Rigging a 22 for single

[Breakinwind]

Hello all,

I am a newby, and just bought a 1980, O22.

Our first three days out, I found myself running, jumping, diving for halyards(main/head), and was wondering if there is a way to add hardware, bringing these leads to within cockpit reach. It seams like a "no-brained", but with today's technology, I figured I would ask, before perforating this beautiful boat!

I really don't want a roller furler, as I sail Colorado, and will probably be switching headsails often due to crazy weather variables. But if this is the best call, I am open to suggestions...

Back to my original thought, I am thinking a couple of blocks, and cam-locks mounted on the upper deck, maybe some sewn bags hanging right below for excess halyard storage...?

If I do this, do I need downhauls? Do I do the whole thing with one continuous line, looped back around?

I appreciate any help, and sorry if this is a silly question...

 

[Fly_H23]

"Leading halyards aft" is what I've heard them call this. There are some great photos and posts in the owner modifications section of this site.

I'm planning to do some mods on my boat this winter when I replace the old halyards. For the jib, I'll add a downhaul line to pull it down once the halyard is released. The main tends to fall on it's own.

A "tiller tamer" will help steer the boat while you tend the sails. Good luck!

 

[SchwarckT]

On my O'Day 22 I have a roller furling genoa and lead the main halyard and jiffy reefing lines back to the cockpit. It makes single-handing fairly easy.

 

[Joe11688]

If you want to see a nice halyard set up, check the archives on this site and look for RBone O'Day 25, Pronto. Rich has the neatest halyard set-up of halyards led back to the cockpit that you'll find. He has some great pics posted.
With that said, I don't equate halyards led back to the cockpit with single handing. My O'Day 222 is set up so that I can do everything at the mast including working the topping lift and reefing.
I use an Autohelm 1000 ST+ to steer the boat and a CDI Roller Furler which is controlled from the cockpit.
My boat was supposed to come through with Gennie winches on the edges of the cabin and I mounted them on the combings. Your boat probably has the winches on the combing so you're a little closer to having a boat that can be single handed than someone who has a stock O'Day 222 of any year.
For me, single handing is easier with an autopilot and a furler, plus winches on the combing, but if you want halyards led to the cockpit check out Rich's set up on this site.
Joe

 

[AndyS22]

I've never single handed and I don't have a fuller on my 22 but I've sailed on larger boats with fullers and for single handing I would this way, by far the easiest way to reduce and adjust sail.

 

[Joe11688]

I've never single handed and I don't have a fuller on my 22 but I've sailed on larger boats with fullers and for single handing I would this way, by far the easiest way to reduce and adjust sail.

Years before I had a furler, I had an older autopilot that worked great and I used it to steer a course toward an anchorage while I went forward to drop the Gennie, and bag it with one of those bags that fits over the fore stay and is suspended by the Jib halyard. It was a lot of work back then. I don't think that I even had my anchor roller back yet. I had my anchor attached to my bow pulpit.
Oh, I suppose I could have heaved to, but the currents in Narragansett Bay would have set my boat way off course and I would have had to waste precious time tacking. After you've sail seven hours straight to get to a cove and it's nye on to midnight, you just want to get there, anchor, and crash out in the bunk. If I ever fell overboard, I don't think that Ziggy Pitbull could have helped me.
I feel a little more safer working my main halyard at the mast than being up on the bow wrestling with a flapping Genoa sail. At some point though, whether you have a furler or conventional fore sail snapped to the forestay, you're still going to need to go out to the forward deck and clear a snagged sheet or you're still going to have to drop your anchor or raise it. If a guy is uncomfortable with it he should wear a PFD and stay low while he hangs on to the rails. There's an old saying that goes,--"Use one hand for the ship and one hand for yourself." It's important that the sailor needs to try to get used to walking on the deck to do the tasks that need to be done.