I have two questions. I am interested in the 460 and want to know 1) how she sails (fast or slow, having given up Laser sailing for a Hunter 376), and 2) can one single hand this boat. It is just my wife and me, and it's good to have either one of us handle her alone from time to time.
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Sure
I am assuming that you mean that there will be 2 people on the boat but only one of them doing the sailing. We do this all the time in reasonable conditions. The gear is all there (assuming you have an autopilot). If it gets to strong winds and big seas, I think it would be tiring to keep her going on varied points of sail. help is If you want to take the boat out alone for extended periods, I still think it could be done but I would want some modifications made. Soem docking situations would also be quite interesting with only one person but then some are with 2 people as well. I saw a Beneteau 50 being docked in Friday Harbour one day with 6 people on board. It took them a full 15 minutes to get the boat broadside to the dock - and the wind was directly on the nose. Couldn't figure out what was going on.
I am assuming that you mean that there will be 2 people on the boat but only one of them doing the sailing. We do this all the time in reasonable conditions. The gear is all there (assuming you have an autopilot). If it gets to strong winds and big seas, I think it would be tiring to keep her going on varied points of sail. help is If you want to take the boat out alone for extended periods, I still think it could be done but I would want some modifications made. Soem docking situations would also be quite interesting with only one person but then some are with 2 people as well. I saw a Beneteau 50 being docked in Friday Harbour one day with 6 people on board. It took them a full 15 minutes to get the boat broadside to the dock - and the wind was directly on the nose. Couldn't figure out what was going on.
You want to have your cake and eat it .....
Your problem is that being fast and easy to single/double-hand are more or less contradictory requirements. There are good reasons why racing requires such large crews. Also, the longer the boat the higher its theoretical hull speed but the bigger and heavier its equipment. On extended cruises a 46 ft. ketch will be easier to operate near its optimum performance for 1 or 2 sailors than a 46ft sloop, because of the much smaller maximum sail size and the increased sailplan options. The 460 should be plenty fast, provided you forego the mast furling option (I would consider batcars and Dutchman sail flaking, instead) so you can keep the full battened, big roach main. On the other hand, if single-handed operation (including reefing) is your biggest concern you may well want to chose a furling main. In that case a good boom furling system should give you a better chance of achieving good speed performance than a mast furling system. A single person can easily drive nearly any size boat for extended periods of time as long as he or she has a strong autopilot or windvane. Presumably, both of you will be at hand when gybing, tacking, reefing, raising and dropping sail, anchoring or docking. Only docking can be difficult for two people with a 46 footer, particularly if wind, current and dock constellations are less than favorably aligned. Getting a Maxprop should get you much better handling in close quarters (improved performance in reverse!). If money is no object you could even consider a bow thruster. Good luck! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (HL 43, hull #1)
Your problem is that being fast and easy to single/double-hand are more or less contradictory requirements. There are good reasons why racing requires such large crews. Also, the longer the boat the higher its theoretical hull speed but the bigger and heavier its equipment. On extended cruises a 46 ft. ketch will be easier to operate near its optimum performance for 1 or 2 sailors than a 46ft sloop, because of the much smaller maximum sail size and the increased sailplan options. The 460 should be plenty fast, provided you forego the mast furling option (I would consider batcars and Dutchman sail flaking, instead) so you can keep the full battened, big roach main. On the other hand, if single-handed operation (including reefing) is your biggest concern you may well want to chose a furling main. In that case a good boom furling system should give you a better chance of achieving good speed performance than a mast furling system. A single person can easily drive nearly any size boat for extended periods of time as long as he or she has a strong autopilot or windvane. Presumably, both of you will be at hand when gybing, tacking, reefing, raising and dropping sail, anchoring or docking. Only docking can be difficult for two people with a 46 footer, particularly if wind, current and dock constellations are less than favorably aligned. Getting a Maxprop should get you much better handling in close quarters (improved performance in reverse!). If money is no object you could even consider a bow thruster. Good luck! Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (HL 43, hull #1)
460 Single Hand
I took delivery of my 460 two weeks ago and have sailed it 6 or 7 times. I'm still getting familar with the boat but to answer your question I would feel comfortabe in solo sailing the boat. I do have a furling main, max prop and a B&G auto pilot. These features make the boat very easy to handle but of course in adverse conitions docking still would be a substantial challenge. As far as the speed issue is concerned, I ordered the boat with the furling main with the clear intention of making it easy. I am well aware that the roach of the main is eliminated with about 100 sq feet of sail loss. The reduction in speed was not an important issue to me. If I wanted a truly fast boat, I could have purchased a late model J 120 for the same price. I have sailed and owned many Hunters, the last one being a 40.5. All of my previous boats had full mains. I would frequently single hand the 40.5 but in a big blow she was alot to handle. I was fully expecting a compromise in the performance of the 460 with the furling main. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. The wind speed range thus far has been between 10 and 18 knots true. I haven't sailed in very light wind yet but I'm sure the furling main will effect performance on the low wind range. Nonetheless, the boat is very quick and fast. I raced a new Catalina 470 with a full main in about 12 knots true, and ate him for lunch to my surprise and his. Hope this helps answer your questions.
I took delivery of my 460 two weeks ago and have sailed it 6 or 7 times. I'm still getting familar with the boat but to answer your question I would feel comfortabe in solo sailing the boat. I do have a furling main, max prop and a B&G auto pilot. These features make the boat very easy to handle but of course in adverse conitions docking still would be a substantial challenge. As far as the speed issue is concerned, I ordered the boat with the furling main with the clear intention of making it easy. I am well aware that the roach of the main is eliminated with about 100 sq feet of sail loss. The reduction in speed was not an important issue to me. If I wanted a truly fast boat, I could have purchased a late model J 120 for the same price. I have sailed and owned many Hunters, the last one being a 40.5. All of my previous boats had full mains. I would frequently single hand the 40.5 but in a big blow she was alot to handle. I was fully expecting a compromise in the performance of the 460 with the furling main. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. The wind speed range thus far has been between 10 and 18 knots true. I haven't sailed in very light wind yet but I'm sure the furling main will effect performance on the low wind range. Nonetheless, the boat is very quick and fast. I raced a new Catalina 470 with a full main in about 12 knots true, and ate him for lunch to my surprise and his. Hope this helps answer your questions.
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