My Hunter 212 has terrible lee helm in light air. All the books say to move the center of effort back but nothing we do seems to help. I steer into the wind to try to keep her on course, but all that does is put on the brakes. Any ideas?
Lee helm
- Thread starter vines
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Try easing the jib. I have found on my 216 in extremely light air the jib will pull the bow off the wind until I am on a reach easing the jib lets me get back on course. The problem is that you don't have enough speed for the keel and rudder to be effective.
I totally released the jib without any affect on the lee helm. I steered off the wind in an effort to reach and the boat just kept going off the wind by itself until I was on a broad reach. It wanted to run like it was afraid of the wind. You're correct, the low speed also affected my ability to steer. I've had that problem with other boats but not the lee helm problem. Still puzzled...
For very light air, try these techniques:
Place your self and crew on the leeward side. This will keep the boom and sails away from the breeze and help them keep their shape.
If you can, adjust the sail to be flatter (if the wind is VERY light). Too much draft can create more drag than lift.
Make sure the board is all the way down.
G'Luck!
Place your self and crew on the leeward side. This will keep the boom and sails away from the breeze and help them keep their shape.
If you can, adjust the sail to be flatter (if the wind is VERY light). Too much draft can create more drag than lift.
Make sure the board is all the way down.
G'Luck!
Thanks for the suggestions. I can't affect the mast rake because I don't have a rear stay and the front stay is not adjustable. Tightening the outhaul really only puts a pucker along the boom. It doesn't really seem to affect the belly of the main very much. Neither does the vang. I don't have a traveller. The swing keel is definitely all the way down when I have the lee helm. It could be my main is the problem. If you noticed the 'my battens curve backwards' thread you will see I am having trouble with it.
Vines, your rear stay (or lack of one) has no affect on mast rake. If your headstay is not adjustable you could put a turnbuckle on it or at the very least you could add stainless steel tangs or a highfield lever. In any event it would pay you to at least measure the amount of rake you currently have.
Replace the stock rudder on a Hunter 212? Is it longer, wider, thicker, or shorter, thinner, skinnier?
rudder
I've got a bigger boat, and replaced my rudder. the new rudder had too much forward of the rudder post. This created very pronouced lee helm, to the point of being very exciting when getting hit with a gust.
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