Only one of those is essential. A tiller lock or loop will keep
you going in most directions without having to stand to the
tiller. The autopilot will break down when you most need it (and
besides, as a single hander, you're supposed to be on watch the
whole time). You don't _have_ to sail a yacht with a rig using a
jib at all. (RF can jam). With an "easy to handle" design,
winches become an enjoyable luxury but not a necessity, so ST
winches go into the non-essential classes too!

While we're at it, get rid of the standing rigging other than for
a bit of additional support when in really rough weather. Set the
masts up so they can easily be lowered, in a seaway, by one
person, to get at halyard jams etc without using a bosun's chair
or climbing a pitching/rolling mast. And so on.


--
Flying Tadpole

-------------------------
http://www.ace.net.au/schooner/
http://music.download.com/timfatchen

Scotty wrote:
Essential add-ons for single handing; Auto pilot, RF jib, halyards
led aft, ST winches.




"DSK" wrote

What makes a boat "easy to handle"? Size? A powerful windlass &

roller

furling? Self-tailing winches? Halyards led aft? I have a number of
things rooted in the basic design of a boat, and which cannot be

added on.

I like my "tiller tender." It works well enough for the brief period when I
have to go forward.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

"Flying Tadpole" wrote in message
...
Only one of those is essential. A tiller lock or loop will keep you going
in most directions without having to stand to the tiller. The autopilot
will break down when you most need it (and besides, as a single hander,
you're supposed to be on watch the whole time). You don't _have_ to sail a
yacht with a rig using a jib at all. (RF can jam). With an "easy to
handle" design, winches become an enjoyable luxury but not a necessity, so
ST winches go into the non-essential classes too!

While we're at it, get rid of the standing rigging other than for a bit of
additional support when in really rough weather. Set the masts up so they
can easily be lowered, in a seaway, by one person, to get at halyard jams
etc without using a bosun's chair or climbing a pitching/rolling mast.
And so on.


--
Flying Tadpole

-------------------------
http://www.ace.net.au/schooner/
http://music.download.com/timfatchen

Scotty wrote:
Essential add-ons for single handing; Auto pilot, RF jib, halyards
led aft, ST winches.




"DSK" wrote

What makes a boat "easy to handle"? Size? A powerful windlass &

roller

furling? Self-tailing winches? Halyards led aft? I have a number of
things rooted in the basic design of a boat, and which cannot be

added on.

"Flying Tadpole" wrote ...
Only one of those is essential.

I should have wrote, ''essential to me''?

A tiller lock or loop will keep
you going in most directions without having to stand to the
tiller.

Won't work on a real sailboat with a wheel.

The autopilot will break down when you most need it (and
besides, as a single hander, you're supposed to be on watch the
whole time).


What, you never go potty? never eat while sailing?




While we're at it, get rid of the standing rigging other than for
a bit of additional support when in really rough weather. Set the
masts up so they can easily be lowered, in a seaway, by one
person, to get at halyard jams etc without using a bosun's chair
or climbing a pitching/rolling mast. And so on.


That would be nice. Someone should build a nice boat with those
features.

Scotty

Scotty wrote:
"Flying Tadpole" wrote ...

Only one of those is essential.


I should have wrote, ''essential to me''?

That would have been a different topic.




A tiller lock or loop will keep
you going in most directions without having to stand to the
tiller.


Won't work on a real sailboat with a wheel.

OK. I'll accept that. (I also hate wheels).



The autopilot will break down when you most need it (and
besides, as a single hander, you're supposed to be on watch the
whole time).



What, you never go potty? never eat while sailing?


You forgot, "never sleep". One of the difficulties of
singlehanding for any length of time is how one eats, excretes
and rests while underway, AT THE SAME TIME keeping the continuous
lookout required by colregs

While we're at it, get rid of the standing rigging other than for
a bit of additional support when in really rough weather. Set the
masts up so they can easily be lowered, in a seaway, by one
person, to get at halyard jams etc without using a bosun's chair
or climbing a pitching/rolling mast. And so on.



That would be nice. Someone should build a nice boat with those
features.


As always, depends on the aesthetic defining "nice". The
question was what "easy to handle " meant, not nice...
--
Flying Tadpole

-------------------------
SquareBoats! http://ace.net.au/schooner.sbhome.htm
http://music.download.com/timfatchen

"Flying Tadpole" wrote



Won't work on a real sailboat with a wheel.

OK. I'll accept that. (I also hate wheels).


Why do you hate wheels?

Flying Scott

"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"Flying Tadpole" wrote



Won't work on a real sailboat with a wheel.

OK. I'll accept that. (I also hate wheels).


Why do you hate wheels?

Flying Scott

I'd like to know why as well.
My tiller always made my neck and back go stiff after a short time.
Scout

Scout wrote:
"Scotty" wrote in message
...

"Flying Tadpole" wrote

Won't work on a real sailboat with a wheel.

OK. I'll accept that. (I also hate wheels).


Why do you hate wheels?

Flying Scott


I'd like to know why as well.
My tiller always made my neck and back go stiff after a short time.

Well, I had a stiff neck to begin with...

I suppose it comes from dinghy sailing--I just like the immediacy
of a tiller, not least its value as an instant vernier on rudder
position, both visual and pressure. Also, almost all the
sailboats I've had at least passing experience with have been
small and a wheel, as well as being an expensive complication, is
an aunnecessary one. Conversely, most wheeling has been in power
vessels--the best being river houseboats where helm response was
not a design requirement, though unmanageable windage is.

ANd my wheels fell off long ago, so I suppose there's an envy
quotient in there too.

--
Flying Tadpole

-------------------------
http://www.ace.net.au/schooner
http://www.soundclick.com/flyingtadpolemusic.htm