have a ball.
Happy Days,
Capt.Fred
...BTW, just leave the main in a comfortable spot and only adjust it to overcome a miscalc....After a while you will be on the cover of the Southern Cruising Guide..!

[Geoduck]

Well, Capt Fred, we ought to get along just fine - you being a lover of teak and an owner of a big ketch and a 28fter -
I own a 48' ketch that is ALL TEAK and a 20ft yawl with no motor - the outboard died so I'm sculling these days! (Nimble 20)
I like the salt idea- I'll have to try it. Up here in the NW we get plenty of fresh water out of the sky, as you know, I hope the salt idea might kill the growth of the green stuff.
And , yes , I agree - varnish belongs in the can on the shelf when it comes to teak.
I sail my boat alone most of the time. The only fancy equip I've got are a couple of self tailing winches. I just take my time and try not to get excited. I must admit, it would be nice to have roller furling, reefing, automatic this or that - when the stuff works!
I've had enough trouble with automation in the past that I've decided to keep it simple.
We had 50 knt winds last week and I went down to take a look at the boat - I saw 5 roller furlers get loose and destroy themselves! Most people know by now to wrap the sheets around afew times to tie it all in but I guess 5 people forgot - oh well!
Keeps the sail loft in biz!

[eric anderson]

HI Tassiebloke ,

We've recently purchased a Transpac 49 and would love to correspond , (assuming you went ahead and purchased the TP49 you were looking at a few years back ) ,

Regards,

Eric

[Capt Phil]

Hi Eric... As a former owner of a Transpac 49, I'm curious where you are sailing her. Ours was named Snowbird and home ported in Stateline,NV. We cruised her from San Diego to Mexico twice as well as the Channel Islands and lived aboard in San Diego off and on for several years. Have fond memories of her and did a lot of work at Baja Naval shipyard in Ensenada, MX. Also spent a few months at Marina Coral before they built the Cruiseport in Ensenada. Where are you located? Phil

[eric anderson]

Hi Phil ,

Thanks for your response. We are actually berthed in a little harbour (Two Rocks Marina ) north of Perth , Western Australia .

We only acquired our TP49 Mk 2 in May of this year and are preparing our previous boat ( Van de Stadt 40 ) for sale at the moment. This will finish in next week or two and then we will be able to give "Calypso V" our full attention.

We have planned a six week shake-down cruise to the south of the state in Jan /Feb so should know a lot more about her handling etc after that . We stay aboard 2 or 3 nights a week and we certainly find her a tremendous boat to live on . The interior is impeccably well kept if slightly dated but we'll work on that.

Calypso V was built in Taiwan in early eighties , launching at end of '82 . She presents beautifully rigged as a staysail ketch. Teak decks need work but mechanically has been kept to a very high standard.

I'm sure you were very sorry to part with your 49'r .....I know we will be very very happy with ours.

Regards,

Eric and Lisa Anderson

[Capt Phil]

I know the area where you are located well having married a woman from the 'top end' who lived in Perth in the Subiaca area. We visited there several times and quite enjoyed the area. We purchased our Transpacific 49 in San Diego in about 1997, she needed a lot of work to bring her back but had strong bones so it was worth the effort. We lived aboard and cruised from the LA area down to the Sea of Cortez for a few years before returning to the U.S. where we lived aboard for several more years. The only reason we sold her was my health made it increasingly difficult to handle the boat in a blow so we moved aboard a DeFever 54 and lived aboard her and cruised the U.S. West Coast and Pacific Northwest for another 6-7 years.
You will enjoy sailing the Transpac, very stable but not a racehorse although the voluminous interior makes her a dream to liveaboard. The high freeboard requires a sturdy ladder to board from the water. Heaps of room for dive tanks and a compressor if you are inclined. The split rig makes her easy to balance and handle. As you know, access to the engine is great for maintenance and assume you have the dependable Lehman engine.
Good luck with your adventure... Hope you get down to Albany and Cape Leuwen way for some of that great wreck diving! Cheers, Phil

[rockborn]

self tailing winches are easier . That's my next upgrade

[Maritimo]

Tassiebloke: in my opinion, that's just a bit too much boat for one to handle safely, especially considering your current level of experience.
Nothing is impossible, however, much preparation in the emergency preparedness department would be prudent, and don't skimp on safety gear (combination harness/hydrostatic operated PFD, with RATED jack lines, lanyard and deck fittings)
The importance of NOT going over the side in the first place while solo cannot be stressed enough


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[Capt Phil]

Great advice, Maritimo... I single handed my Transpacific 49 around a fair bit and the split rig made sail handling fairly easy but you,are dead right, if you go over the side on a vessel with that much freeboard, even with a ladder down it is tough to regain the deck.
Jack lines, high lifelines, reef early, have a heavy weather plan and practice it! Phil

[groundtackle]

Originally Posted by mrohr

Wow, singlehanding a large ketch in big water, what is your experience to date? How old are you? Do you really need this much boat? Details please.

I for one think single handing a ketch in weather is easier than a sloop rig boat
The sails are smaller and like an earlier poster said you can do well without your main


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