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.

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.


WESTSAIL 32........................................

Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a boat
like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
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.

NE Sailboat wrote:

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.

Really? I find single handing my boat of the same size actually easier,
despite "Strider" being much quicker turning on the helm than your Bristol
32. I don't have to explain things, there's no one in the way when I need
to reach a sheet quickly, nobody ever says, "What?" with that deer in the
headlights look when something needs to be done quickly. It's very relaxing
but I do get bored with the conversation in moderate weather.

Single handing in strong winds is very rewarding. There's enough excitement
that I don't miss the conversation and it's excellent practice and
confidence building for the times you are responsible for other people.
Figuring out how to handle jib sheets and a boat without self tailing
winches and with a helm you can only let go of for seconds is great mental
exercise.

Having a good trained crew than can do everything is easiest, of course.
Being away from the sailing world for several years, I don't know a lot of
people like that and I tend also to take non-sailors because I enjoy
introducing people to the experience. My new crew was getting quite
competent towards the last couple days of the cruise this summer and it was
very enjoyable to just sit there and watch an eager and energetic person "do
this - do that". We're planning a lot more sailing next summer and I don't
think single handing will ever have quite the appeal it did before.

--
Roger Long

"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:fheeh.6030$sM2.36@trndny05...
Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a boat
like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
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.






What do you sail that makes it so hard... or where do you sail? I sail s.h.
all the time, at it's not that difficult with some planning.

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

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:fheeh.6030$sM2.36@trndny05...
Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a boat
like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
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.






What do you sail that makes it so hard... or where do you sail? I sail
s.h. all the time, at it's not that difficult with some planning.

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




Bay of Fundy when the tide is up?

"KLC Lewis" wrote in message
...

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
...
"NE Sailboat" wrote in message
news:fheeh.6030$sM2.36@trndny05...
Could be enough boat ,, but are you "enough" of a sailor to handle a
boat like this by yourself.

I sail single handed ,,,,,,,,, it is really really hard.


"JohnM" wrote in message
...
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.






What do you sail that makes it so hard... or where do you sail? I sail
s.h. all the time, at it's not that difficult with some planning.

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




Bay of Fundy when the tide is up?



Why is that more difficult single vs. crew? Seems like timing is timing, but
I've never been there.


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

On Fri, 8 Dec 2006 15:57:12 +1100, "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.


Hi John,

I single hand all the time in a boat of similar size. I am
familiar with the beneteau 35. Most of the are rigged with all lines
in the cockpit. This is important for single handlers. As far as
comfort, that depends upon your definition of comfort. Beneteau's are
comfortable, but I would be looking for things like watermakers,
genet, solar and wind gen that I rarely see on a Beneteau. FWIW

-Lee

wrote:

Most of the are rigged with all lines in the cockpit. This is important
for single handlers.

I disagree with the use of the word "important". I would not quibble with,
"convienient", "a common preference", or "important to me" but I myself
prefer certain lines on the mast.

We had a long debate here when I described re-rigging my boat that had just
about everything except the pump for the head operable from the cockpit. The
issue then was crew and it was quite amusing since I was vilified for
endangering my family by requireing them to ever leave the safety of the
cockpit. It almost got as far as implications that child welfare
authorities should be contacted. This seems to be one of those religious
issues with some folks.

Now the subject is singlehanding and, even there, I prefer to go forward.
I've got to furl and tie the main anyway and I'm handier to do that when
aready up on the cabin top than down in the cockpit. The main goes up and
down easier without the extra friction of leads aft and I can put my weight
into the hoist. Anything like a snagged jackline or stuck slide is much
more easily dealt with on the spot. It's nice to have one less big coil of
line in the cockpit as well.

I reef singlehanded frequently. It's no big deal although I roll up the jib
when doing it alone. The main reason for this is that Strider steers
herself quite well under main only. The tacks go into hooks which is
something I thought I would change immediately but it works so well that I'm
sold on it. Lower, hook, hoist, done. No extra gear or lines to further
complicate this busy area.

My reefing pendants do run back to the cockpit and can be taken to a winch
if I need more power on them. I'd prefer to do the pulling from the mast
since I'll shortly be climbing around on the cabin top tying in reef points
anyway. However, the boat is already set up with the in-boom reefing
system. It works well enough and not having all the usual gear on the boom
is nice enough that I don't feel like changing it. The geometry of a short
boom boat with deep reefs isn't conducive to the traditional set up anyway.

I do end up going back and forth between the mast and cockpit quite a bit
but it's good exercise and stretching and feels enjoyably like sailing. In
cool weather, I always feel a warm and energized after reefing or unreefing
in a way that I never would if I was just standing up and pulling on stuff
that ends at on the cabin top.

It's important to me to handle my boat this way, even when I'm alone.

--
Roger Long

John,
After chartering and borrowing a variety of cruising boats for many years we
bought a Bristol Channel Cutter 28 a few years ago and find it a good design
for single or double-handed cruising. Nice easy motion offshore and tons of
storage space --a big plus when trying to find room for all the stuff and
tools and spare parts you'll want for extended cruising . The heavy
displacement is balanced by a very generous sail plan and long waterline,
they do a whole lot better in light and moderate conditions than one might
expect. Very solidly built, and pleasant to spend time on if you enjoy
traditional design. There are better designs for weekend marina-hopping or
racing around the buoys but for extending cruising it's hard to beat in its
size range. Not cheap, but it's sailing dimensions - beam, draft,
displacement, LWL and sail area compare favorably to more modern designs in
the 34' range.

Scott

"JohnM" wrote in message
...
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.