Oyster 74.5

[dunedin]

So at the expense of a thread drift. What does the team think is a sensible max size for 2 handed sailing. ie husband & wife who are ,say, in retirement- which for the point of discussion lets say 55 years becaus that would match the wealth level.
I assisted a Dutch chap move a 50ft Contest in Ostend- It was beautiful. He said that he sailed it with just himself & wife ( she had gone shopping!!) & found no problems doing long day sails , which suited them. He manouvered it into a tight space with total ease- stern & bow thrusters- & all I had to do was pick up a line at the bow as he moored stern on. I do not know what happens when the hydraulics fail or the engine develops a fault though. They do.
I still thought it too big, but an old friend of mine has a Hanse 45 which he sails with his wife. They are both really into sailing. He has numerous dinghies & keelboats for racing & he has bought her a corby 25 for weekday racing with an all lady crew. So that pairing is a bit more experienced than many.
So what does the team think sensible if they were really going two up. Not what they might dream about.

I think you have hit the nail on the head when say - "I don't know what happens when the X fails" - for X insert one of at least 20 systems which are safety critical, for furling sails, docking etc.
Push button sailing a 90 footer with 2 would be a cinch with everything working, but potentially a disaster if can't furl a sail at sea.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I think you have hit the nail on the head when say - "I don't know what happens when the X fails" - for X insert one of at least 20 systems which are safety critical, for furling sails, docking etc.
Push button sailing a 90 footer with 2 would be a cinch with everything working, but potentially a disaster if can't furl a sail at sea.

All "push button" furling systems can if needed be furled manually.

 

[dunedin]

All "push button" furling systems can if needed be furled manually.

Not in the biggest sizes, two average sized people couldn't furl manually, certainly above a F2. Even furling a jib on a 40 footer can be a struggle in a breeze without an electric winch

 

[Fr J Hackett]

For a Reckmann furler

Emergency Manual Backup​

The unique manual drive ensures the greatest possible level of security. By simply inserting a standard winch handle, the electric drive will disconnect and switch to manual operation. Due to this special gear mechanism that prevents sail forces from transferring to the winch handle, the reefing system can be safely and easily operated, even when in manual mode.

 

[dunedin]

For a Reckmann furler

Emergency Manual Backup​

The unique manual drive ensures the greatest possible level of security. By simply inserting a standard winch handle, the electric drive will disconnect and switch to manual operation. Due to this special gear mechanism that prevents sail forces from transferring to the winch handle, the reefing system can be safely and easily operated, even when in manual mode.

Again fine in the medium sized boats, perhaps up to 60ft. But when get big the sizes, weights and forces are huge. Have you seen the size of the furlers on some superyachts?

 

[B27]

For what Oyster charge, I'd hope they would parachute in a technician.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Again fine in the medium sized boats, perhaps up to 60ft. But when get big the sizes, weights and forces are huge. Have you seen the size of the furlers on some superyachts?

That system is up to 70 foot and you won't find many if at all any double handed husband and wife teams on anything bigger. There is always the option of dropping a sail anyway.

 

[Tranona]

So at the expense of a thread drift. What does the team think is a sensible max size for 2 handed sailing. ie husband & wife who are ,say, in retirement- which for the point of discussion lets say 55 years becaus that would match the wealth level.
I assisted a Dutch chap move a 50ft Contest in Ostend- It was beautiful. He said that he sailed it with just himself & wife ( she had gone shopping!!) & found no problems doing long day sails , which suited them. He manouvered it into a tight space with total ease- stern & bow thrusters- & all I had to do was pick up a line at the bow as he moored stern on. I do not know what happens when the hydraulics fail or the engine develops a fault though. They do.
I still thought it too big, but an old friend of mine has a Hanse 45 which he sails with his wife. They are both really into sailing. He has numerous dinghies & keelboats for racing & he has bought her a corby 25 for weekday racing with an all lady crew. So that pairing is a bit more experienced than many.
So what does the team think sensible if they were really going two up. Not what they might dream about.

As big as they feel comfortable with. over the last 30 years sizes of boats have increased along with the technology improvements for boat handling, the lowering of the age at which people have the wealth to afford it and the depths of their pockets. The key areas of product development have been in sail handling and maneuvering aids just as you described. all the work is in parking, unparking, setting and managing sail area. The driving bit in between is also taken care of with the autopilot.

50' would be considered middle of the road now in that sector of the market. Contest smallest is 42 and I guess the 50/55 are their biggest sellers, but they go up to 85. You soon get used to size and while to you (and many others) looking up from their existing boats may think them big, the owners may actually be wishing they had gone up a size!

 

[Daydream believer]

There is always the option of dropping a sail anyway.

Have you felt the weight of some of these sails? Can you imagine how one is going to control a large genoa on deck as it lays on deck & a wave sloshes over the side & catches some of it. Just getting hold of a fold of a thick sail can be hard enough.

 

[Wansworth]

Have you felt the weight of some of these sails? Can you imagine how one is going to control a large genoa on deck as it lays on deck & a wave sloshes over the side & catches some of it. Just getting hold of a fold of a thick sail can be hard enough.

And where do you go for a weekend if you live in the UK

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Have you felt the weight of some of these sails? Can you imagine how one is going to control a large genoa on deck as it lays on deck & a wave sloshes over the side & catches some of it. Just getting hold of a fold of a thick sail can be hard enough.

Needs must.

 

[B27]

You can't drop a genoa if the furler is jammed anywhere other than 'fully open'.
You don't need a big Oyster to learn that.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

What would jam a hydraulic or electric furler that couldn’t be wound out? But it could be wound in. You don’t understand them and how they work you are simply trying to find something that fits your mistaken ideas.

 

[Neeves]

OK but might be a mite tricky when it comes to hopping out to tie up to the pontoon.

This has been mentioned already. There are at least 2 systems (and probably many more) where you come alongside using a device like a computer game console.

One system is Dockmate.... Remote Controlled Docking System - Dockmate

None of this is 'new' large commercial ships are docked using the same, similar, systems, one man on the bridge wing with a console.

Jonathan

 

[Daedelus]

Ideal yacht size is probably around 70 feet well out at sea, maybe 35-45 feet in crowded waters such as the Solent where manoeuvrability is vital, maybe 20 feet LOA in the marina except below decks where a minimal 35 feet is needed for comfort for 2 people. I think that covers it.

 

[Bouba]

The advantage of parking a big boat is that you can ask the port for assistance without embarrassment

 

[Snowgoose-1]

A problem for a large boat is parking problems when cruising lin marinas. Not many can cater for the size. With a couple, it mens anchoring outside and only one can go ashore at a time.

A couple of year's ago there was a couple moored close to me in an 82' Oyster . They were mid sixties and seemed to cope OK with an occasional son now and then. They had completed an oyster world rally which was well organised with minimal berthing g problems.

 

[ashtead]

It would seem to me that able to fund an oyster of this size one could fund a skipper and his partner/cook to manage/sail with other paid crew etc through your company bank account with occasional charter week but for uk sailing a 46 oyster or a49 say would be ideal I guess but I think a 46 Najad or indeed the gunfleet 43 might suffice. A lot to my mind depends on set up though and technical ability to maintain the kit plus heath of crew and age . It’s a big change sailing as a 30-40 something couple to later years if stiff knees etc .As for sails once you have power winch lifting the bag ashore etc helps but if in the med your North sails branch would sort out collection repairs etc. I recall going on a raymarine course a few years ago and was surprised how many couples who had just bought newish Bene and such like were there learning. Find me a nice secondhand 46 and be happy maybe?

 

[Bouba]

A lot of sailors, rather than go long…prefer to go wide. What about a cat to get you that extra leg room ?

 

[Daydream believer]

What would jam a hydraulic or electric furler that couldn’t be wound out? But it could be wound in. You don’t understand them and how they work you are simply trying to find something that fits your mistaken ideas.

Well I have had a few hoses go on my diggers & it makes one hell of a mess & everything stops working. Sod's law dictates that 75% of the time it is in the most inaccessible place. Always when you really need it to happen. Is it less likely to happen in a marine environment with corrosion high on the list?
Leaks do occur. A friend of mine had a hydraulic failure on his MOBO & lost steering. So these things can & do happen.