Just another newbie

[Oneday Sailor]

Hello all
I am looking for any information one would have on building a sailboat large enough to handle the open ocean but small enough to be handled alone.

I have had a dream of doing this for over 20 years, but it has never been nothing more than a dream. I do not even know how to run a sailboat, this should give you an idea of how much help and insight I will need in this venture.

I do have experience on a slew of motorboats and ships, just nothing of any great influence when it comes to sailing.

Ask me any questions or leave me any information you may have.

Thanks

Dale

[rasorinc]

Are you saying that you (1 person) will make all the corrections yourself? Or are you saying you can afford automatic adjusting systems? Kind of a night and day question with out knowing something about allowable expenses and distances involved.

[Oneday Sailor]

Yes, I plan on doing everything myself. Keep in mind, this is a dream. And like any dream, it doesn't have limitations. Here in the real world however, we have many limits. I am guessing by your statements that I should plan on staying close enough to land to throw and anchor and sleep, unless I win the lottery or something.

[rasorinc]

Yes money plays a huge percentage in outfitting a boat. Are you planning on sailing in the Gulf? If so, current weather knowledge and common sence would allow you to venture into many areas. I have to let others who are far smarter than I tell you about types of sails and outfitting for single person operation. Once you know about what sail design a single person can handle in heavy weather then you can start thinking about a hull design. For general information go to Glen-L marine design and click on boat plans and then on sailboats. they have them from 8' to 60' and the info supplied might well tell you that this model can be handled by 1 person. You will learn a lot and then can ask more detailed questions of the experts here on sailing. You will also learn a bit about sailing vocabulary and enjoy the process. Good luck, welcome aboard and enjoy. You can be sure others will chime in here though on Saturday night and Sunday they may be out on their boats.

[Oneday Sailor]

I will definitely be sailing in the gulf, but I plan to get out a good bit more than that. Glen L marine is one of the sites I have frequented in the little research I have done up to this point. As far as the vocab, well I know a little about general nautical terms but I am sure I have loads more to learn when it comes to sailing. Thank God for the internet and Google, you can find out just about anything from there, or at least enough to get yourself into trouble.
As far as finances, I do expect the end price tag to be well into 6 figures before I even set sail, you can't seem do anything worth doing for less than that these days, if you do it right. And I have spent enough time on the water to know that you better do it right the first time cause you usually don't get a second chance to do it.

[masalai]

Hello J.A.N. I think the smallest solo to cross the Atlantic was about 8 ft LOA? - I would suggest some regularly solo on mono's in the 30ft LWL through Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and PNG, but the consensus seems to go for something around 40ft (with a companion) with a trend increasingly favouring multihulls - tending now to cats... The type and length of the vessel relates more to the cruising region... and if you are a "collector" then large roomy mono "barge"... - A minimalist - relates better to a lightweight trimaran. I do not see the need for lots of stuff and have opted for a cat (see below - the link to my build...)