matt1
Well-known member
I think as much it depends on the age / design of the boat. My 2019 40' is a lot easier to SH than my then new 31' from 2006 was. I'm staggered by how designs have advanced and how bigger can actually mean easier. The 31' was a very physical boat to sail, the new one much less so
For instance;
* Flick a switch at the helm to engage the autopilot - on the 31' this would have involved getting the tiller pilot out the locker and setting it up, normally tripping over it and disengaging it too. So was only really used on passage.
* Halliards come back to electric winches at the helm on the 40' - on the 31' they were on the coachroof meaning I had to juggle the tiller whilst raising the main etc I can literally do everything sat the the helm
* Bowthruster with a remote means I can step onto the pontoon and bring (or hold) the bow in whilst I sort out lines
* The 40' is big enough to render a windlass essential, on the 31 I had to sweat the rode as a windlass would have been marginal
* Modern instruments mean I can hotspot a tablet and have greater visibility to nav data
For instance;
* Flick a switch at the helm to engage the autopilot - on the 31' this would have involved getting the tiller pilot out the locker and setting it up, normally tripping over it and disengaging it too. So was only really used on passage.
* Halliards come back to electric winches at the helm on the 40' - on the 31' they were on the coachroof meaning I had to juggle the tiller whilst raising the main etc I can literally do everything sat the the helm
* Bowthruster with a remote means I can step onto the pontoon and bring (or hold) the bow in whilst I sort out lines
* The 40' is big enough to render a windlass essential, on the 31 I had to sweat the rode as a windlass would have been marginal
* Modern instruments mean I can hotspot a tablet and have greater visibility to nav data