wanted to see the video posted of sailing short handed but it did not play. and since I am a solo sailer, just wanted to hear of anybody elses experiences sailing solo. I do mine on a 25ft helms, and find it quite relaxing to be out by myself with nothing but the wind and sun. every once in a while, either beaching or anchoring to do a little bit of fishing or take a nap. need to fine tune some things to make my sailing abit more smooth. namely running some lines to the cockpit. its crazy sometimes but I still love it.
All Alone
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hello
i like the idea of solo sailing. i have read alot of books about sailing, and i have decided to set up my running rigging for everything to be accessable in the cockpit. i plan to color code all the ropes, so if i should bring someone along with me, who doesn't know sailing, it will be easy for them to be part of it. i have a tiller now, but i am looking into a wheel helm system to install. i love fishing, so i will also always have my fishing gear with me.
sincerely
Jess
i like the idea of solo sailing. i have read alot of books about sailing, and i have decided to set up my running rigging for everything to be accessable in the cockpit. i plan to color code all the ropes, so if i should bring someone along with me, who doesn't know sailing, it will be easy for them to be part of it. i have a tiller now, but i am looking into a wheel helm system to install. i love fishing, so i will also always have my fishing gear with me.
sincerely
Jess
Seen this?
http://sfbaysss.org/tipsbook/SinglehandedTips.pdf
A remarkably thorough treatise on singlehanding.
I'm almost done with an autotiller installation on my Mac.
http://sfbaysss.org/tipsbook/SinglehandedTips.pdf
A remarkably thorough treatise on singlehanding.
I'm almost done with an autotiller installation on my Mac.
trainmanjess wrote;
i like the idea of solo sailing. i have read alot of books about sailing, and i have decided to set up my running rigging for everything to be accessable in the cockpit. i plan to color code all the ropes.......
Centerline replied;
colored lines are more expensive than white lines.....its cheaper to get a good label maker and make labels for the cleats where the lines attach to... then if you decide to bring people with you, they will learn to know the lines by the proper names rather than the red rope, the green rope and that yellow one over there....... the naming system is a more preferred, common and sensible method, than is the color coded system, but some folks still like to add color to their lines......
trainmanjess wrote;
i have a tiller now, but i am looking into a wheel helm system to install. i love fishing, so i will also always have my fishing gear with me.
Centerline replied;
in our small boats adding a wheel doesnt help the value, the sailability or the single handing of it..... in some cases it could hurt one of more of these qualities that your boat already has a fair amount of...
but like the colored lines or the wheel idea, its a matter of preference that dictates what we do to our boats, so i only offer these comments with the thought that it may save you a bit of money to put elsewhere on the boat that would make it better for single handed sailing....
i like the idea of solo sailing. i have read alot of books about sailing, and i have decided to set up my running rigging for everything to be accessable in the cockpit. i plan to color code all the ropes.......
Centerline replied;
colored lines are more expensive than white lines.....its cheaper to get a good label maker and make labels for the cleats where the lines attach to... then if you decide to bring people with you, they will learn to know the lines by the proper names rather than the red rope, the green rope and that yellow one over there....... the naming system is a more preferred, common and sensible method, than is the color coded system, but some folks still like to add color to their lines......
trainmanjess wrote;
i have a tiller now, but i am looking into a wheel helm system to install. i love fishing, so i will also always have my fishing gear with me.
Centerline replied;
in our small boats adding a wheel doesnt help the value, the sailability or the single handing of it..... in some cases it could hurt one of more of these qualities that your boat already has a fair amount of...
but like the colored lines or the wheel idea, its a matter of preference that dictates what we do to our boats, so i only offer these comments with the thought that it may save you a bit of money to put elsewhere on the boat that would make it better for single handed sailing....
My suggestion. Autopilot. Nothing else you put on your boat will make such a huge difference single-handing. It's truly like a second hand, that tirelessly mans the helm; while you go about the business of sailing it.
I agree that a wheel on a small boat doesn't make a whole lot of sense, not to me at least. My first sailboat was a Mac25 with a tiller, then I went up to a Watkins 29 with a wheel. Now I am back down to a Montgomery 17 with a tiller. I must say I like the tiller and the smaller boat more for many reasons, cost being a big one.
Autopilot is super nice too, no doubt.
Autopilot is super nice too, no doubt.
Totally agree on installing solid color lines..... they don't necessarily cost more...depends where you shop and what brand ..... but even if you pay 10cents a foot more, they are worth it to reduce the confusion factor. Sometimes your guests don't want to learn everything about sailing the first time out.... so in a pinch you can just say "the red one".... but even without guests, it's just easier for you to locate or straighen out the control line you need. And you can still label the cleats and stoppers.... In any event, contrary to what centerline says, colored lines are widely used by all of us...... racers, cruisers and daysailors.... they just make sense.
I also totally agree with Chris, that a tiller pilot is the best single investment you can make if you plan to single hand a lot.... and even if sailing with crew most of the time, a tiller pilot is very functional...
And this brings us to the oft discussed tiller/wheel conversion. I'll say this, DON'T DO IT! It's very costly, and will actually make your 25 footer less amenable to single handing. First of all, a tiller pilot is way, way cheaper than the least expensive wheel pilot.... For your boat you can purchase a Ray TP1000 for under 450.... even less if you shop... Second, and I single hand all the time, you can easily handle the sheets and halyards AND steer the boat with the tiller between your knees.... the tiller allows you to move around the cockpit for the most desirable steering position.... especially if you have a removable extension you can mount to the tiller....like if you want to sit on the upwind side coaming, well forward so you can see the jib telltales, or oncoming traffic... etc... The tiller gives you much more sensitivity to your boat's motion and the elements affecting it, in addition, when not sailing the tiller lifts up, out of the way to give a small boat more cockpit space.... can't do that with a wheel. Finally, a wheel on a small sailboat is unnecessary from a mechanical standpoint, and... in my opinion.. just not aesthetically pleasing. Oh, one last thing, you will not get your investment back when it's time to sell the boat.... in fact, the cost of adding a proper wheel steering system will probably be more than the total value of your boat now.
Back to single handing.... By all means, run your halyards, cunningham and vang controls aft... pretty easy to figure out by looking at a few pictures. Note than even though rope clutches are pretty cool, they are fairly expensive. Cam cleats great, but if you're on a budget, simple vee or "clamcleats" are more than adequate... it's your money.
If you use hank on sails.... install a jib down haul.... very inexpensive to set up.... it's been discussed here so if interested, do an archive search or send me a private message. The jib downhaul will allow you to drop your headsail on deck in any condition, from the security of your cockpit.
The final recommendation I'll make is to purchase a safety harness and good quality tether...... and use them at all times when sailing solo...... Even on a placid lake, getting separated from your boat is not an option.
I also totally agree with Chris, that a tiller pilot is the best single investment you can make if you plan to single hand a lot.... and even if sailing with crew most of the time, a tiller pilot is very functional...
And this brings us to the oft discussed tiller/wheel conversion. I'll say this, DON'T DO IT! It's very costly, and will actually make your 25 footer less amenable to single handing. First of all, a tiller pilot is way, way cheaper than the least expensive wheel pilot.... For your boat you can purchase a Ray TP1000 for under 450.... even less if you shop... Second, and I single hand all the time, you can easily handle the sheets and halyards AND steer the boat with the tiller between your knees.... the tiller allows you to move around the cockpit for the most desirable steering position.... especially if you have a removable extension you can mount to the tiller....like if you want to sit on the upwind side coaming, well forward so you can see the jib telltales, or oncoming traffic... etc... The tiller gives you much more sensitivity to your boat's motion and the elements affecting it, in addition, when not sailing the tiller lifts up, out of the way to give a small boat more cockpit space.... can't do that with a wheel. Finally, a wheel on a small sailboat is unnecessary from a mechanical standpoint, and... in my opinion.. just not aesthetically pleasing. Oh, one last thing, you will not get your investment back when it's time to sell the boat.... in fact, the cost of adding a proper wheel steering system will probably be more than the total value of your boat now.
Back to single handing.... By all means, run your halyards, cunningham and vang controls aft... pretty easy to figure out by looking at a few pictures. Note than even though rope clutches are pretty cool, they are fairly expensive. Cam cleats great, but if you're on a budget, simple vee or "clamcleats" are more than adequate... it's your money.
If you use hank on sails.... install a jib down haul.... very inexpensive to set up.... it's been discussed here so if interested, do an archive search or send me a private message. The jib downhaul will allow you to drop your headsail on deck in any condition, from the security of your cockpit.
The final recommendation I'll make is to purchase a safety harness and good quality tether...... and use them at all times when sailing solo...... Even on a placid lake, getting separated from your boat is not an option.
Some of my most enjoyable sailing has been solo. Valinor has been carefully set up for it. The only thing I need to leave the cockpit for is to drop anchor - and I'm rigging a stern-deployable anchor this season. Auto-pilot is essential. All the preceding advice is good. See www.chesapeaketidings.com - click on The Boat to see how she's set up.
I single hand quite a bit on our 39 foot Camper Nicholson center cockpit ketch. I think that you need to sail the boat as she wants to sail and realize that you always have time if you are thinking ahead. I have sailed part of the coast of Nova Scotia and back across to Maine alone and if you are comfortable with yourself, it is grand. The only times that I feel bad about single handing is when I would like to share an experience with my wife(who is still working!) Sailing into a rising full moon or sailing by a pod of breaching whales should be shared with someone you love.
My forum on this site would not exist if it were not for the the autopilot and wind vane.
I use colored lines also..... for the vang, preventor and downhaul.i didnt mean to give the impression no one should use colored lines, but i meant to say there are other places to spend the money to make it better for single handing.... such as properly placed cam cleats, anchor roller, tiller pilot and other helpful electronics..... once its set up for single handing, then splurge for the colored lines
and I will respectfully say that I know for a fact, if you have a novice onboard who is eager and wants to learn about sailing and learn the lingo, its better to have the lines with their proper names than it is to have the lines colored. start them off by knowing what the downhaul does, rather than what the green line does..... they will learn quicker and can use what they learn on the next boat they crew on... i do realize its harder to say "ease the jib sheet on the left" than it is to say "ease the green line over there" but if they have no interest the names of the lines they are dealing with, they probably have less interest in dealing with the lines at all......
my unsolicited opinion is that there are enough boat owners that dont know what to call all the lines on their own boat without teaching others that its the "red line over there that does that.... and the blue one does this"
but I still maintain that it's a matter of personal preference.......its all good
I usually have my wife and family(although the kids are both in college now), and they all love it as well. Luckily they know I like to sail alone(I'm passionate about it), so it's not unusual for me to steal out to the boat for a daysail. I like nothing better than to sail say, from my mooring, through Pulpit Harbor, and then home, for fun.
And over the years, I've often moved our boat(s) myself, between points south and north, up and down the east coast.
Lately, that's just been across the Gulf of Maine. I like that overnight solo. You can pick your weather with accuracy for the trip. It's a beautiful stretch of water. It's a pleasant time block (24-36 hours) and distance (120 to 150 nm).
That has allowed some great combinations of getting people and their different schedules back and forth over the road,...while I sail,... to meet me down south, or back at home in Maine. It's gives flexibility and extends our range when time is limited.
And over the years, I've often moved our boat(s) myself, between points south and north, up and down the east coast.
Lately, that's just been across the Gulf of Maine. I like that overnight solo. You can pick your weather with accuracy for the trip. It's a beautiful stretch of water. It's a pleasant time block (24-36 hours) and distance (120 to 150 nm).
That has allowed some great combinations of getting people and their different schedules back and forth over the road,...while I sail,... to meet me down south, or back at home in Maine. It's gives flexibility and extends our range when time is limited.
Joe, you mention cam cleats for lines brought back to the cockpit. Would Harkin 150 cam cleats be adequate for halylards, vang, etc or maybe the larger version?. I like the idea of the cam cleats better than buying rope clutches.
You mention safety harness and tether. How about the Mustang auto inflating PFDs with sailing harness built in? I plan on buying one for each of us.
Any advantage to just the harness?
Last night I read Seldon's document on rig tunning. Link was posted by Rick H. Seldon color codes their lines on there products.
On my first boat I used solid color lines. Maine Halyard was on starboard so it was green. Jib halyard was on port so it was red. Jib downhaul was blue. Reef lilnes were black.
The admiral really liked the color coding instead of having to learn the lingo. The halyards helped her learn port and starboard and the other terms are coming to her slowly but in the meantime we can easily communicate.
I plan to use the same color code on our O'day.
I would like to get the tiller pilot this spring but the Admiral doesn't not want to spend the money. Hoping she sees the advantage once we get on the water again.
Really good thread and timely as I begin my spring buying.
Ward, clam cleats are perhaps the worst idea ever invented. Lines can jump out of them at the most inappropriate times. Cam cleats are much better.
well Joe, you hit some good points, but I have a wheel. I also have a tiller handle that can be attached. the only thing I do not have is an autopilot. someday soon it will be there. even though the wheel does take up some extra room, it doesnt seem to bother me. my long arms work very well at all points of sail. am so glad that I was reminded of putting a downhaul on the headsail. that slipped my mind. as for colored lines, they add a little bit of extra color to the peaceful scene when Im out. I salute all of you for every bit of info/knowledge.
My bad. Meant cam cleats, not clam cleats.
Thanks for catching that Stu. There is a big difference between the two and I some reason always get the name backwards.
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