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The biggest limiting factor is how you're planning to dock. Sailing is the easy part - everything else gets more difficult with added length. So why is it more comfortable to sail anything over 35 feet double-handed? The following boat lengths are comfortable to sail. Because you're probably not buying a boat to prove anything to anyone (or are you?), but to have a great experience.
3 Incredible Sailboats You Can Sail SoloĪpart from the question of whether it's technically possible to sail a boat solo, let's also check whether it's comfortable. The downside of sailing a large boat alone. Besides docking, there really isn't an issue, and larger boats might be more easy to handle on your own than smaller boats having the wrong configuration. The real questions are: what do you feel comfortable with and what's the amount of sailcloth you can safely handle?Īnother factor is stability - bigger boats tend to be more stable, and can be operated from the cockpit entirely (with the lines running aft and having remote controls). There is no limit, except for your experience and ability. Length is not really the issue with short-handed cruising. If the manufacturer bothered to include a crew cabin, it's probably a good idea to have a crew. Typically, experienced sailors stay under 35 ft. Generally, if you're a reasonably skilled sailor, you'll be capable of sailing these boats alone: It depends on skill, experience, and courage. So what’s the largest boat one person can operate? Most experienced sailors seem to stay under 35 feet - anything over 50 feet is uncommon.
As every 28-year old, I want something over 30 feet - but is it actually practical? Sailing single-handed (also known as short-handed) is perfectly doable, although not always ideal. So you're looking for something big, but want to go at it alone.