Single Handing a 27' as a first boat?

[dgbenner]

Im wondering how big the jump is.

I've taken a summer full (3 days a week) of 420 classes. I took a 3 day certification class on a 32'. I've also been crew on a long distance, 7 day trip on a 43'. And am now crew on weekends on a 27'. I understand the dynamics of getting a sailboat to move through the wind...

I'm not sure how else I can learn, but I am probably going to be single handing. Getting in and out of the slip naturally is the biggest fear and have been practising docking as much as I can.

I'm looking at getting a boat, but am afraid I'd outgrow a 17' or 19' quick, so I am wondering how tough a 27' could be.

Ill have easy access from a marina to the lower Chesapeake. Is this a practical step or am I a fool?

Oh ya, Ill be certain to register with Sea Tow before doing anything...

[montenido]

Hi DG,

My first boat was a Catalina 30, which I learned on and single-handed almost exclusively. You can do it, just take the time to think things through ahead of time ( docking, tacking, anchoring, etc.). Also have a plan "B" when single-handing. The best laid plans...
I found that I learned a lot by both sailing the boat and working on it.

I upgraded about a year ago to a 36-footer which I single-hand all the time. I am not an expert, but I can get the thing flying, and do most of my own repairs (and stunts).

I'll leave you with a bit of wisdom that I heard somewhere, which is, never approach the dock any faster than you are willing to hit it.

That has served me well for the last three years.

Good luck, Bill

[benajah]

I feel your nervousness. I have a 27 foot Cal 2-27, and have never single handed, but it looks like I will be single handing most of the chances I get to go out for the near future, and I live on SF Bay which can be a bit intimidating at times.
My biggest fear is that, I don't have an autopilot, leaving the tiller lashed to go to the mast to raise and lower sails.
I am saving for a tillerpilot, but it will be a bit before I can afford one.

[soyuz]

Yeah go for it, i bought a 25 footer as my first boat and only sailled once before that. Just be patient learn the ropes ect and you will have tons of fun.
fair wind

[delite]

I learned on a Catalina 27 and single hand regularly but am no expert or even an advanced intermediate yet. An auto-pilot will help you in raising and lowering the main and a furling jib will also be something you want. Get out with just your jib for a while to get comfortable and then worry about the main later.

[centaursailor]

My 26ft Centaur is a great size for single handed sailing.
Taking your time to get familiar with how the boat handles in different situations is the way to go.
I started on a swing mooring and now have an alongside birth in my local harbour. Visiting strange harbors and marinas is part of the fun and can be managed with practice. Best advice is get out there.
My ST1000 autopilot is the most reliable crew I have met.
Safe sailing

[Grendler]

Originally Posted by dgbenner

... I am wondering how tough a 27' could be...

In singlehanding the boat is as tough as the equipment and your preparation.

Regardless of the size prepare everything you can to be reachable from the cockpit. Approach and departure needs detailed planning and mooring lines long enough to control them from the cockpit as well.
Avoid ideas requiring you to move fast along the board and never depend on your maximum swiftness. The good plan must accept you don't move/act in a racing pace.

I singlehand my 27' on a regular basis. The first month I spent correcting the placement of halyards and sheets for best access. Also did a lot of theoretical planning various maneuvers in every detail. Then a lot of practice at low speed in light conditions to get used to no crew to assist (had previous experience as a skipper with 5-8crew).

Eventually I tried singlehanding on 49' and all the prepare/plan/execute procedures worked as well as on 27'.

I recommend reading Singlehanded Tips Book
At first you can read Chapters 3,6,7 and practice.
All other chapters will apply when you get used to be alone on board and move on to blue water.

Good luck,

Grendler

[SeaLifeSailing]

It all depends on what you plan on using the boat for. If cruising is your objective, a 27' boat is a great place to start. If you just want to daysail, then a 19' or 20' might provide you with a lot of fun...

My current boat came (thanks to the PO) rigged with all lines leading aft for single-handing, and a roller furling headsail makes a big difference. If you want to single-hand extensively, it would be worth the effort to rig your boat so that your halyards lead to the cockpit, though you'll need winches for them there, rather than just on the mast.

As for the autohelm, it won't track the wind, just follow a magnetic compass heading. For many years I used the poor man's auto helm, otherwise known as a bungee cord to hold the tiller in place while I raised and lowered sails. In heavier conditions, raising the foresail first, then heaving to, will allow you to raise and lower your mainsail in the wind shadow created by the foresail. Sounds like you've taken some instruction, so once you get your boat, alleviate your stress by spending a couple of afternoons practicing docking on a vacant piece of wharf somewhere. If you can get a friendly instructor to join you for an afternoon to give you some pointers on single-handing, it might be worthwhile, but the main thing is, get out there in light to moderate, forgiving conditions, and play! I think that for a lot of people, a 27' boat is a great size for a first vessel after some instruction.

Enjoy!!!

Originally Posted by dgbenner

Im wondering how big the jump is.

I'm looking at getting a boat, but am afraid I'd outgrow a 17' or 19' quick, so I am wondering how tough a 27' could be.

Ill have easy access from a marina to the lower Chesapeake. Is this a practical step or am I a fool?

Oh ya, Ill be certain to register with Sea Tow before doing anything...

[puddinlegs]

Originally Posted by dgbenner

Im wondering how big the jump is.

I've taken a summer full (3 days a week) of 420 classes. I took a 3 day certification class on a 32'. I've also been crew on a long distance, 7 day trip on a 43'. And am now crew on weekends on a 27'. I understand the dynamics of getting a sailboat to move through the wind...

Are you confident single handing a 420? Do you feel confident with all the basics of sail trim and steering? If so, and given all your certification sailing, give yourself plenty of sea room and have at it! The first couple of times out, bring an experienced 'ghost rider' along in case things go sideways.

[JKCatalina310]

Originally Posted by SeaLifeSailing

As for the autohelm, it won't track the wind, just follow a magnetic compass heading.

This is not necessarily true. I have an autohelm on my new boat (Catalina 310) that will both follow a compass heading or follow a set angle to the apparent wind. It is a Raytheon and is tied into the GPS/Chart Plotter and wind instrument.

It can also tack by push button. This is a really neat feature for single handing. I can hit the button and then go to the genny sheets and just handle those without having to worry about the helm. I have only played with the autopilot a little. We just bought the boat in December and have only had it in the water for two weeks. We are relocating the boat from Warwick RI to Hingham MA starting this weekend. I will have lots of time to play with these features over the next week of sailing.

Back to the OP's question; as has been mentioned, the really key is preparation. My previous boat was a 24 C&C and I single handed it fairly often. When I first bought the boat the jib was a hank on. This was difficult to manage solo. When I converted to a roller furler it got much easier. My halyards were on the mast so I had to go forward to raise them. If they came back to the cockpit, like on my C310, that would have been a lot easier.

Docking can be tricky. Again, the key is practice. Find an empty mooring ball and practice forward and reverse. I found that with the outboard on my C&C that reversing in was the easiest way. Then I only had to get about half way in the slip before I could jump out and then reposition the boat with the docking lines.

As far as the size, if I had started with a 27 foot boat I would likely not have been so quick to want to upgrade (my Bride reminds me almost daily that I started talking about a bigger boat within a month of buying the C&C and that if I talk about a bigger boat in the next 5 years she will leave me). The key things to me would be an inboard (most likely diesel), a real head (not just a porta potty), a propane stove (for coffee and soup) and a good swim ladder (more for safety). I go back and forth on tiller vs. wheel. So far I am kinda digging the wheel with the controls for the engine at the helm. As discussed above, the autopilot and instruments are really helpful too.

Another key thing is to find a local supplier of used sailboat parts. That can make the modifications much more affordable.

Good luck.

JK