H26 owners: I need a measurement please

[rgranger]

Hello H26 and H260 owners.

I can't get to my boat for a few weeks and I want to order some things for my boat. If anyone has quick access to their boat and would not mind taking this measurement for me, I would be much obliged. What I need is the distance across the foot well in a line that passes over the attachment point for the main sheet fiddle block. Here is a pic of the dimension I need.

I want to order some T-track and build a home-made version of this....

Thanks in advance,
r

 

[Phil Herring]

That's a pretty tricked-out 26, rgranger!

 

[rgranger]

That's a pretty tricked-out 26, rgranger!

Thanks Phil

That photo is off of eBay but my boat is set up exactly the same way with the exact same set of cushions. When I first saw this photo, I thought it was my boat but I don't have wheel steering.

 

[Kermit]

Rob,
Call me tomorrow during the day. My boat is in my backyard. I can't measure now because of the rain.

 

[rgranger]

Rob,
Call me tomorrow during the day. My boat is in my backyard. I can't measure now because of the rain.

Super... thnx

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Rob;
I would not suggest doing that. First, many regret doing so for falling over it as being a hazard. Secondly, the length is not long enough. Third, the boat points high enough not to warrant it, Just my thoughts but will leave the decision up to you. But the picture is a great one and wonder how you do that. I am not computer savy.

 

[rgranger]

.... But the picture is a great one and wonder how you do that. I am not computer savy.

I just copy it into microsoft paint and draw a line on the picture.

 

[rgranger]

Rob;
I would not suggest doing that. First, many regret doing so for falling over it as being a hazard. Secondly, the length is not long enough. Third, the boat points high enough not to warrant it,

I appreciate your input Dave .... and I hope your burns are healing well. The H26 does point well for sure. It is one of the first things I noticed when I took her out for the first time. But I also noticed that I could pick up about a third of a knot if I manually pulled the boom to center line. So I think I can improve twist with a traveler. Regarding the hazard part... I plan to make it removable so I can take it out when at anchor or port.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

still need to talk about that.

 

[Dennis Kitchen]

rgranger,
I say "do it " IF you have the talent to make a professional installation and IF you understand and accept the limited gains you'll receive and don't mind the cockpit obstruction. You will have more sail control in some situations.
I thought about doing it in my 23.5 as I could make a wider track base due to sheeting being near the bridge deck. No additional obstruction for me there. In the end I decided most conditions can be controlled with proper use of the vang and when I'm on a long tack and pinching I fashion a "barber hauler" set up to the upper block attachment to pull the boom over a little more. Good luck!
Dennis

 

[rgranger]

@ Dennis Kitchen

I'd love to see pics of your barber hauler. I have often felt my genoa needs to be opened up a little bit. I had looked into putting in tracks but I think that would get into a lot of interior cutting of the liner.

 

[Dennis Kitchen]

rgranger,
Nothing fancy at present. I just put a loop around the upper shackle above the sheet block and belay it around the cabin top stantion. Caution, if you tie it off and get a big puff you won't be able to de-power quickly and youre gonna get a ride. I only do this in lighter air usually and tie it off. If your genoa needs opened then it probably needs reefed. Do you have it on a furler? If so better to roll a little up than to try to open the leech. I put a furler on my 23.5 last year and a new 110 jib. What a difference! I haven't put tracks and blocks on yet either but found that due to the angle of the foot from tack to clue, this creates a rising clew as it is rolled in so the sheeting angle changes appropriately as the sail is rolled up for a ways. Also I have discovered that when sailing down wind and wanting to power up the sail if you run a sheet outside the shrouds to a block on the forward shroud u-bolt it reduces the twist off off the upper part of the sail.
Dennis

 

[rgranger]

Thanks Dennis:
I only notice a big trim issue when on a broad reach. The slot seems pinched. So the traveler might help there by bringing the bottom of the main in a bit... but moving the genoa outside the shrouds might also help a lot. My boat heels more than I think it should and I have yet to see 6kts on my speed log....so I'm trying a few things to flatten the boat and get more speed.

Yes I have roller furled head sail. It is original but I'm getting a new main in about a week's time.

BTW: Kermit got the measurements I needed. Thanks Kerm

 

[Dennis Kitchen]

rgranger,
If you're consistantly heeling too much you have too much sail up for the wind conditions. Or, you're overtrimmed, or your sails are to baggy. That new main will probably work wonders. 15-20 degrees normaly and 25-30 if you're pushing it, but expect to round up often at that point.
For now if it's windy reef your main and if you're still heeling too much release your vang tension so the top of the main can twist off. Then balance the boat by taking in some of the genoa if necessary. If your main leech then starts to flutter at the top try taking in the leech lite a little. Good luck.
Dennis

 

[rgranger]

rgranger,
If you're consistantly heeling too much you have too much sail up for the wind conditions. Or, you're overtrimmed, or your sails are to baggy. That new main will probably work wonders. 15-20 degrees normaly and 25-30 if you're pushing it, but expect to round up often at that point.
For now if it's windy reef your main and if you're still heeling too much release your vang tension so the top of the main can twist off. Then balance the boat by taking in some of the genoa if necessary. If your main leech then starts to flutter at the top try taking in the leech lite a little. Good luck.
Dennis

I think it was the main. This boat was new to me last April and I spent a good amount of time messing with the sail controls trying to get used to my new boat. At first I thought it was just me getting used to a water ballast boat but nothing I tried ever got the main to look right. Unless the wind was abaft the main had slack in the pocket or a crease running up it. And dropping the main completely, I could reach on Genoa alone and my speed would only drop from 5kts to 4kts. But my heel would go away. The main seemed to do nothing but tip the boat over. So I bit the bullet and ordered a new main. I was told 4 to 6 weeks and this is week 4 so, I'm waiting by my email for a notice that it has been shipped. My last boat was a Balboa 26' and 6 kts was easy and if I worked hard and was on a good heading, I could tap 7kts from time to time. So heeling hard at 4kts through the water in a 10mph wind was getting annoying.

 

[shemandr]

I only notice a big trim issue when on a broad reach. The slot seems pinched. / QUOTE]
Not the fault of the main.

So the traveler might help there by bringing the bottom of the main in a bit...QUOTE]
I don't really think so. That would have two negative consequences. One is to close the slot. The other is to cause more heeling.
I think the solution to your distress is a pole. You need to get the jib clew out where it should be for reaching. For close reaching an outboard sheet (Short sheet - whatever you call it) can work. But further off the wind, until and after a broad reach, you need to pole the jib/genoa clew out to open the slot and, more importantly, to make the sail fly to create drive. So, I'd say never mind the main. You need to get that jib clew out to leeward.

 

[rgranger]

I think we are saying the same thing... sort of. Dennis was suggesting a barber hauler on a reach to get the clew out .... This tread started off with a discussion of adding a traveler and Dennis suggested the barber hauler. I can't see what boat you are sailing but the H26 has the jib sheet block fairly inboard. It is also not adjustable. So she point better than many other boats I have sailed but on a reach when you let the main out, the slot between the main and genoa gets really out of wack. I'd like to be able to pull the boom to windward and then let the sail out to get the slot opened up and the sails more parallel... but I think Dennis' idea would have similar results.

 

[shemandr]

I'm trying to be helpful but I'm not agreeing. Barber haul is good for off the wind close reach or so. Once you are more off the wind then that the clew of the jib is too inboard no matter how muchyou move the lead forward or out hauled. You need to pole it out! The shape of the sail will be closer to the designed shape and it will draw like it's supposed to. You won't feel it in the helm but you'll go faster.

 

[DAVA390]

Rob,
Call me tomorrow during the day. My boat is in my backyard. I can't measure now because of the rain.

Frog. Water. Problem?

 

[rgranger]

I'm trying to be helpful but I'm not agreeing. Barber haul is good for off the wind close reach or so. Once you are more off the wind then that the clew of the jib is too inboard no matter how muchyou move the lead forward or out hauled. You need to pole it out! The shape of the sail will be closer to the designed shape and it will draw like it's supposed to. You won't feel it in the helm but you'll go faster.

I know you are being helpful. I appreciate it. I'm having trouble on a reach. I'm not talking about problems running or pointing. I actually have a whisker pole for running and I've also added a non-symmetric to the mix for light air days and the baggy main actually helps on a run. The H26 is also set up with the jib sheets rather inboard so she also points very well.

On a reach I just seem to have excessive heel and I can't get a good shape in the main. I am now convinced my main is blown so I ordered a new one... it should arrive in the next few weeks. I also think a traveler will help with the slot on a reach. The H26 does not have genoa tracks or cars. It is a fixed block rather far inboard compared to all other boats I have sailed. The H26 also has swept back spreaders, no back stay and an over sized main. I've been told this was done to make the main the primary engine for this boat (makes sense). No traveler no genoa cars and you have a two line sail trim system... so I'm guessing Hunter split the compromises and went with simple to operate with good enough performance. I'm okay with that. I'm mostly a cruiser but I do want to hit 6kts on a regular basis when on a reach and I can't do that right now. As I try to bring in the main on a reach I just heel a lot, even in 10 mph breezes. The H26 does come with a vang and with such a big main, that is a must have. I'm confident that I know what I'm supposed to do with the vang so that is not the problem. The issue I am finding is that on a reach I need to let the main out to about the gunwale to get the tell tales to fly correctly but the pocket is collapsed at that point... I'm guessing it is backwinded by the wind coming off of the genoa. So, with the boom at the gunwale my genoa is pinching since I can't let the clew out on the genoa. A traveler would help me bring the boom inboard while keeping twist and now I'm thinking an alternate would be to let the clew of the genoa out ... or maybe a combo of both options.

But maybe all of my anxiety will go away with the new main.