On Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:11:20 -0700 (PDT), Frogwatch
wrote:

However, 40' is waaaaay too big for
one person to handle so I'd prefer smaller.

No problem for a trawler that is laid out and equipped properly. I
can, and have, single handed our 49 with no problems.

Here are the reqirements as I see them:

A good, trouble free, anchor windlass.

Walk around decks with access from both sides.

A really good, industrial strength autopilot.

Either twin engines or a powerful bow thruster.

At night you'd also want a first class radar with target tracking and
suitable proximity alarms.