Single Handling, only for Experts?

[Carlitos]

Hey guys. After reading all your post about how macho you guys are in working your boats by yourselves I have allways wanted to do it myself...but....I dont have an autohelm, and Ive always wondered how do you guys raise and lower the main when entering or leaving slip/dock? Thats my main concern, I think I can do everything else, except maybe reefing by myself. The main problem for me would be to leave the tiller while I have to run to the deck to change/lower/do something while the boat does 360's in the wind....Ideas? There's some kind of secret I dont know? Or you all have autohelms ...ThanksCarlitosS/V Martina

 

[Phil Herring]

We all have Autohelms

It would be very tough to do it without one... perhaps you could lash the tiller down but that is problematic, too.

 

[Rick D]

Carlitos' Challenge

First, make sure whatever you do, wear a harness, and perhaps a ski jacket wouldn't hurt. I single handed a light 26' fin keeled boat for almost 20 years. An autopilot was wonderful, but I only got one much later. I used a strong elastic cord lashed to a small cleat on the tiller to hold position. When my OB was working, I just set it slow forward and scrambled to the mast to overhand the halyard up. If the OB wasn't working, I turned the boat around in the slip (downwind slip) and got a hand pushing it out. I sailed on the main alone and then went forward again to raise the jib.When returning, I lowered the jib first (outside the harbor) and dropped the main in the channel when the OB worked; in the slip when not.Bringing the jib halyard to the cockpit was the first improvement. Second was the main and vang to the cockpit. Third was the autopilot. Fourth was the reefing lines and topping lift to the cockpit.Good luck and enjoy. Great place to sail where you are. You can do great without all that extra gear; just some way to keep the tiller in place and lots of practice, hopefully with someone with you.Rick D.

 

[Don Bodemann]

Tiller tamer

There are little gadgets out there called tiller tamers that are mearly a convienient way to secure the tiller or, as Phil suggested, you good lash the tiller with a line. When I had a tiller boat, I would motor out into the bay, head into the wind... and stop. Then quickly raise the main and race back to the cockpit. The gib was easy as I had a furler.

 

[Jeff]

Got and extra Dock Line

I generally sail single handed on our H26. When raising or lowering the main I head into the wind with the motor idling in gear. Then I take an extra dock line and loop it over the aft starboard cleat and with the tiller centered wrap the line 3 or 4 times around the forward end just ahead of the tiller extension and then on to the aft port cleat and make it fast. With the line taught and 3 or 4 turns around the tiller it provides just enough friction to hold it in any position I leave it in, but not so much that it can't be repositioned for hands free tacking. If things get alittle rough just flip the line off the end of the tiller and let it drop to the deck. To reset it, just rewrap. Works great when going below for a.....Coke! Keep in mind that all my lines are lead back to the cockpit and it's not wise to go on deck without being tied off unless your a great swimmer. This system serves me well for now, maybe someday I'll break down and buy an autopilot."Festivity"H26 1996

 

[John Allison]

Tiller Tamer & Roller Furling

A great deal of my sailing has been accomplished single handling. I learned a long time ago that safety was of prime importance ..... this means leading as many of your halyards back to the cockpit as possible, roller furler for the head sail, a method of tiller/wheel control, dutchman or lazy jacks, and finally an attached harness and a life jacket.  My 1979 H25 has a tiller and I use a tiller tamer. Raising and lowering of the main is accomplished with the motor idling, in gear, and the tiller held by the tamer. Handling of the genoa is no problem with a furler. If I am going to sail up to the dock, I get the main down while out and sail in on the genoa (appropriately furled in for the conditions) and then, depending on conditions, either furl it in the rest of the way or let it flog.  The tiller tamer is not a substitute for or as controlling as self-steering; however, for the price (mid twenties), it is a big plus.  One other thing that should be considered is the set-up of your dock lines. No one can advise you here, you are your best source of information for this. However, I do use a vee formation line running from my outermost starboard piling to the front of my slip somewhat port of center to somewhat starboard of center and back to the port outermost piling. The line crosses itself and that is an aid to stopping the boat shy of the bulkhead. It also serves as a funnel guiding you into the center of the slip. In our area, we must dock bow in and this is not a bad idea as it gives you a good view of traffic before more than 50% of your boat is in harms way. Confusing, I hope not.  My two cents, I hope this helps.

 

[Jack Laird]

And if you have a wheel try bungy cord

nm

 

[Wanderer138]

My two cents...

Don't let the lack of an autopilot or roller-furling stop you from single-handing! Start small and work your way up slowly. My feeling is that as long as you know your boat and its limits, you have it set up for safety as best you can and you don't try too much too soon, you will be OK.This is in addition to the other stuff that you would need if you had a crew, like paying close attention to the weather, knowing your local waters, having proper safety gear and being prudent. If you are not confident about your sailing skills, get help to brush them up. Sailing with just the main for a while will help too.In return, single-handing offers a tremendous sense of independence and accomplishment. Also you will never have a disagreement with your crew!PeterS/V Raven

 

[Dick Vance]

Tiller Extension And Experience

Carlitos,Peter make a very good point. All the equipment in the world doesn't help much without knowledge and experience. Getting a good feel for your boat and knowing how it reacts in changing conditions is so important, whether singlehanding or racing with a full crew. I don't have an autopilot on my 25.5 either but can handle anything on the boat by myself. I also know my limitations and that I should be prepared to make changes early, before conditions get too hairy. The old adage, "If you think its time to reef, you should have already done it", comes from experience and illustrates the point.Another piece of inexpensive equipment that makes singlehanding much easier is a tiller extension. I have a Forespar telescoping extension that lets me steer the boat while being able to reach the cabin top winches and all sail controls.

 

[Peter]

Single handed sailing

Carlitos, my boat is much smaller than yours (18.5'), but I think the same principles apply -- the first thing I did was to install roller furling for the jib, and that has made a significant difference on its own. Secondly, I brought all lines back to the cockpit so that I can raise both the main and the headsail from the cockpit. I simply installed a deck organizer conveniently to bring the main halyard back to the cockpit. I also installed a winch and cleats to raise and hold the mainsail (or anything else that might require a winch). What I haven't done, but which could be done very easily and would make bringing the mainsail down much more convenient is to install a downhaul on the main. I also bought a new 4 hp outboard because the old motor did not have gears and was one of those swivel things that are hard to deal with when docking. This has made docking much easier. I have found singlehanded sailing very enjoyable -- it means I don't have to round up crew, you know, those people who always want to go sailing till the day you're going! For safety I always wear my life jacket, no matter how hot or how calm the day. I have bought a harness and strap, and a lifeline, but have not installed that and have not used them yet. I do suggest, though, that if you are going to sea any distance a life harness and line is essential. I do not have an autohelm, and this has made doing some things less comfortable. I will install a tiller tamer, though, and this should work to give me a bit of a break on longer sails. I would not hesitate to singlehand if I were you, but I would treat the safety considerations with absolute priority, especially if you use any sort of autohelm. It doesn't sound too cool to find yourself in the water without a lifejacket a couple of miles from land watching your boat sail off under the autopilot!! Have fun and enjoy your sailing.

 

[Terry Simms]

go for it

sI have lived aboard and singlehanded a 26 Macgregor for the last three years. I would offer these hints: 1) when you are ready to enter your anchorage, approach a dock, etct put the boat upwind or "into irons" this will greatly facilitate lowering sails, have the engine at idle and be ready to motor off as soon as sails are stowed. .as for sailing to a mooring this can be done under sail with practice. Docking is best done under power unless the engine wont start. Under ideal conditions experts can sail or even back into a slip but to try this in a crowded marina on a saturday is to invite trouble. Roller furling is the best solution for the jib on a single handed boat. The rule for reefing is the best time to reef is the first time you think about it. It is always easier to shake a reef out under way than to put one in. Always wear a pfd when single handing and make sue your boat has a swim ladder that you can actually board from the water. Try this at the dock first. A lot of swim ladders and platforms look nice at boat shows but are useless for actually re-entering the boat from the water. Good Luck and Good Sailing!