M-H 31; 7.8 Knots... Really?

[Rick D]

Not to be snarky, well, maybe. Anyhow, I was thumbing through Sail magazine (I know...) and there was a boat-of-the-year snip on the Marlow Hunter 31. Now, she seems like a really nice boat. But, there was a quote to the effect that she achieved "7.8 knots in low double-digit" wind speeds on a close reach. Geesh. My 40.5 in 15-18 knots (true) over 3 hours did 8-, 8+ under the same conditions with a conventional fractional rig, decent non-factory sails, (133 gennie) in a medium/heavy beam chop in SoCal. I was hand steering since the AP was having a bit of an issue keeping up with the chop. (Fun ride but another story.) Anyhow, I appreciate the 31 was undoubtedly sailed by folks far better than I, has a fine entry, big butt, hard chines and a sail drive, but 7.8 knots? It didn't say that she had an A-sail, but even that would seem to be pretty fast in "low double digits" wind speed. So, maybe she's just fast and time has produced a great boat? My knot meter might be a tad slow (I have adjusted it to the GPS speed and it is usually within 4 tenths of a knot) but not much.

 

[Joe]

So.... did the Sail Magazine editorial staff have any comment?

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

I too question the number Rick ! Based on the old speed calculation formula she would have to have a water lenght of 32+ feet ! Can we suppose that the instruments were calibrated in MPH and whoever tried the boat assumed knots ?

 

[Jackdaw]

First of all, not all of these reviewers are world -class sailors.

The MH 31 looks like a decent boat, but its for sure not a waterline rule bender. 7.8 knots SUSTAINED would be very fast for a cruising 31 LWLer. Maybe a burst, but not sustained. And everyone likes to talk about their max speed, no matter how short it actually lasted or under what conditions. Even magazine guys. They reset the instos and then press the max button when done to see how they did. 7.8? Nice! Musta been on that nice little reach we did. Two second burst off a wave, but we're rockstars!

NOW - How do you make a actual waterline rule beater?? Simple. Lose weight. As an example, between 110 and 130 TWA and 12 knots, a First 30 (with very similar LWL and hullform) IS running at 8 knots sustained. Big difference? She weighs 4000 pounds less. But a totally different boat for different people. Don't get me started on the Pogo.

http://nova-yachting.nl/sites/default/files/VPP FIRST 30.pdf

 

[woodster]

musta been surfing

 

[Benny17441]

How did they measure the speed? It sounds very reasonable if it was measured by GPS, the boat was doing 6.5 knots over the water but the water was moving at 1.3 knots over the bottom on the same course. The knot meter would have been reading 6.5 knots, but that is not as sexy.

 

[kloudie1]

On the GPS.. gotta be true ! Like my Garmin in the PT Cruiser .. sometimes it remembers where it was and takes a bit to get itself calculating.. when the Garmin figures out where it is and was, it calculates the speed it would have had to have gone .. so then it shows as a max speed of 450 miles per hour or so.. I have a very fast Cruiser !!
I would assume the Sail Magazine guys have some experience with testing and would be reporting a max reached speed and not really sustained for any amount of time..

 

[rgranger]

.. so then it shows as a max speed of 450 miles per hour or so.. I have a very fast Cruiser !!
.

Whoo hooo.... lets go sailing....

 

[centerline]

7.8 knots SUSTAINED would be very fast for a cruising 31 LWLer.
Maybe a burst, but not sustained. And everyone likes to talk about their max speed, no matter how short it actually lasted or under what conditions. They reset the instos and then press the max button when done to see how they did. 7.8? Nice! Two second burst off a wave, but we're rockstars!

Yep, whatever it takes to make them feel like a winner...

 

[Scott B]

This was from my post couple months ago.

Finally a Decent Sail
Got out late last Friday and the gods aligned. In the area where we where located up til this year, there is not usually a lot of room to get a good steady breeze, minimal boat traffic and without having to tack every 5 minutes to avoid rocks. The new area there is a stretch of more open water we go through to get to our favorite anchorage and has very little boat traffic.

Wind was 11 - 14 knots from the East, which gave me a broad reach for 1 1/2 hours without tacking. Boat averaged 6.5 - 6.8 knots ( GPS) and max. 7.2 ( ST-60 speed.)

Also got me to wondering what this boat could do without the 250 lbs sea anchor dinghy, full water tank, full fuel tank, half-full waste tank, 2 anchors, chain, rode, full cooler of ice and beer, fridge full of food, clothing and gear for several days etc. etc. etc.

Not sure if it would actually hit 7.8 fully empty?

I've hit 8.2 surfing downwind with full sails out when wind built from 15 - 20 knots to gusting to 33 as I came out of the protection of land.... and it was a oh sh*&t moment......

 

[Rich Stidger]

Not to be snarky, well, maybe. Anyhow, I was thumbing through Sail magazine (I know...) and there was a boat-of-the-year snip on the Marlow Hunter 31. Now, she seems like a really nice boat. But, there was a quote to the effect that she achieved "7.8 knots in low double-digit" wind speeds on a close reach. Geesh. My 40.5 in 15-18 knots (true) over 3 hours did 8-, 8+ under the same conditions . <snip>

Sounds reasonable to me Rick. Maybe you are poking at the MH31 'cause your 40.5 is a sea slug? Just asking......

 

[Rick D]

Yea, snarky. I think the newer Hunters are really nice, well-detailed boats. And, there certainly have been plenty of updates to hull design, and I don't mean tail-fin stuff. (you younger guys and gals look that up).
However, I'm not slow in real time sailing. In light air, I do very well. In heavy air, I hold my own. I have a wall full of trophies, so I know I am at least in the ballfield. I have sailed a current Fast 30 in light air, and she was wonderful. Winner of one of the singlehanded races to Hawaii. (Actually, I was along for the ride; my daughter sailed her.) The Fast 30 was a stitch, the way she accelerated out of a puff, how she reacted to the helm, how close she could sail in light air, and how well (surprising to me) she would track.
Certainly a Fast 30 and a Marlow Hunter 31 are very different boats for differing intents. Still, 7.8 knots is a lot. I have seen 12+ on my 40.5, but that was in a gale in steep seas, and how fast she was going was the LEAST of my concerns!

 

[Rich Stidger]

I couldn't resist. Me bad for even joking that your (ours) 40.5's are sea slugs. I am sure that Attitude Adjustment 2 charges to windward just like mine.

 

[Rick D]

I couldn't resist. Me bad for even joking that your (ours) 40.5's are sea slugs. I am sure that Attitude Adjustment 2 charges to windward just like mine.

Ha! My response wasn't directed at you. Of course, the 40.5's are pretty good boats. Recall a few years ago when one which was tricked out a bit and had a great crew, but still had the shoal keel was boat of the year in the great lakes regattas. I doubt he was carrying 150 pounds of tools and spares under the V-berth tho!