GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
Just curious...
What was the biggest boat that you have singlehanded?
- Thread starter GalaxyGirl
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
Baggiolini
Senior Member
42 Californian with twins, no issue with my upwind slip but she was a handful in a cross wind.
Boatgm
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2012
- Messages
- 102
- Location
- Guam / Manila
- Vessel Name
- Carabao
- Vessel Make
- Home built power tri
my current boat is 64' and I have done 1000s of solo miles.
psneeld
Guru
54 Sea Ray motoryacht..
size matters less than talent, equipment, destinations and routes plus what schedule you are willing to keep/break.
once you get beyond a boat you can manhandle, often the second set of hands becomes more than a luxury.
size matters less than talent, equipment, destinations and routes plus what schedule you are willing to keep/break.
once you get beyond a boat you can manhandle, often the second set of hands becomes more than a luxury.
Last edited:
portager
Senior Member
My second wife ruptured her achilles tendon in Friday Harbor while we were chartering a Pacific Trawler 37'. To get her to a medical specialist, I single handed the boat back to Anacortes on a Sunday, when I knew there wouldn't be any dock hands to help. I planned the trip to arrive at slack tide to avoid any cross currents and fortunately there was no crosswind. It was a two boat slip so there was very little margin for error. The main problem is tying the lines before you drift into the boat next to you. The greater the distance from the control station to the dock the longer the time the boat has to drift. I jumped over the side rail and tied the center line, but if the boat is tall that might not be an option.
I learned that you always have to have a contingency plan. If you're single handing a boat and you have a major health problem while underway you could die. Lifeline doesn't work beyond the radio horizon. If there are only two people aboard, both need to be able to single hand the boat. I think having bow and stern thrusters would help a lot. Most electric thrusters have a limited duty cycle and they will shut down when they get too hot (i.e. when you need them most).
I learned that you always have to have a contingency plan. If you're single handing a boat and you have a major health problem while underway you could die. Lifeline doesn't work beyond the radio horizon. If there are only two people aboard, both need to be able to single hand the boat. I think having bow and stern thrusters would help a lot. Most electric thrusters have a limited duty cycle and they will shut down when they get too hot (i.e. when you need them most).
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2012
- Messages
- 2,678
- Location
- Good Ol' US of A!
- Vessel Name
- Pau Hana
- Vessel Make
- 1989 PT52 Overseas Yachtfisher
Our current boat (see sig).
Phil Fill
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2007
- Messages
- 2,919
- Location
- US
- Vessel Name
- Eagle
- Vessel Make
- Roughwater 58 pilot house
Hey, glad to see you are back and/or still around.
Our 58 ft Roughwater, single with bow thruster. My wife is usually with me but being the admiral she tells me what to do, which she has done for the 23 years we been married.
So nothing new! The only rule I have is she has to stay in the pilot house with me so I know where she is and she is OK.
Did you see one of the Choy Lees you where looking at sold and on her own bottom going to I believe Australia? I still think the 60+ ft Choy Lee is the best boat and meets your requirements.
Our 58 ft Roughwater, single with bow thruster. My wife is usually with me but being the admiral she tells me what to do, which she has done for the 23 years we been married.
So nothing new! The only rule I have is she has to stay in the pilot house with me so I know where she is and she is OK. Did you see one of the Choy Lees you where looking at sold and on her own bottom going to I believe Australia? I still think the 60+ ft Choy Lee is the best boat and meets your requirements.
Last edited:
My boat. I've singlehanded it twice, both relatively short trips from our marina to another about 10 miles away. To get into that one there's a very narrow entrance that requires crabbing against the current then straightening out just before entering the cut.
Ah our dear GALAXYGIRL, now she and her mom want to single handle the oceans? You want to save some money on your 100 footer?
Okay, mine. Maybe the best choice for you and your 5 kids.....
PS, I can recomment her Blog at; The Blog of GALAXYGIRL
Okay, mine. Maybe the best choice for you and your 5 kids.....
PS, I can recomment her Blog at; The Blog of GALAXYGIRL
Attachments
Last edited:
GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
Hey, glad to see you are back and/or still around.
Our 58 ft Roughwater, single with bow thruster. My wife is usually with me but being the admiral she tells me what to do, which she has done for the 23 years we been married.
Did you see one of the Choy Lees you where looking at sold and on her own bottom going to I believe Australia? I still think the 60+ ft Choy Lee is the best boat and meets your requirements.
Thanks for the welcome back Phil. I hadn't really left, sometimes I just need to regroup and/or take a break.
Still trying to find my boat.
I think your talking about the Sopressa that sold. That was an a very nice boat.
GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
Nope, hope I never HAVE to singlehand, but as many have said, one must be prepared for anything, right. So, I'm information gathering.
GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
So, I suppose singlehanding is really all about docking without help and line handling without help? Yeah, your story sounds kind of hairy. I can see how someone could break a sweat in that situation. Would you not have just anchored out until Monday when a dock hand would be back?
portager
Senior Member
Yes, in my humble opinion, the hard part is docking. The hardest part of the actual trip was running to the head leaving the autopilot driving. The channels were pretty congested, being a Sunday, but I was able to wait for a gap in the traffic.
We had an early Monday morning appointment with an orthopedic surgeon. I had to rent a wheelchair and roll my wife up the ramp before the tide went out.
The marina we were going to was on the leeward side of the island, so I knew I'd be OK at slack tide. A good navigation system helps a lot in planning your arrival time around the tide.
psneeld
Guru
On long passages single handling is not wise...even shorter ones....especially on a large power vessel. Too many chores to be taken care of while still moving and stopping may not be an option due to motion.
Just because you can single hand for short trips, doesn't really mean much....in the long run you do what you have to do in dangerous situations to survive. But that's NOT how the voyage is supposed to be planned.
If voyaging with kids...you aren't single handling because they still can be look outs, basic watch standers and drop a loop over a cleat or a piling while docking. With at least 2 adults and several kids...most coastal cruising and reasonable ocean legs can be done in relative safety.
Just because you can single hand for short trips, doesn't really mean much....in the long run you do what you have to do in dangerous situations to survive. But that's NOT how the voyage is supposed to be planned.
If voyaging with kids...you aren't single handling because they still can be look outs, basic watch standers and drop a loop over a cleat or a piling while docking. With at least 2 adults and several kids...most coastal cruising and reasonable ocean legs can be done in relative safety.
angus99
Guru
Agree with this. I once had the midnight watch on a 76-foot Alden catch on a blue-water run from Norfolk to the Virgins. The rest of the crew was asleep--including the guy who was supposed to be sharing watch--and I often was at the helm feeling like I was the only one on the boat, or on earth for that matter. That was close enough for me. While the overall experience was fantastic, I found myself running scenarios about what I'd do if systems failed or conditions turned bad. Not something I'd want to do on my own.
60+ years old, crossed the Atlantic 7 times single handed (the 8th time brings me back to Europe) I can tell you that single handle a vessel is the best there is. Being alone with the elements, walking naked, not need to be social, eat catch and just accept what Neptune gives.
This is not the live for every one, my first wife did not like boats. My beautiful young Brazil wife is very afraid of boats, coming from a small island in Brazil, ones when she moved house from one island to an other, with the help of her grandmother, she needed to dump all her lovely belonings like her washing machine, television etc. just to keep the boat flooting. She thinks i am a mad man with my love for the seas.
But she like the ride of our over hp machine.
Attachments
GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
Just curious, what was your boating experience at that time?
GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
Totally makes sense. We will have at least 7 people aboard so I will be far from single handing, but I have heard folks mention more than once to only purchase a boat that you can single hand if need be in an emergency, so I got to wondering what size boats could be single handed if the need came up and what size would be totally out of the question.
GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
I really think that's amazing. I feel like I have pretty tough skin, but I honestly can't imagine trying to cross the Atlantic alone.
Phil Fill
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2007
- Messages
- 2,919
- Location
- US
- Vessel Name
- Eagle
- Vessel Make
- Roughwater 58 pilot house
When you get above a certain size 90% is basically solo since most family/friends and/or SO have little/no knowledge/experience and strength. Actually I prefer they help on a limited bases, like pulling in/out the bumpers, and stepping off to secure the lines when the Eagle is up against the dock. So basically been solo for 10+ years now. Time the tides, wind and weather and ask/cry/beg/request for dock assistance as most marines will do if you ask, especially in emergency and bad weather.
If you buy the size of boat you plan on, you will probable be required to have a license captain crew until you have the knowledge and experience, which may take years. What you should also include in your plan is another person with the knowledge/experience/strength, which many times is required, even docking in certain situations. Believe me I know from experience been there, done that!
If you buy the size of boat you plan on, you will probable be required to have a license captain crew until you have the knowledge and experience, which may take years. What you should also include in your plan is another person with the knowledge/experience/strength, which many times is required, even docking in certain situations. Believe me I know from experience been there, done that!
portager
Senior Member
I boated as a kid in small power boats on lakes and after collage I took four sailing classes at a community collage. The year before I single handed, we took a one week cruise and learn charter (you charter a boat and hire a skipper/instructor through the charter company who turns you loose once he decides you are qualified). We found out that my wife wasn't any help in docking, either at the helm or on deck, so the instructor wouldn't turn us loose until he was convinced I could handle the boat alone.
In the San Juan Islands many of the harbors have current and winds that make singlehanded docking much more interesting. It is pretty easy to dock singlehanded with no wind or current, just take it slow and if you need to back out and start over. However, with a contrary wind or current you have less margin for error and less time to get her secured. The bigger the boat and the higher the freeboard the longer it takes to get from the helm to the doc.
I feel you shouldn't plan to operate singlehanded, however you should be ready and capable to operate singlehanded encase the need arises.
psneeld
Guru
There's no limit.... as in aviation if things are set up and automated....
I've seen a guy drive a 60 footer from the dock with a remote control...he handled the lines to move the boat forward about 40 feet.
What I'm trying to say is that emergencies don't limit the boat as you do whatever it takes when you have to....it's the day to day planning, equipment and crew for a RECREATIONAL, FUN, within budget ride that sets the limitation.
GalaxyGirl
Senior Member
Good info guys, gotcha.
I agree that docking is the challenge although I found tying up to a floating mooring challenging as well because I'd drift back before being able to run to the bow and grab the buoy from 8 ft up in the air.
I owned an ancient 65ft Burger twin diesel displacement cruiser, very high windage, no thruster. Honestly, over the several years that I owned her I think that I singlehanded her about 80%+ of the time. Having my sweet little girlfriend onboard was not much help at all.
Docking in winds and currents was nerve-wracking but I feel I developed really good abilities and confidence eventually.
You should ask yourself if you will be living off the hook and cruising most the time versus weekending from your dock? Will you be floating off a permanent mooring? Size isn't as critical in those situations and neither is a thruster.
Do you have the luxury of timing your runs to the fuel docks for off-hours versus during busy weekends?
IMO, my next big trawler will be 50 ft long. Period. Easier to handle and finding guest docks to handle anything bigger becomes almost impossible and are charged extra fees also.
Hope this helps.
I owned an ancient 65ft Burger twin diesel displacement cruiser, very high windage, no thruster. Honestly, over the several years that I owned her I think that I singlehanded her about 80%+ of the time. Having my sweet little girlfriend onboard was not much help at all.
Docking in winds and currents was nerve-wracking but I feel I developed really good abilities and confidence eventually.
You should ask yourself if you will be living off the hook and cruising most the time versus weekending from your dock? Will you be floating off a permanent mooring? Size isn't as critical in those situations and neither is a thruster.
Do you have the luxury of timing your runs to the fuel docks for off-hours versus during busy weekends?
IMO, my next big trawler will be 50 ft long. Period. Easier to handle and finding guest docks to handle anything bigger becomes almost impossible and are charged extra fees also.
Hope this helps.
motion30
Guru
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2010
- Messages
- 1,181
I think thrusters both bow.and.stern would be a great help. My boat is only 44', but a lot of windage , with no lower station. Can be a challange alone with any.wind
ksanders
Moderator Emeritus
GG as others have indicated the problem is docking, not cruising for the most part.
If you can choose a place to dock that has the wind blowing you into the dock, then its a piece of cake.
Being blown away from the dock is more difficult. Generally a quick call on the radio will bring a person or two dockside to grab a line.
Anchoring out in a big boat is cheaper and easier. That can be done every time single handed. Then just take the skiff to shore.
If you can choose a place to dock that has the wind blowing you into the dock, then its a piece of cake.
Being blown away from the dock is more difficult. Generally a quick call on the radio will bring a person or two dockside to grab a line.
Anchoring out in a big boat is cheaper and easier. That can be done every time single handed. Then just take the skiff to shore.
