1994 Hunter 29.5 First larger boat? Ok to single hand?

[Baja Will]

Ok, I have been lurking for a long time on this site. I actually have a offer on a 29.5 Hunter 1994. I am a excellent Catamaran sailor My personal boat NACRA 17. That being said wife and dog want to go out, and I want something to overnight on.

I have a offer on a 29.5 Hunter with wing keel. I decided on this model simply because is is very ergonomic (wife) swim platform (I scuba) and very open inside.

I would really like to hear from anyone with experience on this boat good/bad things to watch out for?

Also with some practice should I be able to single hand this boat with some practice?

Input appreciated

WIll

 

[kappykaplan]

I don't have any experience on a Hunter 29.5, but I routinely single-hand my Pearson 37. You need as many lines as possible run to the cockpit.

 

[Cmp1110]

Dock neighbors have one and they love it and very easy to singlehand

 

[s sauer]

Single handing

In my opinion, the critical points in single handing a medium sized boat like a 29.5 (somewhat similar to our 28.5) occur at four points:

1. Leaving the dock or mooring: are you able to cast off and clear the pier or mooring field without a fire-drill. Just think thru the process ahead of time and ask for help from a neighbor if needed the first couple times.
2. Hoisting sail: With the engine idilying in gear, making slow headway and the boat head to wind, you should be able to hoist and trim the mainsail before shutting off the engine. You may need a wheel lock to hold course while you do this. Then, hoisting a small jib or deploying a roller furling jib should be no problem if you are comfortable with the wind strength.
3. Dropping or furling sails: Head to wind, engine started and idiling in gear, first furl or drop the headsail. Furling is easy, dropping a hanked on jib or Genoa takes a little more quick response, with halyard flaked out and hopefully a wheel lock helping you maintain the head-to-wind course as you drop and tie down the Genoa with sail ties or shock cords.
4. Lastly, entering the slip or picking up the mooring pendant. Boat hook, and fenders deployed where they are needed ahead of time. The mooring pick-up should probably be practiced with crew aboard a couple tinmes. Heavier air will be more challenging for single handing.

Also, see what is necessary to 'Heave-To' on the boat as it is a Plan 'B'.
If you need time to think or execute something .
Good Luck.

 

[timvg]

I single hand my 40.5 often.

 

[jwdickerson]

Single-handing a med-sized Hunter

I single-hand my '84 Hunter 37C. Leaving and returning to the slip can be a bit of a goat rope unless the breeze is right down the slip (never), but hey, it's all about enjoying the time with the boat! Once out of the slip, I head up, hoist the staysail, head up again, hoist the main, head up one more time and make sure the trim is close, then let the wind fill the sails and underway. Unfurling the jib is an option, if there's more than 15 kts of breeze, I leave it furled. Drop the sails in reverse order from how they were hoist.

Asking for/accepting help at the dock is never a bad idea.

 

[Sailm8]

I have a 29.5. You will have very little trouble backing if it is anything like my 1996. Almost straight as an arrow. I have a cabin mounted traveler and all lines led aft. My wife likes to nap or read so I mostly sail with a comatose crew. No problem at all except at a fuel dock or pump out with a wind pinning you against it. I think any boat would have a problem. You are going to love the boat. We just came back from 24 days living on the boat. I though maybe we would feel boat bound but this was not the case. We could have done another few weeks with no problem.

I really like the tankage. 40gals of water will last us 6 days for showers and dishes with no rationing. 20gal of waste lets us go about a week. 20gals of fuel lasts about 40 hours. We have a reefer that will make ice here in Florida and I can go 2 days at anchor without charging the 2 house batteries. I hope to add about 175 to 200watts of solar as soon as I can and might not need to run the engine at all.

 

[tomgrigsby]

My only trouble single-handing my 1979 H30 is getting in and out of the slip. There is often a huge cross current and basically I can't do it alone when the tide is running. Otherwise, sailhandling etc. is just fine and I love it. Advice above is spot on and you'll have a great time.

 

[FourPoints]

single handing should be simple if you have an autopilot, certainly possible without, but FAR easier with.

 

[Dan Hill]

I single hand our 28.5 without an auto pilot almost every weekend. I know it's a little shorter but whats a foot among friends lol.

I logged 15nm yesterday under her spinnaker.

It's all about learning how she handles. With time and experience you will be fine.

Get out and sail!

Good Luck!

 

[Baja Will]

Thank you for the input. feeling pretty good right now on this boat.

 

[robertsapp]

Ditto on the autopilot. You'll find your 295 is very easy to tack or gybe by yourself if you can hit the auto-tack function on the autopilot and let it throw the helm over and steady up on the new heading, while you stand at the front of the cockpit where you can work the sheets for the main and jib. Pulling in a reef is also easily done if you can point up and sail on just the jib and let the autopilot keep the wind at 30 degrees apparant while you let out the boom to ease the main and then pull in the reef.

We upgraded to our H336 from a Nacra 6.0. It's a lot more fun bringing a head, galley, and queen size bed (x2) with us when we go sailing.