Ideas for simple/cheap (ha!) changes to potentially improve single-handing

[sniffyjenkins]

Hey all

Advice and ideas much appreciated here. I've done loads of Google research on this (fun) and thought it was time to ask you lot. To whit:

The scenario: a 31-foot, cutter-rigged cruising yacht; mainsail with roller boom reefing; two foresails, small jib and staysail, both hanked on; all halyards are at the mast. She is a wonderful boat but not everyone loves foredeck work as much as I do. So.

The challenge: implement a few changes - DIYish, quickish, cheapish - to make the set up easier for single-handers who can't or don't want to scamper about the boat on their own. Fair dos.

The no-nos: will not be paying thousands to install new furling systems and get two new foresails for said systems, so that's out the window.

Ideas being implemented this weekend:

• Lazyjacks: yes, it's a roller boom, but with a couple of tweeks the lazyjacks will work fine. So that's happening.

Ideas I've had but more research needed and thoughts appreciated:

• Single-line reefing: yes, it's a mainsail cut for the roller boom, but has a reefing point up where the second reef would be on a 'normal' sail. Would it be an idea to set up a single-line reefing system using this high up reefing point? One would maybe lose more sail than wanted, i.e. there's no putting only one reef in. Is that an issue? I'm sure there are other problems with this idea, and am assuming it's a no-go but would love input.
• Foresail downhaul line: I'm very interested in this idea and would value input on pros and cons, experience, etc. Seems like a simple, and possibly cheap, way of approaching dropping the staysail from the cockpit.

Other things

We have a large furling drum that came with the boat. The previous owner always meant to fit it but never got round to it. I'm thinking it's maybe like one of those Barton furling drums that you fit to dinghies. Maybe? Does such a thing exist for larger sailing boats? I'm going to go to the boat this weekend to investigate further. If it is such a thing, it seems that would be an excellent option for the jib, which sits out on the bowsprit and would probably just end up in the drink if lowered using a downhaul.

In conclusion

Any thoughts or opinions on any of the above would be greatly appreciated, as would any ideas anyone has about anything else in this situation, things I've not thought about (which will be many), etc.

Cheers guys

 

[Norman_E]

I don't know how you set up single line reefing if you have a roller boom, I do know however that single ine systems need to be very carefully designed to avoid excessive friction. I converted mine to twin line and suggest that you look at a twin line setup which you should be able to pull down with less effort.

 

[dom]

Personal opinion only:

1. Single-line reefing: I hate these as it's very hard to tweak sail shape and friction can be excessive. They are also finicky things with in boom blocks, strops, etc. Others disagree.

2. Foresail downhaul: excellent idea.

3. Spare furling drum: this will almost certainly require a new forestay, a new furling foil (unless fitted) and a heap of other bits and pieces. Given your self imposed budget constraints, a net attached to the bowsprit or something might make sense for what won't be a huge sail.

Other possibilities:

1. A centre of boat jackstay system -- will stop you falling off at all as opposed to being dragged along beside the boat, a seriously dangerous outcome.

2. Autopilot: fab but often pricey. If not a simple shock cord rig-up can be surprisingly effective.

3. Knee-pads: I hesitate to mention this to a woman but foredeck work is so much easier with them. All the racers use them BTW.

4. when you come to Cherbourg, have a good look at all of the boats, ask why set-ups are as they are and take some time to play with radars, AISs, APs, or anything else really. Racing people do this all the time and it's quite normal to wander onto someone's boat with a cup of coffee in hand and say, "So telll me, I curious about xyz gizmo ............?"

 

[Aeolus]

Strongly agree with autopilot and centre-mounted jackstays

Also:
Chart plotter mounted in the cockpit
Permanently rigged preventers
Anchor ready to be launched quickly if needed
Furling headsails - I realise they may be a bit expensive but they make life sooo much easier

 

[BurnitBlue]

The bane of my single-handed sailing is definitely handling the mainsail. Reefing, and or furling is a pain especially in the Med where the wind changes strength by the hour.

Any system to make the constant raise/lower/furl easy would be priceless. The lazy alternative of a permanent furled mainsail with full genoa as seen so often in the Med is common.

 

[JumbleDuck]

The no-nos: will not be paying thousands to install new furling systems and get two new foresails for said systems, so that's out the window.

I think you mean reefing systems, with foils and things. You could much more economically fit a furling system, which simply rolls up the sail - all or nothing, no intermediate (reefed) positions. You may have to have a stiffer luff wire fitted as well as removing the hanks, but the sails stay basically unaltered.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

I don't know how you set up single line reefing if you have a roller boom, I do know however that single ine systems need to be very carefully designed to avoid excessive friction. I converted mine to twin line and suggest that you look at a twin line setup which you should be able to pull down with less effort.

Yep, fair enough. Both you and Dom have mentioned excessive friction too, so I think this idea is in the bin. Thanks

 

[pcatterall]

I'm trying to get my old roller boom to work ( for ease of single handling) we cant lead lines aft so my view is that a trip to the mast, wind the roller boom a few times and back to the cockpit is no great issue and there is less work with lines, hooks etc. yes sail shape when reefed is an issue!

I would look to spend money at some time on a furler for at least one of the fore sails.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

Personal opinion only:

1. Single-line reefing: I hate these as it's very hard to tweak sail shape and friction can be excessive. They are also finicky things with in boom blocks, strops, etc. Others disagree.

2. Foresail downhaul: excellent idea.

3. Spare furling drum: this will almost certainly require a new forestay, a new furling foil (unless fitted) and a heap of other bits and pieces. Given your self imposed budget constraints, a net attached to the bowsprit or something might make sense for what won't be a huge sail.

Other possibilities:

1. A centre of boat jackstay system -- will stop you falling off at all as opposed to being dragged along beside the boat, a seriously dangerous outcome.

2. Autopilot: fab but often pricey. If not a simple shock cord rig-up can be surprisingly effective.

3. Knee-pads: I hesitate to mention this to a woman but foredeck work is so much easier with them. All the racers use them BTW.

4. when you come to Cherbourg, have a good look at all of the boats, ask why set-ups are as they are and take some time to play with radars, AISs, APs, or anything else really. Racing people do this all the time and it's quite normal to wander onto someone's boat with a cup of coffee in hand and say, "So telll me, I curious about xyz gizmo ............?"

Awesome , thanks.

Single-line reefing idea has been junked. Glad the downhaul idea has a thumbs up: I had such a thing on my previous boat (much smaller) and had forgotten how useful it was. The net is a great idea for certain things: we had netting around the whole boat because of the dog, but it was a real pain to use when mooring with lines, shifting buoys about, anchoring, even fendering. Got rid of it after a couple of months use.

And why would you hesitate to suggest knee pads to women? Sounds like a bloody brilliant idea and yes, my offshore trousers have them built in

Jackstays along the coachroof is something we have already decided to do on the next boat.

I will be patrolling the pontoon in Cherbourg on the hunt for clever gizmos and DIY ideas. Prepare to be boarded/interrogated/given cold beers and bear hugs.

 

[Ludd]

Apart from sail handling, midships cleats for coming alongside.

 

[Concerto]

Besides the things already mentioned, two things you could add to make life easier is a tiller clutch (http://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-tillerclutchx-keelboat-model.html?sqr=tiller clutch&#.V5tZCzWD6Jc) and a hand held VHF.

With hanked sails I cannot see any advantage of taking your halyards back to the cockpit, so do not alter this. If in the future you changed to a roller genoa, then a change aft would be very worthwhile.

If you do a lot of marina berthing or rafting, then make sure you have midships cleats as they will make mooring so much easier.

On my Westerly Fulmar (32ft) all my winches are oversized and self tailing, so I can do almost all winch work with one hand. Recently I added a one touch winch handle by Lewmar, this makes fitting or removing the handle much easier. They are not cheap, but I would not like to sail without mine (I still have 2 locking and a straight handle onboard as well). Fit winch handle pockets in the cockpit and possibly one on the back of the mast, but do not leave the handle at the mast as a genoa sheet can lift the handle out.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

I think you mean reefing systems, with foils and things. You could much more economically fit a furling system, which simply rolls up the sail - all or nothing, no intermediate (reefed) positions. You may have to have a stiffer luff wire fitted as well as removing the hanks, but the sails stay basically unaltered.

Ah, interesting. I didn't know there were these two different things, but think the furling drum may be part of this type of system. I shall investigate further to see whether such things as new forestay would be required - as Dom mentioned - etc. If I can get this set up on the jib with (relatively) little hassle then it would be a great thing.

 

[sniffyjenkins]

Apart from sail handling, midships cleats for coming alongside.

Oh I'd love midship cleats! Probably not a major priority right now, but it's definitely on the list. Thanks!

 

[thinwater]

1. You didn't mention lifellines/jacklines and tethers. Workout a permanent system to make moving on deck safer. Play with a variety of placements, and then install new anchors as needed. For the single hander, tethers are nearly every day.

1a. Knee pads are great.

1b. a separate, short tether a the bow is good.

2. High lifelines/guard lines. Rig a rope from forward, up to the shrouds at chest level, and back down. Works best with outboard chain plates.

3. Autopilot.

4. Down haul. Some folks like a cockpit downhaul on the genoa. Personally, I didn't like it, since I wanted to put the sail away anyway.

 

[dom]

I think you mean reefing systems, with foils and things. You could much more economically fit a furling system, which simply rolls up the sail - all or nothing, no intermediate (reefed) positions. You may have to have a stiffer luff wire fitted as well as removing the hanks, but the sails stay basically unaltered.

These continuous line furling systems are great but surprisingly pricey as they need top swivels, dyneema halyards and whatnot. The look however is pretty unique if the OP is trying to identify what she has:

http://www.eurospars.com/facnor-/facnor-rc-continuous-line-reefing-system/

 

[Tranona]

Ah, interesting. I didn't know there were these two different things, but think the furling drum may be part of this type of system. I shall investigate further to see whether such things as new forestay would be required - as Dom mentioned - etc. If I can get this set up on the jib with (relatively) little hassle then it would be a great thing.

The traditional way of furling headsails on rigs like yours is to have a a Wykeham Martin furling gear on the jib, but not on the staysail. The reason for this is that the jib is both on the bowsprit and is usually the first to go when the wind gets up. It is set flying as it furls round the luff wire. A number 2 size would I think suit as it goes up to a sail area of 100 sq ft. Together with a downhaul on the staysail. much lower cost than a furling sail, although you only need to fit a low cost Plastimo unit which is much cheaper than others.

You can easily convert your main to slab reefing. Does not need to be single line, particularly if you still handle the reefing at the mast. It is not a lot less work than roller reefing but gives a much better reefed shape, although you have fixed reef points rather than infinitely variable with roller. I converted my Eventide - essentially the same mainsail gear as your boat to single line slab reefing with all controls led back to the cockpit (including halyards and topping lift). Also converted the sail to loose foot and have a stack pack with lazy jacks. all a vast improvement on the original, but you need a lot of hardware, and with the sail modification is likely to cost around £800 using new parts. Good investment if you are keeping the boat.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Don't agree with the Single line reefing comment, the Selden way of doing SL is in my view cr*p... My SL is literally that, a single line tied off on the under boom eye, up to the aft reef cringle, back down to the boom end block, along the boom, exiting around the forward end block, up to a block on the reef point forward, back down to a turning block at foot of mast, through organiser and back to clutch. Reefing technique is to release kicker (boom strut) and mainsheet, haul on reefing line until boom is lifted up and chocka at the clew end, then ease the halyard, pulling down the tack end... Tension halyard, tension kicker, pull in mainsheet....

 

[JumbleDuck]

Ah, interesting. I didn't know there were these two different things, but think the furling drum may be part of this type of system. I shall investigate further to see whether such things as new forestay would be required - as Dom mentioned - etc. If I can get this set up on the jib with (relatively) little hassle then it would be a great thing.

Tranona has given splendid advice on this. As I understand it, you don't need to do anything at all with the stay, as the sail hosts and furls behind it.

These continuous line furling systems are great but surprisingly pricey as they need top swivels, dyneema halyards and whatnot.

The Profurl costs are indeed eye-watering, but Wykeham-Martin isn't too bad, particularly for bronze, and as Tranona says, Plastimo is even cheaper.

Another suggestion, OP, for an easier life: a rope from the bow, outside everything to beside the cockpit with a geet big snap shackle on the end makes it much easier to moor single handed from the cockpit. Bring up with the buoy alongside the tiller or wheel, reach over, clip on, stroll forward and pull in the rope as the boat slips back. We call it the "magic rope".

 

[oldbilbo]

I converted mine to twin line and suggest that you look at a twin line setup which you should be able to pull down with less effort.

I've converted several boats to 'twin-line reefing' - the largest a Rival 34 - with self-made lazyjacks, and had excellent results using simple s/s rings instead of expensive and un-necessary sheaveblocks. Sew in your own 'spectacles' at reef-tacks and reef-clew points.

Consider changing the main halyard for a two-part 'whip'. More rope, but much easier to 'sweat up'.

Consider making the topping lift fast at the mast, and adjustable at the boom end.

Make sailties from cheap webbing, and sewn or ties into 1-metre loops. So much faster/easier to tie off on a wet and windy night, swinging about on a pitching, rolling coachroof and hanging onto the boom for dear life

A centre cleat is useful. So also is a single deck eye mounted in the same place, with a robust single sheave block ( 'snatch block' second-hand ? ) through which to reave a midships mooring line when wanted.

Rugged trugs from farmers co-ops/horsey outlets are tougher than plastic buckets.

I had a pair of small cleats coachroof-mounted, for the reefing lines. I fitted one extended bolt through to the inside and attached a ringnut - each side, inside. To this I clipped a personal tether, each side, which permitted me to clip on always while still inside. With the 'loose end' clipped up onto itself, it provided a handhold 'hanging strap' each side to help me pull up out of a lee settee berth....

A couple of robust 'Bags For Life' or cheap insulated shopping bags from IKEA can be hooked over coachroof winches or cleats, and left dangling down inside the companionway, to hold binos, gloves, folded charts, handbearing compass, odds and ends.... and they have other, traditional uses.

Half-a-dozen cheap LED headlamps and spare batteries, from Aldi/Lidl.

A couple of plastic thermos jugs. Prepare hot drinks/soup, etc. before departure.

Many of the Jesters singlehanders arrange a comfortable seat in the companionway, for watch-keeping. Some of these are visible in the YouTube videos of their ventures. 'Here's one I made earlier', out of a 1-metre lifting strop....

 

[GHA]

Permanently rigged presenters has been mentioned already, m well worth the effort and should cost nest to nothing.
Also, having the topping lift terminated on a cleat attached to the backstay is very handy, takes moments to adjust without leaving the cockpit.