So I've been living aboard my 37 footer for 18 months. Looking to get something with more room to move.. have guests etc. But need to still be able to manage solo if needed.
What's the biggest boat you have singlehanded?

Crusoe said..
Adams 40, but it helps if you have an auto pilot and roller furlers on the headsail. An electric anchor winch sure helps getting out of tight spots when by yourself especially if it can be operated from the cockpit. Engine start gear in the cockpit is handy as well.


Bigger boats, bigger maintenance costs :(

Adams 45 - Exactly what Crusoe said!!

I've set mine up specifically for single handed with everything coming back to the cockpit.

I have 31 ft. A fairly recent purchase after many years on other people's boats bigger, smaller and my own laser. Bigger than 37' for live aboard with time to pick where and when to go? Mcnaughtical wants a cat doesn't she?

No, I don't want a Cat Wildemann.

So what you liking?

I have 2 Cats on board W8ting

Just about any size boat can be sailed single handed, it all comes down to the way they are set up. My 57 footer is sailed single handed with no problems. Everything comes back to the cockpit (more precisely the helm position), self tacking jib, all electric winches, furling main, jib and code 0, bow and stern thrusters for mooring and a good autopilot. It really comes down to how much you can afford to spend.The only problem with a big boat is that when you have problems everything is big and heavy. For example my boom weighs 250kg, none of my sails can be lifted by one person. When I am by myself I have to use a halyard to hoist them on the boat and move them round. It's the old story, where there's a will, there's a way.

Jode5 said..
Just about any size boat can be sailed single handed, it all comes down to

the mind set of the sailor.

I moved up from a Dunc 37 to a Adams 42 a few years back. Personally I felt more capable sailing solo and berthing in the 6 ton 37fter rather than my new 10ton 42fter.

I have a remote control for the Autopilot and don't have to much trouble going forward to raise or lower the Mainsail but the weight of the bigger main can be a challenge to hoist quickly.

The extra room is certainly an improvement but I feel 42 foot would still be a little small for more than a couple for long periods of cruising. I also think a 42 with 2 heads(toilets) reduces your cabin room back down to 37ft area. Ideally 2 cabin one head layout is most ideal for large living area cruising.

Costs don't step up a real lot from 37 to 42 but most obvious I find is berthing going form under 12 meter to a 12 to 15 meter berth can be a big jump.lucky for me I'm still paying 12 meter berth rates.

Cats I have one Called Trim, she doesn't really like sailing and sits in the corner giving me daggers when I hoist a sail or even leave the dock under motor!

Ideally best liveaboard but the most expensive would be a 40ft cat.

Also single handing in your local bay with your local experience on your side is a lot diffrent than heading up or down a coast with no previous experiences solo.

One time when size doesn't matter. Bigger boat, more stable platform to work from, just as easy as a smaller one. Electric winches help - I love to set up the main gear (halyards, vang, topping lift, sheet) through decent clutches to a Maxwell Anchormax in the cockpit. Not expensive and great geriatric gear. Not implying that you have reached the geriatric club, McNautical.

Mind set is a big thing and not being in a hurry.
when I worked on a ferry that did 15min runs the boss could tell the skipper by the amount of fuel the boat took at the end to the day down to the litre. When your docking a boat you should be able to do it at a snails speed even in wind and current. Bow thruster is a great idea but don't become reliant on it.

southace said..
Well yes snail speed is good but you need power if wind and currents are taking effect.

I'm not saying you don't just that the larger the boat the slower it needs to move.

Sectorsteve said..
We were trained when working on reg grundys boat to park up very slow in the limo tenders. They were worth about 500k and there were 2. Not only is it embarrassing to bounce off the dock its just not necessary to go gung ho and use engine to park. With patience you plan the park will in advance so you just kiss the dock gently or not at all. Tricky in wind and current but in that case you use the wind and current.

thank you

Jode5 said..
Just about any size boat can be sailed single handed, it all comes down to the way they are set up. My 57 footer is sailed single handed with no problems. Everything comes back to the cockpit (more precisely the helm position), self tacking jib, all electric winches, furling main, jib and code 0, bow and stern thrusters for mooring and a good autopilot. It really comes down to how much you can afford to spend.The only problem with a big boat is that when you have problems everything is big and heavy. For example my boom weighs 250kg, none of my sails can be lifted by one person. When I am by myself I have to use a halyard to hoist them on the boat and move them round. It's the old story, where there's a will, there's a way.

Well if you can do it... I can ... As you say... where there's a will there's a way... my motto.

PhoenixStar said..
One time when size doesn't matter. Bigger boat, more stable platform to work from, just as easy as a smaller one. Electric winches help - I love to set up the main gear (halyards, vang, topping lift, sheet) through decent clutches to a Maxwell Anchormax in the cockpit. Not expensive and great geriatric gear. Not implying that you have reached the geriatric club, McNautical.

Well Phoenix, if I get this boat I might call on you to show me how it's done. I'm certainly not in the Geriatric class yet, but hope to be still on board when I get to that stage, and anything that makes things easier is always a good thing.