I think I want to single hand the Great Loop

Most loopers seem to be couples. Do many of you single hand?


I'm looking at a 1980 Mainship 34, single engine, bow thruster.
Is this a suitable boat to single hand? The lack of a side door in the lower helm station concerns me for docking.

oldcranky said:

Most loopers seem to be couples. Do many of you single hand?


I'm looking at a 1980 Mainship 34, single engine, bow thruster.
Is this a suitable boat to single hand? The lack of a side door in the lower helm station concerns me for docking.

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You say nothing about your experience or lack thereof. Many here would have no problem single handing that boat on the loop, but we don't know your experience or skill level. If you don't currently have adequate, you could learn before looping.

I was very active in the Power Squadron for a while, so I know most of the "rules".

All my experience is on outboard and sail coastal boats, up to 26 feet.

Here's a similar vessel in layout with twins and stbd helm door. Easy boat to single hand.

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1982/californian-34-lrc-3200000/?refSource=browse listing

When I think about going through locks single-handed I start to feel a thrill in my spline, I can think about two or 3 souvenirs when it would have been scary.

L

Your biggest problem on the loop single handing will be locks particularly the Erie Canal which has big level changes on those locks. I have single handed all of the Atlantic ICW myself with few problems but never the Erie Canal.


Twin engines and a door at the helm would help some, but you still have to handle lines yourself on the canal walls.


David

Welcome as board TF.
A good place for info
David and others are correct locks would be your biggest challenge. Calm days not do much but wind makes more challenging.
Also upbound locks a lot more challenging than downbound... and you will have plenty of upbound in the NY & Great Lakes portions of the trip.
I have a later year MS 34HT snd have no problem single handing but when I think about that many locks I think I would hesitate.
I do think a helm door would be a must for me.
I have a slightly different view on engines though.
I think I would prefer bow & stern thrusters above the need for twin engines.
We are looking at doing 112 lock next season - NY canals + Trent-Severn waterway to Georgian Bay and return. I added a remote control for my B&S thrusters so I can maneuver either / both ends while tending lines and assist my admiral on those windy days that can be challenging in locks.
If going via Canadian locks they require engines off in the locks so twins not as helpful as thrusters.
I have met an old salt that single handed major portions of the loop with a 24 or 28? CDory. He enjoyed it so much he returned several yrs later.
Not as comfortable as a MS 34 but livable for one.

Why so much boat? Single-handing, I'd go for a 24-28' express cruiser or "pocket cruiser" like a Roseborough, C-Dory, etc. Plenty of room for one, easy to handle, and able to get up on a plane if conditions permit.

I would prefer twin engines if single handing due to the easy of maneuvering around docks, not just negotiating canals. In general I favor singles, but it is surprising how useful twins are for the single hander. Coming into the lock you need to position the boat parallel along side the wall with the slider within reach. Having twins makes this easier than a single with a bowthruster.

I cruised from SW Florida all the way up to Maine single handing on a twin engine catamaran. I loved the twins in that case, much more than if I were cruising with a partner. Maybe the wide beam of the cat made the difference. I could easily make a circle within its length.


David

We did 54 locks last year from the finger lakes in NY state to Lake Simcoe on the Trent Severn. Locks vary greatly in the way water enters and exits while filling or emptying and this can cause a big strain on holding on to just one end of the boat. Wind is a whole other issue. I too would recommend a boat in the mid to upper 20s for ease and comfort. Look out for the rental houseboats, they get a 20 minute lesson at best

I say throw some old tires over the side and have a ball.

You only live once.

David, my twin will spin in place easily. Sometime I do it a bit fast just 'cause it's fun. I could probably do a 360 in 6-7 secs.

Wish I had a pic with the pink tires installed on the sides. They're hard to find.

I have a '78 Mainship 34, and have put 8000 miles on it in 3 years, almost all single-handed. Twice through the Rideau, Trent Severn, and western Erie canals as well as down the Mississippi from the great lakes to Florida. It's the first inboard power boat I've owned, so I can't speak to features or handling vs alternative boats. But the boat has served me well. Lots of room for one or two and good economy at slow speeds. I have lots of experience with single handing sailboats up to about 40 feet and haven't had any problems maneuvering with the boat.

I might have been equally happy in a smaller boat like a Cape Dory 28, but don't regret my choice of boat. If you can find one in good shape it's a fine choice.

I almost always drive from the flybridge, so the lack of a side door hasn't bothered me. Have gotten pretty good at scampering up and down the ladder

Jeff F said:

I have a '78 Mainship 34, and have put 8000 miles on it in 3 years, almost all single-handed. Twice through the Rideau, Trent Severn, and western Erie canals as well as down the Mississippi from the great lakes to Florida. It's the first inboard power boat I've owned, so I can't speak to features or handling vs alternative boats. But the boat has served me well. Lots of room for one or two and good economy at slow speeds. I have lots of experience with single handing sailboats up to about 40 feet and haven't had any problems maneuvering with the boat.

I might have been equally happy in a smaller boat like a Cape Dory 28, but don't regret my choice of boat. If you can find one in good shape it's a fine choice.

I almost always drive from the flybridge, so the lack of a side door hasn't bothered me. Have gotten pretty good at scampering up and down the ladder

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And that is relevant to the OP how? He's asking about himself, not you. Many of the answers about agility, coordination and general adeptness only he can answer.

I single hand my Mainship 34T routinely through locks with a single and bow thruster. But I've been locking through on rivers for a long while. Experience WITH YOUR BOAT is the key. Make sure that you can sidle up to a bollard, leave the helm and tie off before drifting off. Learn how your boat acts when turbulent flow comes into or leaves the lock. I've never seen locks on the Erie, but I'm certain that they are different from the ones that I've been through on the Illinois that are different from the Miss from the Ohio from the Tn.... It's very doable, but get some help and develop a system before you try it on your own.

caltexflanc said:

And that is relevant to the OP how? He's asking about himself, not you. Many of the answers about agility, coordination and general adeptness only he can answer.

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I think that the answer addresses the OP question directly. He asked if a Mainship 34 could be single handed around the Loop. The reply answers that question in my opinion quite well.

The trick to single handing is being prepared before you dock. Have your fenders out and lines made up and ready. Sometimes there's too much wind or current to dock without line handlers. You need to be smart and not in a hurry.
The only time I had trouble in a lock was when one engine refused to shift to neutral. Because I had twins, I could stop and control the boat with the other engine until I could go below and manually shift the balky transmission. Right after that incident, I installed kill switches in all stations.

Comodave said:

I think that the answer addresses the OP question directly. He asked if a Mainship 34 could be single handed around the Loop. The reply answers that question in my opinion quite well.

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Really? You know the OP and his abilities first hand? Then why didn't you say that?

I did the Loop single handed in 2017 with the single engine boat with bow thruster that that you see in my avatar. Erie canal and Ohio river locks were probably the most challenging. I would guess most people in your situation with that boat, could do it solo......with practice (not learn as you're looping). Do you have / are you willing to take a year before Looping, to learn the boat, solo handling and solo locking? Do you think spending 80 to 100 days of short cruising trips and day outings is unreasonably long to make you proficient with the boat and what you want to do?

Ted

caltexflanc said:

Really? You know the OP and his abilities first hand? Then why didn't you say that?

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Really, give me a break. The OP asked if the boat was a reasonable boat to single hand the Loop. He didn’t ask about his abilities just if the boat was decent for the Loop single handed. I am not going to argue but the reply in question did address if the boat was a reasonable boat to single hand the Loop.

Don't overthink this if you do it, after a few days and yes maybe a bump or two and slight embarrassment you'll have it figured out. The important thing is if it's really what you want to do and have the means go for it. None of this is rocket science, learn how to take care of your engine and other systems for basic maintenance and have fun. If you need a little confidence boost find someone experienced to go out with you a few times.

We had a Mainship III, I wouldn't have hesitated to single-hand that around the Loop.

These days, I maybe would want to add a bow thruster...

-Chris

caltexflanc said:

And that is relevant to the OP how? He's asking about himself, not you. Many of the answers about agility, coordination and general adeptness only he can answer.

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"unnecessary roughness.....offense. 15 yards !!!

Benthic2 said:

"unnecessary roughness.....offense. 15 yards !!!

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Benthic2 said:

"unnecessary roughness.....offense. 15 yards !!!

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Illegal formation. Offsetting penalties.

While the answer may have been technically right, the point caltex made was right, a point I also made in post#2. Answering a "could it be done" question without knowing the capabilities of the individual is dangerous and can be misleading. Can a KK 42 cross the Atlantic? Sure. Richard and others have proved it. Can the average weekend boater cross the Atlantic in a KK 42? No way.

Two part answer, boat capability, captain capability. Replay of down.

Hopping down from the fly bridge every time you dock or lock will get old in a hurry. Look for something with easy access from the helm to the deck.

Thank all for your replies. It's a good thing you can't punch a nose from a screen.
Maybe I'm not the only cranky one here.

oldcranky said:

Thank all for your replies. It's a good thing you can't punch a nose from a screen.
Maybe I'm not the only cranky one here.

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I hope you make the trip, if you're not a particularly experienced mariner when you leave you will be when you get back, and have memories and stories aplenty.

Fish53 said:

I hope you make the trip, if you're not a particularly experienced mariner when you leave you will be when you get back, and have memories and stories aplenty.

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No trawler yet. I turn 65 in Nov. I'll prob buy a boat this Fall, and hire a Captain for a couple of days to teach me how to somewhat control that beast.

oldcranky said:

No trawler yet. I turn 65 in Nov. I'll prob buy a boat this Fall.

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66 in July and I'll have my boat finished this spring, a 26' converted coast guard motor whaleboat. I intend to do the loop next year, singlehanded. I would suggest an Albin 25 or 27 if you're going alone or with one other. They're quite common on the used market and seem to run around 10 to 20K. Also I saw a Prairie 29 the other day for 20K.

I would say go for it, your boats fine its yourself that just needs a little confidence in your own ability.
Treat each lock as if its your first.
Take your time, God made plenty of it and you won't use it all up so go slowly, plenty of fenders, pre-prepared ropes/lines, watch for the wind if any and use it to help you.
I'm not bragging but I came down through Irelands canal and many of the locks (120) were unattended manually self operated and by the end of the canal I was as fit as a butchers dog.
Just take it easy my friend, don't try to do to much in one go, and enjoy making memories.
p.s. Put a bottle of Irish Whiskey in the bar and savour a good snifter when your moored up safe and sound.
Its made for celebrating !