Singlehanded sailing....

[doug748]

Whatever sort of singlehanding you do, which items of kit or arrangements, did you immediately see and thought "great idea, I am getting that onboard right away" . ?

To avoid going down too many rabbit holes, I think we have to assume already having an equipped but very basic, boat from the GRP era. Here is my list:


1 (or 2) Self steering gear. On the one hand I never bother with it when day sailing, but find it's worth grows exponentially with hours sailed.

2 (or 1) Plotter. Complete game changer in tricky areas of tide or geography. As an extra you have your speed, likely depth, etc etc. I like to have one on the bridgedeck, where it is right in front of my eyes when sat in singlehanding default position - in the companionway

3) Headsail roller reefing. Difficult to praise too highly. Ease of use, no dance of death on the foredeck, no festering sails in the cabin, increased stowage, less weight to lug around.

4) AIS. May not need it a lot but when you do, by gum.

5) A canvas flap from the sliding hatch to keep rain out of the cabin in inclement weather. Quick and cheap

6) Sprayhood. Another thing I don't use a lot but when you do need it, a godsend.

7) One of those, bumpers on the bow for when you overcook it in a marina.


Will be fascinated to see what others come up with.

.

 

[Tranona]

Having specced my current boat specifically for me to sail on my own and, just as importantly get it in and out of the marina berth safely (important because you can't use a boat properly unless it is out of its berth!) My list is

For sailing - fractional rig with small headsail; all lines in the cockpit and accessible from behind the wheel; headsail winches same; in mast furling (although on this size boat I could be persuaded to have single line reefing); cruising chute on a furler with furling line led back to helm.

For parking and anchoring - bow thruster with remote, midship cleats, big fenders; anchor windlass with remote and self stowing anchor. Golden rule when parking in a marina is never get off the boat until it is firmly attached to the pontoon!

For navigation - all at the helm including chart plotter; push button autopilot; paper charts pilot books and tablet with wi fi for main plotter and stand alone Navionics at chart table.

For comfort - sprayhood

after 6 years would not change anything.

For new boat will use the same principles, although tiller steered so will have to get a bit of experience first before I make alterations. Hope to avoid fitting bow thruster so again will spend the first year getting experience. Cruising ambitions more modest this time so probably won't go the whole hog on the electronics. already has an ancient Autohelm 2000, but if that does not work it will be a priority for upgrade

 

[Concerto]

Plenty of fenders, I have nine. 2 ball and 7 sausage. I then use 3 on the side not using to berth and 6 on the side I berth. Stopped using the bow fender years ago.

Assuming you are in a marina berth, lines that can be picked up easily. Having one line that is used as a bow and stern spring with loops spliced in, to drop over a midship cleat to stop the boat moving fore and aft. The breast ropes can then be picked up to straighten the boat.

For most marinas you visit, have a line 3 times the length of the boat and marked in the middle. Cleat the middle just in front of the midship cleat and the ends at the bow and stern. This gives you 2 big loops which are combined spring and breast rope so you do not have to fish for another line once one is cleated. Have them losely looped over the lifelines and you will always be able to work quickly to tie up and then adjust to the exact position in the berth later. It is useful to have a spare heaving line ready as a precaution.

Hand held VHF. Never turn my main VHF on as it is down below.

Have a PLB on your lifejacket.

At night keep a powerful torch to hand that can focus and dim.

Whilst sailing keep your mobile under the sprayhood. Do not have an electronic car keys or your credit cards in your pocket, keep them below. I know of someone who fell in an fried his phone and car keys with salt water - expensive.

 

[[70521]]

The only thing I'm missing is a 'pied d'elephant', a short waterproof sleeping bag, for those cold night watches.

 

[pandos]

Whatever sort of singlehanding you do, which items of kit or arrangements, did you immediately see and thought "great idea, I am getting that onboard right away" . ?

To avoid going down too many rabbit holes, I think we have to assume already having an equipped but very basic, boat from the GRP era. Here is my list:


1 (or 2) Self steering gear. On the one hand I never bother with it when day sailing, but find it's worth grows exponentially with hours sailed.

2 (or 1) Plotter. Complete game changer in tricky areas of tide or geography. As an extra you have your speed, likely depth, etc etc. I like to have one on the bridgedeck, where it is right in front of my eyes when sat in singlehanding default position - in the companionway

3) Headsail roller reefing. Difficult to praise too highly. Ease of use, no dance of death on the foredeck, no festering sails in the cabin, increased stowage, less weight to lug around.

4) AIS. May not need it a lot but when you do, by gum.

5) A canvas flap from the sliding hatch to keep rain out of the cabin in inclement weather. Quick and cheap

6) Sprayhood. Another thing I don't use a lot but when you do need it, a godsend.

7) One of those, bumpers on the bow for when you overcook it in a marina.


Will be fascinated to see what others come up with.

.

I have an RTE fitted as I think it is really light on power and provides a good warning of the existence of a commercial vessel off-shore.

Also radar with guard zone so again gives indication of things that might be out there whilst I sleep or in bad visibility.

I am going to fit a second vhf in the cockpit so I can hear forecasts etc and use it without going below. To prevent feed-back or other issues, I am devising some means of switching off the second set whilst transmitting. I have a handheld, but sods law dictates that if I really need a vhf I will also need to be at the helm and will need as many of my 25 watts as I can transmit...

In terms of cheap things, I have a seat which was the shaped plywood core from an office chair, I can move it around, it gives good back support and makes things comfortable irrespective of the point of sail.

 

[Roberto]

.

I am going to fit a second vhf in the cockpit so I can hear forecasts etc and use it without going below.

You might consider a remote mic for your existing fixed set, if it has the possibility. Talk, listen to forecasts, mine has a mini-AIS screen, and especially silence the dsc alerts without having to go inside.

 

[MoodySabre]

A remote radio handset.
In my home berth - a pick up pole with a line drop over the centre cleat and motor against. No jumping off for me (or crew if I have one).
I just use a tillerpilot - top essential.

 

[ashtead]

A few other thoughts /ideas:
1 self tacking headsail ;
2 second headsail on furlex
3electric winches ;
4 German main sheet system so you can ease etc from either side ,
5 hard selden rod kicker

 

[pandos]

You might consider a remote mic for your existing fixed set, if it has the possibility. Talk, listen to forecasts, mine has a mini-AIS screen, and especially silence the dsc alerts without having to go inside.

I don't have that facility but I do have a second vhf antenna on a small mast at the Stern, I already have the second set, we don't get that many dsc alerts where I sail...

I have never used my VHF other than to call a marina or to hear forecasts and to listen to coastguard and RNLI calls for assistance etc.

 

[Slowboat35]

I manage a long-keeler without feeling any desire at all for a stonking great hole in the forefoot.
All I have 'led aft' are sheets and furling lines for the jib and stays'l but I do have large and uncluttered side decks.

My 'essentials' are;

autopilot
autopilot
autopilot
totally free-running cordage
Furling fores'ls
stackpack/lazylines for main
Plotter at helm
Handheld VHF
Thermos and hot food flask
Sprayhood
snatch-hook device to get mooring line onto staples/rings/cleats

Less than essential are;

remote windlass control
A variation on pandos' excellent idea of a movable chair (I use a collapsable short-legged beach-chair that can also be slung in the companionway for dozing under the sprayhood- facing aft) + egg-timer!
Bimini that covers the helm and is usable when sailing (in rain). Mine also accepts a back and sides which is real luxury.

I would like;

marina berth without bloody staples. Levington, join the 21st century, will you?
engine start in cockpit.
AIS transponder
windvane that has a retractable rudder
towed generator

 

[boomerangben]

A good weather forecast
A boat which isn’t so big I can’t manage the loads and forces
A boat which heaves to easily and is steady when hove to.
Warm waterproof clothing
Warm food and drinks on hand
Practice handling in close confines of marinas
Effective maintenance and inspection
A plan a and a plan b