by jeadstx » Thu May 02, 2013 5:00 pm
I single hand about half the time I go out sailing, although I have had crew lately. I always have to drive to the lake, about 30 miles from my house. When racing I always try to get crew. My set up time is no where near as fast as Tim. When I go out by myself it usually takes me longer to rig than when someone is with me as my knees don't work as good as they once did and jumping in and out of the boat while rigging isn't as easy as it once was. Getting the mast up has not been a problem. Putting the boat up after sailing takes longer when I am by myself than when I have crew. The woman who has been crewing for me lately has figured out where everything goes, so take down has been easier. Also, in central Texas when it gets to be late July and into August the temps can get into the upper 90's to mid 100's, that will slow down my setup and putting away time. I also rarely have a dock to tie the boat to when getting ready to sail so I have had to learn the art of beach launching, which depending on the wind can sometimes be tricky since I don't have a motor on the boat (at this time).
I have tried to set up my boat for everything to be handled from the cockpit. I also find it important to be able to handle things from the cockpit when sailing events like the Texas 200. In some conditions you just don't want anyone to have to get out on the bow. I have the tiller tamer that has been mentioned above. I have found that I don't need to tighten it all the way down when I need to let the tiller go to do something. I also have a tiller extension. As Skippa mentioned, I have moved my jib cam cleats to the CB trunk and replaced the original cam cleats on the coamings with a block. My jib downhaul has been routed to the top of the cuddy cabin roof where it can be accessed easily. I have a topping lift. I have also had sail slugs put on my main, it makes putting the main up and down easier than feeding the bolt rope in the slot. My jiffy reef lines also lead into the cockpit.
Since (at this point), I don't have a motor I have oars installed for those times that I get becalmed. I have a 2hp Evinrude Model of 1940 that came with the boat when I bought it, but it needs a complete overhaul, ethonal in the gas was not kind to it. I am planning on purhasing a Lehr propane outboard, so in the future I may have another option for auxillary power. It should make getting off a beach easier.
John
1976 Day Sailer II, #8075 - Completed the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Texas 200
1952 Beetle Boat Swan Catboat
Early Rhodes 19
1973 Mariner 2+2, #2607 - Completed 2014, 2015 and 2016 Texas 200
1969 Day Sailer I, #3229
Fleet 135; Canyon Lake, Texas