Thanks for the Welcome

[modelt]

Hi folks this is modelt and I"m new at the key board so my response my be a little slow, anyway, Thanks again. Its good tyo find you.

[fmundo]

Hello everyone,
I'm a sailor since I was 12 (I'm 65). I've been boatless most my life, borrowing or chartering boats. Finally I went out three years ago and bought myself a 30-year old Dufour 27 which I have moored off Islesboro Maine. Thus far I've not done so much as an overnight, though I bought it with the intent of taking limited 3-4 day cruises around Penobscot Bay and Islands (probably one of the most beautiful and interesting places to sail in the world). I say that having sailed in Korea, Australia, Puget Sound (Wash.), Barbados, Long Island (NY) and Massachusetts. Anyway, crusing onmy "pocket cruiser" is not, to my considerable dispair, not appealing to my wife so I need to go it alone.

Long story short, I need to "rig for single handling". Son (mechanic experience) and I plan to do modifications which I assume is primarily running main halyard back to cockpit (jib is roller furled). In particular, I want to get the sails down fast when I see a squall approaching. Don't want to invest in autopilot but... wonder if there are any good books on doing mods to accomodate single handling. Also any other ideas about things to consider or do. Appreciate any thoughts....
Frank

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, modelt, and fmundo.

[James Baines]

Hi and welcome to you both.
Fmundo, I assume your halyard is currently winched at the mast and in order to manage the main from the cockpit, you are going to need to add pulleys / blocks to run the halyard AND reefing sheets back to the cockpit (Probably both sides) where you will then need to install sheet clutches and vertical winches. It sounds like a simple job but trust me, it can be a fairly expensive one.
My advice would be to look around at similar boats, figure out how to lay out the new configuration, identify all the new bits and pieces you will need, then try to buy them second hand if you can.
Admitting to being of a similar age, I strongly encourage you to rig your boat so that you have complete control at the cockpit; scrambling about narrow spaces in heavy weather, especially if you do not have an autopilot is a job for folks a tad younger than we are.
Cruising is supposed to be fun, not hard work…James

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum modelt and enjoy..