Poll: Longest cruising yacht for single-handed sailors?

[xyachtdave]

Stop applying logic to boat purchases !!! The X40 is a stunning boat, and you know you want one.
Who counts heads when sailing a boat like that :encouragement:

PS. Slightly more on topic, yes the costs do go up with boat size (indeed typically weight), and finding a berth in some cruising waters can be restricted with longer, deeper and /or wider boats.
But generally no more difficult to single hand 40ft than 36ft.

I do want one but not sure the added expenses would bring more enjoyment, hence the the 'stick' position we're in currently!

Who counts "heads"?
Ask any woman, its their priority, especially on a yacht.

'Any'??

My partner wants to know where the beers are and how fast the boat goes!

 

[Daydream believer]

Just sailing a 40 ft boat is fairly easy, as is parking it.
However, once things get rough there are a number of points
It is a more stable platform than, say, my 31 ft boat
It should be easier motion than a small boat
However, handling thicker sail cloths- even in port when bending on sails- can be very difficult
Dropping a bigger sail could be harder as could hoisting, even with bigger winches & perhaps electric ones- Do many 40 ft boats have electric? Do they tend to appear on 45 ft & up
I suspect older 40 ft boats do see them as common as modern boats
Equipment is heavier ie Poles for running down wind with poled out genoa are heavier

A single hander does not actually need anymore space than that provided by a modern 35 ft boat
I go away for weeks at a time on my 31 ft boat & miss little & have ample space.
More galley work space would be nice. A decent sized fridge. But that is it really.

 

[Kukri]

Just sailing a 40 ft boat is fairly easy, as is parking it.
However, once things get rough there are a number of points
It is a more stable platform than, say, my 31 ft boat
It should be easier motion than a small boat
However, handling thicker sail cloths- even in port when bending on sails- can be very difficult
Dropping a bigger sail could be harder as could hoisting, even with bigger winches & perhaps electric ones- Do many 40 ft boats have electric? Do they tend to appear on 45 ft & up
I suspect older 40 ft boats do see them as common as modern boats
Equipment is heavier ie Poles for running down wind with poled out genoa are heavier

A single hander does not actually need anymore space than that provided by a modern 35 ft boat
I go away for weeks at a time on my 31 ft boat & miss little & have ample space.
More galley work space would be nice. A decent sized fridge. But that is it really.

I agree. I went from 37ft heavyweight to 55ft medium heavyweight. It’s the weight and general intractability of the sails that makes a huge difference. I would not want a mainsail that showed any reluctance to come down!. I prefer not to think about the spinnaker poles...

 

[ffiill]

My experience is with a 33ft long keel wheel house ketch.
Great thing is it sails well on missen and Genoa and is easy to handle and once set up you can go and make yourself a cup of tea without even setting up the autopilot .The hydraulic steering allows you to leave the wheel fixed where you left it.