SO43DS - rigging for solo sailing

[andreshs1]

hi all

I need to run the mainsheet to the helm so I can comfortably go out solo(kids and wife are too busy)
in the hints and tipps I have seen something similar, but the boat configuration is different 

has anyone done in on a single helm boat?


pics or suggestions? 


cheers 
Andres  

[hoppy]

Don’t bother re-rigging the main sheet. Did several thousand nm on my old SO40 solo in winds 0-50 knots and it was never a big deal having the main sheet on the cabintop.

[Zanshin]

I single-handed my Jeanneau 43DS up and down the Caribbean islands with the mainsheet on the cabin top with no problems. Either the autopilot or the wheel lock was enough to allow me to go forward and reef or change the main sheet. This was as a cruiser with no intention of getting the most speed out of the boat, I'd only take the sheet back to the helm if I wanted to race.

[andreshs1]

Hi guys

I understand, yet I would prefer to have a rope clutch on the helm

Regards
Andres

[sitara]

Hi Anders,

I go with what Hoppy and Zanshin said, and mostly sail my boat solo (36i) with the winch on the cabin top. A mate with a SO43 replaced the sheet winch with a Harken electric rewind winch with an additional control at the helm. This works very well but is an expensive solution.

[andreshs1]

Hi Sitara

An electric winch is out of budget....

I'm looking to fit an extra rope clutch

The truth is that I have not tried much to go solo, only had knee surgery a couple of months ago and still recovering. So my jumping around the boat is still limited

Cheers

[sitara]

Jul 9, 2019 9:20:23 GMT andreshs1 said:

Hi Sitara

An electric winch is out of budget....

I'm looking to fit an extra rope clutch

The truth is that I have not tried much to go solo, only had knee surgery a couple of months ago and still recovering. So my jumping around the boat is still limited

Cheers

Out of my budget too. The only real hassle with single handed sailing is rounding up in wind gusts and not freeing the main soon enough. I am always conservative and reef early when alone, especially when in restricted waters which minimises these problems. We have a narrow shipping channel to pass through with a nasty windshift at one end which can make life interesting, so sometimes I drop the sails and motor the last couple of miles home.

[jdl01]

some financially sobering thoughts - you will need good quality turning blocks in the area of the deck/cabin about the spreaders; then two sets of two rope clutches, or if space is tight, two combo turning block/clutches plus two line clutches as well as twinned sheet blocks at the boom and traveller and a new longer main sheet. I certainly enjoy the confidence of being able to dump the main from the helm while single handing and support your pursuing the idea.

[andreshs1]

Hi there 

thanks!

indeed, I am trying to work out the design to run the linesnto the helm with the less amout of friction as possible 

cheers 

[freeflow]

Jul 5, 2019 11:14:48 GMT andreshs1 said:

hi all

I need to run the mainsheet to the helm so I can comfortably go out solo(kids and wife are too busy)
in the hints and tipps I have seen something similar, but the boat configuration is different 

has anyone done in on a single helm boat?


pics or suggestions? 


cheers 
Andres  

My 2003 43DS has ALL control lines run to the cabin top adjacent to the companionway.  I solo it often.  How else are they rigged not to have this?  here are some old photos, I changed some of the blocks recently.  along with other items .  The vang was not functional, but it is now.  I am also trying to source the stainless steel "D" rings that are at the base of mast. (also visible at the under side of the boom in the second photo)  These hold the block shackles in place in the slide slots at the mast base.   Previous owner had some soft shackles thru the slots.  barely visible in the lower right corner of the top photo.  This boat is one that has a battened main and not in mast furling    the blocks are mostly for the reef lines

[andreshs1]

Hi freeflow

Yes, that is the standard setup, but what I to do is to have the mainsheet in the helm, so I can control the jib and mainsheet without leaving the helm

Cheers

[cpetku]

I guess the bulkhead mounted wheel on my 40DS was the best solution. I'm always within two steps of the coachroof mounted power winch and able to handle all control lines. I often use a single wrap of the sheet lines on the side winches to take them back to the power winch. Not sure how to retrofit this idea to the 43DS with two wheels (unless you add a power winch on a binnacle center cockpit).

[iancymru]

Andresch1 are you looking at just leading the single coach roof mainsheet back to the helm to one winch/ clutch or a german mainsheet system. I would imagine if you just using the one line stretched back you would need a clutch for the genoa as well as mainsheet on that side to share the winch. I have a german mainsheet on a SO33 and it is really handy when single handed for tweaking and dumping the main. For tweaking you could stick with the coach roof system and for an emergency controlled dumping if on your own could you lead it back to a cleat near to the helm to ease out or release as a clutch is a bit of all or nothing. I sail predominantly single handed so the german main sheet works for me especially dumping the main in gusts or close to an obstruction or other boats/ ships.

[hoppy]

Jul 16, 2019 0:05:50 GMT andreshs1 said:

Hi freeflow

Yes, that is the standard setup, but what I to do is to have the mainsheet in the helm, so I can control the jib and mainsheet without leaving the helm

Cheers

I found that being on the helm when solo is overrated. I mostly soloed with the ap.

Also, when you get hit by heavy weather and you need to reef the main, it's advantageous having the mainsheet with the reef lines, so you can do all reefing work in the one spot.

[andreshs1]

Hi Hoppy

Yes, there are always compromises, it is a matter of finding out the one that works for each one of us 🙂

Cheers