Thinking of trading my 310 in for a 410, I do a lot of solo sailing, will this size be much more difficult to handle, will use it for short cruises in good weather. thanks for input
- Status
Larger Boat and Single
My recent experience tells me; 1. You can do it. 2. It will be much more difficult 3. It will be more stressful. Just handling the main by yourself will be enough to make you cry. I sailed my Catalina 34 90% of the time myself and was comfortable. While I can sail my 37.5 myself, It's generally a pain in the ass dropping the main because I can't do it from the mast etc. And it's a lot more sail and boat. Knowing what I know now, it's my opinion that if I wasn't cruising around with my wife and using this thing as a luxury home on the water, I would go back to something with less sail, rigged differently and I would test sail it myself before buying. chuckwolfe@mail.com
My recent experience tells me; 1. You can do it. 2. It will be much more difficult 3. It will be more stressful. Just handling the main by yourself will be enough to make you cry. I sailed my Catalina 34 90% of the time myself and was comfortable. While I can sail my 37.5 myself, It's generally a pain in the ass dropping the main because I can't do it from the mast etc. And it's a lot more sail and boat. Knowing what I know now, it's my opinion that if I wasn't cruising around with my wife and using this thing as a luxury home on the water, I would go back to something with less sail, rigged differently and I would test sail it myself before buying. chuckwolfe@mail.com
Docking is difficult
I went from a 280 to a 380 and found sailing solo easy except for docking when windy. If you have crew it's ok but if your alone you need a few friendly dock people to help out. Toughest part is when you get sideways to the wind, with such high freeboard the wind pushes you and you don't have the extra hands to fend off pilings, other boats etc. It's doable, but much more enjoyable if you take friends. I sailed the 410 for 3 days last year, it's a great sailing boat, good luk Bob Knott H380
I went from a 280 to a 380 and found sailing solo easy except for docking when windy. If you have crew it's ok but if your alone you need a few friendly dock people to help out. Toughest part is when you get sideways to the wind, with such high freeboard the wind pushes you and you don't have the extra hands to fend off pilings, other boats etc. It's doable, but much more enjoyable if you take friends. I sailed the 410 for 3 days last year, it's a great sailing boat, good luk Bob Knott H380
Autopilot
I sailed by Passage 42 many times by myself. I recomend that you get an autopilot (6000 of 7000). Then one person can do it and have fun. Docking on any boat can be nail bitting if the conditions are against you. Good luck.
I sailed by Passage 42 many times by myself. I recomend that you get an autopilot (6000 of 7000). Then one person can do it and have fun. Docking on any boat can be nail bitting if the conditions are against you. Good luck.
Set it up right
We have a '97 40.5, the previous model version of the 410. Although I have never taken it out by myself, I would not have any reservations provided that I can pick my weather. I keep it on a mooring, so docking is not an issue. I also have an electric winch to handle the mainsail. I consider this a necessity. Also an Autohelm 7000 as previously mentioned. I have found that dousing the main can be difficult with the full batten sail if there is too much friction in the track. I am going to address a solution for this problem this spring. As long as you realise that everything takes longer when solo and you don't allow yourself to get boxed into a tight situation, you should be OK.
We have a '97 40.5, the previous model version of the 410. Although I have never taken it out by myself, I would not have any reservations provided that I can pick my weather. I keep it on a mooring, so docking is not an issue. I also have an electric winch to handle the mainsail. I consider this a necessity. Also an Autohelm 7000 as previously mentioned. I have found that dousing the main can be difficult with the full batten sail if there is too much friction in the track. I am going to address a solution for this problem this spring. As long as you realise that everything takes longer when solo and you don't allow yourself to get boxed into a tight situation, you should be OK.
larger boat
i went from a h31 to h40.5...i made the transition, although it took some time to adjust....i agree you must have an electric winch for the mailsail...after 1 1/2 yrs with my 40.5 i now don't hestiate to solo with her, and have forgotten how much bigger and more intimidating she initially seemed than my h31...in fact, this is the first boat i've ever owned that i didn't wish were larger affter a month or so...
i went from a h31 to h40.5...i made the transition, although it took some time to adjust....i agree you must have an electric winch for the mailsail...after 1 1/2 yrs with my 40.5 i now don't hestiate to solo with her, and have forgotten how much bigger and more intimidating she initially seemed than my h31...in fact, this is the first boat i've ever owned that i didn't wish were larger affter a month or so...
Should be OK
i'm not all that familiar withthe line and cockpit layout onthe 410, but I singlehandedmy 42 a lot without incident. docking, of course, can be tricky even with 6 people aboard, and as bob says, sometimes you'll needa friendly pair of hands to assist, but all it really takes to solo a larger boat is plenty of planning (always think of what you'll need to do 2-3 steps inadvance) and a good autopilot. As for the main, I found that my dutchman system handled it quite well. I'd just drop it, quickly lash it down from the helm, then flake it at anchor. The electric halyard winch would be nice, bu shouldn't be abosultely necessary.
i'm not all that familiar withthe line and cockpit layout onthe 410, but I singlehandedmy 42 a lot without incident. docking, of course, can be tricky even with 6 people aboard, and as bob says, sometimes you'll needa friendly pair of hands to assist, but all it really takes to solo a larger boat is plenty of planning (always think of what you'll need to do 2-3 steps inadvance) and a good autopilot. As for the main, I found that my dutchman system handled it quite well. I'd just drop it, quickly lash it down from the helm, then flake it at anchor. The electric halyard winch would be nice, bu shouldn't be abosultely necessary.
Think Ahead
Hi Joe, I do plenty of single handed sailing in fairly the congested waters of the Solent. Sailing is easy it is the mooring which is the test. Several matters are important: 1) The weather window is smaller. ie. I do not set out unless the forecast is good. 2) Take time and down sails and put fenders all round before entering river or harbour. Attach warps to bow and stern on both sides an lead the bow lines outside everything back to the cockpit. 3) I have a large Star Mooring Hook on a warp. It has a sprung latch so once connected it stays put. It slides on to the end of a boathook. I pick up buoys by leading the warp through the bow roller and back to a winch. Use a long line and bring it back to the cockpit outside everything. I bring the boat so the buoy is beside the cockpit, stop, hook on then back up whilst pulling in the warp. For alongside berthing I take the warp through a stanchion base in the middle of the side of the boat and pass the end round a winch and back to the helm position. Then on approaching the berth I nip out of the cockpit, grab the boathook and snap the hook into a cleat on the pontoon. Quickly back to the helm and pull in all slack. By juggling engine ahead and reverse and sometimes a little winding on the winch I can draw the boat (376) in to the pontoon. Then I have all day to make fast properly. Port side too is easiest because the boat moves sideways to port when reverse is engaged. I also have a hand held VHF in the cockpit to arrange the berth in advance Suggest you have a little practice on a quiet day. Confidence soon builds and you realise a crew is simply an expensive luxury. Good Luck. Don .
Hi Joe, I do plenty of single handed sailing in fairly the congested waters of the Solent. Sailing is easy it is the mooring which is the test. Several matters are important: 1) The weather window is smaller. ie. I do not set out unless the forecast is good. 2) Take time and down sails and put fenders all round before entering river or harbour. Attach warps to bow and stern on both sides an lead the bow lines outside everything back to the cockpit. 3) I have a large Star Mooring Hook on a warp. It has a sprung latch so once connected it stays put. It slides on to the end of a boathook. I pick up buoys by leading the warp through the bow roller and back to a winch. Use a long line and bring it back to the cockpit outside everything. I bring the boat so the buoy is beside the cockpit, stop, hook on then back up whilst pulling in the warp. For alongside berthing I take the warp through a stanchion base in the middle of the side of the boat and pass the end round a winch and back to the helm position. Then on approaching the berth I nip out of the cockpit, grab the boathook and snap the hook into a cleat on the pontoon. Quickly back to the helm and pull in all slack. By juggling engine ahead and reverse and sometimes a little winding on the winch I can draw the boat (376) in to the pontoon. Then I have all day to make fast properly. Port side too is easiest because the boat moves sideways to port when reverse is engaged. I also have a hand held VHF in the cockpit to arrange the berth in advance Suggest you have a little practice on a quiet day. Confidence soon builds and you realise a crew is simply an expensive luxury. Good Luck. Don .
go for it
sounds like you have already received lots of good information already. So I'll be brief. I sail my Legend 40 solo about 90% of the time. Like everyone said an autopilot is a must. Prior planning is also important, dont try to drop the main as you enter a busy harbor or in a crowded narrow channel, when your attention is needed elsewhere. Since I don't have an anchor windless I sometime lead the anchor line back to the cockpit for release and retrievel. Although I admit sometimes it would be nice to have a line handler when docking, its usually not a problem again if you plan ahead and have your lines lead and laid out, with fenders in place prior to aproaching the dock.
sounds like you have already received lots of good information already. So I'll be brief. I sail my Legend 40 solo about 90% of the time. Like everyone said an autopilot is a must. Prior planning is also important, dont try to drop the main as you enter a busy harbor or in a crowded narrow channel, when your attention is needed elsewhere. Since I don't have an anchor windless I sometime lead the anchor line back to the cockpit for release and retrievel. Although I admit sometimes it would be nice to have a line handler when docking, its usually not a problem again if you plan ahead and have your lines lead and laid out, with fenders in place prior to aproaching the dock.
No problem
I singlehand my H45 a lot. I even occasionally fly the chute on long passages...not the most intelligent thing to do, but fun until it has to come down... The key to doing this stuff is a good autopilot, good shoes, a safety harness used properly, and lots of sea room. Having the boat set up properly goes without saying... MC
I singlehand my H45 a lot. I even occasionally fly the chute on long passages...not the most intelligent thing to do, but fun until it has to come down... The key to doing this stuff is a good autopilot, good shoes, a safety harness used properly, and lots of sea room. Having the boat set up properly goes without saying... MC
setup is important
I have a 410 and love it overall. My wife and I generally sail together, but I would have no qualms about taking it out alone. I totally agree that an adequate autopilot is a must (Autohelm 7000 preferrred). Also, if you're not into racing, ordering the 410 with in-mast furling would greatly simplify your life. Our boat is fitted out that way, and it sure is nice to "reef" from the safety of the cockpit in a matter4 of 10-15 seconds! Performance is naturally not quite up to the larger full-batten main, but really it's a pretty sweet sailer with in-mast furling. Although there are more loads on sheets,etc., in a larger boat, Hunter did a good job of properly sizing winches, sheeves, etc., so that sail trimming on our 410 is really no harder than it was on our 35.5. Best of luck with your decision! Chris Webb s/v Grand Cru II
I have a 410 and love it overall. My wife and I generally sail together, but I would have no qualms about taking it out alone. I totally agree that an adequate autopilot is a must (Autohelm 7000 preferrred). Also, if you're not into racing, ordering the 410 with in-mast furling would greatly simplify your life. Our boat is fitted out that way, and it sure is nice to "reef" from the safety of the cockpit in a matter4 of 10-15 seconds! Performance is naturally not quite up to the larger full-batten main, but really it's a pretty sweet sailer with in-mast furling. Although there are more loads on sheets,etc., in a larger boat, Hunter did a good job of properly sizing winches, sheeves, etc., so that sail trimming on our 410 is really no harder than it was on our 35.5. Best of luck with your decision! Chris Webb s/v Grand Cru II
The biggest problem in single handed sailing...
...is convincing your wife to let you do it. Been sailing for 10 years, and would rather get caught with a drunken redhead on my arm than to be caught taking the boat out alone! Hey Rich, welcome back from the trip! Racine will be over 50 degrees all week, maybe I can plug in that new repeater Saturday!
...is convincing your wife to let you do it. Been sailing for 10 years, and would rather get caught with a drunken redhead on my arm than to be caught taking the boat out alone! Hey Rich, welcome back from the trip! Racine will be over 50 degrees all week, maybe I can plug in that new repeater Saturday!
Lucky you, Bruce
My spouse is just *waiting* for me to fall off that boat so she can collect the life insurance... MC
My spouse is just *waiting* for me to fall off that boat so she can collect the life insurance... MC
- Status