Single Handing Hunter 376

[seeteufel]

Hi i just got my self involved as an owner of a 376 and in looking at the set up I'm trying to figure out how one single hands this rig , no aft winches, traveler on the house and no back stay, all new to a traditional rig sailor,, help I need you input, don't want the auto pilot solution, I'm 67 and will be sailing by my self from Florida to Massachusetts soon.
Thanks "Chaos"

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Traveling that far without an autopilot is blatant masochism and impossible if traveling alone. The winches and traveler are not well-placed on these boats. If it were me, the first thing I'd do is move them aft.

 

[Ed Schenck]

I guess if you could motor the entire route north then the boat would be fine as is. The trip would be a real drag. You have to go offshore around NJ but you can do eight hour days at the wheel and then back in, there are enough inlets for that.

With an autohelm you can do long offshore runs. And you would not really have to move the line handlers. Set the autohelm and go trim.

 

[Alan]

I guess the decision to buy this particular model was less than well thought out. Having said that almost any boat can be set up for single handling. Think through how you are going to deal with the various maneuvers that will be required of you on the high seas. Make the needed changes that will allow you to perform things like reefing and changing sails. Having a plan to deal with all possible contingencies and being able to execute it are needed for this trip or you should stay put till you have the knowledge and skill to do it. There's more to sailing north than pointing the boat in that direction.

 

[emilbec]

Motoring the entire route is a lot of hours to rely on the engine. You have to prepared to sail in event the engine quits (or overheats).

 

[Don12364]

Do it all the time on my H376 - easy.
You need two things:-
1) Reliable autopilot. I have a Raymarine 6000 with rotary drive in the steering console.
2) Traveller line jamb cleats moved aft each side of companionway to between the winches. Then, whilst sailing, I simply bring the tails aft where they are ready to hand. The port side one over drapes the Edson steering brake and stbd side over the gear lever.

This means I can trim or dump the mainsail very easily and quickly if necessary.
I reckon the pilot steers my boat much more than I do nowadays.

Tacking is done using the self tack feature on the autopilot. Mine is an old version which tacks through 100° - but the boat tacks through 60°.
So, just before a tack, I ADD three presses of the 10° button and then immediately press the 10° and 1° buttons together (Auto Tack) and she tacks through 70°.
Doing this is quick and simple and the boat has no time to try to bear off before making its tack. Then you have all the time in the world to sheet in the jib on the new tack.

BTW; Later models of the course computer have a feature which allows you to set the angle through which it auto tacks, but I never bothered to take mine into Raymarine for an update.
Entering harbour it is engine and pilot on, then I lower sails and, if I don't know whether I will be starboard or port side to, I put fenders and warps on each side.

When mooring alongside I use my Alligator Catcher - see archives.