Single-Handed Day-Sailing - Boat Choices?

M

murraynorth

Member
Joined
7 Nov 2005
Messages
40
Location
N. Wales
Visit site
I am currently looking at 20-25 foot day-sailers for single-handed day-sailing on the River Mersey in winter and Mersey Estuary in Spring & Autumn. The boat will probably be berthed in Liverpool Marina so no launching issues.
I am a keen sailor, but not a racing sailor and I am looking at 3 boats - Beneteau 21.7S and 25.7S and a Reid Hawk 20 Cabin.
Any contributions on the relative merits of the above boats would be most welcome.
 
Ben 21.7 likes some movable crew weight, a bit twitchy for singlehanding in my book. OK till heel exceeds critical angle then very suddenly lose control. Very dinghyish, seriously fast for size.

Hawk 20 good to sail though not as outright fast as the Ben 21.7, but can plane quite well offwind.

Can't comment on the 25.7, but seems more yachty than the others, and is going to be a lot more expensive.
 
Thanks John, that's just the feedback I need - unfortunately there never seems to be demo boats available to get a true feel for the character of a particular boat
 
Have a look at Saffiers, lovely Dutch boats, one of which took laurels in its class for European boat of the year last year. Always fancied one, maybe when I eventually give up the bigger boats because of inevitable bodily decrepitude. A bit out of the ordinary though (and not cheap!), but that is what I like as perhaps gathered from my current choice of boat
 
God, you must be hard, sailing on the Mersey in winter. It's hard enough just standing up on the bloody ferries some days - & the gusts between the 3 Graces blow fat people over.

Nowhere to shelter once outside the marina either. Not to mention the evil tides & exposure to NW gales. Make sure you have a powerful & reliable engine. Good luck & don't get caught with wind over ebbtide there!!

Better still, drive 40 miles & keep her on the Menai Straits.
 
I sail a first 211 and I can vouch for it as boat that is relatively easy to singlehand, fun and responsive. I would second the views about weight positioning mattering, especially when the wind picks up. I had a problem with mine rounding up in force 5 gusts and this was all down to tired sails and not getting the lard in the right position in the boat.
I thoroughly enjoy sailing solo and with company on her although I would not take her out in more than a force 5. In light of Searush's comments, if you want to take on the elements, I wouldn't do it in a first 21. If you're prepared to pick'n'mix the good days, go for it the first 21 is great fun. Best of luck with your decision - I have no regrets about mine
 
How about something more traditional?? (And near you too!!!)

Drascombe COASTER Honnor Marine No 220. GRP Good Condition, 6hp 4 stroke Mercury outboard used 2 seasons. Swinging cradle trailer, new spray hood and camping tent.
£7,850
Les Hall Tel: 0151 336 7373 Mob: 07967 550 146 (Merseyside

More details here: http://www.drascombe-association.org.uk/drascombe.htm

Had the predecessor to this (longboat cruiser) and it was great fun & easily single-handed
 
What about a really well looked-after Hunter Sonata? £4-5K should get you an immaculate boat in the water and you'll have as much, if not more, fun sailing her as any of the modern boats I reckon. Cockpit's a good size and you could overnight very comfortably if you ever wanted to.
 
Singlehanding in potentially rough conditions I would be looking for something far more bulletproof. Folkboat / Contessa 26 type boats dont round up in gusts and can take whatever comes whilst being simple to sail.
 
would second the contessa 26 ,sailed one out of the ribble summer and winter single handed. and she will lay over and pick up no problem if you run out of water. that part of the irish sea is one long lee shore with big tides, and a nasty chop. an autohelm and good ground tackle is the best crew.it helps if you dont bruise easily.
good luck
 
You might also consider the Hunter Rangers , I bought one with a view to singlehanding. All lines led back to the cockpit and the self tacking foresail make things easier for singlehanding.
Plus they are stable and relatively fast for their waterline length.
 
Had a 21.7 and changed to a 25.7, sailed both singlehanded, both very easy and if you time the tacks don't need any winching. Used to sail the 21.7 with a cruising chute singlehanded great fun.

Changed to get a diesel inboard and a decent loo, been very pleased with the 25.7.
 
Not got one for the 25.7 as the boat dosn't have the pole fitted yet I probably will sort that out later this year. I suspect I will go for a snuffer on the 25.7 as the sail will be that much bigger; the 21.7 was relatively easy to handle.

Had great fun with it on 21.7 and got up to 12 Kn one day on a braod reach in about 20kn of wind, we were pushing our luck a bit but wasn't single handed that day :-) that day I wished I had a snuffer.

The pole on the 21.7 was really poor quality and I had to replace it with a Selden one as I couldn't get a replacement end after it broke at a sensible price. The Selden was in a different league to the standard Beneteau one.

Fitting it was a bit of a pain on the 21.7 as I had to change out the ring and the access was appaling. The 25.7 will be easy as there is access to the area where you need to get at the bolts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top