I agree; and after researching small boat furlers that don't use an extrusion, even more so. The cost is a fraction of those "big boat" furlers, and a hanked-on jib can be converted and re-used if you don't want to invest in a new sail.
Skipper's Drascombe Lugger came with a jib furler, and I'll tell you a secret, she also uses the furler as roller reefing, playing the jib out and in as we are launching and recovering. But don't let anyone else know...
On our O'Day Day Sailer II, 7 years ago we converted a second jib with a wire luff and added fittings for a Harken Small Boat Furler. We can rig the boat with either the forestay/hanked on jib or with the jib furler. So far the hanked on jib has never come back out of the sail bag.
Another tip for singlehanding is to add a mast tabernacle, which we did on the Day Sailer, along with topping lift and sail slugs on the main. I can step the mast myself with some spare line and jib as an uphaul and if I want, stop and eat a sandwich with the mast halfway up.
Sorry, Kent, I already let that furling flying jib cat out of the bag ; ) I do like the Harken SB furler, but there are a number of lower cost alternatives. And you can also build a decent DIY furler using a few parts from Home Depot. My MacGregor19 is re-rigged with a turning block on the foredeck so I can raise and lower the hinged lightweight mast from the cockpit. I can hoist a roller furling headsail set flying from the reinforced pulpit, or drop it to reduce windage. And I can also fly a small jib hanked onto the Dyneema mast hoist line/inner forestay/baby stay. Poor man's cutter rig, I guess...
All good advice and tricks. I was going to say have a tiller lock and reef early and often, but you beat me to it. Another way to heave to is to tack but leave the jib on the "old side," then adjust the main as you say. That way the jib is already on the wrong side and you don't have to pull it up against the wind. But it sounds like you have thought everything through. Bon voyage.
All good points. Something to think about, especially if you have been mostly sailing alone is where you want your passengers/crew to sit. My Eun Mara has a lovely spacious cabin and a correspondingly smallish cockpit, as a singlehander it works great, everything is within reach. Add crew and we're dancing around the tiller when tacking and the best place for the "extra" body is right where the jib sheets come over the coaming.
I did not have a plan the first time I took my wife out and it has scarred her experiences ever since. My fault and I did better when introducing my daughters to sailing, they enjoy going out when they come back home.
Nice work on repurposing the bucket organizer. For singlehanding a roller furling jib is our number one must have.
I agree; and after researching small boat furlers that don't use an extrusion, even more so. The cost is a fraction of those "big boat" furlers, and a hanked-on jib can be converted and re-used if you don't want to invest in a new sail.
Skipper's Drascombe Lugger came with a jib furler, and I'll tell you a secret, she also uses the furler as roller reefing, playing the jib out and in as we are launching and recovering. But don't let anyone else know...
On our O'Day Day Sailer II, 7 years ago we converted a second jib with a wire luff and added fittings for a Harken Small Boat Furler. We can rig the boat with either the forestay/hanked on jib or with the jib furler. So far the hanked on jib has never come back out of the sail bag.
Another tip for singlehanding is to add a mast tabernacle, which we did on the Day Sailer, along with topping lift and sail slugs on the main. I can step the mast myself with some spare line and jib as an uphaul and if I want, stop and eat a sandwich with the mast halfway up.
Sorry, Kent, I already let that furling flying jib cat out of the bag ; ) I do like the Harken SB furler, but there are a number of lower cost alternatives. And you can also build a decent DIY furler using a few parts from Home Depot. My MacGregor19 is re-rigged with a turning block on the foredeck so I can raise and lower the hinged lightweight mast from the cockpit. I can hoist a roller furling headsail set flying from the reinforced pulpit, or drop it to reduce windage. And I can also fly a small jib hanked onto the Dyneema mast hoist line/inner forestay/baby stay. Poor man's cutter rig, I guess...
All good advice and tricks. I was going to say have a tiller lock and reef early and often, but you beat me to it. Another way to heave to is to tack but leave the jib on the "old side," then adjust the main as you say. That way the jib is already on the wrong side and you don't have to pull it up against the wind. But it sounds like you have thought everything through. Bon voyage.
All good points. Something to think about, especially if you have been mostly sailing alone is where you want your passengers/crew to sit. My Eun Mara has a lovely spacious cabin and a correspondingly smallish cockpit, as a singlehander it works great, everything is within reach. Add crew and we're dancing around the tiller when tacking and the best place for the "extra" body is right where the jib sheets come over the coaming.
I did not have a plan the first time I took my wife out and it has scarred her experiences ever since. My fault and I did better when introducing my daughters to sailing, they enjoy going out when they come back home.
Another great book about single handing is Duncan Wells' Stress-Free Sailing: Single and Short-handed Techniques. Lots of cool little tricks.
Well said.