Hello, all. I have just purchased a 1988 Hunter 18.5. Plan to pick her up this Friday. This will be my third sailboat (not counting two homebuilt dinghies - the second is near completion). I began my sailing experience (and boating experience for that matter) with a 1978 Kells 23 with a fixed shallow draft keel. From there I moved up to a Macgregor 26S. After 8 years with her I am trading down in size. I was looking for a Hunter 19wb but will settle for the 18.5 for now. I plan to trailer sail her. Who knows, I may like her and keep her. I have been a regular poster on the TSBB since maybe 2000. I may be stopping here regularly for advice and to see what's happening in the Hunter community. I'm sure I will have some questions for the 18.5 owners out there.
new owner
- Thread starter dalekidd1956
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Make sure the bearings are fine and greased. When launching, make sure the wings do not become entangled with the trailer.
Dave,
Do you have keel guides on your trailer? Seems to me they would be very helpful. I think they would have helped me with the Kells. Came across this picture of an 18.5 that was for sale in upstate NY that has them. And what do most owners do for a swim ladder? Do they use those portable/hang over the transom type or attach permanent ones? Any suggestions?
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The trailer originally had keel guides but they were more trouble than what they were worth. You can buy guide ons for the trailer from any trailer parts supply. As for the ladder, put on a permanent one and make sure that you distibute the load on the inside of the transom suggesting that you put a metal or somethng back on the inside where the bolts go thru to do this with.
I have an 18.5 and have been trying to come up with something to get the boat centered back on the trailer. I don't have any kind of guides at all.
Dave, what kind of guide ons and ladder would you recommend?
Dave, what kind of guide ons and ladder would you recommend?
get the guides that bolt onto the frame of the trailer and for the ladder, any installed permanent ladder would be a good choice. Ask the folks here about ladders first for suggestions.
crazy dave
crazy dave
I just put a Garelick 18018 on my h23. Works great, though I am going to add an extra step about halfway between the top of the transom & the top step.
BTW: Excuse the mess! The boat looks much better now that I cleaned things up before launching!
BTW: Excuse the mess! The boat looks much better now that I cleaned things up before launching!
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My 23 has a boarding platform (stainless tubing frame, teak planks) and a ladder that folds down from it. I like it very much, as I keep mine on a mooring and without the platform it would be tough to board from a dinghy or inflatable. That may not fit the smaller boat though, and I assume was more expensive when the original owner added it.
That looks like one that I just saw at Bass Pro Shop last night. I was thinking that it might need a little extra. Do you have an idea about what kind of step?
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