135 Genoa on a Hunter 26

[Jackdaw]

Hey Dave
I suspect I have a similar sail plan on our Hunter 30 (11 foot beam). It's fractional rigged with a big main. It also only has one set of jib tracks. Can I assume a 110 should also be my limit? We are cruisers but then we try to keep other sailboats from passing us. We are coming up on time to change out the sails, but I've done no research yet so have no idea what I'm going to want.

Ken

The 11-foot bean Hunter 30-2 has inboard shrouds and is designed to fly an overlapping headsail, probably as big as a 135%.

In general, if your shrouds come all the way to the hull deck joint, you can only fly jibs. Inboard of that and you're designed for genoas.

 

[whatfiero]

Thread officially hijacked. Hunter 30-2 or 30-t -g. Run a 150% with no issues. Lengthing jib tracks this winter 2' to go 180%

 

[Ken Cross]

Thanks guys. We do have inboard shrouds and backstay (split to both corners of the transom.) Our spreaders are also swept back with a big bend in the mast (tall mast at 50 feet above waterline.) I thought this is the general "Hunter Owner" forum.

Another thing I've noticed with this boat is while underway (sail or power) the transom sinks down so there is a turbulent disturbance just behind the boat. I've always wondered if the boat should be a foot or two longer to clean up the drag.

Actually, I've never been steered far off from the good folks who post here. Periodically I do see opposing views, but that's good to know when things aren't a given.

Ken

 

[Ken Cross]

Thread officially hijacked. Hunter 30-2 or 30-t -g. Run a 150% with no issues. Lengthing jib tracks this winter 2' to go 180%

Thanks for the note. We were typing at the same time I see. and Sorry to Greg if he felt hijacked. I'm just trying to learn as well.

Ken

 

[David in Sandusky]

Really understanding your rig, how to tune it, and which sails to use when will put you well above most recreational and cruising sailors we see in our days in the Lake Erie Islands, and around the Great Lakes.

We have a 130 on our '77 h27, but only use it for lights airs when we want to sail close to the wind. In winds over 12 knots, our 110 keeps us below 15 degrees of heel, and sails us past many boats struggling with excessive heel from their huge headsails. Below 12 knots, and sailing over 60 degrees off the wind, our asymmetric is a great sail through the whole range of reaching. When it is the right sail, we often pass 40 footers sailing with their 150's which lose their shape when reaching.

With a shoal keel, we simply don't race which puts a huge emphasis on pointing to the upwind mark.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Ken Cross;
Your rig is a more traditional rig simply put that you have a backstay. The B & R rig does not offer a backstay but with swept back spreaders and reverse diagonals (shrouds), which by the way have proven themselves seen on the later Hunter models to include the water ballast, the idea of putting more power into the mainsail or in other words a larger mainsail vs. a traditional mainsail that shape is affected by a backstay comes into place. The Hunter 26 and 260 cabin and deck are designed with more room in the cabin and not in the traditional style and due to that, a larger jib bigger than a 110 jib lapper cannot work well for example the jib sheets cannot be run smoothly back into the cockpit. However the larger mainsail has proven its worth and with this boat, excessive heel actually hinders speed not to mention it can be unsafe and/or put people at worry.

Your boat can accept a larger genoa and is suggested if that is what your are thinking about and at this point I will defer to my colleages on your request for further information to those specifically with your model Hunter. Also Jackdaw is a good source of information as well.