"Frank Maier" wrote in message
om...
"Donal" wrote:
"N1EE" wrote:
...snip...
It should be easy for one person to steer it.

True, but it would be difficult for that person to go forward in a
hurry.
They would have to climb up on to the sidedecks. As my kids are
reaching
the age where they might soon fly the nest, I am looking at boats with a
view to sailing them two handed.
...snip...

Well, I'm not familar with the Dehler line; but I have a generic
response to this comment. A self-tending jib is so small that it's
good for most wind conditions, right up to the point where you simply
need to douse it. There's usually no need to go forward "in a hurry."
Pretty much no need to go forward at all. If you have single-line
reefing for the main as well, you can pretty much single-hand without
ever leaving the cockpit. So, unless I'm not understanding your
comment, it's really kinda moot.

Could you expand on having to go forward "in a hurry"?

I was thinking of going into the cockpit in a hurry, rather than going
forward onto the bow.

There are occasions when the main doesn't go up smoothly ... or perhaps when
trimming a cruising chute, ... even dumping the main in a hurry .....


I dunno, unexpected things happen on boats. My wife is not physically big,
and I don't like the idea of not being able to get there immediately.

I suppose that there is also another issue. I know many people whose
wives (occasionaly husbands) won't go sailing with them in anything but the
gentlest weather. ie motorsailing. I'm lucky that my wife will come
sailing with me when I say it's OK. It isn't her hobby, so if I want her to
come sailing, then I have to make sure that she enjoys it in a risk free
environment. That means that I have to be able to reach her before she gets
injured. So, that's why I don't like the idea of a big wheel.

Don't get me wrong, my wife isn't a wimp. She is excellent crew. It's
just that I know too many people who put their wives off sailing by taking
them out in innappropriate conditions. I even know one guy who had to sell
his boat!


Regards


Donal
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