Why is it...

[ex-Gladys]

...that when you have the day all sussed out for a nice sail (first singlehanded), the weather is right (2-3), tides right, that the alternator decides to go on the FRITZ!!!!

Needed the autohelm because of the singlehanded bit, batteries at about 50% charge, GRRRR!!!! and just as Ihad perfected a mooring pick up single handed!

 

[Guest]

Autopilot is nice to have, but not really needed for singlehanded, unless you're doing long distances. Mine packed up a couple of years ago, and I haven't bothered replacing it yet, tho' occasionally it would be nice. I wouldn't let lack of it hold you back though. After all, what do you do if it packs up while you're sailing alone?

 

[ex-Gladys]

With Gladys' layout (wheelhouse, halyards on mast) I was wanting it primarily for raising and lowering the main in what are relatively "busy" areas...

 

[Guest]

Mine also has halyards on mast (but no wheelhouse). Sorry if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, but if you can keep the wind forward of the beam for just a few seconds then you can do it. Undo sail ties and attach halyard first. Go back to the helm and push bows into wind for a moment , drop the helm, dash forward and hoist away before the bows have a chance to pay off. In reality there should be plenty of time.

 

[ex-Gladys]

... stackpak and lazy jacks mean she has to be pretty much 20 deg either side of the wind max to hoist the main...

 

[Talbot]

[ QUOTE ]
Mine also has halyards on mast (but no wheelhouse). Sorry if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, but if you can keep the wind forward of the beam for just a few seconds then you can do it. Undo sail ties and attach halyard first. Go back to the helm and push bows into wind for a moment , drop the helm, dash forward and hoist away before the bows have a chance to pay off. In reality there should be plenty of time.

[/ QUOTE ]
Some vessels naturally hold their course , and others dont. My catalac needed an autohelm to enable sail hoisting and especially reefing. Directional stability was not a feature - a major difference to a prout. Underwater shape was the main reason.

 

[Guest]

You've just got to be nippy! If necessary, lash the helm and motor which will slow down the rate of turn. I reckon to get the main fully up within 3 secs of reaching the mast. Plus a (very) few secs to tension it...

 

[mandlmaunder]

How ?????, what you sailingf ,the picture(avitar) looks like a real boat not a Mirror or some such.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
How ?????, what you sailingf ,the picture(avitar) looks like a real boat not a Mirror or some such.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a funny thing, the way you pull on ropes somehow makes a big difference. Once a grown man was struggling to hoist the main on my boat - which is 32' Contessa. I rather naughtily sent my 6yr old daughter to help him, and he was open mouthed when she hoisted it on her own without any problem. She didn't realise it was supposed to be difficult...

It wouldn't work with a boat with a very big mainsail (I would guess a Colvic doesn't), but I get the main up with a single very swift movement. I don't bother with the winch until it's hit the top, I put all my weight on the halyard and move my arms down very fast - two or three times - the main shoots up without stopping in a single movement and in calm weather hits the top almost with a 'bang'. Partly it goes up from sheer momentum. It's hard to describe. Only when it's right at the top do I flip it round the winch with 3 turns and take up the tension.

I think it helps having the main nicely flaked on the boom. No doubt the amount of friction in the sliders makes a difference, though I don't think the ones on my boat are especially slippy.