One person operation of 50-100 ft yacht?

Hi David, this is a frequent question. Use the search function to find some threads, like this: http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/general-yachting-discussion/14696-how-much-does-size-matter.html

Many more are found here: http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/frequently-asked-yacht-questions-290/

You can also forget locking through single-handed on anything bigger than Great Bridge (3' drop). If you can afford a 100 footer, buy a 50 footer and put the rest of the money toward crew salary since, as Pascal pointed out, your insurance company will require you to hire a captain anyway. And look up those other threads on single-handing.

Why not go to 112ft with Dashews new yacht designed to be run by a couple; and therefore should be suitable for singlehanded use. But you have a long learning curve to be able to achieve your dream; but if you don`t try you`ll never succeed. New boats are being designed especially for couples that are even longer than this, and gives owners freedom from employing a crew, (not always encouraged by professional Captains).
Live your dream; you can only kill yourself afterall!
Paul

And the people you run over or into and the rescuers who come out to save the foolish and often don't make it home themselves.

This is good advice.
By the look of it, you have a LOT of research to do, so as many have pointed out to others before, charter a boat for a few weeks and see for yourself.
You may not enjoy "running" a 50' plus boat.
I have to ask, are you serious?

When locking through you need to hold both the bow & stern against the wall as well as stop forward or reverse movement as a lot of water moves in and out of the locks. An experienced captain can manage this solo in smaller locks. but when the drop is 10, 20 or more feet even the most experienced needs someone at the other end of the boat. If you lose control of either end you're likely to make some enemies and maybe the news. I suggest you go to those locks on a holiday weekend and watch the action. I once had a fine lady dancing on my boat at the Shinnicock locks (only a 3' drop) on a July 4th weekend. The locks were 5 boats deep one end to the other. When the locks opened it looked like a giant game of pick-up-sticks and more than one husband was getting smacked by his wife.

5 boats deep, one end to the other?

ie, side by side?

At Hiram Chittenden Locks from Lake Union to Puget Sound the drop is at least 15-20'. the hands in the locks are pros, if you listen to them and don't get flustered single handing is possible. If you are in the large lock on the wall and you have to tend two lines it will be more difficult, but they will help you out if need be. In the small lock the tie off is to a floating cleat so that you only need to react if the float gets hung up on the lock (fairly rare). I have boated for 40 plus years. Good idea to take it slow, start small and work your way up or get some good help on how to run and operate a larger boat.

Correct. Side x side x side x side x side. Wall to wall, end to end, depending on their beams of course (mostly small boats). It can get to be a mad house on a holiday weekend, especially when not paying attention to the right things.

I was 100% confused by that at first. Read the post above about floating cleats. Now I'm at least as clear as muddy water. I'll stick to the marina and beyond for now.

Floating cleats (although I haven't run into them) would be a floating dock of sorts affixed to the wall that rise and fall with the level. More common are simply cleats/bollards on the wall or top that you loop a line over and feed out as you drop. Use too short a line or get it jammed and I can guarantee high blood preasure. Along the Erie Canal most locks have lines hung that you simply hold on with a boathook (slimmy) as you drop and some have a rail or cable.

Arkansas River

Lockage on the Arkansas should be no problem for an experienced single-hander as the locks all have floating mooring bitts; thus the need for only one line at the midships. Most inland locks are so equiped. However, leaving the Arkansas puts you in the lower Mississippi which is not a river for recreational boaters - even experienced ones. There are few spots for fuel and reprovisioning, and the commerical traffic is heavy 24/7. And, the river itself is turbulent and unpredicatable. Be very wary of the mighty Miss!