Considering a new Hunter 36 for coastal cruising in South Florida, Keys and the Bahamas- what would you choose? I know the water is pretty (very) thin in the Keys. Will the exra foot and a half of draw really be a hinderance? Just trying to decide. Also, in mast furling or a standard main with lazy jacks. I have no experience with in mast furling and while it really appeals to the lazy side of me it seems like if things go wrong it would be a bear to fix. Decisions decisions...
Hunter 36, shoal or deep draft?
- Thread starter Dazed1
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IF I were going to spend MOST my time in Keys etc I would get the shoal draft. Otherwise I would get the deep draft.
If I were not a racer I would get the furling main (get it it either way and just live with the rating).
All that siad I have the deep draft verison with regular full roach main sail on my 410.
If I were not a racer I would get the furling main (get it it either way and just live with the rating).
All that siad I have the deep draft verison with regular full roach main sail on my 410.
Anything over 4 1/2 feet will be trouble on the Florida Bay side if the keys. 4 feet is MUCH better there. Bay side is where all the good anchorages are. You can do Hawk Channel Marina to Marina with as much as 6 foot draft.
To sail in that area you will be happier with the shallowest draft boat you can live with.
Any sail can jam deployed, and in strong winds it will be a problem. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup.
Learning to get the most out of what you have is the fun part.
Some say they sail more with in-mast furling because it is so easy to get it in and out.
On the H36 I think the in-mast furling main version has a 1 ft longer boom to help with the lack of roach. (they did that on the H356 anyways)
You can rent one for an afternoon at Dinner Key to sail all over Biscayne Bay, give one a try before deciding.
good luck, Bob
Any sail can jam deployed, and in strong winds it will be a problem. There are advantages and disadvantages to each setup.
Learning to get the most out of what you have is the fun part.
Some say they sail more with in-mast furling because it is so easy to get it in and out.
On the H36 I think the in-mast furling main version has a 1 ft longer boom to help with the lack of roach. (they did that on the H356 anyways)
You can rent one for an afternoon at Dinner Key to sail all over Biscayne Bay, give one a try before deciding.
good luck, Bob
Go with the inmast furling. I sail five times as much as the racers/cruisers who sometimes have something to say about the in mast furling not having enough performance. I go single handed a lot and with my wife, it's great in all weather and takes seconds to deploy or furl the sail... It's awesome!
Shoal
If going to Florida you want the shoal draft,my 07 H-36 has 4'10 draft and pretty much can go almost any place but some times I need to be very careful going in to some really nice anchorages.
I also have inmast and love it and never go back to batten main but wish I had ordered the shorter vertical battens.
I have all raymarine electronics and all good and factory installed gen and I added dinghy davits,I saw the new H-36 at the miami boat show and they sure are nice but don't like the new stern step.
And we have 2 inmast Hunters in our club with vertical battens and do very well in races and win alot.
Nick
If going to Florida you want the shoal draft,my 07 H-36 has 4'10 draft and pretty much can go almost any place but some times I need to be very careful going in to some really nice anchorages.
I also have inmast and love it and never go back to batten main but wish I had ordered the shorter vertical battens.
I have all raymarine electronics and all good and factory installed gen and I added dinghy davits,I saw the new H-36 at the miami boat show and they sure are nice but don't like the new stern step.
And we have 2 inmast Hunters in our club with vertical battens and do very well in races and win alot.
Nick
Definitely get the vertical battens with the inmast. I just installed a new UK vertical battened main on my in mast furler and I couldn't believe the difference in boat speed. As to jamming I never have had a problem yet but that's not to say it won't happen.
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