Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
Roger ,, ,, on the single handed sailing ..

According to the folks on the singlehanded_sailing group for yahoo
... it is against the maritime laws because a watch must be maintained at
all times.

I have never slept underway singlehanded and have no ambition to do the kind
of sailing where it would be necessary. It really does seem to me to be an
unecessary risk. If I'm going to be out that long, I would really prefer
company, even if all they can do is steer a course and call me if they see a
light.


Now I'm off the hook ( get it ). I can stay in port ...

That sounds like a good idea if sailing seems like as much work and is the
source of as much frustration and anxiety as seeps between the lines of your
posts. Is your boat still for sale? It looked like a nice one.

and bother people.

That's never a good idea.

Boat for single hander
 

She is not for sale ... but for you ??

Roger ,, test the market .. always test the market. How else to know what
you have.

Roger ,, one of the great appeals about sailing is the challenge.
Challenge.

Sure ,, there are times that things aren't going right, that the nerves are
frayed. But ,, that is why I like to sail.

Heck, if everything worked I would be as bored as I am driving my car.

As far as my boat goes ... this spring she is getting some attention. She
will be beautiful come May. I shower her with affection.

Then, it is off to Cape Cod ... Boston ... back to NH ........ then goin
down east .. heading for Blue Hill Bay.

Ya gotta have a plan...

=======================

PS.. hopefully I won't be going alone. Although I broke up with Paris, her
friend Britney has asked to crew.

============



"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
NE Sailboat wrote:
Roger ,, ,, on the single handed sailing ..

According to the folks on the singlehanded_sailing group for yahoo
... it is against the maritime laws because a watch must be maintained at
all times.

I have never slept underway singlehanded and have no ambition to do the
kind of sailing where it would be necessary. It really does seem to me to
be an unecessary risk. If I'm going to be out that long, I would really
prefer company, even if all they can do is steer a course and call me if
they see a light.


Now I'm off the hook ( get it ). I can stay in port ...

That sounds like a good idea if sailing seems like as much work and is the
source of as much frustration and anxiety as seeps between the lines of
your posts. Is your boat still for sale? It looked like a nice one.

and bother people.

That's never a good idea.

Boat for single hander
 

Good plan.

I'm sure you'll be surprised how much easier it is next year. I went back
to sailing after 15 years away. It came back fairly quickly but I still
wasn't completely comfortable by the end of the first summer. The first day
of the next (this last) summer, I was a good half summer ahead on the
relearning curve. The brain spends the winter processing all those memories
and lessons from the summer before.

--
Roger Long

Boat for single hander
 

Thanks for all your helpful info guys. I appreciate it very much. If all
goes well I should be in Florida around Feb with a shopping list .

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
... singlehanded sailing ... is
against the maritime laws because a watch must be maintained at all times. ...

I was told by a CG testing officer that for the purposes of logging
Merchant Marine hours they felt it was breaking the law to stand watch
more than 12 hours in every 24. So, I'd guess you're pretty safe
legally (in the USA) if your single handed voyages last 12 hours or
less. In practice I know a lot of folks who sail all over the world,
check in and out of countries and even log into national radio watches
without getting into any kind of legal trouble.

-- Tom.

Boat for single hander
 

I have a 2003 Beneteau 473 2 cabin and I single hand the boat all the time.
With or without non-sailing passengers. If the boat is rigged for single
handed sailing 47 feet is not difficult to hande.

I'm a liveaboard with a dog so a Beneteau 35 would be cutting it close as
far as space goes. I'd look at the Beneteau 393 before I bought the
Beneteau 35. It is only a couple of feet longer and has a much kinder
interior design for staying on board for long periods of time.

Cap'n Ric
S/V Sezaneh

Boat for single hander
 

I was sailing once when a 200 foot rogue wave hit me broadside. Rolled the
boat, tore down all the rigging and killed me instantly. They never found
the boat or the body.

I'm still trying to get the insurance company to settle.

Cap'n Ric


"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:YSpeh.1310$Z67.52@trndny02...
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



wrote in message
...
Some of the older single handle great sailor like Moitessier, Hasler,
James and many others appear to have made good with average size
sailboat.
Moitessier suggested that the ideal length for around the world voyaging
is around 32 to 34 feet.
He claims that it has better control in heavy weather sailing.
Although these suggestions were made with the traditional sailboat design
from 1960 to 1980 it gives me food for though.
I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. One of the
raison I think I made it is because the boat and I were like a single
cork going up and down the waves. I do not know if I would have been
able to make it with a boat in the 40 foot range?

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:gXneh.61$Li6.56@trndny03...
Roger ,, I don't think the poster is talking about a day sail. I also
disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is hard
work, dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you
might be attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two arms?

I think you're right that leaving and returning are the hardest...
that's very much dependent on the conditions and also the size of the
boat (bigger typically is harder).

I disagree that it's that much harder, especially when you're relieved
of the people underfoot when trying to do something. It's certainly not
lonely. It can be dangerous, but that's dependent upon how you treat it.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

Ummm... autohelm?

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on
earth who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm
back resetting the helm

Invest in an autohelm. I have a remote for mine. I can be on the bow and
drive.

After everything is done, and a course is set, with a steady wind, then
things aren't so bad. But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I
would be able to take a rest.

At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this. I end
up anchoring out most of the time because there is no one to help with
dock lines, etc.

Takes practice/is never perfect/is highly dependent on adverse
conditions.

The one area I agree with you on is the self confidence factor. There
is a certain feeling of "I can do it" when you are the only one doing
it.

Also,, when I screw up ............. there isn't someone sitting in
the cockpit screaming at me.

I also end up preparing for most trips ahead ... Always knowing I
need more room because I am the only one on board.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

I'd rather have a competent crewmate. Incompetents make things worse
than single handing.

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

Boat for single hander
 

JohnM wrote:

...single handed cruising...

look first to your self-steering device
the boat should be pointed at both ends
then look at your strength: no sail bigger than
500ft^2 (uffa fox)

tom

Boat for single hander
 

Oh ya ... well knock this hurricane off my shoulder... I dare ya!



=======================
"Cap'n Ric" wrote in message
news:kfMeh.826$Li6.498@trndny03...
I was sailing once when a 200 foot rogue wave hit me broadside. Rolled the
boat, tore down all the rigging and killed me instantly. They never found
the boat or the body.

I'm still trying to get the insurance company to settle.

Cap'n Ric


"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:YSpeh.1310$Z67.52@trndny02...
"I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. ..."

I don't believe this for one moment. 40' waves? And you were in a 27'
boat?

Total nonsense.

================================================== =========

If you are to post, at least post something rational

================================================== ====



wrote in message
...
Some of the older single handle great sailor like Moitessier, Hasler,
James and many others appear to have made good with average size
sailboat.
Moitessier suggested that the ideal length for around the world voyaging
is around 32 to 34 feet.
He claims that it has better control in heavy weather sailing.
Although these suggestions were made with the traditional sailboat
design from 1960 to 1980 it gives me food for though.
I got involved in 40 foot waves with a 27 feet sailboat. One of the
raison I think I made it is because the boat and I were like a single
cork going up and down the waves. I do not know if I would have been
able to make it with a boat in the 40 foot range?

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:gXneh.61$Li6.56@trndny03...
Roger ,, I don't think the poster is talking about a day sail. I also
disagree completely with your opinion. Single hand sailing is hard
work, dangerous, lonely, etc. Just leaving whatever mooring, dock you
might be attached to is tough. Unless you have more than two arms?

I think you're right that leaving and returning are the hardest...
that's very much dependent on the conditions and also the size of the
boat (bigger typically is harder).

I disagree that it's that much harder, especially when you're relieved
of the people underfoot when trying to do something. It's certainly not
lonely. It can be dangerous, but that's dependent upon how you treat
it.

Then, once released, the project of putting up the main, getting
everything together ,, et all.

Ummm... autohelm?

And the big issue is the helm! Unless you are the first person on
earth who can be in two places at once. Someone, must steer.

I get very frustrated. One minute I'm pulling on a sheet, next I'm
back resetting the helm

Invest in an autohelm. I have a remote for mine. I can be on the bow
and drive.

After everything is done, and a course is set, with a steady wind,
then things aren't so bad. But :::: the helm! That rotten helm.

If my boat had a windvane, and the windvane worked, then I suppose I
would be able to take a rest.

At the end of the day .... the docking, mooring. I hate this. I end
up anchoring out most of the time because there is no one to help with
dock lines, etc.

Takes practice/is never perfect/is highly dependent on adverse
conditions.

The one area I agree with you on is the self confidence factor. There
is a certain feeling of "I can do it" when you are the only one doing
it.

Also,, when I screw up ............. there isn't someone sitting in
the cockpit screaming at me.

I also end up preparing for most trips ahead ... Always knowing I
need more room because I am the only one on board.

I'd rather have a crewmate. Someone to help out.

I'd rather have a competent crewmate. Incompetents make things worse
than single handing.

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

Boat for single hander
 

Tom ,, after all the posts here and the usual fun arguing ( Roger and Me )
,, I got to working on my single hand sailing whatevers.

So far .. get some lines with set up for docking by myself. And I am
searching for some method of self steering. I've looked at all the usual
suspects. Monitor, Aries, etc. I also ordered and read John Lechers book
about the subject. The sheet to tiller setup. I did this last summer a
little but I will give it another go this summer.

The windvane system is more tricky. For a boat my size, 32', weight becomes
an issue. I don't want to have hundreds of LBS sitting on my stern. Heck,
my stern isn't that big.

Since I have a tiller .. that is a good thing ...... I can set up a very
simple system with a pendulum. Run lines through blocks to the tiller.

The question becomes ???????? what system.

Working on that one.

==============

ps.. I won't use an electric self steerer. Don't have the power and I hate
the whole thought of them. Gotta go narural.

--
"Tom Lightbody" wrote in message
...
JohnM wrote:

...single handed cruising...

look first to your self-steering device
the boat should be pointed at both ends
then look at your strength: no sail bigger than
500ft^2 (uffa fox)

tom

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
Tom ,, after all the posts here and the usual fun arguing ( Roger and Me )
,, I got to working on my single hand sailing whatevers.

So far .. get some lines with set up for docking by myself. And I am
searching for some method of self steering. I've looked at all the usual
suspects. Monitor, Aries, etc. I also ordered and read John Lechers book
about the subject. The sheet to tiller setup. I did this last summer a
little but I will give it another go this summer.

The windvane system is more tricky. For a boat my size, 32', weight becomes
an issue. I don't want to have hundreds of LBS sitting on my stern. Heck,
my stern isn't that big.

Since I have a tiller .. that is a good thing ...... I can set up a very
simple system with a pendulum. Run lines through blocks to the tiller.

The question becomes ???????? what system.

Working on that one.

==============

ps.. I won't use an electric self steerer. Don't have the power and I hate
the whole thought of them. Gotta go narural.

--
"Tom Lightbody" wrote in message
...
JohnM wrote:

...single handed cruising...
look first to your self-steering device
the boat should be pointed at both ends
then look at your strength: no sail bigger than
500ft^2 (uffa fox)

tom



Keep us informed.
G

Boat for single hander
 

NE Sailboat wrote:
The windvane system is more tricky. For a boat my size, 32', weight becomes
an issue. I don't want to have hundreds of LBS sitting on my stern.

They are nowhere near that heavy. I don't have the specs here in front
of me, but having lifted our Monitor up over the rail a couple of times,
I'd say that it's gotta be about 50 lbs., possible less. The RVG
windvane we had on our Catalina 30 (no longer made) was about the same
and didn't noticeably affect performance. It just made those long
passages MUCH more enjoyable.

Since I have a tiller...

The windvanes are great for long passages, but since you've got a
tiller, if I were you, I get myself a tiller pilot. These are cheap and
make going forward to raise sails, etc., easy. Our Catalina (which also
had a tiller) could not have been single handed without one. Within
seconds after letting go of the helm while motoring, it would be in a
tight turn, sometimes to port, sometimes to starboard. The helm was
very light, but that boat just liked to turn. Using a tiller pilot made
it a snap to single hand.

Boat for single hander
 

Dan Best wrote:

The windvanes are great for long passages, but since you've got a
tiller, if I were you, I get myself a tiller pilot.

I should have said that I get the tiller pilot also. I'm afraid that I
didn't make that clear in my earlier post and it could have been
construed to be that I was recommending against the windvane. I am not.
I would strongly recommend that you have BOTH a tiller pilot and a
windvane. Not only does the tiller pilot make it easier to go forward
when single handing, but when the wind dies and you choose to motor, the
windvane is of no use, so if unless you want to hand steer, you'll need
the TP.

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear the first time

Boat for single hander
 

Check http://www.thesailingchannel.com/uss...rn_ussbs05.htm

"Dan Best" wrote in message
...
Dan Best wrote:

The windvanes are great for long passages, but since you've got a tiller,
if I were you, I get myself a tiller pilot.

I should have said that I get the tiller pilot also. I'm afraid that I
didn't make that clear in my earlier post and it could have been construed
to be that I was recommending against the windvane. I am not. I would
strongly recommend that you have BOTH a tiller pilot and a windvane. Not
only does the tiller pilot make it easier to go forward when single
handing, but when the wind dies and you choose to motor, the windvane is
of no use, so if unless you want to hand steer, you'll need the TP.

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear the first time

Boat for single hander
 

John,

I just got back from a few days of singlehanded deer hunting. I look
forward to reading this thread. Being quick to jump in I'm going to
answer without waiting to see what others have said.

I started sailing a couple of years ago. I bought a Murray 33. It is a
steel sloop designed by Ted Brewer. They are reasonably priced and
there are two on the market right now. Do an advanced search on
Yachtworld.com for hull=steel, length=33 to 33 feet, anywhere, anytime.

Ted Brewer recommends the cutter rig for blue water. Design particulars
are on Tedbrewer.com.

I have 1,200 miles singlehanded with her by now. Southwest Nova Scotia
to Newfoundland and back to Sydney. Not an ocean crossing but several
overnights and enough weather to make me take the question seriously.
If I can do it, with my very limited experience, then the boat is OK.

My recommendation is based not upon my experience but the previous
owners. Without going into detail, he was recently rescued from a much
larger fiberglass yacht that was "breaking up", mid-Atlantic. His words
to me were that he really wished that he was on his old boat (mine) as
he could trust her and knew her strength.

The basic hull and design are fine. The outfit needs to be checked as
on any boat. Ted Brewer recommends the cutter rig for blue water.
Design particulars are on Tedbrewer.com but he omits the cutter rig
which was a later modification.

Howard


JohnM wrote:
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to be safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.

Boat for single hander
 

On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 11:54:14 -0800, Dan Best
wrote:

I would strongly recommend that you have BOTH a tiller pilot and a
windvane.

That's a good plan for serious cruising.

Power is not an issue because typically the engine will be running in
the conditions where the tiller pilot is most useful.

Boat for single hander
 

On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:00:47 -0500, Wayne.B wrote:

On Sun, 10 Dec 2006 11:54:14 -0800, Dan Best
wrote:

I would strongly recommend that you have BOTH a tiller pilot and a
windvane.

That's a good plan for serious cruising.

Power is not an issue because typically the engine will be running in
the conditions where the tiller pilot is most useful.

I agree. After using an autopilot after years without one, it's
hard to go back. Sailing is different, but motoring without an autopilot
is like driving the Interstate without cruise control.

Matt O.

Boat for single hander
 

John,

Having read the posts to your question I offer you this advice.

Read "Singlehanded Sailing" by Richard Henderson. It is an interesting
book that covers many aspects of singlehanded sailing including the
psychological motivations. The anecdotal stories themselves are worth
the effort.

He describes many solo boats, and some of their short comings.

He also describes what, in his opinion, makes an ideal blue water
singlehanded boat. In short (all approximations):
35 feet LOA
28 feet LWL
Bean 9.5
Displacement - 17,000 lbs
Draft 5.7
Cutter rig
Full keel
Vane steering

You will find that the Murray 33, a steel boat, comes very close to this
description. A fact I happily discovered AFTER purchasing the boat. I
got lucky.

There are other steel boats of similar description, the Ganleys come to
mind.


Howard wrote:
John,

I just got back from a few days of singlehanded deer hunting. I look
forward to reading this thread. Being quick to jump in I'm going to
answer without waiting to see what others have said.

I started sailing a couple of years ago. I bought a Murray 33. It is a
steel sloop designed by Ted Brewer. They are reasonably priced and
there are two on the market right now. Do an advanced search on
Yachtworld.com for hull=steel, length=33 to 33 feet, anywhere, anytime.

Ted Brewer recommends the cutter rig for blue water. Design particulars
are on Tedbrewer.com.

I have 1,200 miles singlehanded with her by now. Southwest Nova Scotia
to Newfoundland and back to Sydney. Not an ocean crossing but several
overnights and enough weather to make me take the question seriously. If
I can do it, with my very limited experience, then the boat is OK.

My recommendation is based not upon my experience but the previous
owners. Without going into detail, he was recently rescued from a much
larger fiberglass yacht that was "breaking up", mid-Atlantic. His words
to me were that he really wished that he was on his old boat (mine) as
he could trust her and knew her strength.

The basic hull and design are fine. The outfit needs to be checked as
on any boat. Ted Brewer recommends the cutter rig for blue water. Design
particulars are on Tedbrewer.com but he omits the cutter rig which was a
later modification.

Howard


JohnM wrote:
I'm looking for a suitable boat for single handed cruising the Bahamas
for a
year then up the East coast and eventually across to the Mediteranian. I
realize many sailors single hand with guests or spouses aboard but I will
have more than myself aboard only on rare occasions, and perhaps in
port. I
was thinking of Beneteau 35 or similar. Would this be enough boat to
be safe
and comfortable.Thanks in advance for the help.

Boat for single hander
 

Thanks for your input Ric. I must admit a 39 footer would be tempting. I'd
change one of the aft cabins into a workshop and the extra LWL would give me
more comfort.
Some of these posts have pointed out the difficulty of docking with a larger
boat but I have found Beneteaus, Hunters. etc. very manoeuvreable. No doubt
to do with the fin keel.

"Cap'n Ric" wrote in message
news:CZLeh.994$e26.857@trndny04...
I have a 2003 Beneteau 473 2 cabin and I single hand the boat all the
time.
With or without non-sailing passengers. If the boat is rigged for single
handed sailing 47 feet is not difficult to hande.

I'm a liveaboard with a dog so a Beneteau 35 would be cutting it close as
far as space goes. I'd look at the Beneteau 393 before I bought the
Beneteau 35. It is only a couple of feet longer and has a much kinder
interior design for staying on board for long periods of time.

Cap'n Ric
S/V Sezaneh

Boat for single hander
 

"JohnM" wrote in message
...
Thanks for your input Ric. I must admit a 39 footer would be tempting. I'd
change one of the aft cabins into a workshop and the extra LWL would give
me
more comfort.
Some of these posts have pointed out the difficulty of docking with a
larger
boat but I have found Beneteaus, Hunters. etc. very manoeuvreable. No
doubt
to do with the fin keel.

"Cap'n Ric" wrote in message
news:CZLeh.994$e26.857@trndny04...
I have a 2003 Beneteau 473 2 cabin and I single hand the boat all the
time.
With or without non-sailing passengers. If the boat is rigged for single
handed sailing 47 feet is not difficult to hande.

I'm a liveaboard with a dog so a Beneteau 35 would be cutting it close as
far as space goes. I'd look at the Beneteau 393 before I bought the
Beneteau 35. It is only a couple of feet longer and has a much kinder
interior design for staying on board for long periods of time.

Cap'n Ric
S/V Sezaneh




One point that seems to have been overlooked (either by previous replies or
simply me, in missing it) is: "What's the largest boat you can comfortably
maintain?" Larger boat means larger sails, bigger engine, more paint, more
brightwork (possibly)...all in all, it's quite a bit easier for a
single-hander to do the maintenance on a smaller boat than a larger one.

Boat for single hander
 

"JohnM" wrote in message
...
Thanks for your input Ric. I must admit a 39 footer would be tempting. I'd
change one of the aft cabins into a workshop and the extra LWL would give
me
more comfort.
Some of these posts have pointed out the difficulty of docking with a
larger
boat but I have found Beneteaus, Hunters. etc. very manoeuvreable. No
doubt
to do with the fin keel.


Depends on freeboard and windage, not to mention current or lack thereof.

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

Boat for single hander
 

On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:26:26 -0600, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

One point that seems to have been overlooked (either by previous replies or
simply me, in missing it) is: "What's the largest boat you can comfortably
maintain?" Larger boat means larger sails, bigger engine, more paint, more
brightwork (possibly)...all in all, it's quite a bit easier for a
single-hander to do the maintenance on a smaller boat than a larger one.

That's a good point but within a range of sizes I have not found big
differences between something like a 28 and 34, and I'd certainly
prefer the 34 for a number of reasons. Better yet a 40 for two people
doing extended cruising or liveaboard.

I think the biggest difference occurs when you start adding complexity
like pressure hot water, refrigeration, generators, multiple heads,
heating, air conditioning, etc. These systems all add greatly to the
liveability of a boat but they push the maintenance costs and effort
at an exponential rate.

Boat for single hander
 

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:26:26 -0600, "KLC Lewis"
wrote:

One point that seems to have been overlooked (either by previous replies
or
simply me, in missing it) is: "What's the largest boat you can comfortably
maintain?" Larger boat means larger sails, bigger engine, more paint, more
brightwork (possibly)...all in all, it's quite a bit easier for a
single-hander to do the maintenance on a smaller boat than a larger one.

That's a good point but within a range of sizes I have not found big
differences between something like a 28 and 34, and I'd certainly
prefer the 34 for a number of reasons. Better yet a 40 for two people
doing extended cruising or liveaboard.

I think the biggest difference occurs when you start adding complexity
like pressure hot water, refrigeration, generators, multiple heads,
heating, air conditioning, etc. These systems all add greatly to the
liveability of a boat but they push the maintenance costs and effort
at an exponential rate.


You make good points also, especially between the 28 and 34 foot range. But
as for the 40 footer, that will be an entirely different matter. Our first
boat was a CT41, our current boat a Rawson 30, both are ketch rig. The
Rawson is MUCH easier to maintain -- more than 10 extra feet of length and 2
extra feet of beam would lead one to believe. Both are William Garden
designs, with teak in the same places (wherever it would fit).

Boat for single hander
 

A pair of bungees will hold the tiller near center. A long light line
tied to the tiller, led around the gunnels to the forepeak via blocks
and back again, tied to the other side of the tiller, will give you a
very handy monkey to keep the tiller more or less centre or enable a
correction from anywhere on the boat. Going forward, you can pull the
line along the gunnel fore and aft to pull the tiller one way or the
other. So, you can steer from the foredeck, standing on the tiller line
while you work if needs must. Could also work for a wheel.

I saw this first in a rented motor launch in 1956 in Horseshoe bay. I
was a boy.

A similar setup could handle the gearshift, no?

At sea, you would do best by also having Annie Lectric helm, if only
for dire straights when you really want a backup.

My short bilge keel setup seems to have a mind of it's own, the rudder
is overbalanced in all conditions, she veers as soon as you let go.

Perhaps I should shave the leading edge of the rudder, or stick on a
tail?

Terry K

Boat for single hander
 

In article . com,
"Terry K" wrote:

My short bilge keel setup seems to have a mind of it's own, the rudder
is overbalanced in all conditions, she veers as soon as you let go.

Perhaps I should shave the leading edge of the rudder, or stick on a
tail?

That would make it worse. Our original rudder was *very* heavy and gave
me a good work out in even moderate conditions. I built a new thinner
one, with the leading edge about 20% ahead of the pintles and now have a
very light helm.

Re-reading: If she veers when you're close hauled, you probably have
the main sheeted in too hard. Ease out until the efforts are balanced
out. Even our Xan, who has basically zero directional stability, will
hold close hauled on her own for a while.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Boat for single hander
 

Simple question .... do you 'really' know how to 'shape' your sails?

Most helm problems are more due to poorly shaped sails than (mast rake,
or rudder shape), etc.

If you simply 'raise' the sails into position and then NOT stretch out
the luff 'preload' that the sailmaker originallly put into the sail
then you WILL get especially weather helm. Especially sail with
'boltropes' .... a three strand rope enclosed in a sleeve at the luff
of the sail, you need to remove the 'preload' to get a sail to 'set'
properly. Most kroozers have absolutely NO idea that a sail must be
'stretched' on the luff to offset the preload.
A simple 'rule of thumb' is that a boltroped sail MUST be additionally
stretched on its luff by 1 inch for every 10 ft. of luff length so that
the 'shape' is proper at the maximum design wind range (usually 15-16
knots) or...... the sail's posiition of maxium draft will be too far
aft, the leech will be hooked to windward, and the sail will be 'too
full' .... and these ALL contribute to adverse weather helm.

If you have adverse weather helm, simply go forward and keep tensioning
the HALYARD until the boat has a balanced helm, then slightly loosen so
that the rudder needs only 2-3 degrees of offset (rudder angles ever so
slightly to leeward) to hold the course. If you are intending
absolute 'speed sailing' then leave the rudder with NO helm ... but the
boat then will NOT head up if you let go of the helm.

You can almost always tell that a kroozer has no idea of how to 'shape'
a sail .... their booms are always lower at the aft end .... because
they NEVER properly stretch out the luff of the mainsail to counteract
the original 'preload' that the sailmaker put into a sail. The preload
is there so that all the stress at the maximum designed wind load is
taken up by the ROPE instead of the sailcloth.

Put some 'strain' into that halyard and see what magically happens
!!!!!!! Try 'stretching outy the luff' with heavy halyard tension and
see what happens to your 'helm' .... and before you start modifying the
rudder, etc. Dont exceed 1" of additional strain for every 10 ft. of
luff length. If that procedure doesnt solve most of your 'helm
problems' consider to take the sail to a sailmaker and have the
boltrope "eased" .... as ALL boltropes SHRINK over time. If yours is
an OLD sail that has seen many hours of service, then also think about
getting that shrunken bolt rope readjusted. If you are handy with a
sailmakers needle and palm let me know as I will give instructions on
how to properly 'ease' the boltrope.


Hope this helps.


In article , Jere
Lull wrote:

In article . com,
"Terry K" wrote:

My short bilge keel setup seems to have a mind of it's own, the rudder
is overbalanced in all conditions, she veers as soon as you let go.

Perhaps I should shave the leading edge of the rudder, or stick on a
tail?

That would make it worse. Our original rudder was *very* heavy and gave
me a good work out in even moderate conditions. I built a new thinner
one, with the leading edge about 20% ahead of the pintles and now have a
very light helm.

Re-reading: If she veers when you're close hauled, you probably have
the main sheeted in too hard. Ease out until the efforts are balanced
out. Even our Xan, who has basically zero directional stability, will
hold close hauled on her own for a while.