Thanks for great suggestions and sympathy, guys, though we deny "aging". We are just accumulating experience. I'll rummage through rope scraps and rig DIY TT. We already have set up, though not yet tested a jib down haul, What was that cool name someone had for this? "Down-farkler"?
I expect sooner later either I or a future owner will replace standing rigging. In mean time, agree that over the stay pvc furler system certainly easiest approach.
Those Felco C-7s look mean!
I used to single hand all the time on day off when I had a smaller boat (Designer's Choice - a really great lake boat) on a nearby lake and before that in a very heavy, under powered "Norwegian Jolly Boat" as a teenager. It was a 17-18' long rowing dory, with a cb and small rig, It happily sailed best in 20 kt winds without any reefing at all.
Sadly, neither my father nor I realized the value of this fantastic lap-strake, copper riveted cedar hull. Probably would have been worth a bundle now. Ultimately, I discovered that I bore fairly easily and after sailing single handed in circles both ways for hours to practice "jacks and tibes" and exploring the lake and any thing else i could reach in a day, I was looking for new challenge - hence wind-surfing. Since wave sailing is above my expertise, most of our windsurfing has been BAFFING (Back-and-forth-ing), but the quest for the perfect planing carving jibe keeps me going.
Single handing in bay would be challenging, because of challenge of uncharted shoals and other underwater objects and fact that boat is in a slip. Mate's other job is to man CB down-haul when it pops. Auto-release clam cleat has been a huge advance.
http://www.clamcleat.com/cleats/cleat_d ... ?theid2=78